Schedule 2025

This session will explore innovative methods for evaluating course quality using LMS data and insights from key stakeholders to make impactful improvements to the student learning experience. Share your current best practices and learn new ways to manage curriculum to foster authentic engagement, strengthen substantive interaction, and improve learning outcomes.

With the recent U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ruling, larger state and local entities (50,000+ population) must comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Title 2 by April 24, 2026, and for the good of all students, it is critical to help faculty and staff make their digital materials accessible. Draft an actionable action plan, identify resources, and learn some simple ABC strategies to make the process easier.

This fishbowl session will present and discuss how formative student evaluations can help improve online course and program outcomes. Examples of surveys and student feedback opportunities will be shared, along with ideas about how they can be harnessed for course adjustments, program assessment, and meeting institutional goals

There are many "modern complications" arising as a result of generative AI's use of copyrighted materials; unfortunately, we will not properly understand this landscape until several pivotal cases have been resolved by the higher courts. In the interim, we can do our best to develop best practices in terms of student assignments and learning. This open dialogue seeks to consider these matters, particularly in light of distance or hybrid education models.

This session will explain how the University of North Georgia Libraries is using Cognitive Load Theory as the framework for a long-term effort to redesign our collection of research guides and discuss how instructors and designers more broadly can employ its concepts when creating assignments, activities, and course materials.

Since Fall 2023, Augusta University Online (AUO) has enrolled over 1000 students with nearly 70 faculty members. To support them, AUO has implemented a comprehensive help desk and knowledge base that has transformed its ability to provide support. Come here how this initiative has contributed to a 94% persistence rate.

Hybrid meetings are used to accommodate learners who want both face-to-face interactions and the flexibility of meeting at a distance. However, participants often complain of poor experiences in hybrid events, such as disengagement for those online and awkwardness for in-person participants as they interact with their online peers

As AI reshapes education, what skills do students and educators need to thrive in an AI-rich world? This interactive Fishbowl session will explore AI literacy, digital critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in online learning environments. Drawing from real-world teaching experiences, we will discuss how AI can enhance course design, student engagement, and assessment strategies. Participants will leave with actionable insights on integrating AI told effectively while fostering responsible Ai usage in their classrooms.

This presentation investigates the impact of increased smartphone usage on online college learning and offers strategies for adaptation. It highlights both benefits, like flexibility and accessibility, and challenges, such as distractions. Recommendations include optimizing content for mobile devices, incorporating interactive elements, and fostering time-management skills to enhance student engagement.

This session explores integrating ChatGPT into undergraduate courses for enhancing learning, engagement, and skill development. We implemented ChatGPT to better engage students and prepare them for AI-driven work environments. Through real-world case studies, we will highlight the pedagogical framework, demonstrate AI-supported teaching activities, and explore challenges of using generative AI.

Explore new approaches in recruiting online students for graduate programs. Identify your sources of prospective students. Discover: What is the latest and greatest strategy for recruiting online students? What works? What does not work? Investigate how you can you use artificial intelligence to help you expand your student market.

The development of artificial intelligence has introduced numerous challenges & opportunities in distance higher education. In this discussion, participants will be led to share their experiences with the philosophical & practical issues that arise with AI use among students in distance education, while also discussing how higher education administrators are effectively educating on & managing AI use among students.

Under the updated ADA rule, most colleges’ web content must comply with WCAG (Accessibility) Guidelines 2.2AA by April 24, 2026. While compliance officers are working to meet the deadline, some faculty may not realize their materials must comply, too. Join us for insights on making course content usable by all.

This presentation examines how synchronous (construction leadership) and asynchronous (professional development) distance learning modalities foster soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Using a mixed-methods approach, we compare student reflections, engagement data, and course outcomes to uncover key insights and practical strategies for professional education administrators.

The sudden rise of artificial intelligence forced higher education to quickly respond to concerns about plagiarism. But another issue is the growing perception that writing is a skill that is easily replaced with AI and thus not worth developing. This open discussion will explore alternative assessment methods to essays which have been the “bread and butter” of online education for decades

Academic program coordination represents one of the most common faculty administrative appointments in higher education. However, there is a lack of research, particularly in online programs. We present the results of our study which explores the roles and responsibilities of online program coordinators and the support that they need.

