Schedule 2024

What happens inside the online course is critical for student retention; however, what happens outside of the online course is just as important. Join us as we discuss what colleges and universities can do “outside of the classroom” to help fully online learners feel connected with their institutions.

This study was designed to investigate the research gap of what academic coaches were doing in the courses for professors and students, solicit the coach’s perception about the efficacy of that task, and their suggestions for best utilizing an academic coach.

The answer, of course, is everyone! Better syllabi are key to student success, but getting there on your own can feel impossible. Join Will Folden, former distance educator and instructional designer, to hear how Concourse Syllabus delivers better syllabi painlessly. Syllabus management isn’t simple - but Concourse can make it easy!

This presentation will introduce participants to ten unique, proven strategies and processes for ensuring quality assurance in online course development, delivery, evaluation, and faculty support. Data- quantitative and qualitative in nature- will support the recommendations.

Open Educational Resources (OER) play a crucial role in revolutionizing the student learning journey. They can be viewed from both a social justice perspective, where they aim to alleviate inequalities by reducing the financial strain on learners and facilitating access to educational materials, and from an instructional standpoint, as faculty members incorporate changes that improve student learning. Designing and implementing a well-designed OER course requires training and knowledge. The widespread implementation of OER necessitates the establishment of enduring support systems and procedures to assist faculty members. This Fishbowl dialogue will explain, demonstrate, and discuss the design and procedure that was used to train faculty to modify a department from using textbooks to OER.

Discover how the University System of Georgia eCampus utilizes learner data from its learning management system to identify and support at-risk students. This presentation will delve into the five key variables incorporated in our machine learning algorithm, providing insights into its operation and effectiveness. You'll learn practical steps to deploy a similar algorithm at your institution (it's easier than you think!). Additionally, we'll explore the benefits of integrating a ticketing system or CRM to streamline outreach efforts and track their impact, ensuring comprehensive support for students in need.

This presentation discusses the success of the TCC Connect Campus, which was established as a centralized online eLearning campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The author will communicate the strategies employed to grow and scale academic offerings, student services, quality, and rigor and develop best practices to satisfy the needs of 30,000 non-traditional students as a completely online campus. The campus will be celebrating its 10th year of operation in 2024.

VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, and a catchall for “It’s crazy out there, y’all! In this showcase session, we’ll share our best efforts to effectively reach today’s diverse learners. You’ll see project samples from workforce, public health, and prevention programming. We’re looking forward to discussing, with you, how the peaks and valleys of VUCA make for a wild, but fun ride when designing interactive learning.

I will project the future of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education and encourage brainstorming amongst the participants to develop a consensus of where we will be with Artificial Intelligence in 5 years. Alternate possibilities may include accepting and embracing AI as part of the whole student concept OR the development of sophisticated AI prevention rules.

In 2023, UWG began a multi-year project to provide students with consistent learning experiences in the LMS, regardless of the modality. Standardizing tool usage has laid the groundwork for reporting and data visualization for stakeholders. This session will review the UWG implementation processes, wins, and challenges and encourage discussion.

Does your online program struggle with the "disappearing student" or "unapproachable" faculty member? Are you working overtime to support the many needs of the online student? This paper will detail both practical and academic strategies about how to support and retain students via a multipronged approach that includes both faculty and student support resources.

Using Q methodology in an online leadership class enhanced learning. Students sorted leadership attributes, which were then analyzed. In the next class, they solved two case studies in their factor groups. We ended with a discussion on how to write narratives as a leader to ensure you capture all viewpoints.

Learn how over 375 institutions, 10 of which are in Georgia, including USG eCampus, Georgia Highlands College and Coastal Pines Technical College, use Simple Syllabus to create a collaborative environment between instructors, instructional designers, and more for building online syllabi. See the tool in action and how Simple Syllabus seamlessly integrates with the LMS, including a live sync for the class schedule and accessibility tools, to save instructors time, improve the learning experience, and comply with accreditation requirements all while maintaining a syllabus repository with reporting capabilities.

