Program for Thursday February 6, 2025

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has long been celebrated as a transformative framework for instruction, and its relevance continues to shine as the digital learning landscape evolves. Rooted in flexibility and inclusivity, UDL empowers educators to design online learning experiences that reach and inspire today’s diverse students. This keynote will explore how UDL’s adaptable principles can address current challenges while embracing opportunities, including the growing role of AI. Through actionable strategies and powerful examples, you’ll leave equipped with the resources, confidence, and inspiration to foster equitable and innovative teaching and learning excellence in this dynamic era.

As concerns of academic integrity surround generative AI, this session highlights its transformative potential for digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). By crafting effective prompts and leveraging existing generative AI tools, we can reduce barriers for individuals with learning and cognitive disabilities within the classroom. Join this session to explore practical strategies that can help create inclusive, personalized learning experiences that support all students.

Higher education faculty are more knowledgeable about the design, delivery, and implementation of online and hybrid classes creating a faculty that can be anywhere along the continuum of knowledge about teaching in a distance learning environment from novice to very advanced. The Responsive Professional Development Model meets the training needs of the current faculty knowledge base. The model provides flexible access through multiple pathways to obtain the required training while promoting relationships between the designer and the faculty member.

Higher education instructors must evolve with the digital classroom to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. As technology reshapes education, instructors need to incorporate digital tools, such as online assessments, virtual discussions, and multimedia resources, to meet diverse learning styles. Adaptability allows teachers to foster interactive, flexible, and inclusive environments, ensuring students gain essential skills for the digital age. Embracing digital education is crucial to preparing students for the demands of an increasingly technology driven workforce.

This presentation demonstrates how AI can be integrated into online Spanish courses to create student-centered activities and facilitate course  design. By using AI to develop student-friendly study guides and import practice questions into the Canvas LMS, educators can enhance student  engagement and improve learning outcomes.

Join us for an engaging Lunchtime Networking Session, where participants can connect, share insights, and build valuable relationships in a relaxed virtual setting. This informal gathering provides an opportunity to meet fellow attendees, discuss key takeaways from the workshop, and explore potential collaborations—all while enjoying your lunch from the comfort of your own space.

Through some fun games, polls, and guided discussion prompts, we’ll facilitate meaningful interactions based on shared interests and professional goals. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, exchange best practices, or simply have a friendly chat with like-minded professionals, this session is designed to foster connections beyond the workshop content. 

Grab your meal, turn on your camera, and make the most of this dedicated time for networking and collaboration!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational settings has revolutionized teaching methodologies and learning experiences. AI can create learning activities, presentations, quizzes, graphics, and other teaching and learning content through prompts. This presentation will explore a variety of AI tools that can be used to create learning content. Attendees will become familiar with guidelines for creating AI prompts to yield desired outputs.

6 Ways for More Engaging Meetings" offers practical techniques to transform virtual and in-person meetings into dynamic, interactive experiences. Using the 6-step ENGAGE method, attendees will learn how to foster engagement, improve retention, and create memorable digital interactions. This session aligns with the conference theme by showcasing innovative approaches to digital learning and community engagement, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of educational practices through proven engagement strategies and technology integration.

Generative AI: Poorest New Technology Name Ever. How do you decide if and how to use Generative AI Systems? Start by answering these five questions: (a) For specific activities, does Generative AI provide an advantage over your current activities? (b)Is Generative AI compatible with your values, experiences, or needs? (c) Is Generative AI less complex to use than what you are now doing for the activity? (d) Is Generative AI easy to use for what you need? (e) Is it possible to quickly observe the results of using Generative AI to accomplish the activity?

With the release of generative AI, higher education institutions had to quickly adapt to this new technology. As a result, faculty and students were making decisions as to the level of adoption of this technology which had value within the corporate environment but suspect when evaluating for creativity. Policy development became a consideration to navigate the multiple needs in the implementation of AI yet protect students and faculty dealing with ethical issues surrounding generative AI. Join us for this panel and hear how different institutions developed policy for AI at their institutions.

Generative artificial intelligence has become a critical consideration when designing learning experiences. While some educators emphasize its potential to enhance teaching and student engagement, others express concerns about academic dishonesty, diminished human creativity, and ethical implications. In either case, to maintain academic integrity, it is essential to communicate clear expectations in the class policies, including when and how it is permitted. In this session, I will present examples of class policy statements and share my experiences, challenges, and successes in formulating and implementing AI-use policies in my classes. Participants will reflect on their perspectives and decisions regarding students’ use of AI in their courses.

This paper explores the integration of mental health support across three levels in online education: course-level pedagogical practices, LMS-level virtual platforms, and university-level campus-wide services. It provides a comprehensive literature review on how these interventions can work together to address students' mental health needs, reduce anxiety, and improve retention. A framework and rubric are offered to help educators and institutions identify and implement mental health support in online learning environments.