Distance Education Symposium 2025
Thursday Virtual Sessions | Nov. 6
Each tab includes the presentation and recording from that symposium session.
Presented by: Dr. Gaye Lynn Scott, VC of Instruction
From Isolation to Connection: Inclusive Strategies for Building Community in Online Learning
Presented by: Lauren Montagnino
A strong sense of community is key to online student success, yet many distance learners feel isolated. This session highlights equity-focused strategies for designing courses that foster belonging through inclusive pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Participants will explore practical approaches to building connection—such as creating a welcoming course tone, encouraging peer interaction, and maintaining active instructor presence—using tools like announcements, discussions, and video feedback.
Designing for All Students: Multiple Means of Representation with UDL
Presented by: Sandy Kendell
This session explores Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principle II: Providing Multiple Means of Representation. Participants will learn to make course content more accessible and equitable by offering information in varied formats. Through a hands-on activity, attendees will apply digital tools to convert text-based materials, support student comprehension, and activate background knowledge while aligning with ADA standards.
Exploring Students’ Experiences with Belonging & Engagement in the Online Classroom
Presented by: Matthew Mandell, Kay Treon, Paul Price and Elida Guardia Bonet
This session examines how non-traditional distance learners at ACC experience belonging in online environments. Drawing on focus group findings, benchmarking, and prototype testing, the Online Learning Empowerment and Non-Traditional Student Support teams will share insights and best practices for fostering engagement and building a stronger sense of community among non-traditional students.
Executive Function Unlocked: Supporting Student Success in the Virtual Classroom
Presented by: Martha Dorow and Marie Trzeciak
As online learning grows at ACC, many students face challenges with executive functioning (EF) and digital literacy—key skills for success in virtual classrooms. This session explores strategies to build student confidence and comfort in online environments, integrate EF skill development into coursework, and connect learners with ACC support resources.
The ACC Welcome Center Model: Integrating Support to Boost Student Enrollment, Retention & Success
Presented by: David Zuñiga, Carrington Quesada and Wynter Taylor
The ACC Highland Welcome Center is a high-impact, community-centered initiative designed to connect individuals with opportunities for upward mobility. Serving as a welcoming hub for enrollment, engagement, and education, the center helps guests CONNECT with resources, DISCOVER pathways to success, START STRONG with personalized guidance, and BELONG within the Riverbat community. Services include assistance with applications, registration, payment, free tuition information, and access to student support and basic needs resources.
The center’s success is reflected in a 4.7/5 satisfaction rating, 86% positive feedback, and retention rates higher than the college average.
Presented by: Tim Self
This session introduces Generative AI Self-Conversations (GAISC), an innovative prompt design technique that allows users to direct tools like ChatGPT to engage in dynamic, multi-perspective dialogues. By assigning varied roles, tones, and contexts, participants can use GAISC to spark creativity, challenge assumptions, and uncover new insights. Attendees will explore the educational applications of this method, learn to design effective GAISC prompts, and observe a live demonstration showcasing its potential for teaching, learning, and idea generation.
Lessons from a Sausage Factory: Radical Accessibility and Inclusion through Community-based Learning
Presented by: Maze
This session explores how authentic learning communities can make English instruction radically accessible across diverse contexts—from a sausage factory floor to a private language school to a virtual world. Through these experiences, participants will examine how flexibility, shared ownership, and peer support foster inclusion and equity. Attendees will gain practical insights into applying community-based learning strategies to online and hybrid environments to strengthen belonging and accessibility.
Small Changes, Big Impact: A UDL Starter Kit for Inclusive Classrooms
Presented by: Alex Watkins
This hands-on session introduces Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a proactive framework for creating flexible, accessible, and engaging courses that welcome every student from the start. Participants will explore UDL’s core principles—Multiple Means of Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression—and leave with a practical toolkit of low-effort strategies to diversify assignments, offer learner choice, and enhance student success and belonging.
Parenting Students: A Notable Population of Distance Education Students
Presented by: April Adams
New research on parenting students in Texas demonstrates the importance of online and distance education options for students who are parents of dependent children. This presentation will share results of recent research, and provide participants with insights about the parenting students we serve.
Democratizing Workforce Training: Expanding Access and Success Through Asynchronous Hybrid Design
Presented by: Jennifer Gray, Kathleen Serra and Sophia Chow
The Workforce Learning Experience Design (WLX) team at Austin Community College partnered with Merit America and the AFF Foundation to redesign the Advanced Manufacturing Production (AMP) program into a scalable, equity-focused model that expands access for low-wage workers. Transitioning from a synchronous to an asynchronous hybrid format doubled enrollment while preserving rigor, hands-on learning, and strong support services. Integrating OER, professional coaching, and wrap-around resources, the program has produced significant wage gains for graduates. This session outlines how ACC and its partners are transforming workforce training to increase access, reduce barriers, and promote economic mobility.
Building Bridges to Student Interest
Presented by: Ella Miesner
Development of subject matter interest is an important motivator for long term student learning. In this presentation I will share research based strategies for developing student interest via the pathway of social relatedness and connection within the classroom. Information shared will focus specifically on developing interest and relatedness in the online learning classroom and address challenges specific to that venue.
