Higher education institutions are increasingly susceptible to crisis events, as seen by the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows institutions tend to be more reactive than proactive in crisis situations. However, using the Crisis Management Cycle can help institutions prepare for any crisis situation. This cycle consists of five phases: planning, prevention, response, recover, and learning. The planning phase consists of planning for possible crisis events and notifying staff of proper procedure. The next step is prevention, when institutions work to avoid crisis stimuli. The third step is response. In this phase, a crisis has happened and the institution has activated the crisis management plan. The fourth step is recovery, in which institutions provide opportunities for healing, and turn their focus to restoring normal operations. The fifth phase is learning. This is a time for reflection on successes and failures of the response and can help revise protocols and update existing plans. Nationwide, institutions across the United States are reflecting on their practices during COVID-19 pandemic and are looking for ways to increase their response for the next crisis.

Embark on a transformative educational journey with The 4 G's: A Framework for Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Join us as we dive into each subsection: The Grounding, The Growing, The Gifting, and The Gain. Uncover the power of culturally responsive pedagogy and anti-racist curriculum in a session that redefines the learning landscape. This workshop is not just about teaching; it's about sparking a revolution in education. Get ready to uncover an innovative framework for culturally responsive pedagogy.

The Education Department at The Mariners' Museum and Park used the pandemic as a springboard to create virtual programs that cater to a variety of age groups and learning styles. Post-pandemic, our virtual programs continue to be popular with our local and national audience. This session will discuss the multiple ways our interactive virtual programs feature collection artifacts and utilize an interdisciplinary and multimodal approach to teaching science and history through art, dance, math, and abstract thinking. Audience participation is strongly encouraged.

Let's talk about your BFF! Black female faculty have the unique experience of navigating race and gender within their respective institutions. This session explores the intersectional experiences of Black female faculty (BFF) and the experiences of Black women in other workspaces. Attendees will learn about intersectionality, microaggressions, microinvalidations, gendered racism, and cultural taxation. Additionally, recommendations will be provided for organizations that seek to strengthen their equity, inclusion, and belonging policies.

Learn how Performance Based Education (PBE) offers a new flexibility for learning. A new spin on Competency Based Education, PBE offers you the flexibility you need to fit your education in to your busy schedule. Train at the pace that works best for you, and demonstrate your mastery of the lesson through an assessment with your instructor. Move quickly through the concepts you understand, or take more time on the lessons you need to delve deeper into. Choose your path with multiple options for in-demand jobs in industries that offer great opportunities. Our focus is on your success - and getting you to work fast.

Join the speakers as they share the results of their exploratory journey with AI in planning and delivering online courses with Invitational Design guidelines. Invitational Design is a framework where the online learning experience is reimagined as the instructor as host, students are invited guests, and the digital/online course is the instructor's home. This session is suited for the general audience. No prior knowledge or experience required. The attendees will obtain the following objectives, takeaways: Understanding the Invitational Design framework and use of artificial intelligence for Invitational Designed online courses: 1) AI for content creation. 2) AI for defining the teacher and student personas. 3) Potential efficiencies gained through AI for designing and managing an online or blended course. We welcome you to join us to find out what we learned about the offerings and limitations of using AI within the Invitational Design framework.

This 10th annual survey project integrates feedback from online program administrators and online students (prospective, current, alumni) collected through two online surveys. This session presents findings related to student demographics, program development and marketing, and student satisfaction. New topics covered this year include: the impact of artificial intelligence, OPM partnerships, and microcredentials. The goal of this long-term initiative is to inform institutional decisions about program design, recruiting, and student support. Attendees are encouraged to share current trends, practices, and experiences in their online programs.

In our blended and global school, we often tell K-12 students that they don't have to wait to start making a difference in their communities. Join us for a panel about instructional and support practices to foster student leadership and agency in online programs. Our experienced panelists will share stories, strategies, and best practices to support students in leveraging their talents around complex local and global issues. Service and community-engaged projects require both skills and content, which will prepare young people not only to be leaders in the future but also to practice leadership in their daily lives. Through this panel, learn with educators who are using online learning tools to foster global cooperation, collaboration, critical thinking, communication across borders, and difference-making.

Guiding Questions
What leadership and agency skills do you hope to foster in your K-12 programs?
What strategies and best practices have you integrated into your online programs?
Tell us about a student project that particularly inspired you. What challenge did the young person hope to solve, and how did they approach it?
What advice do you have for other online educators seeking to expand service and leadership in their programs?

In this 75-minute workshop, participants will explore the valuable application of an asset-based survey to extract insights from their target audience (learners) regarding their funds of knowledge, which is their cultural, social, and family/community-based capital and experiences that they bring into their workplace or learning environment. While conventional learner analysis used to develop lesson plans or training unintentionally tends to emphasize deficiencies, the asset-based approach shifts the focus toward recognizing and leveraging learners' existing strengths, skills, and resources. Participants are invited to engage in a proven process that fosters a more inclusive and empowering learner analysis, ultimately leading to effective training design with successful outcomes. Upon the completion of data analysis, the participants will be guided in utilizing the gathered information to develop strength-based training programs, using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Throughout the workshop practical exercises, including a scenario-based approach and real-time audience data capture will be used to craft a preliminary plan for training. The workshop aims to identify key objectives and align them with relevant UDL checkpoints, ensuring optimal, inclusive, and engaging learning training outcomes. Some exercises will be facilitated using the power of generative AI.

