Thursday, March 28: USDLA Brief
It’s a BIG WEEK at USDLA — Early Bird ends March 31
and our next Free Friday Webinar is tomorrow!
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Hey, Early Birds! Be sure to get your big discount for our 2024 National Conference in St. Louis, June 17-20. Register today: usdla.org/2024-conference-registration
We are so happy to share the program, packed with educational, interesting workshops and speakers you won’t want to miss. Click here to see what’s in store for you June 17-20 in St. Louis.
Don’t miss our next Free Friday Webinar this week, March 29 at 1pm Eastern, featuring Hanna Howell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of North Alabama in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Our topic: Is Anyone There? 7 Ways to Increase Instructor Presence in Online Courses. Scroll down for details and click here to register: usdla.org/webinars.
Also below: USDLA President-elect Valary Oleinik is featured on the Why Distance Learning? podcast with Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring. Check out the show below, and also find additional episodes featuring other USDLA Board Members.
We’ll talk with you on Tuesday when we bring you more USDLA News. — Hope Katz Gibbs, Communications Director hgibbs@usdla.org
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REGISTER FOR THIS WEEK’s
USDLA FREE FRIDAY WEBINAR
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USDLA Free Friday Webinar: Is Anyone There? 7 Ways to Increase Instructor Presence in Online Courses
When: March 29, 1-2pm
Register: usdla.org/webinars
About: Students enroll in online courses for a variety of reasons. However, while asynchronous online courses may be ideal for many due to the flexibility offered, they can be extremely isolating for students. Research shows that instructor presence can help create a sense of community within an online course, can build trust between students and the instructor, and can increase student engagement while also increasing academic achievement. Every stakeholder involved in the course creation or facilitation of online learning wants students to feel valued, but getting started can be a daunting process.
Have you ever felt like “just a facilitator” within your course? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of giving detailed feedback to every student? As an instructional designer, have you ever wondered how to change your design practice to help subject matter experts be more present within the course? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come join us as we discuss seven ways to help increase instructor presence within online courses. These strategies will not only help instructional designers implement ways to increase instructor presence during the course design process, but also ways the instructor can insert themselves into the course in a positive way. This session will also focus on the four attributes of high-quality feedback and how these principles can be implemented within any course, no matter the size.
About the presenter: Hanna Howell, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Alabama in the College of Education and Human Sciences, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of Instructional Technology Support Services at the University of Alabama. She is active in the Quality Matters organization as a certified peer reviewer and facilitator for Improving Your Online Course. Her research interests include: business and academic continuity, instructor presence, and use of artificial intelligence tools in the prek-12 classroom.
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USDLA BOARD MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
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The Why Distance Learning? podcast is for educators who are engaged with live virtual learning experiences, whether they be content providers who produce and facilitate, or educators who want to complement their curriculum and learn more about the medium. We interview content providers, industry professionals, field experts and educators who love and use live virtual learning.
Hosted by Seth Fleischauer of Banyan Global Learning and Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, these leaders take a deep dive into the rapidly growing world of synchronous virtual and online education:
- Explore how educators are leveraging videoconferencing, interactive virtual learning and other education technologies like virtual field trips to revolutionize remote and distance learning;
- Discover the benefits and challenges of teaching at a distance;
- Learn how virtual engagement can enhance traditional instruction;
- Hear from distance learning experts who use the latest EdTech tools to create unique remote learning opportunities for students and teachers.
From content providers to administrators to EdTech entrepreneurs, this podcast reveals the human stories and innovative technologies shaping the future of virtual and online education. For anyone interested in transforming classrooms and learning through remote digital platforms, Why Distance Learning? charts a path forward.
Check out Allyson and Tami’s webinar on USDLA.tv. And, be sure to tune in for our May 30 webinar featuring Seth, who will talk about the space where AI meets EQ.
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USDLA President-Elect Valary Oleinik is the star of Episode 27 of Why Distance Learning?
Part artist, part geek, and wholly dedicated to enhancing live, virtual learning experiences. Her unique approach, blending curiosity, gameful experiences, and technology, Valary is a key influencer and innovator in distance learning.
Valary’s dedication to breaking traditional education molds is evident as she explains her methodologies for making distance learning more engaging and effective. By leveraging her “MacGyver mindset,” she encourages educators to utilize available resources creatively and to rethink their approaches to teaching and learning in virtual environments. Her philosophy emphasizes the importance of curiosity, creativity, and technology to foster engaging learning experiences that cater to diverse learning journeys.
Throughout the conversation, Valary shares anecdotes and examples from her work, including her innovative “in and out of the box” thinking exercises and her commitment to volunteerism within the learning community, particularly through her roles at the US Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Her strategies for overcoming challenges in distance education, such as fostering engagement and addressing the fears and reservations of educators new to the virtual format, resonate with the overarching theme of the podcast. Valary’s insights into gamification, the power of choice in learning, and the necessity of adapting to learners’ needs underscore the transformative possibilities that distance learning offers. The discussion serves as an inspiration for educators seeking to navigate and excel in the realm of live virtual learning.
Click here to listen!
Also be sure to check out these Why Distance Learning? podcasts featuring other USDLA Board Members:
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| Thank You to Our National Sponsors
D2L, Instructure, JDL Horizons, Poly, Google, Verizon, Carolina Distance Learning, Harmonize, FDLA, IAP, Nearpod, ViewSonic, Wolfvision, Anatomage, Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, GoReact, Huddly, BocaVox, Softchalk, NC Sara, Simple Syllabus, VDO360, Symbiosis, VirtualCare, Waldorf University, Merlot, IntelliBoard, Flo-ops, Upswing, Questionmark, Perlego, Padlet
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| Thank you for supporting USDLA, our Sponsors, and our State Chapters.
Chuck Sengstock, President
Valary Oleinik, President-elect
About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Formed in 1987, USDLA is a 501(c)3 non-profit association formed in 1987. Our weekly newsletters reach more than 100,000 people globally, including our members and sponsors working in industries including pre-K-12 education, homeschooling, higher education, continuing education, corporate, military, government, and telehealth. Our mission is to promote the development and application of distance learning for education, training, advocacy, and networking: USDLA.org
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