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Upcoming events, workshops, and webinars

Content reviewed April 15, 2023

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/Nord).

April professional development events

Blueprint Courses and Collaboration: An Innovative HBCU Case in Course Design and Quality Assurance from Quality Matters

Blueprint Courses are turn-key and collaboratively developed by departmental faculty and instructional designers using existing student learning outcomes to inform course design. We will highlight the course development process, including quality assurance through peer review, and identify takeaways, including the impact for both teaching and student learning. 

Presenter: Dr. Mary A. Hooper, Associate Provost for Online Learning and Continuing Education from Clark Atlanta University 
Date: Tuesday, April 16 
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CST) 
Location: Online 

Practically integrating AI into higher education from Future Trends Forum

How can a college or university practically use emerging AI? Future Trends Forum is happy to welcome back the American University of Armenia’s Brent Anders, author of the new book 9 Point Action Plan: for Generative AI Integration into Education.  He also just developed the TRAP test for identifying AI Deepfakes and synthetic data.

Important: Follow your institution’s policy on using AI tools. Ensure that the tools used adhere to guidelines for privacy, data protection regulations, data storage, and respect for copyrighted content and training data. 

Presenter: Brent Anders from American University of Armenia
Date: Thursday, April 18
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CST) 
Location: Online 

May professional development events

FLO Lab: Maximizing Student Learning with Assessment -As, -For, and -Of Learning from BCcampus

In this FLO Lab, participants can expect to walk away with their own assessment and evaluation plan that includes opportunities for their students to engage in deep learning through layered assessment -as, -for, and -of learning activities. Participants should bring an existing course syllabus, unit/topic assessment and evaluation plan, or a list of course learning outcomes to work with. There will be a framework template participants can use, as well as an example of a completed one.

FLO facilitator: Mike Ray
Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CST) 
Location: Online

Student-Driven Quality Matters Practices: Centering Student Advisors in Design Innovation by Quality Matters

All too often, online course quality is determined by a course’s compliance with industry standards rather than consultation with actual students. In this presentation, we share a case study of student-driven quality assurance practices recently developed in a University Center for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology. Attendees will leave the session inspired to create their own student-driven quality assurance practices at their respective institutions.

Presenters: Michelle Vonie and Samantha Maxwell from the University of Arizona
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Online

5 Recommendations on Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Teaching & Learning by Online Learning Consortium

Key takeaways:

  1. Understanding neurodiversity: Gain insights into the diverse neurotypes present in your classroom and the unique learning preferences they entail.
  2. Personalizable learning environments: Explore strategies for creating flexible and adaptable learning structures that accommodate individual differences and preferences.
  3. Supportive teaching techniques: Learn practical techniques for fostering an inclusive and supportive classroom culture that celebrates neurodiversity.
  4. Enhancing student success: Discover evidence-based approaches to optimize learning outcomes and promote the academic success of neurodivergent students.
  5. Fostering inclusive excellence: Embrace the role of inclusive teaching practices in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education.

Presenter: Sherri Restauri, PhD, Faculty, Department of Psychology, Coastal Carolina University
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Online

Accessible Canada — Accessible World from Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University

A conference that aims to advance accessibility and inclusive design in various domains. We live in a world where accessibility barriers are diverse and complex, and new ones are emerging at an exponential rate. To answer these questions, we need to build an expansive community of practice that encompasses the full range of experiences of disability and other areas of expertise needed to realize accessibility goals. This conference is an opportunity to co-create resources and to share knowledge and lessons learned in advancing accessibility and inclusion. We invite you to join us in this collaborative effort, and to ensure that the global accessibility agenda is guided by people with disabilities. Together, we can make Canada and the world more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Format

There are no formal presentations during the conference. The Conference is a flipped model where presentations will be available online ahead of time so attendees can view the ones that interest them, at their own pace, when it is convenient for them. Viewing content ahead of the conference is optional for conference participants, and participants can watch as many or as few videos as they would like. The conference has four parallel streams:

  • Theme 1: Who and what are we missing?
  • Theme 2: How do we support inclusive decision-making?
  • Theme 3: How can we develop accessibility standards that are responsive, inclusive and effective?
  • Theme 4: How can we promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in media production, representation, and consumption?