Sometimes, it feels like Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the education minute by minute. This can be both stressful and exhilarating. Educators are feeling the pressure to rapidly demonstrate expertise in (or at least and understanding of) AI, and either integrating this into their classes, or detecting and preventing nefarious use that impinges on Academic Integrity (the other AI). Also, there is the fear that robots are coming to take our jobs. In this fun workshop, you will get hands-on experience with a variety of freely accessible AI tools that you can bring to your teaching, and evaluate your skills in a very human way. Please bring your own device for the full hands-on experience covering: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML); Large Language Models (LLMs); Local Large Language Models; Generative Imagery and Video; Prompt Engineering; and Copyright, Privacy, and Ethics.

One problem faced when developing learning materials and designing courses is that inefficiently designed and inaccessible course content creates unintentional barriers for students. Cognitive overload may occur when content is not organized, and students must spend too much time looking for materials. In this case, the process of learning becomes an afterthought. Additionally, the creation and/or use of infographics may be confusing for some learners and inaccessible for others. In this session, the elements and principles of design and WCAG accessibility standards are applied to create equitably curated course design. To empower equitable course design, best practices for creating course materials that are accessible and engaging for students are addressed. This includes technical image considerations, relevancy, and alternative text. Techniques to create slideshows/ documents that are well organized will also be presented. Participants will identify the elements and principles of graphical design and apply it to a design. There will be interactive activities – this includes polls, image quests, among others. A downloadable PDF guide will be provided for participants that serves as a valuable resource. By the end of the session, attendees will be able to implement innovative approaches in their own contexts, advancing educational equity and sustainability.

Looking for ways to motivate your students? Gamification is the answer. These fun strategies to motivate students can promote learning content necessary for their academic success while building intrinsic motivation and positive attitudes about learning. By applying learning theory, gamification elements can be added to classwork in strategic ways to enhance students' learning experiences. Gamification used correctly builds engagement with the content enhancing the students' ability to learn in exciting and interesting ways. The workshop begins with a review of self-determination theory and motivational affordance models with the connection into the gamification elements. A brief overview of research in entry level courses and the impact of the addition of gamification elements will be shared. Then participants can select between different approaches to learn how to add gaming elements into a course including addition of game mechanics into the classroom, infusion of storylines into a class, and different game apps to add interaction to any class. Walk away with great ideas for how to add these strategies into your classes.

Join Wytheville Community College instructor Deanna Spraker for an illuminating presentation on the innovative use of hands-on lab kits from Carolina Distance Learning in her HyFlex courses. Deanna will delve into the strategic implementation of this cutting-edge approach, ensuring that online students experience the same rigor, reliability, and outcomes as their fully face-to-face counterparts.

Discover how Deanna navigates the challenges of flexibility in science education, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experiences to fortify theoretical knowledge. Through HyFlex Learning, students have the flexibility to engage with course materials in both online and face-to-face settings, fostering a dynamic learning environment that accommodates diverse learning styles.

The Carolina Distance Learning hands-on lab kits play a pivotal role in this transformative approach, providing tangible, real-world experiences that bridge the gap between virtual and physical learning. Deanna will share insights into designing curriculum modules that seamlessly integrate these kits, creating a comprehensive and engaging learning journey. Don't miss this opportunity to explore how HyFlex Learning, coupled with hands-on lab kits, revolutionizes online science education, ensuring students achieve the same academic excellence as those in traditional, face-to-face courses.

The popularity, acceptance, and use of Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) among students in higher education is increasing beyond everyone's expectations. Whether ethical or unethical, regulated, or unregulated, ChatGPT has come to stay and like the previous technologies before it, there have been countless debates going on across almost all educational directories globally, on whether to adopt or not to adopt. Indeed, some countries have even banned its use among students in their educational communities completely. To accept or not, Generative AI has come to stay. This debate has necessitated the need to explore the impact of ChatGPT on students' learning experience, as well as the dilemma it poses to both instructors and educational administrators as a whole. From the perspective of the theory of learning, the study applies a systematic literature review methodology to assess how Generative AI impacts students' learning experience in higher education. This is done by evaluating the Generative AI's key functionalities, opportunities, and challenges, and then presenting some empirical guidelines to explain how effective use of Generative AI can enhance the overall learners' learning experience. The data coding and analysis were done using NVivo software.

While Dr. Tweneboah-Koduah will be onsite presenting the findings, we would also like at acknowledge the co-authors of the review Marcus Kalivoda from Gannon University, Erie, PA, USA and Kwadwo Nyantakyi, Ph.D. of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Accra, Ghana.

This presentation will include both updates and discussion on how NC-SARA can better engage with SARA participating institutions and highlight resources that NC-SARA is making available to colleges and universities to support their work with SARA, including the SARA policy modification process. We will provide information on current and future resources and share how institutions and other stakeholders can participate in the new SARA policy modification process. Join us for a discussion about how you can get engaged in SARA and provide your institution's ideas for improvements and future engagement!