AI Projects from the AI in Practice Advanced Applications Learning Community
Presented by: Herb Coleman and Marian Moore
This showcase will be a representation of some the learning object and administrative tools created by ACC Faculty Participating the AI in Practice Advanced Applications Learning Community. This was a 6-week learning journney where faculty were introduced to and had hands on practice with various AI tools from prompting, to multimedia, to AI agents.
Faculty created tools to help student learn and to help them withe administrative practices invovled in teaching. The result is this sharing out and there will be time for Q&A.
Friday Virtual Sessions | Nov. 7
Each tab includes the presentation and recording from that symposium session.
Discussion Panel: Empowering Every Learner: The Future of UDL and Accessibility
Presented by: Dr. Elizabeth Knight, Dr. Alex Watkins, Michelle Escudier and Chinwendu Okoronkwo Burns
AI as a Community Connector: Leveraging NotebookLM to Support Equity and Collaboration
Presented by: Lauren Montagnino
This session explores how Google’s AI-powered tool, NotebookLM, can transform online courses into collaborative spaces where students co-create knowledge. By uploading and engaging with shared readings and resources, learners can summarize content, ask questions, and build collective understanding. Through a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) lens, participants will discover strategies for using NotebookLM to promote equity, support diverse learners, and foster community through activities like collaborative reading groups and AI-assisted study guides.
Presented by: Shih-Ting Lee
This session explores how AI tools available at ACC can support faculty in designing courses that meet Quality Matters (QM) standards while enhancing accessibility and engagement. Participants will see live demonstrations of how AI can generate alternative instructional materials, create clear and aligned rubrics, and assist in drafting course content efficiently—all while maintaining academic integrity and accessibility. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and ethical best practices for integrating AI into online course design to improve quality, efficiency, and student learning.
Bringing Everyone to the Stage: Recording Tools for Access and Student Success
Presented by: Angela Niedermyer
In performance-based courses like Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication, recording assignments can present major access barriers for online students. This session introduces inclusive, low-stress recording workflows using tools such as Panopto, Clipchamp, Canvas Studio, Zoom, and Loom. Participants will learn how AI features like captioning and noise reduction enhance accessibility and engagement. Drawing on redesigned Communication Studies courses at ACC, the session shares data and practical strategies for creating equitable, low-bandwidth video assignments in Blackboard Ultra.
Pathways to Success: Maximizing Student Success By Offering Assessment Choices
Presented by: Jared Chumsae
Is it enough to differentiate instruction or course content if our assessment methods aren’t also differentiated? Last year, I began incorporating student choice strategies into my courses and have seen measurable success. I allow students to choose to take traditional quizzes / exams OR submit research projects. This gives students options in how they choose to demonstrate their learning. Student engagement, success rates, and overall satisfaction rates are all up in my courses.
How to Cheat with AI: Smarter Course Design through Vibe-Coding and HTML
Presented by: Jon-Mikel Pearson
Designing engaging Blackboard courses can be challenging, especially for faculty without coding experience. This session introduces vibe-coding—an AI-assisted approach to creating visually dynamic, interactive course content that enhances student engagement. Participants will explore how AI can generate HTML elements, multimedia components, and layout designs to support diverse learning styles. Through sample course pages and demonstrations, attendees will learn how AI can streamline design tasks, foster creativity, and transform Blackboard into an interactive, student-centered learning environment—no advanced coding required.
From Compliance to Compassion: Tools and Strategies for Inclusion
Presented by: Trent Griggs
We will briefly introduce accessibility, the new ADA Title II regulations and Usability before delving into the tools ACC has at its disposal to resolve accessibility issues and how to use them. This presentation will cover remediating educational material to be accessible using Microsoft 365, Grackle, Adobe, Panopto, Blackboard Ally, and AI tools.
AI for Everyone: Getting Started with ACC's Newly Approved and Licensed Generative AI Tools
Presented by: Stephanie Long
This dynamic, hands-on session introduces ACC’s newly approved generative AI tools—Google Gemini and NotebookLM—designed to boost productivity, creativity, and student engagement. Participants will explore the SPARK framework for crafting effective prompts, discover how Gemini can streamline brainstorming and summarizing tasks, and learn how NotebookLM transforms complex materials into clear, accessible insights, podcasts, and videos for diverse learners. Attendees will also gain a foundational understanding of responsible AI use within the ACC context and leave equipped with practical strategies to integrate these secure, ACC-licensed tools into their daily workflow.
AI Learning: Using AI Tools to Improve Learning Outcomes
Presented by: Praise Chikezie
This session explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education by personalizing learning, supporting diverse student needs, and enhancing academic performance. Participants will see real-world examples of AI tools—including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, NotebookLM, and NousWise—used to identify learning gaps, adapt content, and provide immediate feedback. The session also addresses challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the digital divide, highlighting how thoughtful AI integration can foster equitable, inclusive, and effective learning environments.
Presented by: Dr. Lindsay Carlson, RPh, PharmD
This session highlights a data-driven approach to improving Pharmacy Technician students’ performance on the national certification exam (PTCB). By analyzing tagged question scores from Blackboard mock exams, students receive targeted feedback identifying specific areas for review.
Participants will learn the rationale behind this method, see a walkthrough of its implementation, and receive step-by-step guidance for creating a similar exam analysis system in other courses. The session includes time for Q&A.