Nelson Vincent, VP of Information Technology and CIO at UC

To what extent does our recreational use of technology drive innovation in business? Is business taking the lead or lagging behind?

“What we sometimes think of as recreational use of technology is, in fact, authentic learning and innovation. A year ago UC students hosted the All-Midwest eSports Gaming Event, the largest collegiate eSports gaming tournament in the world. We expected about 500 students to attend—more than 1,000 showed up and 14,000 more tuned in online. UC’s Fifth Third Arena literally buzzed with excitement as eSports gamers from across the Midwest plugged into hundreds of temporary power outlets and connected to one another over about a mile of temporary Ethernet cable. I witnessed modern innovation, problem solving and an amazing amount of talent that day. The skill set exhibited by the participants at the All-Midwest eSports Gaming Event is an example of the trends we see in modern business expectations and practices. Prospective employers want to be able to harness the energy and talent of students like the eSports gamers.  As a university, we are embracing all of the different ways that students problem-solve and demonstrate their learning competencies.

Our students don’t live in a vacuum. They are aware of the energy in the Greater Cincinnati technology and innovation community, and they want to be a part of events such as comSpark. Students in grades K-12 join local STEM-focused organizations such as iSpace and INTERalliance because they have fun and learn real world problem solving at LEGO camps, science fairs and the TechOlympics. Hands-on learning experiences complement teaching and learning that happens in their other learning environments. These experiences also provide students early opportunities for mentorship with the corporate and community partners who support the region’s STEM learning organizations. Workforce development does not just happen in meeting rooms. It also happens, for example, when local chemists from the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society celebrate National Chemistry Week by hosting free demonstrations at local libraries.”