Austin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff came together June 8-12 for Summer Technology Week 2026, a weeklong virtual event focused on the thoughtful use of technology to support teaching, learning, and daily work. Formerly known as Summer Software Day, the expanded event brought together ACC employees and technology partners to explore practical tools, innovative strategies, and real-world applications across the College.

Centered on the theme Intentional Technology: Designing for People First, the event encouraged participants to consider how technology can create more accessible, engaging, and effective experiences for students and employees. More than 200 faculty and staff registered to explore topics such as artificial intelligence, accessibility, assessment, student engagement, and workplace productivity, with sessions highlighting emerging technologies and practical strategies participants could apply immediately in their work.

From Access Gap to Access Revolution

The keynote presentation, From Access Gap to Access Revolution, was delivered by Dr. Cynthia Pascal, associate vice president of eLearning at Northern Virginia Community College. Her presentation explored the connection between digital equity, student success, and workforce mobility, challenging participants to consider how technology can expand opportunity and remove barriers for learners.

Throughout the session, Dr. Pascal emphasized that “economic and social mobility is for all, not just the few.” She encouraged attendees to examine how technology decisions affect access and inclusion, noting that “a lot of inclusive course design involves thinking differently.” Her message focused on the importance of embedding accessibility and equity into daily practice, reminding participants that “we need to be intentional” and “we need to embed this into all the work that we’re doing.”

Summer Technology Week Recordings

While Summer Technology Week has concluded, the learning continues. Recordings from Summer Technology Week 2026 are saved in a Panopto playlist (users must log in with their ACC credentials to access it). Faculty and staff are encouraged to explore the session recordings, revisit key takeaways, and share ideas with colleagues. 

Sessions available for viewing include:

  • Box AI: Smarter Ways to Work with Your Content
  • Designing Interactive Learning Experiences with AI Conversations in Blackboard
  • The Future of Faculty Workflow: Transforming Education with Google’s AI Ecosystem
  • Gradescope: Faster Grading with Better Feedback
  • AIM Version 5: What’s New for Accessibility Services

Thank You to Our Presenters and Partners

We appreciate the contributions of our technology partners, keynote presenter, and ACC partners and presenters who helped make this year’s event possible.

Technology Partners
Blackboard
Box
Google
Packback
Panopto
Qwickly
Respondus
Turnitin

ACC Partners
Academic Affairs Communications
Academic Technology
Access & Disability Services
Division of Digital Learning
Human Resources
Information Technology
Teaching & Learning Excellence Division

Keynote Presenter
Dr. Cynthia Pascal, Associate Vice President of eLearning, Northern Virginia Community College

ACC Presenters
Andres Benavides
Stephanie Bogdanich
Herb Coleman
Jamie Coughlin
Gabryella Desporte
Lindy Goodman
Jennifer Gray
Jenni Hilton
Meg Kareithi
Sandy Kendell
Lauren Matthys
Marcus McGuff
Lauren Montagnino
Kathleen Serra
Anne Vance