As the (virtual) lights dim on Innovate 2026, I’ve found myself thinking back over the past several days, replaying conversations, insights, unexpected moments of inspiration, and the thousand small sparks that happen when a community comes together with curiosity and purpose.
Each year, Innovate asks us to challenge assumptions, explore emerging possibilities, and stretch the boundaries of digital learning. But this year felt different in the best possible way. It felt like a collective exhale and a collective leap forward. A moment where our field openly acknowledged both the complexity of the work ahead and our shared commitment to shaping a better, more human, and more equitable future.
Reimagining Integrity, Access, and Trust in an AI-Driven World
Dr. Tricia Bertram Gallant’s keynote, The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in an AI-Driven Online World, set exactly the tone we needed. Her exploration of integrity in an AI‑driven learning landscape grounded us in the reality that innovation is not simply about tools; it’s about values. As she reminded us, our challenge isn’t to compete with the capabilities of new technologies, but to design learning environments where trust, accountability, and transparency guide every decision.
That grounding centered the entire conference. It created a throughline: that innovation must always be in service of people.
Featured Sessions That Pushed Us Forward
Across the week, our featured speakers dove deep into some of the most timely and urgent topics shaping digital learning today:
- The quality and promise of open educational resources
- How open pedagogy invites learners into shared ownership
- What student readiness really looks like in a rapidly shifting digital environment
These sessions didn’t just examine trends. They challenged us to rethink the ecosystems around them. The message was clear: sustainable innovation requires structures, strategies, and relationships that support it.
A Program Built for Exploration
One of the things I love most about Innovate is the variety of ways attendees can engage. This year’s program included:
- Design Sprints for hands‑on collaboration
- Express Sessions that sparked big ideas in short, TED‑style formats
- Gamified Sessions that modeled engagement by doing
- Workshops that created space for deep practice
- Education Sessions that highlighted practical, evidence‑based work happening across institutions
And yes- plenty of opportunities to dig into AI, from frameworks for ethical adoption to examples of human‑centered implementation! More than anything, the diversity of formats allowed people to connect in the way that resonated most with them.
Celebrating Excellence and Community
The MERLOT Awards Presentation was a beautiful reminder of what it looks like when individuals commit to quality, creativity, stewardship, and service. Recognizing this year’s Classics winners, Peer Reviewers Extraordinaires, and institutional leaders reinforced why open communities matter and why they remain essential to a thriving digital learning ecosystem.
What I’m Carrying Forward
Every year, Innovate leaves me both grateful and energized. Grateful for the people who share their work so generously, and energized by the ideas, challenges, and new connections that will carry us into the months ahead.
This year, I’m taking with me three reminders:
- Innovation is a practice, not an event. It’s sustained by communities willing to think, test, iterate, and grow together.
- We are stronger when we share. Whether through open resources, collaborative design, or cross‑institutional dialogue, knowledge grows when we invite others in.
- The future of digital learning is human‑centered. Whether we’re talking about AI, pedagogy, or leadership, the heart of the work remains the same: understanding people, supporting people, and designing for people.
To everyone who joined us: Thank you for your presence, your ideas, your honesty, and your commitment. Innovate is never just a program. It’s a community. And this community made this year unforgettable.
I can’t wait to see what emerges next.
Jennifer Wurch
OLC Innovate 2026 Conference Chair