Have you ever taken an online course where the professor struggled with online instruction, and the course was poorly designed? Have you ever taken an online course that was difficult to navigate and seemed poorly adapted for an online environment? We have, and it did not make for the best learning environment! The Virginia State University Office of Distance Education is committed to ensuring quality online education by providing checks and balances for faculty readiness and quality course design so that this does not occur with our students. Not only are readiness and quality accreditation requirements implemented, but they are also part of our commitment to doing what is best for our students and supporting confidence and support for our professors. Members from the VSU Online team will share strategies used year-round in faculty training, coaching, and mentoring while diving into shell designs and peer and VSU Online reviews.

Instructional designers are crucial advocates for accessibility and inclusion, yet this advocacy is currently threatened by the devolution of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs across the United States. As diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives face challenges and shifts in various regions, this presentation explores strategies to uphold these principles within the context of distance learning. With the disappearance of dedicated DEI efforts in some areas, instructional designers must proactively navigate new challenges to ensure an inclusive online education environment.

In this session we will collaborate on innovative approaches, share best practices, and explore tools that empower instructional designers to champion accessibility and inclusion despite the changing DEI landscape. Attendees will gain insights into adapting design processes, incorporating universal design principles, and fostering a culture of inclusivity. By sharing practical experiences and success stories, this presentation aims to equip professionals in the field with actionable strategies to advocate for accessibility and inclusion, contributing to the continued enhancement of distance learning experiences for diverse student populations.

Transform your course design experience with the untapped capabilities of Microsoft 365. From gamification and interactive presentations to creative asset design and accessible content delivery, this session shares practical takeaways that will elevate your online developments with tools you already have at your fingertips!

Utilizing motivational design through behavioral economics and gamification in remote learning and training environments can significantly increase adherence to proper practices, thereby enhancing outcomes and achieving business goals. This approach can transform routine tasks into engaging and motivating activities, fostering a productive and collaborative work environment that drives innovation and success. We will discuss a variety of techniques using Gamification and Motivational Design to enhance the effectiveness of remote teams.​​

The time of reaching students by email has passed. Traditional communication tools don't work and institutions are struggling to access and engage students– both on campus and online. Before establishing processes and procedures to improve student engagement, institutions must first identify how they access students. Pronto is the only LMS-integrated communication that gives institutions instant access to students and creates a place where students can engage and learn in real time. This session explores the problem with traditional communication tools and how the right communication tool can immediately improve access, engagement and outcomes.

In the rapidly evolving world of education, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a beacon of innovation, offering new pathways for interactive and impactful learning. "AI Unleashed in the Classroom: Building the Foundations for Fun and Exciting Learning Adventures" is a 75-minute workshop designed to immerse educators in the foundational aspects of AI, transforming their teaching methodologies into captivating and effective learning experiences. This workshop aims to demystify AI for educators, offering a deep yet accessible dive into its core principles and potential applications in the classroom. Participants will embark on an exploratory journey through the world of AI, uncovering how it can be integrated seamlessly into various educational scenarios. We will focus on the engaging aspects of AI, showcasing how it can make learning more relevant and engaging for students. Educators will leave with a toolkit of ideas, resources, and a newfound confidence to integrate AI into their teaching practices, ready to embark on fun and exciting learning adventures with their students.

When we create learning experiences for everyone, we end up creating for no one, which means we end up with the same old dull, dry, boring programs. Imagine a more targeted approach that allows you to create a learning event THEY enjoy. Whether you're using gamification or new technologies, having learner personas allows you to target your message and apply learning tools that will appeal to your audience…most of them. Drawing from a process used by successful marketers, you, too, can target your 'product' to specific audiences. In this interactive presentation, you will not only learn about why we need personas but be introduced to how you can create ones for your organization. In fact, we will begin creating during the fast-paced session. In a time when we expect individualized experiences, it is time to create learning experiences that "they" enjoy.

Video has always been a cornerstone of online learning, but in the last few years online faculty have been expected to act as their own scriptwriters, videographers, and editors in far greater numbers. While many can easily draw on their subject matter expertise to write their scripts and most have some experience using a camera in their daily lives, editing software and editing techniques can have a steep learning curve. This can leave many frustrated as they try to create videos that meet the professional standards their content deserves. Luckily, the rise of AI technologies has come through to make this process easier. This session will provide a workflow to easily take raw footage through the stages of assembly, editing, color correction, audio editing, and the addition of post-production elements to create a professional looking video anyone would be proud to include in their course. AI functionality within Adobe Premiere Pro will be used at several stages to make this process user friendly and efficient and best practices of video production will be shared along the way by media professionals.

New York Times bestselling author, Adam Grant, has released a masterpiece: Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things (2023; Viking Press). This masterpiece has implications for instructional design in distance education. Where better to aim toward achieving greater things than in the distance education classroom? Who better to achieve those greater things than online students and faculty? Where better to invest lessons on uncovering hidden potential than in the act of designing online classrooms? This session will highlight key principles from Grant's book and translate them into design practices that can help you uncover the hidden potential in both students and online teachers.

Virtual leadership has become essential for organizations to thrive. Key topics include developing a culture of communication, building relationships, collaborating with teams in different time zones, and leveraging innovative interactivity. We'll explore Leader Labs to foster an environment where open and transparent communication is encouraged. Despite not having the opportunity for face-to-face interaction, we'll discuss opportunities to establish trust and rapport with team members. Collaborating with teams in different time zones also presents unique challenges. We'll present the M.E.C.A format for overcoming this challenge in a fun manner. Lastly, innovative interactivity is vital for virtual leadership success. Leaders should leverage technology tools and platforms to facilitate collaboration, engagement, and knowledge sharing among team members. This includes utilizing virtual meeting software, project management tools, and online learning platforms.

