Online learning and instructional technology are a continually evolving field. With that evolution, there are opportunities to change not only the approaches we use to assist students and faculty, but also the tools we use to facilitate teaching and learning. The e-Learning & Instructional Support department at Oakland University has embraced many of these changes, notably in digital accessibility and virtual reality. We invite you to hear our story, learn about our challenges and successes, and explore possibilities for your own department.
Institutions of all types have been impacted by the need to make digitally accessible learning content. While many institutions have been carrying this torch forward, others are still in the early adoption stage. We will discuss our story on how we were tasked with starting the cultural change toward digital accessibility, what we’ve learned along the way, and how our approach has evolved since inception.
Due in part to our digital accessibility initiative, we adapted the way we partner with faculty in the video creation process. Learn about measures we’ve taken to diversify the methods and tools used to create instructional videos, including free web-based tools and our student-built lightboard.
Finally, we will share our story on how we created our own virtual reality (VR) lab on campus. Learn about the challenges we have faced while trying to stay ahead of the curve in this continually evolving field, and considerations you can take to ensure you enter into a VR lab with a clear direction and purpose. We will also host a live VR session at from 3-4PM EST immediately following the ThinkTank to discuss technical aspects of VR. We will provide the information to join us in Engage, a VR compatible meeting space. For those who do not have a VR headset, you can join Engage from a desktop machine.
Why Oakland University?
Oakland University is a public four-year institution located in Rochester, Michigan. Through a combination of faculty development workshops and in-person consultations, OU’s e-Learning & Instructional Support department advocates for practical, accessible quality course design. By testing and promoting new technologies, they aim to provide faculty the tools to create engaging content on their own time and at their own pace. Additionally, they provide technical support for the self-hosted Moodle learning management system, and are frequent collaborators in on-going Moodle development.
Virtual Registration Rate: Free for UPCEA members; $49 for non-UPCEA members
Agenda:
1:00-1:10 PM Welcome & Session Overview
1:10 - 2:00 PM Digital Accessibility
2:00-2:15 PM Media Lab and Lightboard
2:15-2:55 PM Virtual Reality Lab
2:55-3:00 PM Wrap-up
3:00-4:00 PM Optional - Live VR session to discuss technical aspects of VR. ThinkTank attendees will be invited to join us in Engage, a VR compatible meeting space
Access:
Detailed instructions on how to access the ThinkTank will be provided a few days prior to the event. We encourage you to read these instructions carefully and test your system prior to the ThinkTank. The ThinkTank will be hosted on a system provided by the featured institution, not UPCEA technology.
Registration:
Your registration will not be complete until you have both completed the registration form and submitted your payment (for non-UPCEA members). UPCEA reserves the right to cancel the event if a minimum number of registrants has not been reached 30 days prior to the event. Full refunds will be granted to paid participants if UPCEA cancels the event.
Refunds:
All registration cancellations must be made in writing and received 30 days prior to the event. No refunds or credits will be granted, rather paid registrations can be moved to another 2020 ThinkTank event. Please submit all requests to Jacqueline Romero at jromero@upcea.edu. Anyone who is registered but cannot attend may send a substitute from the same organization. Refunds will not be given for no-shows.
If you encounter any errors or need assistance with your registration, please contact us at 202-659-3130 or jromero@upcea.edu.