6/13: USDLA Brief — Get ready to meet our 2024 USDLA Conference Speakers!

An item from the folks at the USDLA, who I should note have been somewhat K-12 friendly – but are primarily higher ed focused.

USDLA BRIEF Thursday, June 13: Get Ready to Meet our 2024 USDLA Conference Speakers! Hello friends! We are so excited to meet you all next week at our 2024 USDLA National Conference in St. Louis, June 17-20. In addition to workshops, awards, and networking, you will have the opportunity to connect with our speakers, listed below. And, be sure to sign up for our next webinar on June 28: Portable Microcredentials: Applications of Blockchain to the Disaggregation of a Degree Program About the webinar: This session will focus on ways that blockchain technology can improve the portability of micro-credentials. Blockchain, a tool that originated in the financial sector, has recently supported enhanced documentation and information sharing in the field of education The pilot presented here involved disaggregating the three specialization courses of a degree program to create microcredentials. One key goal was to develop micro-credentials that aligned with the degree program. A second goal was to ensure that the credentials existed as part of a formal ledger and provide shared access. We used GitHub, an open-sourced repository, to create a soulbound token for adding credentials to the chain. The chain supports ease of verification, thereby improving outcomes for students. Expansion of this initiative may help to support equity for students seeking to make use of short-term credentials. About the presenters: Dr. Michelle Dennis serves National University as Director of Curriculum in the School of Business and Economics and as Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology and Social Sciences. Dr. Dennis has held various positions in academic affairs over the past 22 years and she formerly served as a statistician. Dr. Dennis provides service as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and as a Reviewer for the International Journal of Smart Education and Urban Society. She previously served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Anafiel House, a nonprofit serving survivors of intimate partner violence. Dr. Dennis also previously served the Online Administration Network of the Association for Professional, Continuing and Online Education as Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion and she is a member of the Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prisons. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University, her MA in Training and Development from Roosevelt University, and her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the American College of Education. Dr. Dennis has published in the areas of online faculty management, virtual student and faculty engagement, online faculty training and evaluation and best practices for online instruction. Dr. Dennis will be joined in this presentation by colleagues from National University, Dr. Eric Roe, Dean and Dr. Justin Goldston, Academic Program Director. Register here for our webinars! We’ll see you soon in St. Louis! MEET OUR SPEAKERS: 2024 USDLA NATIONAL CONFERENCE Retired Navy SEAL Don Mann Topic: Overcoming Challenges in the Changing World of Distance and Digital Education A New York Times bestselling author, since retiring two decades ago from Team SIX, Don has delivered compelling presentations that have inspired business leaders, military and government personnel, and professional athletes. The lessons he shares during his presentations are born from his colorful and action-packed life as a SEAL, his experiences competing in some of the world’s most grueling competitions, and his experience in the business world. Learn more: usfrogmann.com. Dr. Joe Sallustio, higher-education expert and author Topic: Update on Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education Colleges and universities that provide millions of degree and non-degree credentials each year are a vital backbone of communities and economies. These institutions elevate the critical-thinking capacities of students and learners, and they provide crucial job skills and life skills to emerging workforces. But the skills we need, how we collaborate, and the very jobs available to graduates are changing. It’s time for higher education to start anew. It’s time for Commencement into a new era. Join us for a detailed insight into Joe’s new book and how you can help seize the moment to change higher education forever. Learn more: joesallustio.com Dr. Robbie Melton, Associate Vice President – SMART Global Technology Innovation Strategist Topic: The Tools Shaping the World of Artificial Intelligence Dr. Melton has published and presented globally on the impact and value of mobile devices for education and the workforce and has acquired a new distinction as an “App-ologist” due to her study of the pedagogy and best teaching practices with mobile devices, quality standards for the utilization of mobile apps, and her creation of the Mobile App Education and Workforce Resource Center. She is also the winner of numerous awards; the latest being the 2016 Online Learning Consortium Fellow, 2016 WCET Richard Jonsen Educational Technologies top honor for her lifetime work in educational technology, 2015 MERLOT Leadership Visionary Award, CDE Top 30 2014 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers, 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator, 2012, Technology WOW Award, 2013 eAfrica Innovator Education Award. Learn more: robbiemelton.org John Chen, author and leader of Engaging Virtual Meetings Topic: Engaging Virtual Meetings and 50 Digital Team Building Games John has more than 350,000 clients across the US, as well as in Spain, France, and Taiwan. They include Microsoft, Adobe, REI, Boeing, Booz Allen, Wired Magazine, Prudential, Jaffrey Piper, Xbox, and more.   At the USDLA National Conference, John will take us behind the scenes on how he works his hybrid magic in his workshop: How To Make Engaging Hybrid Learning Technology. “This comprehensive program is designed for educators and technologists who aim to blend traditional and digital teaching methods effectively,” explains John, adding that this course delves into the intricacies of creating hybrid learning environments that are not only technologically advanced but also highly engaging for students. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, participants will explore the latest tools and strategies in hybrid learning.” Learn more: engagingvirtualmeetings.com Become a MEMBER of USDLA Become a SPONSOR of USDLA Higher Education Certification Professional Learning Certification Support USDLA When You Shop @Amazon Smile Thank You to Our National Sponsors John Chen, Google, Instructure, Verizon, Carolina Distance Learning,Harmonize, IAP, Pronto, VDO360, Wolfvision, Anatomage, CILC, Honorlock, InScribe, BocaVox, My learner Journey, Startup Wars, Simple Syllabus, Symbiosis, Tarrant Community College Connect Campus, VirtualCare, BrightThinker, Merlot, SmartBrief Thank you for supporting USDLA, our Sponsors, and our State Chapters. Chuck Sengstock, President Valary Oleinik, President-elect   About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Formed in 1987, USDLA is a 501(c)3 non-profit association formed in 1987. Our weekly newsletters reach more than 100,000 people globally, including our members and sponsors working in industries including pre-K-12 education, homeschooling, higher education, continuing education, corporate, military, government, and telehealth. Our mission is to promote the development and application of distance learning for education, training, advocacy, and networking: USDLA.org USDLA | www.usdla.org

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