By mastering these techniques, leaders can transcend geographical boundaries and effectively lead virtual teams, ultimately driving organizational success in the age of technology.

Vincent Price coined the phrase, 'I know what I like … and I like what I know' and while he was referring to art, I see L&D teams with different operational requests provide one solution. We're missing the need of the broader learning community with this model, to be blunt, not every training request or performance problem requires a class or a course to be designed, developed, and then delivered. Learning and development professionals need to provide solutions that meet the diverse needs of an organization meeting the 3 'C's'.
In this webinar I highlight the common theme is access to information needed to be successful within the organization while focusing on the needs of the individual in different phases of their career. To be compliant, to perform successfully within the context of the role, and grow in their career requires a broad range of design frameworks that address different purposes, audiences, and business objectives. Move beyond developing courses and classes, 'C the bigger picture and use learning as a strategic business tool to develop, engage, and retain your workforce.

'Cowboys and Space Cadets Can Be Friends: IDs and SMEs' focuses on building a relationship between Instructional Designers and Subject Matter Experts. IDs wear multiple hats as they fabricate graphics, align learning objectives, edit videos, check for accessibility, and construct course layouts. Something that gets overlooked is successfully forming a working relationship with the SME and communicating with them. You can be the best ID in the world, but if you cannot collaborate with others, then your project is destined to fail.
To create a successful relationship between an ID and an SME, you must have a plan. While you're working together, it's imperative for the ID to create a plan that allows the SME to focus on their content and not the nuts and bolts of how the course will be constructed. Establishing clear expectations and responsibilities from the beginning of the project will help to create a sense of trust.
While you will occasionally work with a difficult SME, it's important to do everything in your power to create a positive experience as bad news travels fast, but good news takes the scenic route. Being a good communicator will build equity with an SME for future projects.

Emerging from the pandemic, Higher Education has found itself in the future a few years earlier than expected. Working students are now rarely working in the office exclusively, and demand more flexible ways to complete their education – combining the best from in-person and online modalities. HyFlex is the natural way to meet students where they want to be. Whilst HyFlex is eagerly embraced my many students, it can be a heavy burden for overworked faculty and staff. In this holistic session, learn how HyFlex can be successfully implemented, improving student outcomes, and being embraced by a majority of faculty and staff. You will emerge with a valuable set of concepts, best practices, and examples that you can bring back to your institutions.

Our institution has a long-term relationship with an OPM vendor. Due to the high cost of the revenue-sharing model and the recent regulation from the Department of Education, the university leadership has decided to gradually transition out of the OPM relationship to become a self-supported online operation by 2033. As the first step towards that goal, we have transitioned our online EdD program from our external OPM partner to internal operations. The entire process took three months to complete. The OPM contract was terminated with specific terms addressing the transitional services including marketing, recruitment, student support, course design, and website. A transition plan was created to guide the transition process. The transition process includes the transfer of course materials, faculty communication, student information, enrollment management communications, technology support, tutoring support, and so forth. Various stakeholders across campus were involved. This session aims to provide an overview of the transition process from an external OPM to internal operations for our online EdD program. We will discuss the steps involved, important contractual terms, internal and external stakeholders, as well as lessons learned for future transitions. Participants will be able to create a draft transition plan by the end of the session.

In the post-pandemic world knowing how to leverage planning and control is vital in protecting the return on investment that institutions are making in distance learning. Both students and faculty have learned the value of distance learning classes and are reluctant about returning to campus. By using planning and control models, the institution can ensure quality in the design and delivery of instruction and the student support services provided. Typically planning and control for an institution is strategic planning. However, strategic planning is difficult when applying it to technology because of the rapid changes in the field. This presentation will explore different models for creating planning and control while maintaining quality within the operations of a distance learning program. Different tools that can be used to monitor quality in the design, delivery, and support will be shared. As institutions enter the post pandemic world with lower student enrollments and limited resources, the planning and control models can assist in navigating and deciding where to place money for the best return on investment.

Many traditional universities were seeking different opportunities to provide diverse delivery options to attend classes. Online learning was great for continuity but students began to feel isolated listening to recorded lectures and craved the previous engagement experienced in class. The solution was HyFlex. Beatty (2010) defines HyFlex courses as those that "enable a flexible participation policy for students whereby students may choose to attend face-to-face synchronous class sessions or complete course learning activities online without physically attending class."

Our approach leveled this up by adding engagement activities and branding it- ActiveFlex. This balanced the demands for course availability and instructional innovation by restructuring courses using the rule of thirds. The first ⅓ of the class engaged students with gamified lectures where participants could share experiences both in class and online. The ⅔ consisted of the reinforcement activities where all participants collaborated. The last third was structured as an open lab to brainstorm, ask questions, and practice lessons. The next level of ActiveFlex expanded in Science and Math focusing on teaching inquiry-based lessons and experiments with a STEM partner. Additionally, co-teaching was trialed. An overview of the methods used in ActiveFlex resulting in flexibility for students and faculty will be discussed.