Alongside establishing a College of Lifetime Learning, Georgia Tech concurrently kickstarted its digital credentials journey in 2024. We will discuss organizational partnerships, seismic shifts, and cultural considerations bringing digital credentials to a professional education ecosystem including technology selection, building a taxonomy and business process workflows, for delivery of campus codified credentials.

Administration and faculty face significant pressure navigating the dual demands of supporting online graduate student matriculation and sustaining course schedules amid fluctuating enrollments. Effective collaboration, data-driven decisions, and flexible strategies are essential to balance institutional priorities with student needs, ensuring academic quality and operational resilience in a dynamic educational landscape.

This fishbowl session invites attendees to share the toughest challenges they're facing as administrators of online learning programs. Bring your honest struggles to this forum of experienced colleagues who can offer their wisdom and support, and we'll work together to explore lessons others have learned to discover fresh perspectives on our collective challenges.

Effective instruction is as crucial as effective design for online learning. This paper addresses a practical application of the Community of Inquiry model to up-skill instructors, from faculty to adjuncts to industry experts, by focusing on communication, facilitation, and feedback— skills that establish instructor presence and a climate of success.

Drawing insights from the soon-to-be-published book "Cats Don't Carpool," explore how the unique personalities and behaviors of feline archetypes can inspire effective management strategies for leading diverse, distributed teams in distance education. Discover how to unlock the full potential of your 'purr-sonnel'.

The University of North Georgia’s Online Student Success team participates in a student success initiative designed to provide at-risk students with resources to raise their overall GPA above a 2.0. Academic Interventions are provided to students who are on Academic Warning, Academic Probation, or Returning from Academic Suspension. Students are given success plans to complete and are required to meet with an Online Academic Success Coach to determine best practices for success in online courses

Striving for excellence begins where the basics end - requiring innovation, authenticity and a drive for student success. This fishbowl will explore how learning professionals can elevate their distance learning impact through professional growth, owning an authentic presence and surpassing the student experience. Participants will engage in a collaborative discussion, share proven strategies and leave with actionable insights to elevate online learning.

This presentation describes how we support new and continuing adjunct faculty through monthly, online evening sessions. Our goals are to provide relevant information to faculty on a “just-in-time" basis, provide guidance on best practices in teaching, and offer faculty a sense of community and connectedness.

This white paper discusses a model of best practices to better identify and address plagiarism issues with students using AI. By creating a taskforce, we were able to quickly come to a resolution for a university that has three campuses in Chicago, Online, and in Vancouver, BC. We also share best practices that will help current professors and core faculty alike in dealing with plagiarism from students using AI in their work. We end with a discussion of examples that support this effort.

By evaluating educational frameworks, institutions can enhance program success through policy examination, setting expectations and identifying innovative teaching strategies. Recognizing the shifts in distance education programming in relation to the campus as a whole, are essential for meeting student needs and ensuring sustainable growth in online learning environments

Surry Community College’s Alan Unsworth will present an interactive session about increasing student engagement and retention with live, asynchronous, AI, and other online academic supports. Takeaways include: tactics to increase student engagement/program uptake, strategies to improve student success/retention, methods to increase faculty support, and best practices to maximize ROI for interventions.

This presentation explores the application of improvement science to examine processes and policies impacting the graduate student experience. Utilizing the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle and improvement tools, the study proposes actionable strategies to enhance program effectiveness, foster student success, and improve institutional practices, ensuring a supportive environment for graduate students.

In today’s diverse and high-tech learning environment, it is essential to provide flexible and innovative assignment options that engage all students, regardless of their learning preferences or backgrounds. Discover how incorporating gamification and storyboards as alternative assignment formats can enhance engagement, foster creativity, and improve learning outcomes. By leveraging the principles of game design and visual storytelling, educators can make complex concepts more accessible.

Join us for an update on last year's fishbowl on incorporating microcredentials into the University System of Georgia’s FreeCampus. We will discuss new developments and improvements to enhance quality, promote student success, increase marketing efforts, and possibly influence for-credit enrollment via free-to-fee strategies

Discover how FIU’s online MBA program uses a social microlearning app to foster connection and collaboration. Learn strategies to create a culture of openness, build networking skills, and equip students to form lasting professional relationships, enhancing engagement and community in virtual learning environments. Perfect for faculty, administrators, and program designers

Research shows belonging to be a critical factor affecting students’ academic engagement, motivation, persistence, and overall achievement. Yet, the construct of belonging in higher education is complex, contextual and in some ways contested: what does it mean? How do we measure it? How do we influence it? and importantly for those of us working in online environments: in what ways does technology act as a barrier and in what ways can technology facilitate students' sense of belonging? Let’s talk about it!

