A rhythmic recap of powerful takeaways, tech insights, and community moments from OLC’s 10th anniversary event
Prior to the start of Innovate 2025, I wrote a blog post describing the significance of the number 10 as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Innovate. In that post, I promised that we at OLC are committed to sharing, learning, and growing together. I don’t think anyone can ask for a refund on that guarantee!
I’m still reeling from all the amazing sessions I attended, and I’m extremely grateful to have access to the recordings from all the sessions and the wealth of resources shared by our presenters. While I’m still processing the experience, I wanted to share some of my own highlights with you. In keeping with our 10th anniversary and a nod to our theme “The Rhythm of Innovation: Hitting the High Notes in Digital Education,” I’ve compiled my top ten hits from the conference. I hope these resonate with you (so many musical puns to be had!) and that you’re creating your own highlight reel as well.
10. Aligning with AI: Using AI to conduct alignment analysis between course learning objectives and activities—not creating content but ensuring clarity for others.
9. Leveraging Established Frameworks: Utilizing existing tools such as the ADDIE Model and SAMHSA Framework to create content based on students’ needs and trauma-informed pedagogy.
8. Connecting to Careers: Identifying transferable skills for students through O-NET based on their intended careers and skill sets.
7. Harnessing Student AI Use: Building on students’ self-identified AI uses (tinkering and sparking ideas) to encourage critical thinking rather than work avoidance.
6. Building Better Relationships: Addressing why many students with disabilities aren’t disclosing to universities and what this reveals about our relationship-building.
5. Mindful Communication: Being intentional about language and avoiding jargon in everything from lectures to rubrics, textbooks to assignments.
4. Fostering Trust: Developing networked learning through collective, collaborative, and cooperative inquiry that can only flourish within trusting relationships.
3. Reimagining Frameworks: Reworking Bloom’s Taxonomy for an AI world—analyze, explain, apply, create and DISRUPT!
2. Personalizing Technology: Creating custom GPTs to provide asynchronous online students with interactions that mimic synchronous in-class experiences.
1. Teaching Beyond Compliance: Moving beyond creating accessible learning spaces to teaching accessibility principles so students carry this learning into their future workplaces and lives.
These insights represent just the tip of the iceberg from our rich conference discussions. As I was creating that list, I realized that I needed to make a top 100 to convey all the incredible things I have learned from our OLC community. I would be remiss if I didn’t include the wonderful networking sessions put on by our engagement team- Swiftie trivia, laughing over cringeworthy virtual work horror stories, and coming together through music-related memories. It was an experience! I hope that you all had an equally inspiring event. Please promise me that your learning won’t stop with you, share out with your colleagues and dig into what resonated with you. Go back and watch the recordings or check out other sessions you might have missed. They are available for the next nine (9) months.
The last note of this symphony is just the prelude to our next masterpiece- please come join us for Accelerate 2025. We will be together in person in Orlando, at the beautiful Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, November 17-20. The call for proposals is open now and closes 11:59 pm ET, May 21. We look forward to learning beside you in the future. See you soon friends!
Allison
