***ARCHIVED PAGE***
Current Conference Details at https://usdla.org/2025-national-conference/
Tuesday July 21, 2020 – Thursday July 24, 2020
ONLINE – Virtual Conference
Anywhere in the World!
Conference recordings are available below
Keynotes
Opening Keynote Speaker – Dr. Gerry Hanley – Executive Director, Merlot, Opening Learning for All by Serving Stone Soup Globally
Luncheon Keynote Speaker – Sae Schatz, Ph.D., Director – Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, Embrace Lifelong Learning
Closing Keynote Speaker – Dr. Robbie Melton – Transitional Dean, Graduate School and professional Studies, Tennessee State University, Year 2020 – Emergence of the Internet of Everything (IoE) SMART Distance Education Technology Transformation
Pre-Conference
Pre-Conference Session – Apple Teacher and Tool Lab – A Look into Creating Content with Apple Tools, Presented by Dr. Robbie Melton
Pre-Conference Session – Ohio DLA Ohio Rock! An Exploration of How Ohio’s K-12 DL Programs are Rockin’the USAPresented by Tom Miller, Lee Gambol, Jordan Rader, Leslie Charles, aura Bryson, Jerry Csaki
Pre-Conference Session – Grant Writing Workshop – A look into DL Grants, Writing Tips, Submitting, and Managing a Grant Presented by Kristin DeProspero
Awards
USDLA Awards Achievement in Distance Learning
Presentations
Boosted Learning – A Post-Semester Strategy for Increasing Student Engagement and Knowledge Retention Presented by Robert Zotti
MathType by Wiris, Presented by Robert Karmelich
Two-Minute Tips: Redefining Faculty LMS Support, Presented by Simon Ringsmuth
Best Practices for Recruiting Top Faculty & Staff in Online HE Online Programs, Presented by Dr. Georgianna Laws, Co-Presenters Kathleen Williams, Judith Anglin, Peter Enestrom
How to Meet Learners Where They Are Presented by Christopher Sessum
Collaboration and New Best Practices How Communication & Collaboration Technology has Thrived During a Global Pandemic and What Organizations Need to do to Embrace Hybrid Working Going Forward Presented by David Danto
Living in Harmony: Social Media for Lifelong Learning and Support Presented by Dr. Jan Brott
Practical Tips for Effective Online Instruction, Presented by Kevin Kelly, Julie Candio Sekel
A Collaborative Course Redesign Approach for Non-major Environmental Science Incorporating Open Educational Resources (OER) Presented by Dr. Sarah Krejci
Three-Part Harmony: Workplace Competencies, Digital Micro-Credentials, and Employability Courses, Presented by Cathy McKay and Lana Sloan
Harnessing the Power of Learning Analytics to Improve Learning in Authentic Settings, Presented by Carla Rossiter-Smith
Microlearning: Learning in the Workflow, Presented by William Ryan
On and Offline Tools for Teaching & Learning, Presented by Denisse Anderson
Social Presence Through the Lens of an Online Academic Advisor, Presented by Gina Delgado
Syllabus Resuscitation: Revive Your Course Using Gamification, Presented by Valary Oleinik
Emerging Tools for Practice, Effective Assessment of Online Learners Presented by Shantia Kerr Sims
Do I Have to Take Online Classes? Capturing the Millennial Experiences at a Private HBCU, Presented by Dr. Toni Muhammad
Student to Student Mentoring: Meeting the Needs of K-12 Schools, Making the Connections in Uncertain Times, Presented by Kris Menon and Laurie Silva
The Music of Virtual Management, Presented by Dr. Rhonda Blackburn
Live Virtual Classroom and the eLearning of Tomorrow, Presented by Carrie Purcell
Creating Meaningful Connections in Distance Learning When Time is Limited, Presented by Richard Tillman
Curriculum Mapping to Improve Student Outcomes, Presented by Diane Weaver and Patty Flowers
Cultivating Remarkably Resilient Learners Online & Affordably, Presented by Pat Partridge and Chelsea Barnett
HyFlex/Hybrid Virtual Classroom Offerings From Barco, Presented by John Copeland
Using Distance Education to Create a Level Playing Field for All Communities, Presented by Paul Hieronymus and David Stein
2020 Online Education Trends: Student & Administrator Insight, Presented by Melissa Venable
Evaluating the Availability of Services for Online Students, Presented by Dr. Victoria Brown
Sound Check: The Discord Between Administrators and Faculty, Presented by Dr. Rolando Garza
Creating Coalescing Courses Distance Learning Culminating in a Capstone, Presented by Dawn Wooten
How Remote Workers Can Collaborate, Communicate, & Connect, Presented by Tara Powers
K-12 Collaboration Around the Planet Presented by Jan Zanetis
Distance Learning Resources for Telehealth 2020, Presented by Janet Major
Emphasize Online Discussion Groove, Not Grades as a Grammy, Presented by Dave Knowlton
Faculty & Supervisor: Rescuing their Off-key Mistakes, Hiccups & Miscues! Presented by Kathleen Embry, PhD
Improving Quality by Standardizing Course Design, Presented by Natalina Parker
Website & Landing Page Conversion Rate Optimization Breakthroughs, Presented by Tom King
The Feedback Loop, Presented by Kristie Boston
Pure Heart Leadership: An Authentic Approach to Leadership Development, Presented by Shana Garrett
Lessons Learned from Women in Higher Education Digital Administration, Presented by Aleyda Cantu – Lee
Poster Sessions
Poster Session – Delivered: Responding to the Need for Digitally Accessible Online Education Presented by Michelle Dennis, Chuck Agada, Donna DiMiatteo- Gibson, Janet Halbert
Poster Session – Delivered: Responding to the Need for Digitally Accessible Online Education. Presented by Harriette Spiegel
Opening Keynote Speaker – Dr. Gerry Hanley – Executive Director, Merlot
Director, California State University Long Beach Center for Usability in Design and Accessibility (CUDA)
Executive Director, MERLOT (www.merlot.org) and SkillsCommons (www.SkillsCommons.org)
Title: Opening Learning for All by Serving Stone Soup Globally
Abstract: Free and open educational resources and services are being used to expand access to education for diverse communities nationally and internationally which can improve equitable access to sustainable employment. The Stone Soup folktale serves as an effective change management strategy for digital and distance education by providing inclusive methods that leverage free and open educational resources and services.
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Luncheon Keynote Speaker – Sae Schatz, Ph.D., Director – Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative
Title: Embrace Lifelong Learning
Abstract: Sae Schatz, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, a government program for research, development, and policy stewardship of distributed learning. Before joining the civil service in 2015, Sae worked as an applied human–systems scientist, with an emphasis on human cognition and learning, instructional technologies, adaptive systems, human performance assessment, and modeling and simulation. During that time, she led the authorship and execution of the Marine Corps’ “Making Good Instructor Great course” and was also the chief scientist for the award-winning Border Hunter research effort and the Joint Staff J7’s Blended Learning–Training project. Sae is a professional graphic designer, who often uses her visual design skills to enhance professional publications, presentations, and infographics—in order to help scientific concepts better overcome the research–practice gap.
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Closing Keynote Speaker – Dr. Robbie Melton – Transitional Dean, Graduate School and professional Studies, Tennessee State University
Title: Year 2020 – Emergence of the Internet of Everything (IoE) SMART Distance Education Technology Transformation
Abstract: The rise of connected ‘SMART technologies provide new opportunities for transforming distance teaching and learning for the digital workforce. This presentation showcases the innovations of IoE Smart Technologies (EduGadgets) as data-driven transformation educational and workforce tools.