Student Services by Blackboard Pre-Event Workshop:
The Evolution of Continuing and Online Ed: Leading the Way to a Mature Organization (Invitation only)

Location: International Ballroom

Bharat N. Anand

Bharat N. Anand is the Henry R. Byers Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and the Senior Associate Dean and faculty chair of HBX, the school’s digital learning initiative that he helped create.

Professor Anand is an expert in digital strategy and corporate strategy. He created Harvard Business School’s first executive program on digital strategies for media companies. He has written over fifty articles and case studies, many in the top journals in economics, strategy, and marketing. His research and case writing has received various awards, and his work has been profiled in numerous media outlets. He has served as faculty head for the required strategy course in the MBA program, and currently serves as faculty chair of various other executive programs at the school.

Professor Anand received his B.A. in economics from Harvard College magna cum laude, and his PhD in economics from Princeton University. He is a recipient of the Greenhill Award for outstanding contributions to Harvard Business School. He has advised leading organizations and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is a renowned teacher, and a two-time winner of the “best teacher award” at Harvard Business School. 

His book, The Content Trap: A Strategist’s Guide to Digital Change, was published by Penguin Random House in October 2016. It was named as one of Fast Company’s top ten business books of 2016, and Bloomberg’s “Best Books of 2017”.

Location: International Ballroom

Even though we think we’re in total control, science has proven that up to 95% of decision-making takes place in the subconscious mind. In order to conserve mental energy, humans routinely rely on decision defaults – automatic, reflexive behaviors. And that means leaders need to know the triggers that prompt these hardwired behaviors, so you can get online students and prospects to take desired actions.

Nancy Harhut, Chief Creative Officer of Nancy Harhut and Associates, will share the proven principles of psychology that impact how people notice and respond to information. For instance, did you know that humans are instinctively drawn to images of faces, particularly a person’s eyes? Did you know that researchers have identified the word ‘because’ as a compliance trigger? When people see or hear it, they often start to nod yes without fully processing what comes next. You’ll leave this session with an understanding of the behavioral science behind some of the automatic actions people take – and a new perspective on how behavioral science can impact your institution’s online marketing communications.

Nancy Harhut

Nancy Harhut is passionate about the impact behavioral science can have on marketing. A Hatch Top 100 Creative Influencer, Online Marketing Institute Top 40 Digital Strategist, and Social Top 50 Email Marketing Leader, she has creative directed integrated campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands. She and her teams have won over 200 awards for digital and direct marketing effectiveness. Harhut is known for her interesting and actionable insights that focus on the application of behavioral science to marketing. She’s been quoted in publications ranging from Chief Marketer to Education Week to Rachael Ray Every Day. A top-ranked speaker, she's wowed audiences from the US Department of Defense to Moscow marketers to SXSW attendees. Organizations seeking an added advantage tap her for campaign development, consulting and content creation. Follow her on twitter at @nharhut

Programs at Scale: Setting the Stage to Scale Up Programs
Location: Lincoln
Hugely successful programs with thousands of registrants are the dream of many leaders in higher education. But how do you scale up and more importantly why would you want to? In this session representatives from Georgia Tech, Arizona State University, University of Washington, and Western Governors University will discuss their reasons for scaling up programs, the learners they attract, and building partnerships with entities outside of higher education. Join us for a discussion on the Iron Triangle (accessibility, affordability, and quality) and how these leaders identified the programs to scale through market analysis and campus readiness.

• Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University
  
• Rovy Branon, University of Washington
• Karen Dowdall-Sandford, University of Washington
  
• Yakut Gazi, Georgia Institute of Technology
  
• Jeffrey Goss, Arizona State University

Moderator: Nelson Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology

Managing Up, Managing Down, Managing Across: Building a Culture and Infrastructure for Effective Fully-Online Education
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson West
The challenge for digital and online education leaders charged with launching, sustaining, and scaling online education on campuses in the U.S. is not just one of convincing faculty that online education can be “as good” as face-to-face education. Indeed, in many cases, leaders of fully-online educational programs have to work with and gain buy-in from leaders that sit above and across from them. In this panel, we talk about how “institutional buy-in” might happen and what it means to develop a space for innovation and creativity while also making data-informed decisions about what to build and how to build it. This panel will talk out loud about the trials and tribulations of developing online educational programs within the context of institutions, in particular, that have not always seen this as a logical pathway for their own growth and development. It does so while discussing how online leaders engage campus leaders.

• Vincent J Del Casino Jr., University of Arizona
  
• Jeff Grabill, Michigan State University
  
• George DiGiacomo, University of Virginia

Moderator: Jody Cebina, University of North Carolina – Charlotte


Leveraging Competency Based Design for CE
Track: Online Non-Credit/Alternative Credentials
Location: Jefferson East
Brandman University and Sagence Learning will share their experiences designing a competency based CE portfolio for K-12 professionals. Already offering multiple online credit-bearing programs for this audience, the initial focus was a determination to repurpose e-content and instructional design elements already proven successful and engaging within existing competency-based models. Education advisory boards and school district clients emphasized the need for personalization, application, and fostering of critical thinking and creativity. Teachers in Brandman programs encouraged the continuing format of teachers teaching teachers and opportunities allowing for transfer of knowledge to unfamiliar contexts. The discussion will include a demo of sample courses and the Sagence platform which allowed subject matter experts and instructional designers to build in the learning mechanisms called out as essential by the stakeholders. Participants will have an opportunity to work on their own online course design challenges and brainstorm solutions.

• Ricardo Lorenzana, Brandman University
  
• Jenny Yu, CBEESC-Sagence Learning

Moderator: Jay Hatcher, The Learning House

Federal Policy Insights: Non-Higher Ed Policy Impacting Higher Ed
Track: Policy
Location: Monroe
While most higher education policy analysts are dialed in on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), there are other major federal policy issues that have profound implications for higher education, especially adult and online learning. Net Neutrality, the Tax Code, and Accessibility regulations are but a few examples of non-HEA legislation and regulation that impact us all. This session features experts on these and other hot topics being discussed in Washington DC. Attendees will leave this session with a greater understanding of the unintended (and sometimes even intended!) effect that federal legislation has on the work we all do.

• Jarret Cummings, EDUCAUSE
• Amy Laitinen, New America
  
• Julie Peller, Higher Learning Advocates

Moderator: Chris Murray, Thompson Coburn

Expertise in the Room: Leveraging the Competencies and Research of IDs
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
Instructional designers are an integral component of public and private sector online learning operations yet the title ‘instructional designer’ and the duties performed by these professionals vary greatly. There is great variety among instructional designers (IDs) on work performed on a day-to-day basis. Role confusion or inconsistencies and ill-informed job descriptions can have a negative impact on ID workloads and their career paths.

Researchers from the eDesign Collaborative and the Oregon State University Ecampus Research Unit will offer an overview of the results from their national studies on instructional designer competencies and more specifically on the research preparation and engagement of instructional designers. The presenters will discuss the necessary skills and knowledge instructional designers identified, the competencies IDs actually use in the workplace, and the role of research in the work of IDs.  Participants will leave with a greater sense of the role of an instructional designer and be better prepared to engage with these professionals, lead teams of IDs, and hire IDs with the appropriate skills for their institution.

• Olysha Magruder, Johns Hopkins University
  
• Mel Edwards, Purdue University
  
• Katie Linder, Oregon State University
  
• Shaun Moore, Oakland University
  
• Dan Arnold, Oakland University

Moderator: Christopher Miano, Temple University

U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings: Review and Discussion of an Evolving System
Track: Spotlight
Location: Georgetown East
In this session, learn about the factors which contribute to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs, the annual modifications to the report’s methodology, and potential future developments. Attendees can expect to have a better understanding of what factors contribute to their rankings, better knowledge of how to prepare for upcoming data collection, and the opportunity to provide feedback directly to U.S. News.

