Welcome to the IDEAS Seminar Series
The IDEAS Seminar Series is a new series of development events featuring industry experts to empower educators and instructional designers with innovative teaching practices.
These events will:
- Provide educators and instructional designers with innovative tools, learning strategies, and best course design practices.
- Inspire and connect educators nationwide and beyond.
Past Events & Replays
Group Work: How to Balance Collaboration & Accountability?
Many instructors use group work to help students engage more actively with course material, exchange perspectives, and practice collaboration. What if instructors could thoughtfully design group work to balance student autonomy and timely instructor guidance? In this online seminar replay, we explore current evidence on effectiveness and limitations of group learning, factors to support meaningful collaboration, best practices when forming student groups, and methods of supporting them as they begin to work together
The Power of Visuals: How to Enhance Learning through Effective Design?
What if small changes to your slides and course visuals could significantly reduce student confusion and improve understanding, without requiring graphic design expertise? In this online seminar replay, we explore how thoughtful visual design can support learning in online, face-to-face, and hybrid courses. We’ll examine common pitfalls and share practical strategies to make your visuals clear, accessible, and impactful for your students.
AI in Education: How to Reduce Misuse & Rethink Teaching?
Some instructors worry that uncritical use of artificial intelligence (AI) could dull students’ judgement, blur the line between original and machine-generated work, or weaken habits of independent thinking. Others see AI as a helpful assistant that can save time and open new creative possibilities. Both perspectives point to the same need: thoughtful course design and teaching practice that help students engage critically and creatively with AI in their learning.
Accessibility: How Technology & Human Insight Can Support All Learners
Accessible course design enables students to devote their time and energy to real learning. True accessibility depends on instructors’ subject-matter expertise and empathy for the learner experience. Explore how accessibility benefits everyone, learn how to combine technology tools and human knowledge to achieve this aim, and discover some quick but meaningful improvements.
Active Learning: How to Make Course Engagement More Meaningful
Active learning is one of the most effective ways to increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes, yet implementing it successfully in online courses presents unique challenges. How can educators design interactive, student-centered learning experiences that go beyond passive content consumption?
Beyond the Classroom: Creating Engaging Educational Videos
In an increasingly digital learning environment, multimedia—especially video—is a powerful tool for engaging students and enhancing learning outcomes. Yet too often, educational videos end up being long, monotonous, and uninspiring. How can educators and instructional designers break this cycle and create videos that truly engage?