Dates: Tuesday May 28, to Wednesday May 29
Fee: $50
Location: Online 

FLO MicroCourse – The Space Between Us: Navigating Boundaries in Post-Secondary Education from BCcampus

As post-secondary educators become more aware of, and proficient with, trauma-informed and student-centred approaches to teaching, a greater understanding of the need to create and set boundaries with students has emerged.

This micro-course offers participants the opportunity to consider and reflect on their own professional boundaries as well as discuss and practice boundary setting.

While most of the learning will happen asynchronously, we will offer two optional synchronous sessions in Zoom:

  • Monday, May 27, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (CST)
  • Friday, May 31, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (CST)

Note: These sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend.

Important: Participants can expect to dedicate approximately 60-90 minutes per day for five days on learning and activities.

Dates: Monday May 27, to Friday May 31
FLO Facilitator: Matty Hillman
Location: Online 

June professional development events

The Future of Higher Education in The Age of Artificial Intelligence by Contact North | Contact Nord

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education, impacting student recruitment, teaching, assessment and engagement. AI’s role raises questions about faculty’s future responsibilities and the potential for AI-enabled platforms to offer education anytime, anywhere. This shift could democratize education and introduce new competitors like GoogleU or OpenAI College. Additionally, programs not incorporating AI may lag behind, with a significant debate on whether AI will adapt to faculty needs or vice versa. The integration and adaptation to AI in education is crucial for maintaining relevance and enhancing learning outcomes.

Important: Follow your institution’s policy on using AI tools. Ensure that the tools used adhere to guidelines for privacy, data protection regulations, data storage, and respect for copyrighted content and training data. 

This webinar helps you to:

  • Understand the extent of the AI challenge facing higher education.
  • Be prepared to ask better questions about a college or university’s strategic intentions for the future in the age of AI.
  • Identify the key elements shaping the direction of travel for strategy at the college level: costs, political dynamics, demography and technology.
  • Better understand the unique value proposition a faculty member brings to the work of teaching and learning (and it’s not all about subject matter expertise).

Presenter: Stephen Murgatroyd, Chief Futures Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord
Date: Thursday, June 6
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: Online

Making Change, Taking Space: A call to gather (virtually) by The Disabled Affinity Group

A gathering of educational developers for talks, activities, networking, and workshops. It is an invitation to share what you have been doing and what you are doing in your work as an educational developer, but more importantly, it is a call to action and into reflection:

What change are you making and what space are you taking? 

Some themes for presentation topics that might be considered are:

  • Working within flawed systems
  • Maintaining your own wellbeing
  • How to lead from our specific positions
  • Cultivating relationships with various campus stakeholders
  • How to engage with faculty and save them time

Dates: Wednesday June 26 to Friday June 28
Location: Online
Registration opens: May 1st

July professional development events

Learning Lab | Developing and teaching a humanized course from Educause

This Learning Lab initiates participants into the practice of starting a course with a humanized approach, emphasizing the creation of an online learning environment that values connection, empathy, and active engagement. Through this lab, participants will explore how to lay a foundational tone of inclusivity and warmth from Week 0, utilize digital tools to foster instructor and social presence, and design activities that build a thriving community of learners. The aim is to transform the online educational space into one where students feel valued, connected, and motivated to engage with the course content and their peers.

Facilitator: Marlina Davidson, Director, Instructional Design, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Fees: $352 for members and $462 non-members
Time: 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. (CST)
Dates:

  • Part 1: Tuesday, July 9
  • Part 2: Monday, July 15
  • Part 3: Thursday, July 18
  • Part 4: Tuesday, July 23

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

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