• Eric Brooks, U.S. News & World Report
  

Moderator: Julie Uranis, UPCEA

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall
Location: Concourse Foyer

Networking Break with Online Administration Network Leaders: Join your peers from leading institutions in conversations and networking around the topic of measuring online learning progress on your campus. Look for the OA Networking Zone outside the concurrent session rooms!

Programs at Scale: Governance
Location: Lincoln
While higher education institutions are the power behind innovation in many societies, when it comes to renewing themselves, they fall behind. Join us as representatives from Georgia Tech, ASU, UW, and WGU discuss the concerns, considerations and creative approaches to  governance that successfully push forward innovative programs.

• Nelson Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology
  
• Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University
  
• Karen Dowdall-Sandford, University of Washington
  

Moderator: Patricia Feldman, Arizona State University

How Do the Costs of Online Instruction Measure Up to Face-to-Face? Understanding the True Costs
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson West
As funding for higher education tightens, institutional interest in online education continues to grow. But to many administrators, the costs to develop and deliver online courses can seem high in comparison to face-to-face instruction, as resources such as instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and programmers are added to the mix to ensure quality. Previous researchers have explored the costs related to providing online education, but have such examinations take all costs into account, particularly on the face-to-face side of the equation, to ensure a fair comparison? In this session, we will share an overview of past research findings, looking closely at the variables that are “counted” when assessing development and delivery costs. We will then engage the audience in a discussion that explores the gaps in the literature, working together to co-create a research agenda designed to help us all better understand the true cost comparisons and make better strategic decisions.

• Stevie Rocco, The Pennsylvania State University

Moderator: Karen Pedersen, Kansas State University


Conversations with Colleagues: Non-credit to Credit Pathways and Stackable Credentials
Track: Online Non-Credit/Alternative Credentials
Location: Jefferson East
In the effort to develop additional markets, more universities are exploring the potential of noncredit to credit pathways and stackable for-credit credentials. The concept sounds simple, but policies, technology and structures at many institutions make development and implementation complex and challenging. In roundtable conversations, participants will share approaches, challenges, strategies, successes and failures from their institutions.  

Facilitators:

• Kim Siegenthaler, University of Missouri

Change! How Institutions are Dealing with Organizational Change
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Monroe
This presentation will discuss changes that are occurring within specific institutions, changes that are occurring within the field of online learning, and changes that are needed to ensure future growth and development in higher education today. Ray Schroeder will discuss the "Strategic Compass" approach to envisioning future directions of the online program, Rovy Branon will explore how online learning is shaping the new “60-year curriculum” at the University of Washington’s Continuum College, Jason Rhode will share his institution’s experience reimagining distance learning support as a result of a recent institution-wide program prioritization process. Participants will be provided a weblink to materials.

• Rovy Branon, University of Washington
• Ray Schroeder, University of Illinois Springfield
• Jason Rhode, Northern Illinois University

Moderator: Vickie Cook, University of Illinois Springfield


Creating Learner Opportunities – Digital Credentials as a Tool for Collaboration with Industry
Track: Spotlight
Location: Georgetown East
Badges standard helps employers and institutions embrace the interoperability of badges by creating a common credential holding valuable data about the learners' achievements.  Digital credentials in Open Badges bridge the divide between workplace learning and postsecondary degrees – leading to partnerships and collaborations that were previously difficult to navigate.

Join experts in this movement who will discuss Open Badges and provide examples from the University System of Maryland and Madison Area Technical College as well as Northeastern University’s innovative collaboration using IBM Digital Badges. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of digital credentials, Open Badges and ideas on how they can begin this work at their institution – leading to better partnerships between institutions and industry stakeholders.