SUNY Online+ Programs represent SUNY Campus’s and SUNY System’s shared commitment to the highest standards of quality and excellence in all facets of online educational programming, student opportunity, and success. The SUNY Online+ Signature Elements: Personalized student support to promote student success, Engaging discipline and career-related learning experiences, Comprehensive faculty support to ensure quality in course design, development, delivery and evaluation, Robust technology environment for online learning and effective/innovative uses of technology in all aspects of the online program, Institutional commitment to quality assurance for online learning, Assessment of program effectiveness to promote continuous quality improvement, Institutional strategy for sustainability and growth affirm that SUNY Online+ academic programs represent a comprehensive commitment to student success, faculty support and program integrity.

As artificial intelligence is being utilized in various aspects of education, there are many complex issues of copyright and ethical issues when providing content and interacting with information in a virtual classroom. Online librarians remain committed to ensuring faculty and students understand the ethical factor of supporting academic integrity

As generative AI tools become increasingly prevalent, educators face new challenges and opportunities in the online classroom. This interactive presentation explores effective strategies for responding to students' use of generative AI, emphasizing the importance of maintaining academic integrity while fostering a supportive learning environment. We will discuss practical approaches to integrating AI tools into coursework, setting clear guidelines, and promoting ethical use.

This study explores how integrating the arts in humanities courses with transformational leadership promotes meaningful student engagement, critical thinking, and appreciation of differing viewpoints in online learning. By analyzing student engagement data and high-performance team leadership research, it presents a framework that empowers educators and administrators to create more dynamic and connected virtual classrooms. The findings offer actionable strategies to strengthen student-faculty interactions, foster mindfulness and collaboration, and align online education with institutional goals for academic excellence and student success.

The current learner population of Generation Z prefer flexible and autonomous technological learning environments facilitated by instructors who act as knowledgeable peers and not authority figures (Miterianifa et al., 2021). Teaching Gen Z rests on three caveats of: a) method, b) facilitator, and c) technology. My paper focuses on the elements of method and technology. I propose through a metaanalysis that AI (artificial intelligence) blends with gamification to develop HOTS (higher order thinking skills) of problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, innovation, deep and active learning.

Using third-party tools can enhance our online courses by enabling students to create eportfolios, earn badges, watch videos, and more. This discussion will focus on best practices for using third-party tools. Come and share your experiences with the advantages and drawbacks of using these tools.

AI Fridays is an exciting initiative where students and instructors share innovative AI tools every Friday in the college classroom. This collaborative platform encourages exploration and discussion, enhancing learning experiences. By integrating diverse AI resources, students gain valuable skills and insights, fostering a dynamic and tech-savvy educational environment.

Learn how Augusta University Online’s IDEA team integrates Microsoft Loop and Teams to communicate, collaborate, share files, track progress, and stay organized when developing online courses. Our method promotes collaboration and engagement as we work with faculty to develop accessible, inclusive, engaging online courses driven by universal design standards.

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to reshape higher education by increasing efficiencies, executing mundane administrative tasks, reducing research, development and assessment time, and personalizing learning. However, these affordances require investments in applications, infrastructure, personnel, and time. Let’s discuss how to determine the return-on-investment of AI-assisted online learning and administration.

Online students need resources to succeed just as much as our face-to-face students! In fact, probably more so. Making those abundant resources available to the online students can be easy and is often overlooked in the course build process. After leading 75+ course reviews for Quality Matters, let me start a discussion about trends, tips, and takeaways for serving students.

Optional Synchronous Sessions meet with a spectrum of success and participation in asynchronous courses. They support community building, deeper discussions, and real-time guidance from faculty. Students appreciate the opportunity to attend synchronous sessions, but actual attendance is often low. This discussion will solicit strategies to make optional synchronous sessions valuable.

This research study examines post-secondary online students' experiences beyond the course shell, exploring themes such as informal community formation, access to employment development, and co-curricular engagement activities. It also highlights perceptions of community formation in online programs and proposes improvements for future online program development.

