FIU OnlineCon is FIU Online’s annual gathering for faculty to explore the latest in instructional technology, innovative learning tools, and best practices in online course design.
This year’s theme, inspired by the Netflix prompt “Are you still watching?” took this familiar question to examine a pressing issue in online education: student engagement. Just as viewers’ choices shape their streaming experience, FIU OnlineCon 2024 explored how educators can use this insight to enrich online learning and better engage students—especially with the growing influence of AI.
With record attendance, this year’s conference was a standout event, featuring thought-provoking keynote addresses, interactive workshops, and hands-on discussions.
Keynote Double Feature
This year’s FIU OnlineCon featured two thought-provoking keynote speakers who shared their expertise on innovation, AI, and transformative teaching.
Ethan Mollick: Pioneering AI in Education
Ethan Mollick, Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, captivated the audience with his insights on the transformative role of AI in education. Co-directing the Generative AI Lab at Wharton, Mollick is a recognized authority on AI’s impact on work and learning.
“Education will be able to adapt to AI far more effectively than other industries,” declared Mollick in his keynote address, “and in ways that will improve both learning and the experience of instructors.” His talk painted an optimistic vision of artificial intelligence in education, describing AI not as a threat but as a catalyst for enhanced teaching methods and student engagement.
Dr. Todd Zakrajsek: Transforming Classrooms with Creative Teaching
Dr. Todd Zakrajsek, Associate Research Professor and Associate Director of the Faculty Development Fellowship at UNC’s College of Medicine. Known for his books, Dynamic Lecturing and The New Science of Learning, Dr. Zakrajsek is a prominent advocate for building motivating, inclusive learning environments.
Zakrajsek’s keynote provided fresh perspectives on classroom motivation and creativity. He emphasized the foundational role of teaching in shaping all professions. “Teaching is the profession that makes all professions possible”, he shared. His session left participants inspired to adopt new, transformative approaches that prioritize meaningful student engagement and learning outcomes.
In addition to the keynotes, the conference featured a series of dynamic sessions aimed at enhancing engagement and accessibility in online learning environments.
Session Spotlights:
- Game-Inspired Course Design This session introduced “game thinking” as a way to enhance course engagement and motivation without requiring full gamification. Through a combination of systems thinking and human-centered design, participants explored strategies to incorporate game elements in online and hybrid courses.
- Best of Face-to-Face – Online Aimed at bridging in-person and online learning, this session explored how to bring the benefits of face-to-face interaction into digital environments. Attendees learned about fostering collaboration, community, and student satisfaction through innovative examples that can improve learning outcomes and engagement in online settings.
- The eLearning Match Game In this interactive, “Dating Game”-inspired session, participants evaluated different educational technology tools to find the best match for their courses. This fun and informative session helped educators understand the nuances of tool selection based on integration, user-friendliness, engagement, and cost.
- Mission Kritikal: A New Tool for Student Engagement This presentation showcased Kritik, a peer review tool that enhances feedback and engagement through a three-stage process: Creation, Evaluation, and Feedback. A live demo illustrated how Kritik fosters collaborative learning and engagement across disciplines.
- Discussion Showdown: Igniting Online Dialogue Participants explored the FIU Online Showcase Course, a comprehensive resource designed to inspire and share best practices in eLearning. Educators had the opportunity to discuss their course design challenges, discovering how the Showcase Course could enhance their teaching methods and student outcomes.
- Designing Award-Winning Courses Dr. Melody Whiddon-Willoughby, a multiple FIU Online Faculty Choice Award winner, shared strategies for creating student-centered online courses. She provided insights into instructional methods and educational technology for fostering dynamic, interactive learning environments, offering practical tips to improve course quality and student engagement.
- App Smash Bros: Merging Apps for 360 Syllabus Quizzes This session focused on integrating gamified and mixed-reality experiences in asynchronous courses, even with limited resources. Using PlayPosit Bulbs, participants learned to create adaptive and immersive experiences, guided by the design thinking process, which can transform traditional courses into engaging, interactive learning environments.
- Bridging the Gap: Expanding Accessibility to Online Learning In this session, data-driven insights were presented as a means to enhance course design. Using Tableau and Canvas data, participants discovered strategies to identify and address student struggle points. This data-centric approach emphasized collaboration between instructional designers and faculty and the importance of evaluation in the ADDIE process.
Overall, this year’s FIU OnlineCon delivered a wealth of innovative ideas and strategies for advancing online education. With AI, engagement, and accessibility as central themes, the conference equipped faculty with practical tools to improve online learning experiences.