• David Leaser, IBM         
  
• Kemi Jona, Northeastern University       
  
• MJ Bishop, University System of Maryland         
  
• Kathleen Radionoff, Madison Area Technical College

Moderator: Mark Leuba, IMS Global    

eDC ThinkTank: Partnering with Faculty in the Design Process: Approaches to Faculty Partnership
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
Leaders from Georgetown University will kick-off our discussion on partnering with faculty. Experts will share the successful approaches they have used to meet faculty where they are, including individualized support, a cohort-based Design Studio, and a mixed/hybrid approach. Whether you are struggling with partnerships or have been very successful in working with faculty you won’t want to miss this opportunity to engage with your peers and learn about different models of faculty collaboration!

• Yianna Vovides, Georgetown University
• Veronica Donahue, Georgetown University

Moderator: Camille Funk, University of California - Irvine

Location: International Ballroom
Join panelists from leading organizations as they discuss the intersection of the knowledge economy, online learning, and higher education along with a host of other federal policy topics. As legislators work through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we see signals that legislation could be more inclusive of non-traditional education providers, which may provide different or new pathways and skills for workforce development while also having interesting financial aid implications. At the same time, four-year institutions continue to make headway in a domain previously dominated by community colleges via non-degree credentials and other competency-based training. Attendees will leave with greater familiarity on the future of workforce development and other federal policy issues.

• Diane Auer Jones, Department of Education (invited)

• Scott Cheney, Credential Engine

• Iris Palmer, New America

• Van Ton-Quinlivan, California Community Colleges

Moderator: Joel Simon, CAEL

Programs at Scale: Financial Models & Partnerships
Location: Lincoln
Many a higher education leader has quoted, or questioned, the movie quote, “if you build it they will come.” But how do you build the ‘it’ when you are not sure what resources you’ll need? Join us as representatives from Georgia Tech, ASU, UW, and WGU discuss how they build their operations and crafted the financial models that would support large-scale programs.

• Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University
  
• Patrice Miles, Georgia Institute of Technology
  

Moderator: Karen Dowdall-Sandford, University of Washington

Building Online Programs within a Highly Traditional College
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson West
How does institutional culture shape the way in which institutions move online? Does it shape whether and to what extent they move online, the types of programs that are offered online, or how they make strategic decisions? This session will discuss specific challenges and strategies related to building robust online programs within a highly traditional college environment and will engage participants in conversation and activities related to their own institutional cultures. A range of strategies for getting approval, starting up programs with limited support, and navigating political and contracting obstacles will be considered, alongside strategies for working with Research-1 faculty members, developing processes and procedures for instructional design, and implementing robust assessment.

• Aleksandar (Sasha) Tomic, Boston College
  
• Bryan Blakeley, Boston College

Moderator: Erik Nelson, Columbia University

State Higher Ed Policy Trends: Cap Appropriations. Lower the Price. Expect More.
Track: Policy
Location: Monroe
If federal higher education policy gets most of the press at national conferences, it is often state policy issues that most directly affect our institutions. Higher education has experienced declining state allocations in the wake of rising concern among policymakers and the public alike about the cost and value of a college education. As a result, states have increased their focus on workforce development, displayed certainty that distance education costs less and should be priced lower, renewed interest in alternatives (new institutions or alternative providers), and implemented tuition-free community college plans. We’ve convened a group of state-level policy experts to help attendees make sense of these trends and themes so that you can anticipate what legislative initiatives could be on the horizon for your state.

• Russ Poulin, WCET
  
• Morgan Wilson, National Governors Association
  
• Evie Cummings, University of Florida Online
  

Moderator: Neal Holly, Education Commission for the States

eDC ThinkTank: Lightning Round: Problems, Solutions, and Conversation  
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
Join us for one of our most popular sessions. We’ll spend some time hearing from members that have found new and innovative ways to address the challenges they have faced in the design process. We’ll ask questions, consider implications as well as other applications, and spend time exploring and having great dialogue on our work as learning designers and engineers.