This session addresses the challenge of integrating novice Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), particularly "designers-by-assignment," into the instructional design process. Focused on Merrill's First Principles of Instruction, we explore strategies to increase buy-in and mitigate push-back from SMEs who are new to instructional design collaboration. By tailoring our approach to meet SMEs where they are, this discussion aims to empower instructional designers to effectively work with novice SMEs, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances the overall instructional design process.

Schools switching to a competency-based assessment model are lacking the tools to document and track student progress. Virtual Learning Charter School based in NH is a pioneer in providing a CBE where Competencies and flexible pacing are cornerstones of customized learning. Defining competencies as the big ideas, concepts, and enduring understandings that students are expected to master before moving on, VLACS found a way to simplify how they track assessments with a seamless communication and alignment between their LMS and SIS.

When it comes to creating gamified or game-based learning experiences, most practitioners throw game mechanics at a program without a methodology or rational strategy. They assume that what is fun for them will be fun for their learners. The results are hit-or-miss.
When budgets and time are in short supply, organizations cannot afford to simply apply game mechanics without a purposeful approach that predicts which game mechanics will appeal to this specific audience. This session outlines a practical approach to determining which game mechanics will motivate a targeted audience. You will learn how an empirically-based taxonomy of core human desires predicts what will be 'fun' for specific participants, why some people like competition while others prefer quiet concentration, and still others let it all ride on black. Instead of trying to force everyone to play your game, you will create experiences designed specifically for them. The results? Engaged, excited, and happy learners, and a healthy return on your investment.

In the ever-evolving world of online education, consortium membership and nonprofit collaboration offer innovation and opportunity. We delve into their transformative potential for online program development, emphasizing their relevance. Our interactive session includes live polls, case studies, and Q&A segments. Attendees will take away insights on challenges, equitable education, financial benefits, innovation, and practical strategies. Join us to shape the future of online learning.

The knowledge gained in courses is just one aspect of a rich higher education experience. The connections students make and the relationships they build contribute to the full value of their education experience. But for online students, building these networks can be complicated and overwhelming. Digital communities offer a robust platform for virtual learners to grow their social networks, providing academic support, a strong sense of peer connection, and long-term professional opportunities. Join us for an insightful demonstration of how digital communities can amplify social capital for students, setting them up for success during and after their academic journey.

Participants can expect to: discover research that highlights how engaging in digital communities broadens students' social networks and fosters a stronger sense of belonging; learn how institutions like Western Governors University, Arizona State University, University of North Texas NT, Rio Salado College, Fort Hays State University, and many more use digital communities to forge new relationships and enhance their academic and professional influence; and explore the benefits of student-led digital communities characterized by mutual support and minimal oversight, promoting rich peer-to-peer learning and growth.

In a 2023 Healthy Minds survey, more than 40% of college students screened positive for depression and more than 35% screened positive for anxiety.

With the increase in student need running head first into exhausted front line caregiver staff, sustainable solutions are complicated. How can we meet and support the increasing well-being needs of students?

This presentation will overview wellbeing trends and their impact on student success. Small group discussions will allow campuses to evaluate and share strengths and growth opportunities within their systems of care.

One of the many outcomes of the COVID-19 Pandemic has been that online education has become a more central and structural part of the mission of many colleges and universities. While some of these have opted to partner with an online program management firm, a growing number are forming centralized online education units and implementing more centralized and institution-wide processes to be able to scale the development of online programs and courses. One of these areas is more coordinated and institution-aligned online course development. Since colleges and universities each have unique needs and cultures, there is no 'one size fits all' model for managing online course development across an institution. However, there are some common decisions that need to be made. This presentation will present a decision-making framework for leaders to help them formulate or improve their institutional online course development process.

Discover how the award-winning AI Teaching Assistant, Syntea, revolutionizes student engagement and academic achievement. Drawing inspiration from the Socratic method, Syntea offers a tailored learning experience with tools such as on-demand Q&A, pre-assessment diagnostics, and an innovative Exam Trainer. Functioning around the clock, Syntea's Conversational UI integrates smoothly, providing immediate assistance to students, while empowering educators by automating routine inquiries and enriching educational resources through valuable data-driven insights. This pivotal AI investment not only elevates academic support, but also places IU at the vanguard of educational technology, equipping both faculty and students to thrive in today's dynamic academic ecosystem.

This session will help attendees better understand the various trends across the U.S. economy in general and within higher education specifically impacting both H.R.6585 - Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act and H.R. 6655 - A Stronger Workforce for America Act

From its powerful broadcast signals, to free, high-quality online resources for K-12 classrooms and teachers; from partners in education on college campuses across the country to supporting adults in GED preparation or training for a new career, Public Media has a long and storied history in distance education. Come learn more about the Public Media systems support for distance learning and how to connect with Public Media in your communities.

This presentation will demonstrate how videos can be used to enhance discussion assignment efficacy as well as provide enhanced instruction to students on specific course topics. Participants will be provided with considerations regarding how to create strategically aligned discussions, and then deliver video-based feedback for discussion board assignments as well as strategies to use videos as effective teaching tools to supplement lectures and course reading. This approach is an improvement on the traditional online assignment paradigm and better suited for today's digital learners.

This session will examine the benefits of using a good template. It will examine the components of a good template and how those components relate to the Quality Matters standards. Templates are useful for any course regardless of the mode of course delivery. This session will be helpful to instructional designers and faculty. Learn how to encourage the use of templates on your campus.

