#AC21 - Centering Inclusion, Trust And Care: A Connected Plenary And Closing Event

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Brief Abstract

Part fireside chat, part active design sprint, this highly-engaging plenary will weave together the threads of the salient themes and discussions covered across the various tracks, sessions and engagement opportunities. Using a curated set of notes collected by numerous conference attendees, session participants will first hear reflections on how the discussions and themes from the conference presentation connect to our collective role in reimagining educational innovation.

 

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Angela Gunder, Online Learning Consortium

Angela Gunder is the Chief Academic Officer and VP of Learning for the Online Learning Consortium. In this role, she is responsible for gathering, curating, and leveraging the intellectual capital created by and disseminated through OLC. Prior to her position at the OLC, Angela served as the Director of Instructional Design & Curriculum Development for the Office of Digital Learning, managing and mentoring the team that builds the fully-online programs for The University of Arizona. Her over fifteen-year career as a designer for higher education informs her instructional design practice, where she leverages her expertise in web design, usability, visual communication, programming, and standards-based online learning. She is an Associate Editor for the Teacher Education Board of MERLOT, and the recipient of the 2018 MERLOT Distinguished Service Award, the organization’s highest honor. She is also the recipient of two Online Learning Consortium Effective Practice Awards for the creation of a framework for personal learning networks, and for the creation of exploratory installations of education technology, respectively. In 2019, Dr. Gunder was named an OLC Fellow for her dedication to service, innovation, and scholarship in support of student success in online learning. Her research interests include open educational practices, digital literacies, narrative in online course design, and emerging technology for second language acquisition. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Fine Art from Fordham University, a M.Ed. in Education Technology from Arizona State University. Angela completed her Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies at The University of Arizona, where in 2020 she was named an Erasmus Scholar by the College of Education for her commitment to the college, the university and to the community. Pronouns: she/her/hers

Co-presenter: Rajiv Jhangiani, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani is the Associate Vice President, Teaching and Learning at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia. The architect of Canada’s first zero textbook cost degree programs, Rajiv’s scholarship focuses on open educational practices, student-centered pedagogies, and ethical approaches to educational technology. An innovative educator, Dr. Jhangiani is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Robert E. Knox Master Teacher Award from the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, the Dean of Arts Teaching Excellence award at KPU, the Award for Excellence in Open Education from BCcampus, and the Emerging Leader Award from Open Education Global. A co-author of three open textbooks in Psychology, his books include Open: The Philosophy and Practices that are Revolutionizing Education and Science (2017) and Open at the Margins: Critical Perspectives on Open Education (2020). Together with Dr. Robin DeRosa, he is a co-founder of the Open Pedagogy Notebook. You can find him online @thatpsychprof or thatpsychprof.com.

Co-presenter: Abby McGuire, Online Learning Consortium

Dr. Abby McGuire serves as the Director of Research at the Online Learning Consortium where she supports the OLC’s research efforts and advances the reach and impact of the OLC’s Research Center. Abby collaborates with scholars, practitioners, OLC team members, and external partners to design and implement initiatives and publish research that advances online, blended, and digital teaching and learning. Abby loves creating and sharing ideas to deepen understanding and shift perspectives about teaching and learning. She is a bold, creative thinker and educational leader with professional writing, editing, and consulting expertise, and she is a higher education professional with more than a decade of experience in administrative and faculty roles. Abby holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and a Master of Arts in English Composition and Communication from Central Michigan University.

Extended Abstract

Moving beyond the mere transactional sit-and-get conference experience, OLC Accelerate brings together educators from across the globe to engage in critical change work in supporting the modern learner, anywhere and anytime. Part fireside chat, part active design sprint, this highly-engaging plenary will weave together the threads of the salient themes and discussions covered across the various tracks, sessions and engagement opportunities. Using a curated set of notes collected by numerous conference attendees, session participants will first hear reflections on how the discussions and themes from the conference presentation connect to our collective role in reimagining educational innovation. Then, we will hear reflections from our keynote speaker, Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani, who will help us close with a call to action in support of our future discussions, collaborations, and advocacy.

Join us for a transformative session that will not only weave together the threads of OLC Accelerate 2021 virtual conference as a closing activity, but will provide you with a road map and continued momentum for the shared path ahead of ensuring access and impact of our online, blended and digital teaching and learning practices.