Students who are interested in all things technical will have a chance to get up close and personal with that passion for four days in February when the college hosts Convergence, said Technology Support Services Director Tim Whisenhunt.

OCCC Informational and Instructional Technology Services (IITS) department is hosting the free event in the College Union from Feb. 24 through Feb. 27.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend Whisenhunt said.

“Convergence is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to learn about various resources here on campus, mostly resources that are technology related,” he said.

“What we will attempt to do over the four days that we host the event is to allow our college community to participate in sessions where they could learn about specific pieces of software, specific systems that we use on campus, and then be able to talk to the people that support those systems or software so that they can gain more knowledge, ask questions, collaborate about ways that they could utilize those resources.”

Informational booths will be set up from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Informational and training sessions will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.

During the first two days of the event, Whisenhunt said, there will be informational booths set up that students can visit to find out more about different technological services.

“The first two days … we will have tables and booths and the different departments represented where people can come through and they can see and talk, ask questions, be able to speak directly to the support providers,” he said.

In previous years, Whisenhunt said, the Communications Lab has demonstrated some of their resources such as Skype tutoring.

The Math Lab, Student Support Services, and even the Campus Police also have had booths where they assist students in learning more about technology within their departments, he said.

“ … IITS [has] booths set up that talk about how to use the college phones, the resources that are available with that as a communication device. We have the help desk set up where we talk about how we support faculty and staff.”

Whisenhunt said the second two days of the event will feature sessions where providers will inform, give further training and demonstrate how to use resources.

This year, the IITS department will talk about how they are transitioning the help desk ticketing system so that it will be more user friendly, he said.

“… [Students] can talk to the people who are going to be there representing those departments and gain a deeper understanding of how those departments function and what’s available for our students, faculty, and staff from each of those departments,” Whisenhunt said.

“As with anything else, the more you know, the better off you are.

“… It’s just a way for people to put names and faces together, and find out who’s responsible for what, and you kind of have that personal connection…

“I just want to encourage people to attend. I think it’s a worthwhile and beneficial thing for people to participate in.”

For more information about Convergence, contact Whisenhunt at 405-682-1611, ext. 7349, or email him at twhisenhunt@occc.edu.

To contact Lauren Daniel, email editor@occc.edu.