Moderator: Shawndra Bowers, Auburn University

How Universities Learn: Innovation as a Strategic Focus and Catalyst for Change
Track: Spotlight
Location: Jefferson East
This session will feature new and ongoing research for an upcoming book titled, "How Universities Learn".  The book’s central tenet is that learning innovation has emerged as a strategic focus at many colleges and universities in recent years.  Like many leaders, the authors are attempting to make sense of why this focus on learning innovation has emerged and what it may mean for both individual institutions and the larger postsecondary sector.  In the session the authors will present early research findings, and then challenge participants to consider organizational change and learning innovation occurring at their institutions.   

• Josh Kim, Dartmouth University
  
• Eddie Maloney, Georgetown University

Moderator: Carin Nuernberg, Berklee College of Music 

Quality Assurance and the Online Enterprise: Using UPCEA’s Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership to Document Quality Online Operations             
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Georgetown East
Did you know UPCEA’s Hallmarks map to the C-RAC guidelines used by regional accreditors?  Have you wondered how you  might create innovation for your institution using  the strong leadership models of the Hallmarks of Excellence?  Join Hallmark experts as they share how the Hallmarks can inform strategy, create innovation in online leadership, and be utilized as guideposts for all-important accreditor visits.  Our speakers will share their lessons learned as Hallmarks reviewers and having participated in the review process.  They will discuss why external reviews and self-assessments of online leadership are so important for online program success.

• Vickie Cook, University of Illinois-Springfield
  
• Ray Schroeder, University of Illinois – Springfield
  
• Jason Ruckert, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  

Moderator: Julie Uranis, UPCEA

Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall
Location: Concourse Foyer

Networking Break with Online Administration Network Leaders: Join your peers from leading institutions in conversations and networking around the topic of measuring online learning progress on your campus. Look for the OA Networking Zone outside the concurrent session rooms!

Programs at Scale: Faculty & Learner Services
Location: Lincoln
In this session, we’ll explore learner services, learner engagement, and the faculty role through the lens of program scalability. Join us as representatives from Georgia Tech, ASU, UW, and WGU discuss academic rigor, instructional models, and the role of faculty in meeting learner needs.

• Karen Dowdall-Sandford, University of Washington
  
• Yakut Gazi, Georgia Institute of Technology
  
• Octavio Heredia, Arizona State University
  

Moderator: Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University

Two Birds, One Stone: Program Innovation and Alumni Engagement
Track: Online Non-Credit/Alternative Credentials
Location: Jefferson West
Between 2015-2018, we ran an experiment offering online learning experiences for UChicago alumni in partnership with the UChicago Alumni Association with the joint intent of innovating in online learning programming and building alumni engagement. These experiences were focused on intense discussion, primarily asynchronous, and offered on a social platform instead of a traditional LMS. In terms of engagement and learning, the experiment was very successful, though we encountered difficulties around social outcomes and technology. In this session, we will share lessons learned, our findings from this experiment - including alumni learning activity, engagement data, and feedback - and offer best practices for other institutions hoping to engage alumni and innovate on their programming models.

• Matt Cohn, University of Chicago

Moderator: Angela Gunder, University of Arizona

Zero to 60: Strategies and Structures for Rapid Online Capability Growth
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson East
In January 2015, Georgetown SCS launched its first online master’s degree; just 3 years later we have over 1000 online students across 15 fully online programs, many of which hold the largest share of their respective markets. And for the first time, this spring new enrollments from online programs surpassed those of our on-campus programs. In this session, we’ll present the strategy we developed which--despite coming late to the online game--allowed SCS to rapidly build capabilities, resources, programs, and enrollments in a financially successful way, while keeping academic quality front-and-center. Our presentation will cover three components of our strategy: (1) how we planned to rapidly scale-up our digital learning operations; (2) our approach to competitive strategy and its application to our online programs; and (3) the structures we put in place the support our strategy. We’ll conclude with thoughts about how our online and digital capabilities will factor into thinking about the future.