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital education, cultivating resilience is not just a necessity but a pathway to long-term success. Resilience in online education refers to the ability of educational institutions, instructors, and learners to adapt to challenges and changes while maintaining the quality and effectiveness of the learning experience. Fostering resilience amidst challenges and the dynamic educational landscape requires inclusive and grounded visionary leadership. This leadership style not only empowers individuals in all roles of education but also cultivates a positive mindset within the framework of diverse and dynamic key elements and strategies.

Are you in search of a unique activity to increase engagement in your online course? Have you ever considered creating a digital escape room? It's easier than you think and can be done for free (or very little cost). In this session, you will learn about some important considerations for developing a digital escape room activity. In this session, you will see how easy they are to create and customize with the opportunity to build your own. You will also be provided with some helpful resources, tips, suggestions, and techniques to get you started creating your own digital escape room activity.

In an era where academic institutions must adapt swiftly to the changing educational landscape, we introduce a rapid prototyping model for online program development that balances expediency with quality. Attendees will explore a dual-pathway approach, dividing tasks into academic development and student support, to swiftly launch well-integrated online programs without compromising academic integrity or student engagement.

The post-pandemic world has pushed educational institutions towards a precipice where traditional program development models no longer suffice. As online education becomes a vital component of institutional offerings, the need to implement quality programs rapidly is paramount. This workshop presents a rapid prototyping model that allows for the quick launch of online programs by executing two simultaneous and coordinated planning and development processes: one academic and the other centered around student support. By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration, this model ensures that quality and rigor remain at the forefront of accelerated program development.
Participants will leave this session with:

An understanding of the significance of collaboration and coordination in fast-tracking online program development.
A clear definition of milestones for rapidly jump-starting program development, differentiated by academic and student support pathways.
A draft roadmap template, adaptable to their institution, to kickstart their online programs.

Join Dr Jillian Starman in an immersive journey through the intricacies of learner engagement. This captivating session is designed to guide participants through a dynamic exploration of challenges, solutions, and the vision for a future where learner engagement is the cornerstone of effective education.
Attendees are encouraged to reflect on the significant challenges they face in maintaining learner engagement, and as a group delve into the costly ramifications of disengaged learners, supported by compelling research insights and real-world examples.
Those who attend this session will gain a glimpse of an ideal learning environment where engagement flourishes. This segues into a strategic plan, offering actionable steps and proven strategies to bridge the gap between the existing challenges and the envisioned success.
This unique opportunity enables attendees to explore personalized solutions to their specific challenges, turning this engaging session into a transformative experience that promises to revolutionize learner engagement.

Bloom's Taxonomy was developed in the late 1940s for the purpose of facilitating and sharing test materials, but over time became part of everyday vocabulary for educators. The Taxonomy is a framework for classifying outcomes as changes in behavior, organized in hierarchy, building upon simpler behaviors to form more complex behaviors. Since its introduction, Bloom's Taxonomy has evolved and adapted to align with other instructional theories and models. This presentation will demonstrate how to use Bloom's for transparent instructional design and introduce additional frameworks in which the Taxonomy is paired with other instructional models and theories to address diversity, equity, and inclusion; cognitive rigor; and artificial intelligence.

The key to a winning gamification strategy is understanding the best types of game elements for both the metrics you want to change AND that your users will enjoy! Implementation of gamification for the sake of doing so rarely, if ever, has the effect you anticipate. To succeed, we must understand the types of game elements available, know the KPI you hope to affect, and understand the type of user (or 'player') that is engaging with your content.

How can you demonstrate that your distance learning programs meet the highest standards of excellence in the industry? How can you benefit from a rigorous and systematic self-evaluation and peer review process? How can you join a network of distinguished institutions that have achieved Quality Certification from USDLA? In this session, Quality Certification team members will share insights and experiences on how USDLA's Quality Certification can help you enhance your reputation, performance, and outcomes in distance learning.

Regular and substantive interaction (RSI) legally differentiates distance education from correspondence education-the latter not qualifying for federal financial aid. During the rapid switch to online instruction overwhelmed faculty and instructions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided waivers and 'flexibilities' that suspended enforcement of distance education regulations. This resulted in numerous online courses that did not meet federal regulations for RSI. Declaring the pandemic emergency to be over, the COVID waivers and flexibilities are going away, and new definitions and additional regulations are now in force. The potential consequences for institutions make this an issue of importance for both faculty and administrators. Come and learn what does and does not constitute RSI, why that matters, what you can do about it, and how you can enhance the experience, while also meeting federal requirements.

Facing a worldwide pandemic within the music education realm created opportunities to venture away from the past years of monotonous teaching of music through a rigid lecture style. Music education being taught during the pandemic was largely emergency teaching, rather than the true implementation of a planned curriculum, and designed strictly for virtual environments. Many musicians, composers, and arrangers of resonant musical compositions and performances have faced enormous differences between the pedagogy of yesterday and today during the worldwide pandemic. Many music educators faced more severe challenges and inequities within music pedagogy, Internet resources, musical instruments, and compatible electronic devices. These challenges and inequities resulted in a lack of attendance, interest, musical ability level, commitment to staying in the music program, communal support for the musical production, proper assessment tools and curriculum with technology-based programs, Internet capabilities for those who taught in higher poverty-stricken, and rural music education communities. This research study highlighted technology and musical learning strategies. The research study showcased the many technological resources (online learning, hybrid learning, Google and its Applications, FlipGrid, Screencastify, musical recordings, and so much more) which music educators found effective.

