Schedule

Schedule details are subject to change based on program needs. You can find the full schedule listed on our conference platform, Fourwaves. 

Pre-Conference Workshops

PBL Power-Up: Revolutionize Your Classroom with Project & Problem-Based Learning

Workshop Description: A conduit to student growth, as well as contributing to success in future professional endeavors, project- & problem-based learning (PBL) are critical pedagogies to include in academic curricula. Come join CETL and the Academy of Experiential Learning for a PBL pre-conference workshop to learn why this pedagogy is becoming increasingly critical to every curriculum. In this workshop, we will discuss the similarities and differences between problem and project-based learning and compare both to traditional teaching approaches. We will also provide the fundamental elements and explain the processes to develop and implement PBL in your courses. Whether transitioning a course from the traditional learning approach to one containing elements of PBL or comprised entirely of PBL, this session is for you.

Workshop Facilitators:

• Hannah Harris, OTD, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Virginia Tech 
• Franca Del Signore, DBA, MS, MPH, Academy for Experiential Learning, Virginia Tech 

Empowering Educators: Communicating about Ethical AI Use in Your Courses

Workshop Description: Join us for an interactive pre-conference workshop designed to help you effectively communicate with students about ethical AI use in your courses. This hands-on session will explore the ethical dimensions of AI in education, including redefining academic integrity and creating policies that promote an ethical AI culture. Through engaging discussions, case studies, and individual work, you will develop a coherent set of AI policies tailored to your courses and gain practical strategies for guiding your students in responsible AI use.

Workshop outcomes:
As a result of participating in this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Determine an appropriate AI policy for their course(s)
2. Draft an AI policy syllabus statement
3. Develop a plan to transparently communicate their AI policy to their students

Workshop Facilitators:

• Dr. Breana Bayraktar, Blended Learning/Hybrid Pedagogy Specialist, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, George Mason University 
• Dr. Dayna Henry, Assistant Director, Center for Faculty Innovation, James Madison University 
• Dr. Jessica Taggart, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Virginia 
• Dr. Sevinj Iskandarova, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Bridgewater College 
• Dr. Tim Ball, Professor, School of Communication Studies; Faculty Associate, Center for Faculty Innovation, James Madison University
  
• Fang Yi, Assistant Director, Learning Design and Technology, University of Virginia

Teaching in the Age of AI

Workshop Description: Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how faculty teach and how students learn. This interactive session will offer strategies and tips for incorporating generative AI in your classes. Participants will receive practical advice about how AI can transform assignments and make course management tasks more efficient. Using hands-on exercises, participants will explore assignment redesign and efficient course management using generative AI.

Workshop Facilitators:

• Quinn Warnick, Assistant Vice Provost, Technology-Enhanced Learning, Virginia Tech
• Daron Williams, Director of Instructional Design, Virginia Tech
• Aaron Bond, Sr. Director, Learning Services, Virginia Tech

Day 1 Keynote Address

Teaching in the AI Era: Automation, Augmentation, and the Future of Learning

Sylvester Johnson, Northwestern University

Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, and remote learning  are creating new opportunities as well as challenges for the future of learning. The rapid advance of digital innovation brings both opportunities and strategic questions for education. How might AI affect access to quality teaching and learning? What is the appropriate role of AI in the classroom? What strategies should educators pursue as they embrace positive opportunities for the future of learning? How will K-12 and college/university systems adapt to harness the potential of emerging technology to empower teachers and learners?
In this public talk, Sylvester Johnson will examine these key questions and propose a practical set of strategies for educators to navigate the technological and human future of education.
 

Lunch Plenary Panel 

Leading Change from Within Your Sphere of Influence

Mary Huffman, East Carolina University
Amy Johnson, East Tennessee State University
Julie Stanley, East Carolina University
Hannah Sunderman, Virginia Tech

This session features innovative educators who have successfully implemented transformative pedagogical approaches within their institutions. Our distinguished panelists will share insights on their work, highlighting the innovative strategies they have introduced, and their vision for the future of learning. They will discuss the motivations behind their innovations, the risks they navigated, and the impact of their efforts on student learning and institutional culture. Join us as we explore the exciting possibilities and challenges of the future of education and gain valuable advice on how to embrace and lead change within your own sphere of influence.