
Welcome to the 4/18 issue of USDLA News — Our July 17-20 National Conference in Orlando, FL, is just three months away, so in the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing you to our fabulous presenters.
Scroll down to meet:
- Shaunice Sasser who helps us tap into Tik Tok
- Emily Jacobson and Marianne Boeke who illuminate the SARA Universe
- Celine Hall and Darrell Evans who teach us how to be better mentors
- Emily Pettit who helps us to support student well-being.
Click here to view the entire session schedule.
We’ll be back next Tuesday with another issue of USDLA News. Thank you for your continued support of the association, and if you are not a member, be sure to join us: https://usdla.org/membership.— Pat Cassella, USDLA Executive Director
Tapping into Tik Tok: Techniques for Teaching Today
Presenter: Shaunice Sasser, Instructional Designer, Delta
In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok have revolutionized how people consume and interact with content. There is great potential to leverage these trends to enhance the design of learning experiences in distance education. However, it’s important to consider the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility when designing these experiences. We will explore how we can harness the power of social media trends to create innovative and engaging learning experiences that resonate with diverse learners.
In this session: We will examine the latest trends on TikTok and other social media platforms and explore how they can be adapted to ensure accessibility for all learners. Additionally, we will discuss how learning experience design can incorporate concepts such as micro-learning, gamification, and personalization to promote active engagement and knowledge retention for learners from diverse backgrounds. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for designing dynamic and effective distance learning experiences that prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. As distance learning continues to gain momentum, keeping pace with the latest trends and innovations is essential while ensuring that learning experiences are accessible to all learners.
At USDLA: We know the importance of social media! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn!
Illuminating the Sara Universe: Resources and Updates for Institutions
Presenters: Emily Jacobson, Director for Student and Institution Support and Marianne Boeke, Vice President, Research and State Partnerships, NC-SARA
Learn about the array of resources that NC-SARA is making available to colleges and universities to support the growth and quality of interstate distance education programs. From SARA Source -a new searchable catalog of SARA distance education programs- to NC-SARA’s interactive data dashboards that share publicly available enrollment and out-of-state learning placement data to resources and webinars. NC-SARA offers information, insights, and guidance for navigating the SARA universe.
In this session: The presenters will highlight students’ consumer protections through SARA, give an update on the SARA landscape, and share how institutions and other stakeholders can participate in the new SARA policy modification process. Join us for an interactive tour and discussions about SARA!
Mentoring: Ensuring Faculty Success in a Remote Workplace
Presenters: Celine Hall, Academic Chair, Science, and Darrell Evans, FT Faculty, Science, Purdue Global
At some point, we have all been ‘the new person’ as we change roles at school, work, or other activities. Perhaps you wondered what the workplace culture was like. Or, what were the performance expectations? Whom do you ask how to find/start/complete ‘XYZ?’ Perhaps there was some nervousness about being the newest team member in a group that’s worked together for many years.
These concerns may be exacerbated when working in a remote capacity where new employees can feel isolated and alone. A successful workplace mentoring program will benefit the mentee, the mentor, and the organization. Not only does it guide a transfer of knowledge that improves talent retention, but it also helps cultivate relationships and a sense of community, which is essential in a remote workplace.
In this session: We will share insights into how Purdue University Global’s Science Department has successfully incorporated its faculty mentoring program to support new full-time and part-time adjunct faculty. We will describe how we follow our new faculty from their initial hiring offer, through the end of a term, and beyond.
Supporting Critical Student Well-Being Needs Virtually
Presenter: Emily Pettit, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, The Virtual Care Group
Almost 50% of 2022 entering college students report being “Mentally Exhausted’ (BCSSE, 2022) as they were beginning college. With the increase in student need running head first into the employee Great Resignation/Quiet Quitting, sustainable solutions are complicated. How can we meet and support the increasing well-being needs of students?
In this session: We will highlight the national data on student wellness and supporting student success through telehealth solutions. A telehealth use case to address well-being and retention will be shared.