Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium
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Center for Teaching Excellence
Southern Illinois University
Morris Library Room 110
605 Agriculture Drive, MC 6510
Carbondale, IL 62901
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Main Content
Towards Online Excellence: Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium
Symposium Starts
Welcome to the Inaugural Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium!
Join us for an engaging experience with Illinois thought leaders and practitioners with expertise in online teaching and learning. Discuss the latest trends in online learning—from pedagogy to technology.
The free virtual conference on November 8th, 2024, is for those who learn, teach, develop, support, or administer online education.
Target Audience:
- higher education instructors who teach online
- online leaders or administrators
- instructional designers
- instructional technologists
- anyone interested in online learning
Purpose of the Event:
- Showcase exemplary virtual educational practices.
- Collaborate and communicate with the community of online and digital educators.
- Discuss current trends and disruptions in online environments.
- Share online teaching practices unique to Illinois' history, geography, and demography.
Register for Keynote & Main Sessions
The inaugural Towards Online Excellence: Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium is a free virtual event designed for educators, administrators, instructional designers, and technologists involved in online learning.
Focused on Illinois institutions but open to all, the symposium was conceived by a group of Illinois higher education administrators aiming to foster deeper conversations in digital education. This year's themes include online pedagogy (generally), Title 2 changes, leadership in online programs, and the influence of AI in education.
The event highlights Illinois thought leaders and invites nationwide participation for collaboration and innovation in online learning.
TWO SEPARATE REGISTRATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND BOTH EVENTS
REGISTER FOR KEYNOTE SESSION
9:00 a.m. – Kickoff with Keynote Address
Speaker: Ray Schroeder
Title: Artificial Intelligence in Online Learning
The keynote is sponsored by
REGISTER FOR THE MAIN SESSIONS
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Main Symposium Sessions
Three sessions will run concurrently in three Zoom break rooms. Sessions will cover four themes:
- Theme1: Artificial Intelligence
- Theme 2: Leadership
- Theme 3: Pedagogy & Inclusion
- Theme 4: Assessment & Accessibility
Register for Main Symposium - Zoom
Organizing Committee
- Anthony Piña, Chief Online Learning Officer, Illinois State University
- Craig Engstrom, Director - Center for Teaching Excellence, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Lisa J. Anderson, Director - Office of Online Learning, University of Illinois
- Mary Walker-Ettling, Director - Online Services and Educational Outreach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Michael Gillespie - Director of Faculty Development and Innovation, Eastern Illinois University
- Michele Gribbins, Director - Center for Online Learning, Research & Service, University of Illinois-Springfield
- Nikki LaGrone, Director - Center for Teaching & Learning, Governors State University
- Susan Wegmann, Director - SIUC Global, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Wenhao David Huang, Associate Head - Education Policy, Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois
Featured Speaker
Keynote: Ray Schroeder
UPCEA Senior Fellow
Personal Website
Presentation: "Artificial Intelligence in Online Learning"
Online learning continues to be the preferred mode of delivery of higher learning to adult and professional students. The advent of Artificial Intelligence tools and agents have become available to enhance the delivery of learning online. They promise to make our online programs more efficient, effective and flexible for lifelong learning. We will examine the opportunities that these advanced, smart technologies offer and the potential they provide to further extend and expand our online learning programs.
Biography
A nationally respected and connected leader in higher education online learning, Ray Schroeder is senior fellow of UPCEA, the online and professional education association, and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). With 50 years on the faculty and administration at the Urbana and Springfield campuses of the University of Illinois, Ray is the recipient of numerous national awards and citations for individual excellence and leadership from many associations and entities, including the Sloan Consortium (OLC), US Distance Learning Association, American Journal of Distance Education, Illinois Council for Continuing Higher Education, University of Wisconsin, and University of Illinois. In 2023, Ray received the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from UIS in 2023 and became the first recipient of the UPCEA Leadership Award for the Advancement of Digital Learning (now renamed the Ray Schroeder Leadership Award for the Advancement of Digital Learning). He is the author of book chapters, articles, widely read blogs, and social media feeds on news and research in online learning/educational technology. Ray is a noted speaker, consultant, researcher, and author on online learning, emerging educational technologies, and technology-enhanced learning topics.