Atlona‘s education business development manager Steve Bogart has been appointment to be c0-chair of the IDEA Committee, an initiative from the Educational Technology Collaborative (ETC) forum of 800 members, which was established to integrate inclusivity, diversity, equity and access into ETC programs, communications and activities.
Bogart will co-chair the committee with Sarah Hava Valley, the assistant director of online learning at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, for a two-year term effective immediately.
Over that period, the pair will identify and execute the most pertinent projects required to promote the organisation’s mission. The two were recently selected to co-chair the committee through a vote by the ETC Board following the completion of the previous committee’s two-year term.
In addition to its core mission, the IDEA Committee serves as an advisory to the ETC Board, committees and task forces as new values, practices and principles are considered. Their advisory efforts are aided through data collection and annual member surveys.
Bogart, who joined Atlona in February 2023, brings years of AV in education expertise to the committee, especially as it relates to applying technologies for maximum effect within learning environments. His experience on the manufacturing side complements Sara Hava Valley’s leadership and perspectives on the instructional and learning side, and his goals for the committee emphasise the desire to make AV and IT products more easily accessible to a broader user base.
Bogart said: “The committee’s chief focus is to create a safe space in the education industry for a diverse group of voices that is inclusive of all genders, ethnicities and physical capabilities. I see accessibility in the classroom as particularly critical today. One of my goals is to help the AV and IT manufacturing community develop education products that are easier for more people to access.”
He added: “That includes ensuring that the user interface of a product works for people with visual impairments and other special needs. We also want to help companies reduce their development costs by leveraging the knowledge they absorb through the committee’s educational efforts.”
Bogart will also have active involvement in ETC events including the 2024 Annual Conference in Ames, Iowa (October 1-4), which attracts AV and IT professionals, instructional designers and technology vendors that support higher education institutions.