• Jeremy Stanton, Georgetown University
  
• Shenita Ray, Georgetown University

Moderator: Gary Chinn, The Pennsylvania State University


Blockchain in Higher Education: From Hype to Implementation
Track: Spotlight
Location: Georgetown East
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has partnered with Learning Machine to set a path for learners to receive recognition for their skills and achievements through digital credentials. Using Blockchain technology, SNHU has a long-term vision for technology that provides secure documentation of learner achievements searchable by employers needing qualified candidates. Leaders from Learning Machine and SNHU will share why institutions should consider this technology, the path they are taking through implementation, and early results on user experiences. If you have been looking for a practical example of the use of Blockchain in higher education you won’t want to miss this session!

• Ben Dexter, Southern New Hampshire University
  
• Jamil Dewji, Learning Machine

Moderator: David Soo, Department of Education

Working Session:  Policy Brief Development
Track: Policy
Location: Monroe
You’ve heard from the experts, now it is your time to weigh in! Higher Education leaders often struggle to mobilize around policy issues because of the perceived learning curve, the limited access to legislators, or the lack of time. In this working session, we will break down the most pressing policy issues for higher education. Discussants will lead group discussions and collect feedback. The perspectives shared will inform a policy brief that will be widely distributed after the event.

Facilitators:

• Becky Klein-Collins, CAEL
• Jordan DiMaggio, UPCEA
• Tanya Spilovoy, WCET
• Ken Hartman, OLC (formerly Drexel University)

eDC ThinkTank: Working Session: eDesign Partnerships and Possibilities
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
We’ve heard from experts on partnerships and witnessed the work our peers are doing via the Lightning Round Session - now it’s time to engage! This session provides eDesigners, Multimedia Experts, and Instructional Technologists the opportunity to digest what they’ve learned in earlier sessions and discuss their perspectives. This is a great opportunity to have in-depth discussions with peers after shared learning experiences. You’ll leave with new ideas and new friends/colleagues!

Facilitators:

• Camille Funk, University of California - Irvine
  
• Shawndra Bowers, Auburn University

Stop by and meet puppies in  training with Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

Sponsored by Blackboard

Programs at Scale: Quality, Design, & Rigor
Location: Lincoln
The Iron Triangle of higher education (accessibility, affordability, and quality) challenges us in creating affordable and accessible programs while maintaining quality. When we talk about quality, we have a sense of exclusivity or small faculty/student ratio. Can we have quality at scale? Join us as representatives from Georgia Tech, ASU, UW, and WGU discuss maintaining quality in at-scale programs.

• Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University
  
• Danielle Allsop, University of Washington
  
• Yakut Gazi, Georgia Institute of Technology
  

Moderator: Wayne Anderson, Arizona State University

Find, Foster, Flourish: Growth Strategies for Student Enrollment and Retention
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson West
A comprehensive strategy for enrollment and retention is critical to providing an optimal experience throughout the student life cycle. To be successful, institutions must have a clear understanding of what online students think, feel, and want, as well as the current risk factors that contribute to attrition. Each year, The Learning House, Inc. and Aslanian Market Research survey current, prospective, and recently graduated online college students to understand what they look for in an online program. In this presentation, Julie Delich, MS (Learning House) and Daria Tecco LaTorre, J.D. (Alvernia University) share growth-focused enrollment and retention strategies inspired by the findings of the Online College Students report. Attendees will discover insights into how to best serve students in a fiercely competitive marketplace, along with strategies for providing optimal experiences as online student populations evolve and expand.