AI-powered apps such as ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E, and an ever-evolving array of new possibilities have gained ubiquitous usage in an educational context, producing results that surpass what was previously gleaned from search engines. Precise results, however, require crafting well-designed questions or commands that tell the AI what to do (McCoy, What is Prompt Engineering, 2023) and many times can become a trial-and-error process.

This session provides an overview of Prompt Engineering, an important skill in creating prompts that guide Generative AI models to produce accurate and relevant results; thus, enhancing the ability to use generative AI effectively.

Do you think hybrid is too difficult?
Do you think hybrid is too expensive?
Would you like to maximize your learner audience?

"How To Make Engaging Hybrid Learning Technology" is a comprehensive program designed for educators and technologists who aim to blend traditional and digital teaching methods effectively. This course delves into the intricacies of creating hybrid learning environments that are not only technologically advanced but also highly engaging for students.

Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, participants will explore the latest tools and strategies in hybrid learning.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the 6-steps of Hybrid Learning: Gain a solid understanding of the principles of engaging hybrid learning, including how to leverage technology to enhance student engagement and participation.

Develop Skills in Digital Content Creation: Learn how to design and create compelling digital content that complements traditional teaching methods. This includes use no-technology techniques with high-technology tools.

Experiential Hybrid Learning: This program will be presented hybrid and have the benefit of allowing participants to try out the techniques and the technology with their presentations.

Providing leadership and advocacy for digital learning in higher education that promotes, sustains, and advocates quality digital learner experiences for stakeholders across a state to support globally competitive, digitally proficient citizens is no small undertaking. One division was tasked with just that. Learn more about the digital learning portfolio that ties modeling digital excellence, advancing digital learning content and community, and promoting the digital learning conversation together through collaborative initiatives that have the farthest reach in impact and open access. Initiatives are rooted in research and landscape analyses so that the portfolio supports work that empowers educators and is ultimately created by educators. See how the portfolio of projects leans into important, but not always easily solved problems by listening to stakeholders from across the state, invites subject matter expertise where needed, and seeks to fill gaps in resources and support. In this session, you will learn about the broad portfolio of initiatives and projects as well as take deeper dives into the inspiration, approach, and outreach efforts that move the quality needle forward with digital learning in higher education.

Have you ever wondered if a curriculum or intervention actually helps students make learning gains? Can you articulate the difference between efficacy and effectiveness? Do you know how to identify evidence-based practices (EBPs) in education? Can those EBPs be adapted to a virtual school setting? This interactive session will help you learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate efficacy studies in virtual schools. You will learn how to identify learner outcomes, select a study design, measure gains, and calculate return on investment.

We have all had faculty that show up for work, teach their classes, and log off. Are they engaged? Are they invested in the college or university? As leaders, we know that it is important for our students to be engaged in their courses, but it is equally important to have our faculty engaged in their courses, their departments and ultimately their college. Engaged faculty are more likely to be passionate about their subjects, stay updated on the latest research and teaching methods, and provide a dynamic and engaging learning environment for all students. When faculty are engaged, they have a sense of belonging and responsibility to the college and its students. Faculty want to be a part of the college. Engagement is not one size fits all, but in a large university, there are many options. During this session, we will discuss various engagement strategies that have been successful in our departments and college. Many of these strategies are low cost, effective ways to successfully engage your faculty.

We'll delve into the groundbreaking amalgamation of gamification and generative AI, a synergy poised to redefine user engagement and revolutionize digital products. We explore how gamification, traditionally used to convert mundane tasks into captivating experiences, is evolving through the strategic integration of generative AI. This fusion creates personalized, immersive, and dynamic user interactions, transcending traditional barriers in customer engagement, education, healthcare, and beyond. We'll dissect real-world examples, such as Duolingo and LinkedIn, and explore innovative ways generative AI transforms these mechanics. The focus will be on practical applications and future potentials, providing actionable insights for attendees.

Join Prof. Dr. Florian Hummel as he explores the frontier of digital collaboration in global higher education, focusing on innovative for-profit digital business models that enhance the online university value chain. Representing IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany's largest institution with over 120,000 students, Prof. Dr. Hummel will discuss building and leveraging global partnership models to widen global access to higher education. The session will highlight IU's commitment to making education accessible, showcasing case studies and best practices of IU´s international partnership models including emerging models such as digital degree and module licensing as well as a university as-a-service (UaaS) platform.

Discover how IU's strategic use of technology and digital partnerships is lowering educational barriers, adding value for students globally as well as diversify its value chain.

In an era where AI is rapidly transforming the workplace, understanding and addressing employee fears is crucial. "Embracing AI: Navigating Workplace Fears and Responding to Change" is a 45-minute interactive session designed to share how two co-presenters at a higher education institution demystify AI and its implications in the modern workspace for employees. This session delves into the heart of common apprehensions surrounding AI. We will share insights from our journey in conducting two-hour Generative AI Workshops designed to familiarize employees with AI without the need for deep technical knowledge. Attendees will learn about the practicalities and feedback received from these workshops, showcasing how non-IT professionals can effectively and responsibly utilize AI for personal and professional tasks. Our session stands out by not only addressing fears but also offering a path to help employees embrace AI. Participants will leave with a blueprint for how to alleviate anxieties and the confidence to help employees begin to integrate AI tools into their daily work, irrespective of their technical background. Join us in transforming fear into opportunity and skepticism into empowerment in the AI-driven workplace.