This proposal addresses effective crisis management within large instructional design teams. Exploring proactive strategies, communication protocols, and leadership approaches, it aims to enhance the team's resilience and responsiveness to unforeseen challenges, ensuring sustained productivity and collaborative success in the dynamic field of instructional design.

Effective course design is a cornerstone of quality education. However, the diversity of academic disciplines and the evolving landscape of educational methods lead to fragmented approaches to course design and evaluation. Participants will evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of using a universal rubric for reviewing course design in higher education.

This presentation will discuss the need to teach sound ethical reasoning to non-philosophy students to help encourage critical thought in the spirit of classical liberalism. The objective is to not only educate students but regain public confidence in higher education.

This presentation discusses the TCC Connect Campus's success in implementing a Virtual Computer Lab (VCL) to support online learning. Students enrolled in online courses need the right digital learning infrastructure on their side to access the courses. Using a VCL eliminates that barrier, as students can connect to powerful servers and access software from any device, regardless of its specifications. The author will communicate the strategies employed to grow and scale academic offerings, student services, quality, and rigor and develop best practices to satisfy non-traditional students as a completely online campus. The campus will be celebrating its 10th year of operation in 2024.

Increasing student engagement in an online learning environment is a challenge for many universities. Learning tools such as recording, live streaming, video quizzing, searchable metadata, video commenting, and analytics are some of the many features that help faculty enhance and analyze student engagement. Nannette will demonstrate how higher-ed institutions are using these tools to create engaging, interactive learning environments for students.

Based on the Patrick M. Lencioni's article "Make Your Values Mean Something" this session will cover the meaning of enterprise core values, how to discover them, and how to bring them to life in your organization. Become familiar with how values fit into the organization areas of excellence and how to increase value ownership.

Purpose: In support of the HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program’s (NFLP’s) goal to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty. Since 2012, The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing (UC CON) has awarded 4.4 million dollars to 63 NFLP recipients (one student was NFLP-funded for both master’s and DNP degrees). Many of these graduates are now in full-time or in multiple part-time faculty positions. Several prior recipients are working as nurse faculty, some at rural and community colleges where the nurse faculty shortage is most acute

Join the DLA Conference founder for a humorous but highly practical look at tough lessons learned during her nearly 30 years of distance learning leadership. We will look at managing rapid growth, unexpected hiring red flags, phantom loyalists, retaining the very best, realities of “fairness,” building a student-first environment, and other pleasantries.

Contingent faculty play a critical role in teaching online, yet there is little research in this area. Our study examines how contingent faculty teaching in online programs talk about the holistic support they need. Specifically, we want to know how they discuss needed support for their personal development and inclusion.

Learn more about the history of AI, how it came to be what it is now, and how it actually works. Then we’ll share more about Tutor.com’s new AI writing tool that can support students through some of their earliest writing stages. Most importantly, we will discuss your burning questions about why students should use AI and how you as instructional leaders can trust and encourage the use of Tutor.com’s AI product.

This discussion will review incorporating microcredentials into the University System of Georgia's FreeCampus. Leveraging FreeCampus into a student's learning plan can boost student success, allow students to explore various fields of study, and experience online learning in a low-stakes environment.

This fishbowl presentation will look at online student support from the human perspective instead of an AI perspective. Although we acknowledge the potential that AI holds, we will discuss the tangible and intangible benefits of human interaction and why it still matters in the online classroom, juxtaposed against what AI technology offers.

Marketing dollars bring learners in, but what retains the learners? We used a data-mining approach along with machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis and several other data algorithms to examine what qualities help a learner stick around. Is it GPA? Does gender matter? First Generation status? Attempted credits? Or other?

Social capital describes the networks, relationships, and norms that shape our interactions with others. Applying a social capital framework in distance education can enhance student outcomes and foster success post-graduation. This session will explore how a social capital framework can be applied to distance courses and programs.

