This archive features recordings of workshops offered by the Office of Distance & Alternative Education.
Sessions are led by instructional designers and subject-matter experts and focus on practical strategies for accessibility, course design, student engagement, teaching tools, and quality standards for online teaching.
Last updated: March 2026. New workshops are added as recordings become available.
Select a category below and click a workshop title to expand the description and access the recording.
2026 Workshop Series
Accessibility:
Practical strategies for creating accessible course materials and designing inclusive Blackboard courses.
Learn how to use Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Adobe Acrobat to create and edit PDFs that meet accessibility standards. The session highlights built-in Adobe tools for producing accessible, well-structured documents.
Presenters: Angelo Caverte & Judith Job
Blackboard Ally: Your Friend in Accessibility
Blackboard Ally helps improve course accessibility in Blackboard. Learn how to interpret Ally reports and apply quick fixes that can improve accessibility scores, along with how Distance Education can support accessible course design.
Presenters: Judith Job & Kayla Beltran
Watch Blackboard Ally: Your Friend in Accessibility Session Recording
Microsoft Office Accessibility: Word & PowerPoint
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel include built-in tools for creating accessible documents. This session covers how to remediate existing files and create new documents with accessibility in mind from the start.
Presenters: Angelo Caverte & Marian Moore
Watch Microsoft Office Accessibility: Word & PowerPoint Session Recording
Google Workspace Accessibility: Docs & Slides
Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets must also be accessible for students, but Blackboard Ally does not scan them. This session introduces Grackle, a tool for checking and improving accessibility in Google Docs and Slides.
Presenters: Katie McClendon & Kayla Beltran
Watch Google Workspace Accessibility: Docs & Slides Session Recording
Design for Accessibility in Blackboard Ultra
Accessible course design helps all students fully engage with course materials. This session shares practical strategies for organizing Blackboard Ultra courses to meet accessibility standards and support inclusive learning.
Presenters: Sandy Kendell & Marian Moore
Watch Design for Accessibility in Blackboard Ultra Session Recording
Course Design:
Strategies for building clear, well-organized courses that support student success.
Creating a Sludge-Free Course Design
In education, “sludge” refers to unnecessary obstacles—confusing navigation, cluttered materials, and complicated systems—that make learning harder for students. This workshop shares strategies for streamlining course design so students can focus on learning.
Presenters: Angelo Caverte & Marian Moore
Watch Creating a Sludge-Free Course Design Session Recording
Creating an Effective Online Course with Universal Design of Online Learning
Whether teaching online, in person, or somewhere in between, the key question is: What do students need to do to meet course and lesson outcomes? This session explores how Universal Design for Learning can guide course structure, pedagogy, alignment, and engagement.
Presenters: Michelle Escudier & Marian Moore
Watch Creating an Effective Online Course with Universal Design of Online Learning Session Recording
2025 Workshop Series
Course Design:
Strategies for building clear, well-organized courses that support student success.
Increase interaction in online and hybrid courses using practical, research-based strategies. This session shares tools and techniques for communication, community building, and active participation.
Presenters: Katie McClendon & Sandy Kendell
Teaching Tools
Technology tools that support collaboration, communication, and interactive learning.
Interactive Tools for Collaboration
Explore easy-to-use tools that support collaboration, creativity, and engagement. Learn how to integrate tools like Google Workspace and Padlet for group work, peer feedback, and interactive learning.
Presenters: Katie McClendon & Judith Job
Quality Matters & Course Certification
Information about Quality Matters standards, course certification, and opportunities for peer review.
From Course to Certification: The Road to National QM Certification and Peer Review Roles
Interested in becoming a certified QM peer reviewer or earning national recognition for your online course? This session provides an overview of the Quality Matters National Review process, including how to prepare a course for certification and participate on review teams.
Presenters: Katie McClendon & Judith Job
2024 Workshop Series
Crafting Clear Evaluation Criteria: Empowering Learners through Transparent Assessment Criteria
Clear assessment criteria help students understand how their work will be evaluated. This workshop focuses on designing descriptive grading criteria aligned with Quality Matters Standard 3.3, one of the most frequently unmet standards in course reviews.
Presenters: Jennifer Gray & Kayla Beltran
Utilizing Backwards Design To Articulate Learning Outcomes & Enhance Student Learning
This workshop explores the benefits of backward design and its role in effective teaching and learning. Learn how to craft clear learning objectives and provide meaningful feedback that supports student learning.
Presenters: Marian Moore & Katie McClendon