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Upcoming events, workshops, and webinars

Content reviewed:

Teaching and learning focused on online, blended or distributed workshops, webinars, panel discussions, and other professional development events MB Hub has gathered for our membership. We have highlighted events from Partner institutions and organizations such as Educause and Quality Matters and sibling organizations from Canada (BC Campus and Contact North | Contact Nord).

March professional development events

How Faculty Can Harness Generative AI for Enhanced Learning: Part 4 – Best of AI Pedagogy by Contact North

During the past year, Dr. Curtis Bonk hosted three webinars featuring ideas and frameworks related to innovative pedagogy with generative AI.  In this fourth webinar — the Best of Bonk — he chooses the most powerful and potentially effective ideas from the first three webinars and invites the audience to offer their suggestions. 

Date: Tuesday, March 4
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 
Location: Online

The AI Authoring Advantage: Balancing Speed and Substance in Course Creation by QM

Generative AI tools have revolutionized content creation, making it faster and more efficient than ever. But AI’s potential extends far beyond just speed—it has the power to fundamentally reshape the way we approach instructional design. In this session, we’ll go beyond the basics and explore innovative AI frameworks, examine critical ethical considerations, and dive into practical, hands-on applications to enhance both course quality and efficiency. You’ll leave with forward-thinking insights and actionable strategies to harness AI to build more impactful online learning environments. Get ready to rethink what’s possible in your digital classroom! 

Note: Due to overwhelming response and registration for this webinar, all participants who join over the 1000 limit will be directed to our YouTube live stream. The recording will also be made available as well. 

Date: Friday, March 7
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.   
Location: Online

Leveraging LMS Templates for Faculty Support and Enhanced Student Success by QM

Did you know that LMS templates can be a vital support tool for faculty, designers, and online students? In fact, research shows that templates embedded with quality practices and standards can positively influence everything from student retention and learning to faculty satisfaction and institutional ROI. Join this webinar to learn why LMS templates are crucial for online faculty support, an institutional resource for scaling quality online learning, and an important tool for online learner success. We’ll go over the results of a recent LMS template research project and leave you with DIY and ready-made options to create your own templates that align with institutional needs.   

Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Online

This edition of the Future Trends Forum hosts Jennie C. Stephens, Professor of Climate Justice at the National University of Ireland Maynooth and Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University in Boston. She recently published Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future for All (Johns Hopkins University Press). 
Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Location: Online

Transforming Assessment Practices in Higher Education with the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) by Manitoba Academic Integrity Network (MAIN)

As the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technologies have become increasingly ubiquitous in higher education, and institutions must equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for an AI-driven future. Although some institutions have attempted to ban the use of these tools and enforce this through an AI text detection strategy, this session proposes an alternative solution to this challenge. The AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) developed by Perkins et al. (2024), offers a flexible framework for incorporating GenAI into educational assessments while promoting academic integrity and ethical use of these technologies. It consists of five allowable levels of AI use in submitted assessments, ranging from ‘No AI’ to ‘AI Exploration’, enabling educators to design assessments that focus on areas requiring human input and critical thinking. This intervention will explore the challenges of attempting to use a detection-based approach to dealing with GenAI use in assessments, introduce the AIAS as a possible alternative, and discuss the findings of a pilot study of the AIAS at British University Vietnam which has demonstrated significant benefits in reducing misconduct and supporting student engagement and attainment. 

Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 6:55 p.m.
Location: Remote – UM Zoom

Teaching with AI by Educause

“Teaching with AI” is a flexible online program tailored for higher education faculty, instructional designers, and support staff designed to deepen participants’ understanding of AI and empower them to seamlessly integrate it into their curricula. It features live discussion sessions that offer practical strategies for enhancing student engagement, personalizing learning experiences, and improving educational outcomes. Participants will explore real-world AI applications, engage in interactive activities, and collaborate with peers to develop actionable insights for their teaching practices.  The 2-week online program includes 5 modules and takes a minimum of 5-6 hours to complete. Participants will have access to the program for 1 year. 

Date: Monday, March 17, to March 28, 2025 
Location: Online

Important: Employees of Educause member institutions and organizations can create membership profiles, most MB Hub partners are members. 

Beyond Jarvis: Unleashing the Power of Generative AI in Educational Strategy and Design by OLC

Discover the power of generative AI personas in this webinar designed to improve communication, build empathy, and solve challenges in academic and administrative settings. You’ll master a simple three-step process to create realistic, data-driven personas that are both relatable and effective. The session concludes with a dynamic role-playing activity, where we’ll navigate a tough conversation with a fictional professor resistant to online learning, using advanced techniques to uncover deeper motivations and address hidden concerns. Perfect for instructional designers, administrators, and faculty, this webinar offers practical strategies to transform your approach to problem-solving and collaboration.   

Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Online

Lessons Learned from a Revamped QM Subscriber-Managed Course Review Process by QM

UL Lafayette has conducted nearly 50 QM Subscriber-Managed course reviews: seven between 2019-2022 and 42 between 2022-2024. The increase in successful reviews was the result of a novel course review cohort model. This presentation will discuss (1) incorporating a cohort model in support of the established QM Subscriber-Managed review; (2) quantitative results reflecting the actual and perceived benefits to courses and faculty; and (3) lessons learned from implementing a cohort-review model.   

Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.   
Location: Online

April and May professional development events

Renewing American Democracy: Empowering Civic Engagement through Higher Education by OLC

Join OLC for an insightful webinar that delves into Complete College America’s white paper, Complete College, America: Harnessing the Power of Higher Education to Renew American Democracy. This session will explore actionable strategies for colleges and universities to prepare students for active, informed participation in civic life. We’ll discuss how faculty, staff, and administrators can enhance civic engagement through curriculum development, on-campus programming, community partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities. By fostering environments that encourage volunteerism, service, and civic-minded careers, higher education institutions can play a pivotal role in strengthening democracy.   

Date: Thursday, April 10
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Location: Online

Red River College Logo

Red River College Polytechnic Faculty Development Series – Spring 2025

Neurodiversity & Teaching: Foundations to Classroom Interactions

  • Perhaps you’ve noticed that some of your students do not respond as anticipated to various instructional strategies. While your students may all be capable of succeeding in your courses. Everyone’s brain functions differently. So what can you do?
  • Presented by a research team with lived experience with neurodiversity, three 90-minute sessions will explore what neurodiversity is, its impacts on teaching and learning, and strategies for effectively meeting the needs of neurodiverse learners.
  • In this series, we will:
    • Explore different models of disability, emphasizing a shift from the traditional medical model to the neurodiversity paradigm. Explore active learning, benefits and challenges for neurodivergent students.
    • Focus attention on executive functioning, sensory experiences, and accommodations for neurodivergent learners.
    • Address barriers that neurodivergent students face, including the hidden curriculum and challenges due to differences in social interaction styles.
  • Dates & Times:
    • Session 1: Foundations for Supporting Neurodivergent Learners
    • Date: Tuesday, April 22,
    • Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
    • Session 2: Learning Differently
    • Date: Wednesday, May 14, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
    • Session 3: Psychological Safety and Social Interactions in the Classroom
    • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
  • Sessions
    • Session 1: Foundations for Supporting Neurodivergent Learners
    • Discuss the importance of psychological safety.
    • This session explores different models of disability, emphasizing a shift from the traditional medical model to the neurodiversity paradigm. We introduce the history of the neurodiversity movement, which promotes acceptance and systemic change rather than
    • seeking to “fix” individuals. We discuss tips for instructors using strengths-based approaches that recognize and accommodate diverse neurological functioning, inclusive communication, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and assistive technologies.
    • Practical strategies for support include fostering self-advocacy, modifying environments, and challenging assumptions about neurodivergent individuals.
    • Date: Tuesday, April 22,
    • Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
  • Session 2: Learning Differently
    • This session focuses on executive functioning, sensory experiences, and accommodations for neurodivergent learners. It explains
    • executive functioning as the brain’s “air traffic control system,” managing planning, focus, impulse control, and working memory.
    • Using the “Elephant Metaphor,” we highlight the relationship between the rational mind (rider), emotional mind (elephant), and
    • environmental factors (path) in self-control and motivation. The session also explores sensory processing differences, emphasizing
    • the importance of sensory supports like noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and adaptive seating.
    • We discuss the significance of accommodations and how we can ensure that neurodivergent students receive equal opportunities to succeed through adjustment in instructional methods, assessments, and classroom environments.
    • Date: Wednesday, May 14,
    • Time: 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
  • Session 3: Psychological Safety and Social Interactions in the Classroom
    • This session addresses barriers that neurodivergent students face (the hidden curriculum & challenges due to differences in social interactional styles) as well as the importance of psychological safety. It introduces the Double Empathy Problem, emphasizing
    • that communication difficulties between neurotypical and autistic individuals are mutual rather than one-sided.
    • The session explores autistic interactional styles, such as information sharing, honesty, and companionable silence,
    • while discussing the negative impacts of masking and camouflaging. It also highlights the importance of access intimacy—an intuitive understanding of
    • someone’s accessibility needs—and strategies for fostering inclusive interactions, such as structured group work and professor vulnerability.
    • The presentation concludes with solutions for managing uncertainty in classrooms, ensuring neurodivergent students
    • feel safe, valued, and supported in social and academic settings.
    • Date: Wednesday, June 4,
    • Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    • Location: online with MS Teams
Email registration for Neurodiversity & Teaching: Foundations to Classroom Interactions

Register by email with: Taryn Presley – orgdev@rrc.ca (indicate in the body of your email which session(s) you are registering for)

Facilitators:

  • Heather M. Brown is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta
  • Brooke Leifso (she/they) is the Research Chair in workplace inclusion and accessibility at NorQuest College.
  • Helen Ma (she/her) is the lab manager for the AIDANLab at the University of Alberta,
  • Mica Pabia (she/they) is an AuDHD (i.e. Autistic and ADHD), queer and racialized PhD student in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Alberta.
  • Dr. Jackie Ryan is an autistic autism researcher with a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Alberta. Her research interest is promo􀆟ng self-determination and autonomy for Autistic adults with intellectual disabilities using participatory research approaches.
  • Dr. Sandy Thompson-Hodge is an associate professor and Acting Chair of occupational therapy at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. Her research, clinical practice and advocacy focus on inclusion, participation, belonging, and self-determination for Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people in everyday contexts, such as schools and communities.
    • Delivery Format: MS Teams (Sessions will be recorded). The link will be provided after registration.
    • Sessions are free and open to anyone who teaches or supports teaching and learning.
    • ASL interpretation will be provided

How can a college professor teach with authenticity?  This edition of the Future Trends Forum is delighted to host Elizabeth A. Norell, Associate Director of Instructional Support in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the University of Mississippi and author of The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching (University of Oklahoma Press).

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Location: Online

Canadian Symposium on Academic Integrity

Theme: Build Academic Integrity Bridges among colleagues and institutions
Dates: May 22-23, 2025
Host: University of Regina
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan

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