Educators often struggle with student use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom. There has been much debate on how to prevent students from using AI on assignments, how instructors can monitor this usage, and what it could mean for performance indicators when measuring student outcomes. Teaching proper usage of AI as an educational tool can help students embrace the technology and be more educated consumers in the long run. Instead of preventing students from using this budding technology, there are methods educators can incorporate to explore the benefits of AI while training students in the shortfalls of the service. Embracing AI as a positive institution in the classroom environment can help students be more critically aware of course topics, sift through more information in a shorter amount of time, and empower them to make more informed decisions.

This Fishbowl covers how others have emulated the campus-wide Comprehensive Learner Record dashboard solution, tracking holistic learning and durable skills for students to better articulate abilities post-graduation. Updated data to be shared on University of Central Oklahoma's improved retention in 10 cohorts, with strategies/lessons learned, as well as discussion on how other campuses are now innovating forward.

This is the story of how I became the accidental AI educator for my campus! Come hear my story and share your own experiences, challenges, and concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) in education and distance learning.

Journaling fosters deep reflection, connecting theory with real-world applications, while promoting student ownership and engagement. This study examined the effects of weekly reflective journaling in an online course, revealing positive impacts on learning outcomes and course satisfaction.

The design of ranking assessments necessitates students analyzing scenarios instead of only recognizing correct answers. This technique requires students to critically analyze alternatives, evaluate their benefits, and prioritize using learned ideas. Shifting from a binary right/wrong paradigm to a reasoned comparative methodology improves learning and retention while promoting active engagement.

This session delves into the critical need for trauma-informed approaches in higher education. We'll explore how to create safe and inclusive learning environments for students who may have experienced trauma, particularly when addressing sensitive topics like suicide, sexual assault, and other challenging subjects. Discover practical strategies for incorporating trauma-informed principles into your course design, including content warnings, alternative assessment methods, and fostering a supportive classroom culture. Leave with actionable steps to revise your own courses and create a more compassionate and effective learning experience for all students.

Education can be daunting for some students and some instructors on ground and on-line. The discussion surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been brought up by students and instructors. Where and how can we/do we use it. I would like to share my experience at my education organization and hear your concerns/stories and do some brainstorming regarding best practices.

Explore an online doctoral program’s design! This session will focus on experiences in Middle Georgia State University’s School of Computing Doctor of Science in Information Technology program. Students shared challenges to dedicating time to the program, enduring intensity of the program, and the need for more formalized, institution-instigated interaction among participants. Based on findings, implications for practice will be presented

Purdue Global is developing an undergraduate degree in Applied Military and Veteran Studies to support military, veterans, and civilian students by providing a tailored education that provides skills and knowledge to enter or continue to excel in military-veteran affiliated fields. This presentation will explore aspects of this interdisciplinary degree program.

Since political dynamics shape course discussions in learning environments, adopting new tools, strategies and measures of effective social engagement are needed. Building an online community promotes healthy dialogue among differences, ensuring learning continuity, transformation, and growth. Faculty will empower students to engage in difficult conversations in educational and professional settings

This session will explore Albany State University’s Quality Course Design (QCD) initiative, focusing on faculty engagement, lessons learned, and the future of online learning shaped by QCD impacts. Participants will discuss strategies for faculty participation, instructional design support, challenges in online course development, and forecast the evolving needs of faculty and students in online education.

Virtual undergraduate research mentorship is a promising yet underexplored practice. This study evaluated the efficacy of virtual faculty mentoring using the validated Mentoring Competency Assessment, comparing mentor and mentee perspectives. Findings revealed mentees rated mentors’ competencies higher than mentors’ self-assessments, suggesting effective mentoring, but uncovering potential mentor self-confidence gaps, warranting targeted development.

HBCUs often face funding limitations, affecting resources available to students, especially in distance learning. AI tools offer new opportunities to bridge these gaps, supporting academic success by enhancing access to learning resources. This study uses survey data to explore AI’s potential benefits and risks, informing strategies for equitable, ethical use.

Explore the broader implications of deploying custom ChatGPT models in online higher education. Through an interactive discussion, we will examine ethical considerations, scalability challenges, and the impact on faculty roles, student engagement, and institutional strategy. Attendees will leave with insights into balancing innovation with practical implementation.

This interactive fishbowl session explores how faculty and students can effectively use EdTech tools for cognitive offloading, reducing mental overload while enhancing focus and productivity. After a brief introduction, participants will engage in dynamic discussion, sharing strategies, challenges, and best practices to optimize teaching and learning through innovative technologies.