Gen Z's integration of social media as a marketplace, social hub, and information source leads to a blend of influences affecting their decisions on schools, majors, purchases and much more. This is the first generation to grow up with all of the technology and they have shifted the typical patterns that we have come to rely on for Marketing and Targeting. Here we will look at these shifts and how you can use this and technology to better position your Program.

Where are the gaps in the distance learning administration knowledge base? Which research studies, books, and data would help you with your DL administration duties and tasks? Come and discuss your needs with an editor of a book series on educational technology/distance learning leadership and management.

Many institutions are grappling with how to educate faculty and students about the responsible, ethical use of generative AI in online courses. This discussion focuses on simple, low-cost ways to promote AI literacy using existing technologies, such as the LMS and research guides.

The exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes almost all aspects of human society. Higher education, and in particular distance learning, will undoubtedly incorporate AI as both a method, and a content, of every discipline taught. As mathematics became a foundation of the scientific method, AI is now a fundamental component of our computer-based future. Distance learning, as a computer-based learning system, will both shape and be shaped by AI. The potential power of AI must, however, also be balanced by the ethics of teaching and learning. With the rapid advances of AI and the seemingly infinite ability of today’s students to comprehend both its use and its benefits, it is vital – as educators – to get out ahead of the wave.

Kennesaw State partnered with Microsoft to build uHoo Analytics, a D2L tool for helping faculty identify instructional challenges, academic support needs, and opportunities for revising course content, activities, and assessments. With improving student success at the forefront, faculty are now learning scientists using their research skills to increase instructional effectiveness.

The rapid evolution of higher education necessitates adaptive digital exam engines integrated with the LMS to ensure success in reliability, security, and accessibility.  Today teachers and students need an adaptive system, offering a comprehensive suite of functionalities that are meticulously designed to enhance the assessment experience for educators and students.

This session explores strategies for maintaining strong ties with distance students post-graduation. Discussion will emphasize the importance of alumni in recruitment, marketing, and student mentorship. Conversations and brainstorms will offer practical methods for engaging alumni, leveraging their experiences to enrich current students' learning and enhance institutional reputation.

Adjunct faculty are vital to the success of most distance learning institutions. As key stakeholders in the delivery of quality education, they are often the face of the institution. The presentation examines experiences and best practices in providing structure, support and resources for the management of these part-time and often marginalized instructors.

Nashville State Community College (NSCC) developed a comprehensive plan to offer Competency- Based Education (CBE) Programs. This presentation will provide NSCC’s summary of findings involving multiple departments from academic and student affairs, the CBE course development process, and promoting student success.

Discover easy methods American College of Education (ACE) uses to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices within the curriculum and virtual college experience. The use of the DEI Center is one way the institution makes the college experience inclusive for students. Faculty and staff can also participate in the college’s success.

In the realm of distance education, creating meaningful interactions between instructors and students is vital for effective learning. This presentation explores leveraging Brightspace tools to enhance student engagement and instructor presence. By using features within Brightspace, instructors can inspire active participation and improve course delivery.

This fishbowl dialogue will provide an active, facilitated discussion of high impact strategies for supporting online students. Topics discussed will include current research on online student needs, evidence-based strategies, tools, platforms, and feedback mechanisms. Examples of successful student support initiatives at a research-1 institution will be shared.

Academia has begun addressing the increasing problem of student wellbeing, but most of the focus has centered around on-campus students. However, student wellbeing doesn’t end in the physical class space. In this fishbowl we aim to discuss the different issues we encounter with online student wellbeing and brainstorm possible solutions.

Kennesaw State University’s online growth has multiplied exponentially with over half its students taking online courses. Offering 17 undergraduate and 33 graduate online degrees, learn how KSU strategically rebranded to promote remote opportunities for engaging students in campus services and for supporting both current and future online learners.