• Daria Tecco LaTorre, Alvernia University
• Julie Delich, The Learning House

Moderator: Joshua Steele, University of Arizona

Program CPR: Staying Alive in a Changing Global Market
Location: Jefferson East
It is critical to adapt curriculum quickly to meet the shifting needs of industry and our students; however, infusing new ideas, energy and commitment into existing curricula requires buy-in from multiple stakeholders. Leveraging an effective methodology for the assessment and revision of existing programs can improve and reinvigorate content and delivery without discarding proven elements or alienating stakeholders. The Professional Development Programs at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies uses this approach to provide innovative, non-credit learning opportunities designed to meet the lifelong learning needs of working professionals and the ever-changing demands of industry. In this session, we will walk through a case study of a revision of an online museum studies certificate program from initial assessment to program launch.

• Reba-Anna Lee, Northwestern University
  
• Suzanne Rovani, Northwestern University

Moderator: Patricia Malone, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Working Session: Harmonizing Online Definitions
Track: Policy
Location: Monroe
This working session will provide online leaders with a historical perspective on some of the definitions and criteria that exist for the stakeholders they serve. We will use our time together to components that can be used to conceptualize online experiences. Ultimately, this work will serve as the foundation for new set of definitions with the potential to inform the practices of stakeholders, inside and outside the higher education ecosystem, and influence policy.

Facilitators:

• Julie Uranis, UPCEA
• Mary Niemiec, University of Nebraska
• Lucas Kavlie, Western Governors University

Digital Learning Efficacy Research and Evaluation
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
Research on digital learning efficacy lags far behind the explosive growth of products, meaning faculty and administrators often must make decisions about technology with inadequate evidence of effectiveness. We know digital learning research/evaluation projects are necessary as well as locating resources to support advancement of scholarship and evaluation in our work. The challenge is often time and money – and sometimes a steep learning curve. Join experts in an exploration of online tools developed to help faculty and staff evaluate the impact of technology-supported instruction on their campuses as part of a continuous improvement process.  We will discuss current evaluation practices and opportunities for improvement and future research.

• Jill Buban, OLC
• Rebecca Griffiths, SRI International
• Bart Epstein, Jefferson Education Exchange
• Cristi Ford, Univesity of Maryland University College

Moderator: Josh Kim, Dartmouth College

CHLOE2: A Deeper Dive and Discussion Among Online Leaders 
Track: Spotlight
Location: Georgetown East
QM and Eduventures have teamed up to conduct a multi-year study, The Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE), to examine institutions' online learning strategies, structures and policies. As online learning continues to mainstream, it is important to think through operational implications and opportunities. Online leaders can use the results of this work to  place their institution within a broader context and help direct and  influence strategic decisions and organizational changes. Presenters Richard Garrett and Deb Adair will share some of the insights gained from the 2018 CHLOE2 report and engage online leaders in a discussion of their online initiatives, strategic direction, and the broader institutional impact of online learning. 

• Deb Adair, Quality Matters
  
• Richard Garrett, Eduventures

Moderator: Asim Ali, Auburn University

Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall
Location: Concourse Foyer

Networking Break with Online Administration Network Leaders: Join your peers from leading institutions in conversations and networking around the topic of measuring online learning progress on your campus. Look for the OA Networking Zone outside the concurrent session rooms!

Programs at Scale: Go It Alone or Partner?
Location: Lincoln
There are quite a few options when it comes to delivering online programs. However, it becomes a challenge when open education to degree pathways, global learners, size of programs, accreditation standards come in to play. Join us as representatives from Georgia Tech, ASU, UW, and WGU discuss the various technical solutions for supporting learners, faculty and staff throughout the learning experience.

