Conference Tracks

Conference tracks help you plan your experience by interest, although you can attend any session in any track. We strive to offer a balanced program touching important topics in higher education. Look for sessions covering:

Preparing Your Course and Curriculum

These sessions promote innovative course design strategies, curriculum development, and ways to align learning outcomes with evolving academic standards.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Learner-centered course design
  • Backward design
  • Active learning
  • Gamification
  • Designing courses for critical thinking, reflection, collaboration, and motivation
  • Writing and aligning goals, objectives, and learning outcomes
  • Using artificial intelligence (AI) as a course preparation tool

Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence

Sessions in this track focus on the latest educational technologies, digital tools, and platforms that enhance learning experiences and foster student engagement, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Pedagogical research that supports technology tools and technology integration
  • Generative AI in writing, discussion, and grading
  • Accessible and adaptive technology
  • An example of technology tools used in class for professional or personal development 

The Online Classroom

These sessions are for educators who seek to optimize their online courses, improve student engagement, and ensure quality teaching practices in the digital environment. 

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Maximizing your learning management system (LMS) features and settings
  • Course structure, file naming, organization
  • Creating and uploading resources including video, graphics, and documents
  • Humanizing/personalizing your course
  • Flipped classroom tips and ideas
  • Online course design best practices

Student Engagement

These sessions address one or all of the dimensions of student engagement including behavioral, emotional, or cognitive.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Instructional strategies promoting engagement
  • Practices supporting engaging classroom climate
  • Promoting broadly engaged participation and discussion
  • Classroom-based engagement activities

Assessment and Feedback for Learning

These sessions focus on assignments, assessments, and grading practices, including strategies that measure students’ accomplishment of course objectives and learning outcomes.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Tests and assignments
  • Grading systems and criteria
  • Self-assessment and peer-assessment 
  • Rubrics and feedback
  • Using AI in assignments, assessments, feedback, and grading 

Inclusive Teaching 

This track focuses on strategies to create inclusive classrooms that address diversity, equity, belonging, and social justice, ensuring all students feel valued, seen, and supported.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Creating inclusive learning climates
  • Universal design for learning (UDL)
  • Addressing implicit bias in the classroom
  • Promoting belonging and social justice
  • Equity-minded practices
  • Supporting underrepresented and marginalized students
  • Building DEI competencies

Student Success Beyond the Classroom 

Sessions in this track focus on real-world skills and experiential learning within higher ed curricula. Explore how to create meaningful connections between academic content and practical skills that students need to succeed in their careers and lives beyond graduation.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Career readiness and internships
  • Building resilience and mental health awareness
  • Faculty advising and mentoring
  • Grant writing and fundraising
  • Service learning and community engagement
  • Global, ethical, civic engagement
  • Academic integrity and professional ethics in real-world application
  • Developing emotional intelligence (EI)

Faculty Success and Career Development

This track is designed to support faculty at different stages of their academic careers, whether they are just starting out or are experienced professionals looking to revitalize their work and prepare for new challenges. Ultimately, focusing on key aspects of faculty development, and providing insights on professional development, leadership skills, and navigating academic career paths.

Sessions in this track cover topics such as:

  • Classroom Management
  • Building effective mentoring relationships
  • Balancing teaching, citizenship, research, and scholarship
  • Revitalizing your teaching
  • Preparing for leadership and administration
  • Professional networking and collaboration
  • Maintaining work-life balance and renewal