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) offers coursework and advises students into a modality that maximizes their success rates to augment hybrid delivery with experiential learning and hands-on experience in cases where it is prudent and beneficial. Our increasing focus on students who fluctuate between online and traditional delivery has resulted in some comprehensive student support initiatives. A quick review of the results in some of MGA’s initiatives noted that they have resulted in a 13% increase in students successfully (A or B) completing the course when they fail the first assignment, a 14% increase in successful completion when noted for low engagement in the course, a 2% decrease in students falling into probationary status, and a 100% retention rate for our roundtable mentoring program, a considerable achievement for students who often have competing obligations and struggle in a single modality. We will review what worked and where we found opportunities for improvement.

Do you know which AI extensions your students are attempting to use during exams? Do you know how many of your exam questions have leaked on the web? Honorlock’s new Analytics HubTM will help you not only answer those questions but will also show you how to use data to better understand proctoring insights and challenges that are impacting academic integrity at your institution. Join Honorlock experts as they delve into the Analytics Hub and show how the data found within can directly impact the teaching and learning experience. Learn about the benefits of using analytics to promote positive assessment strategy, support academic integrity, and bolster efficiency across the institution.

Takeaways:

How Honorlock’s Integrity FunnelTM provides a complete view into exam integrity at each step of the proctoring process; Tips to interpret analytics to develop impactful policies and procedures to improve academic integrity; How student success is impacted by intentional proctor interactions

Explore innovative ways to bolster undergraduate research for fully online learners in our fishbowl session. Delve into support mechanisms including workshops, online resource centers, travel and research grants, and mentoring. Explore recognition through certificates, graduation pins, and transcript notation. Discuss credit-bearing opportunities like CUREs, independent studies, capstones, and minor programs.

Comprehensive Learner Records (CLR) seek to address durable soft-skill gaps between colleges and employers. CLRs use technology to capture skills, experiences, badges, and any learning to show students are more prepared for future settings. We’ll discuss how CLRs go beyond traditional academic grades as transcripts of the future.

This study examined the efficacy of multiple-choice questions requiring students to choose the best answer from four possible correct options. The initiative aims to enhance students' capacity for critical thinking within the context of research subjects. These skills are crucial for effectively conducting investigations in practical scenarios.

Discover how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize Distance Learning Administration (DLA). Explore the potential of AI tools to enhance marketing, curriculum, assessment, training, and regulatory compliance. Join this session to witness live demonstrations of AI tools tailored to address specific DLA requirements, while also exploring the ethics surrounding AI usage.

Flexibility is crucial for academic success. Instructional Connections will demonstrate its unique approach to providing adaptable support for students and faculty. Our presentation will showcase our ‘recipe’ of key ingredients that can be customized and re-mixed to meet diverse educational needs

The landscape of nursing enrollment is ever-changing. As enrollment changes, the mode of instruction is evolving as well. Recent research on the topic of online nursing education has shown benefits of students obtaining online education. Digital didactic will correlate with active learning at the clinical site to provide a cohesive and comprehensive nursing education.

Career-related experiential learning can be difficult to deliver in an online class while making clear the ties between the class experience and the real-life application. This presentation will provide some suggestions for making those connections for effective experiential learning.

Distance Learning options have increased and provide opportunity for more collaboration across campus departments and the disability services experts. Unique to Georgia’s University System of Georgia, is a braided approach used in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. Georgia’s innovative system approach has maximized access, enhanced consistency across institutions, and empowered students and providers.

University of Central Oklahoma’s Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) leverages the LMS, rubrics, an online dashboard, transcript services, and badging to assess students’ employability and durable soft-skills. Featured by the Chronicle for Higher Ed, this Comprehensive Learner Record model has helped over 30 U.S. and international institutions learn to innovate forward.

With free access to AI technology, higher education is seeing a rise in AI generated writing submissions and scores. However, the news also depicts false positives while certain websites and videos promote how to create false negatives. This fishbowl presentation will delve into the best practices for interpreting AI writing scores and approaching students with a kind demeanor to discuss the student's writing process in an open and honest conversation. I will cover student-centered teaching pedagogy approaches to AI writing scores, and I will cover how to use AI to quiz students on their papers in real time. Time permitting, I will also cover how to develop staggered assignments and how to teach a citation style quickly to discourage the use of student AI writing submissions.

