Because technology is dynamic, our understanding of the most effective and responsive means to connect with students must be as dynamic. Ongoing professional development, then, is a central component to effective online teaching.
Before I started teaching online, I had no idea of the amount of work and effort it took to create an online class. I also mistakenly thought that online classes were "easier" since the instructor did not have to physically be in the same space as the students. Once I started teaching online, I quickly found out that I was wrong.
I attended the Online Teaching Conference in 2013 and then again in 2018 after a long hiatus. In 2016 I attended the Instructional Design and Innovation Conference in Riverside, CA. My campus has also hosted a few workshops geared towards online teaching when we transitioned to Canvas a few years ago.
The pace of technology has revolutionized the way educators teach with constant advancements in instructional design. I am always interested in Canvas updates, new tools such as PowToon, and harnessing the power of technology to make my teaching more effective. I would like to attend a Canvascon in the future as well as continue to attend the Online Teaching Conference.