Now that most of us have adjusted to the technology explosion of the last decade, campus colleagues are putting on the Gadget Gathering, Tuesday, March 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210.

It’s a chance to use many of the devices resulting from, contributing to, and building on the confluence of chips, mobile communication, and the Web. The professional development team, Instructional Resources, and Information Commons at Butler Library are the organizers of the event.

“I don’t own a smart phone," said Sue McMillen, professor of mathematics and director of faculty development. “However, I’m starting to think that I’m missing opportunities to learn and to connect to resources. I wanted to find out more about how smart phones and other new technologies can be incorporated into teaching and learning at Buffalo State.”

McMillen’s curiosity led to the Gadget Gathering, which is open to all faculty and staff. “It’s a technology showcase, with tables to demonstrate the different tools,” said McMillen.

Gadgets, in this case, include everything from the relatively familiar podcast recorders and clickers to QR codes, a kind of barcode that can communicate with a smart phone equipped with a QR reader. Other presentations include Skype, different ebook readers, and Livescribe, which Sumana Silverheels, technology accommodations coordinator with Disability Services, will demonstrate.

Andrew Cullison, assistant professor of philosophy at SUNY Fredonia, will present Android for Academics. It’s a suite of free apps developed by him and his associate, Jon Nalewajek, for use on phones using Android, a Google mobile open-source operating system. “We wanted to develop applications that teachers could use,” he said, “so we have an attendance app, a grade book app, a grade rubric app...”

Isn’t it a bit quirky for a philosopher to be writing apps for smart phones? “Well, not really,” said Cullison. “Philosophy is very logic-oriented, and computer programming is a kind of logic. You actually find that quite a few people who are philosophers are also adept at developing things like this.”

For the rest of us, the Gadget Gathering promises a rare opportunity to get our questions answered by enthusiasts who are looking forward to sharing their knowledge. And take comfort in knowing that some things don’t change: free snacks will be available.