Join us for a conversation about the main points experienced by instructional designers (ID) and subject matter experts (SME) during collaboration. We will step into each other’s shoes and reflect on best practices for healthy and productive partnerships. Our session was designed to improve training and support for distance instructors.

An overview of how the Online Teaching and Learning Team at Duquesne University pursues excellence in online teaching through deliberate effort at three phases: Professional Development, Course Delivery, and Course Review. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss approaches that they have found to be effective and lead to positive outcomes.

Advancing enrollment efforts through virtual information sessions can replace traditional face-to-face events which serve to garner recruitment. In this session, faculty leaders will explore the benefits of boosting attendance for distance graduate program information sessions, how to make the most of them, and their role in shaping successful graduate applications.

The shifts in learning prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic have had lasting impacts on student expectations and course modalities. Join Whitney Brand to hear how the University of West Georgia is using CourseDen and other technologies to improve the student experience across all modalities, from face-to-face courses to fully online.

Nashville State Community College (NSCC) established a quality course design certification for new and existing online master courses. This session will discuss the course development process, the expectations for instructors, the quality review process, and the results of completed course reviews since 2022.

In this presentation, we introduce a checklist-centered onboarding process developed at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Discover how this tool effectively guides new instructors teaching pre-designed online courses, ensuring both a seamless adoption of teaching responsibilities and the maintenance of the course's original design integrity.

Unlock the potential of podcasts in professional development! Delve into my survey findings revealing how educators leverage podcasts for personalized learning. Uncover preferred content, integration strategies, and the transformative impact on teaching practices.

This research explores the experiences and perceptions of students engaged in online education. The findings reveal that online education videos are vital to the student’s psychological contract and performance within the online setting and highlights the importance of using personal videos for engagement.

Students’ experiences of a week-long, in-person summer institute. Highlighting unique challenges and benefits of how participation influences their journey. Offering insights into the integration of face-to-face interactions within a predominantly online program. Analysis explores the impacts of summer institutes and discusses broader implications for online education and student support strategies.

USG eCampus coordinates a multi-faceted approach to proctored testing. This model is ever-evolving and improving in order to support student needs in a rapidly growing program. We will review the eCampus proctored testing model and the ways we are dedicated to student success with our expanded suite of online proctoring options.

Providing comparable academic support services to distance education students can be challenging. This session will explore several ways instructors and course developers can collaborate with librarians to help bridge the gap. Each librarian in this session has experience working in fully online academic environments. Presenters will share ideas and suggestions for effective partnerships and help participants consider practical solutions they can implement in their classes and programs.

A challenging aspect of creating a new online program is how it impacts existing on-campus programs. Stakeholders are concerned about balancing everything from financial resources to institutional reputation. This session will discuss potential pitfalls and opportunities for faculty success when participating in a new program.

Demand for a flexible learning environment is on the rise. Many scholars, traditional and nontraditional, desire online learning options. I will discuss how implementing effective marketing strategies for distance learning and programs may help institutions meet students’ needs while increasing enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, and serve underrepresented demographics.

The presentation will explore how to best stretch the AI tools our organizations have and to become as creative as we can within those technology perimeters.

This fishbowl session will highlight examples of strategies that serve to embrace the uniqueness of online learners in distance graduate programs. Through thoughtful community building activities, distance learners can develop and expand their networks. By incorporating valuable virtual components which serve to connect students with one another programs can flourish.

I recently attended a webinar where the question at hand was, Do you *post* or do you *teach*, when you make instructor contributions to your online courses? I believe that both student and instructor presence in discussion is something we should further consider within that general frame of reference. Do our students actually discuss, or do they mostly post mini papers or monologues that reply to a pre-set prompt? How about our contributions? Do they facilitate dialogue or do we mostly just pontificate, or redirect, correct, what-have-you? How can we thoroughly assess and - based on that assessment - improve online discussion forum experiences/outcomes for all?