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Professional Communities
Systems Support

Emerging Technologies

Definition of Emerging Technologies

The Systems Support Community is routinely required to evaluate, purchase, learn and support new and emerging technologies. In some instances, this technology may be new to the industry and in other cases the technology may only be new to campus or the individual department. No matter the source of the emerging technology, members of the Systems Support Community need to have an appropriate level of skill to supporting campus and their respective departments.

The Emerging Technologies Competency is designed so that community members will gain a broad but shallow understanding of the various technologies offered across the BYU Campus.

As members progress, they will have the flexibility to choose the emerging technologies that they determine will be the most beneficial to their personal development and departmental success.

Examples of emerging technologies could include: 1. Cloud Services like: BOX, AWS, or Adobe Creative Cloud. 2. Cyber Security items like: CAS, DUO, or LastPass. 3. Web Technologies like: BYU Sites, Docker, or Mendix. 4. Hardware devices like: Virtual/Augmented Reality, 3D printers, or 3D scanners.

Assistant: The Assistant should be aware of the various Technologies being used on campus and how those technologies could benefit their customers. They will work to stay current on the technology offerings across campus.

Associate: The Associate possess a working level of familiarity with most of the technologies used on campus. Not only will the Associate know about the technology they will have hands on experience testing or demoing these technologies.

Senior Associate: The Senior Associate will stay current with all of technology offerings on campus and have a working proficiency with these technologies. For the technologies used by their department they will have an in-depth knowledge of how to use and support that technology.

Professional: The Professional, in addition to maintaining the skills of the Senior Associate will actively study and learn about new technologies that may benefit their users. The Professional takes the initiative to gain a level of knowledge about emerging technologies so that they can provide informed decision-making advice to co-workers and the campus community.

Senior Professional: The Senior Professional takes satisfaction in staying current on emerging technologies and learning how they might impact campus. The Senior Professional actively works to gain an understanding of these technologies well enough that they are comfortable providing high-level decision-making advice that may impact all of campus.

Principal: The Principal is constantly monitoring trends in emerging technology and evaluating how those technologies may impact BYU. The Principal uses their knowledge and experience to strategically plan the adoption of the technologies that will have the greatest impact in helping BYU meet its’ goals.

How to Develop Emerging Technologies

University Courses:

  • Coming Soon

Training / Other Courses:

  • Educause Conference
  • AdobeMax
  • SaintCon
  • DefCon

Websites to follow emerging technology

Professional Associations / Certifications:

  • Associations and certifications
  • Educause (BYU has site membership)

Books / Publications:

Experiences that can assist the employee in his/her development:

  • Create a list of technologies being used across campus, share this list with the Systems Support Community
  • Review and update a list of technologies being used across campus include points of contact for the various technologies.
  • Attend the Consumer Electronics Show, or other emerging technology conference and report on new technologies that may impact BYU

How to Demonstrate Emerging Technologies

DO: Describe what you did in completing / achieving your development plan

ASSESS: Share, if applicable, any assessments that were taken / provided related to your activities

LEARN: Explain what you felt that you were able to learn during your journey / experiences

APPLY: Give specifics examples where you have / plan to make direct application to your work

REFLECT: Review / consider things you would have done differently had you had this experience earlier