• Nelson Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology
  
• Marni Baker Stein, Western Governors University
  
• Karen Dowdall-Sandford, University of Washington
  
• Jocelyn Rojeck, Arizona State University
  

Moderator: Patrice Miles, Georgia Institute of Technology

Building Shared Vision and Minding the Gaps: Launching an Inter-College, Interdisciplinary Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Location: Jefferson East
While higher education traditionally divides academic content by department and college, the realities of the modern workplace increasingly demand workers who can effectively combine diverse skills. Interdisciplinary degree programs afford students the chance to create pathways that align to their long-term goals, breaking through disciplinary silos. In an online context, interdisciplinary programs distribute risks and rewards across academic units, ideally fostering greater faculty buy-in and enabling faster-to-market development. In this session, we’ll discuss the development and refinement of an inter-college, online bachelor of design degree across three colleges at Penn State. Specifically, we’ll share strategies that were successful, challenges and obstacles we encountered, and roles and resources that supported success from curricular planning through course design to program launch. We’ll consider processes from faculty, learning design, and administrative support (admissions and advising) perspectives, and discuss how we developed a shared vision and identified gaps (curricular and administrative) along the way.

• Gary Chinn, The Pennsylvania State University
  
• Kate Miffitt, The Pennsylvania State University

Moderator: Sarah MacDonald, James Madison University

Online Education Compliance: Engaging Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students, and Vendors in the Implementation of Compliance Goals
Track: Policy
Location: Monroe
As the popularity of postsecondary online education increases, so have compliance risks. Online courses must comply with a complex regulatory framework including federal, state, and accreditor regulations and standards. This interactive session begins with a brief overview of core areas of compliance to consider when designing and administering online courses and programs (e.g., consumer protection and state authorization requirements, web accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and the crucial but controversial Title IV distinction between distance education and correspondence education). Presenters will then guide a discussion of policy formation and implementation strategies that are inclusive of the various stakeholders affected by compliance mandates within the institution and of third-party vendors as well as opportunities for advocacy and leadership outside of the institution. Recommendations for and discussion of compliance strategies for small, medium, and large or complex institutions or university systems will be highlighted throughout.

• Richard LaFosse, Indiana University
  
• Ilona Marie Hajdu, Indiana University

Moderator: Witt Salley, Maryland University of Integrative Health


Working Session: eDesign Research
Track: Instructional Design
Location: Georgetown West
In earlier sessions we talked about eDesigner competencies, goals, and the desire/need for research performed by instructional design teams. We then heard from experts on digital learning efficacy research and evaluation - now it’s time to engage! This session provides an opportunity to digest the earlier sessions and discuss the role of research at your institution and within your work unit. This is a great opportunity to have in-depth discussions with peers after shared learning experiences. You’ll leave with new ideas, new colleagues/research collaborators and maybe a new research project!

Facilitators:

• Olysha Macgruder, Johns Hopkins University
• Mel Edwards, Purdue University
  
  

Using Data and Automation to Humanize Student Experiences
Track: Building the Enterprise
Location: Jefferson West
To meet the needs of today’s students, college and universities are turning to automated software and data analysis to enrich the student experience. This session explores the growth in institutions capturing student data and employing automation strategies to enhance learning capabilities and improve student outcomes. We’ll explore how tech is enriching student/faculty interaction and doing so more efficiently, more affordably, and at scales not previously seen.          

• Sarah DeMark, Western Governors University

Moderator: Joellen Shendy, University of Maryland University College

Making Digital Learning Work
Track: Spotlight
Location: Georgetown East
Despite the promise that digital learning can expand access, improve outcomes, and decrease costs, institutional data on the impact of digital programs is limited. With support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Arizona State University and the Boston Consulting Group released “Making Digital Learning Work,” a study of six institutions with the goal of understanding and quantifying the impact of digital learning on institutional priorities (e.g., enrollment growth, student outcomes, financial returns). The report highlights pioneering efforts in innovating to expand access to postsecondary education, improve student outcomes, and provide higher education at an affordable cost. In this session, Lou Pugliese – director of ASU’s EdPlus Action Lab and a co-author of the report – will share the insights that led to these conclusions and share best practices and lessons learned from ASU’s research.   

• Lou Pugliese, Arizona State University
  

Moderator: Paul Fain, Inside Higher Education