Distance learning and the technology behind it is shrouded in a media and social media driven cloud of secrecy, jargon, and confusion This fog of misunderstanding gives the opponents of distance learning the tools they need to fight advancements in education that are necessary if we are to meet students of any age where they are; they can fight through both campus and local policies, as well as social and national policies if policy makers are not well-informed. If you are in a position to suggest governance policies surrounding distance learning and the technologies behind it, including artificial intelligence and automated intelligence, to leaders, if you are a leader looking to advance distance learning and technology in education, or an educator looking to change hearts and minds around you, this is the session for you. We will dissect terms in plain language, examine how to advance distance learning across venues, and how to avoid the unnecessary conflict that can come from lack of understanding. You will learn how to develop an active rather than reactive policy plan.

This presentation explores using the hermeneutic loop as an ethical guide for best teaching practices in generative AI learning modalities. The hermeneutic loop facilitates educators by engaging them in iterative reflective practice that promotes deeper and more connected digital interpretation when traditional subject-matter content is transferred to generative AI modalities. A synergistic relationship between digital interpretative strategies, pedagogical expertise, and ethical considerations fosters ethical, responsible, and effective generative AI teaching and learning practices. This empirical approach aims to guide educators in harnessing the power of AI while upholding ethical standards, emphasizing the importance of understanding digital positionality, digital semantic content, and ethical decision-making in the generative AI education landscape.

Implementing social–emotional learning (SEL) at K–12 online schools is critical for the growth of students. Limited research has addressed the impact of school leadership and the implementation of SEL in an online environment. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions of online K–12 teachers to understand the leadership support needed for teachers who are implementing SEL curricula under transformational leadership and whole-child frameworks. In this session, the results of the study will be shared along with practical and applicable skills for online K-12 school leaders to assist their staff in feeling supported and successful in implementing an online SEL program for students.

This presentation will investigate the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing online education's quality assurance and improvement processes. This presentation explores how AI, through sophisticated algorithms and data analytics, is redefining the paradigms of course evaluation and development.

Central to this discussion is integrating AI in the systematic assessment of online courses using tailored evaluation rubrics. These AI-driven rubrics streamline the evaluation process and provide nuanced insights into course components requiring enhancement. AI tools offer a comprehensive understanding of course effectiveness by analyzing various elements such as content relevance, engagement strategies, learning outcomes, and student feedback.

Furthermore, this presentation highlights how AI aids in identifying trends and gaps in course design, facilitating targeted course refreshes and full-scale redevelopments. This proactive approach ensures that courses are up-to-date and aligned with evolving educational standards and learner needs.

By harnessing AI for course evaluation, educators and institutions can elevate the quality of their offerings, leading to enriched learning experiences and educational excellence. Attendees will gain insights into practical strategies for implementing AI in course quality assurance, paving the way for a future where technology and education synergistically enhance each other.

Online learning enables us to teach and learn beyond geographical borders. As we build connections across our global community, our classrooms become more diverse, multicultural, and multilingual. Join us for an engaging panel discussion on supporting multilingual learners in online and blended classrooms. Our panelists all bring important background experiences teaching World Language learners. Currently, the panelists teach at Mizzou Academy, a blended global school that serves students from 60+ countries. This story and strategy-rich panel will point attendees to open-access resources and best practices for supporting and celebrating the strengths multilingual learners bring to our online programs. This isn't just a panel about language learning. It's a panel about human-centered approaches to teaching and growing in cultural competence.

One consistent experience shared among many vulnerable or marginalized learner populations is trauma. This impacts cognitive function, emotional equilibrium, and social/relational abilities, all of which play crucial roles in the learning process.

Recognizing the necessity of addressing trauma as a key component of improved equity, diversity, and inclusion measures, this presentation will focus broadly on the creation and development of trauma-informed online learning experiences for employee training, higher education student support, and behavioral health clinical continuing education as demonstrated through projects at CU-Anschutz for the State of Colorado Behavioral Health Administration's online learning hub, and Utah Valley University's transition program for youth coming from foster care and other high need student populations.

The presenters will share lessons learned from the process of articulating a clear vision and outcomes for these distinct projects, the development of performance metrics and sustainable governance, inclusion of those with lived experience in content formation, and obstacles faced in implementation. They will also share the importance of recognizing trauma through a community lens to develop online content that targets inclusion.

Attendees are encouraged to participate in an individualized hands-on activity using provided worksheets to apply these lessons learned to their own inclusive learning projects.

This presentation will share the latest results from Bay View Analytics' 2023-24 survey on Digital Curricula adoption. It will include data on teacher, faculty, and administrator perspectives on the use of digital materials in the classroom and their viability in supplementing (or replacing) textbooks. The presentation will center on the levels awareness and adoption of open educational resources (OER) in K-12 and higher education classrooms, ranging from digital textbooks to supplemental digital tools like online homework and collaboration tools. We've been tracking the growing awareness and adoption of OER and digital tools through annual surveys since 2009 and will highlight the trends and data we've observed over the course of our research.