Access Recorded Sessions | A Message from the Conference Co-Chairs | Contest Winners and Social Media | Exposition Foundry Sessions | Photos | OLC Live! and Open Sessions | Testimonials | Volunteer with OLC
The OLC Accelerate 2020 Conference, held November 9-18, was filled with opportunities to connect with the entire digital education community and generated a great deal of enthusiasm in its fully virtual format. Approximately 4,000 attendees participated from nearly 410 institutions/organizations, representing 43 states plus the District of Columbia and 14 countries around the globe.
This year’s program included more than 400 compelling sessions, 20 immersive workshops, numerous discovery sessions and the new Exposition Foundry. Additional highlights include the keynote by Flower Darby, OLC Awards Gala, various Summits (Instructional Design, OLC Leadership Network, OLC Research) and HBCU Workshops.
In a notable shift, OLC programming is moving in more community-centered directions, putting more choice in the hands of our membership and leveraging events as a way to catalyze continued co-development of much needed job aids, publications, and meaningful networked collaborations. As an example, the OLC Research Summit on November 17 not only provided a research toolkit but also ended with the opportunity for attendees to sign up for facilitated writing and editing opportunities to help them further develop and publish research and ideas gleaned from their conference attendance.
Beyond content, who can forget the myriad of ways that attendees were able to deeply engage in the online environment? While we were physically distanced we were very socially connected via the Field Guide Program and Virtual Speed Networking Lounge, which was designed to enhance the conference experience for first-timers and anyone looking for additional networking opportunities. The evolving Asynchronous Technology Test Kitchen forged new frontiers in the delivery of ‘hands-on’ asynchronous virtual learning experiences, and the Exposition Foundry and Ex Foundry Games, were a fun, informal way to connect with our sponsors, learn about new technology and educational innovations and an opportunity to win prizes that were generously donated by the very same sponsors. Finally, we had frequent community touch points throughout the conference via the responsive OLC Live! program, which featured more intimate, in-time dialogue with presenters and community members around conference themes and experiences.
We hope you enjoyed OLC Accelerate 2020 and look forward to seeing you again at next year’s OLC Innovate 2021, taking place virtually from March 15-19 and at OLC Accelerate 2021, taking place onsite and virtually in Washington, DC October 6-8, 2022. Help us keep exploring new ways to connect. Sign up for email updates about these events and be on the lookout for an open call for speaker proposals soon.
Access Recorded Sessions
Registered conference attendees have access to the on-demand recordings for one (1) full year post-conference. OLC offers two avenues of access for attendees to view the Accelerate 2020 on-demand program: Classic and Enhanced. You must be logged in to your OLC user account to access the on-demand recordings.
- In the Enhanced platform, each of the individual session pages has a link to “Watch on Demand.”
- In the Classic platform, each of the individual session pages has a link to “Watch this Session.”
To access on-demand recordings, registered participants need to be logged in at onlinelearningconsortium.org.
Missed the live conference? No problem!
It’s not too late to get access to the virtual OLC Accelerate 2020 conference! The 400+ recorded sessions are available on-demand for one full year. See full details and register here. Discounts are available for groups of three or more and campus-wide access.
Please email conference@onlinelearning-c.org if you have any questions.
Deal Colleagues,
The OLC Accelerate Virtual Conference was held November 9-18, 2020. New this year, OLC Accelerate moves to an all virtual format (November 9-18). In these uncertain times, it is important to the OLC and the OLC Accelerate 2020 conference committees that we create a reimagined program encompassing the rich opportunities for engagement in a fully-online format. As such, preparations for this year’s conference are underway for a dynamic and impactful conference that participants can enjoy online live or asynchronously through a library of session recordings. Full details on the virtual agenda can be found in our program listing.
This year promises to bring a new and exciting focus as we look forward with “20/20 Vision: Envisioning the Future of Online, Blended and Digital Learning.” We’ll be sharing new and upcoming technologies, trends and pedagogical approaches that our colleagues worldwide are successfully implementing or envisioning within their digital learning spaces.
We are excited to continue to expand the depth and breadth to our conference agenda with exciting programming, networking, and a variety of informal opportunities for OLC Accelerate attendees to engage and connect with one another, and with OLC staff and volunteers.
Congratulations to these lucky winners and thank you to our generous sponsors!
Ex-Foundry Games (Sponsor Scavenger Hunt):
| Winner Name | Institution | Activity – Scavenger Hunt | Gift Card / Prize – Donated by OLC |
| Darnell Kemp (Grand Prize) | Fullerton College | 1 Completed Full (Grand Prize) | Unlimited Virtual Pkg for a 2021 OLC Conference |
| Amy Thomson | Granite State College | 1 Completed Full -1st Place | $250 Amazon Gift Card |
| Pam Snyde | Penn State University | 1 Completed Full -1st Place | $250 Amazon Gift Card |
| Lainie Hoffman | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 50% Completed – 2nd Place | Airpods |
| Kaye Temanson | North Dakota State University | 50% Completed – 3rd Place | OLC Professional Membership ($175 value) |
| Erin Blauvelt | Clarkson University | 50% Completed – 4th Place | OLC Professional Membership ($175 value) |
| Rachel Stern-Lockerman | CUNY Queens College | 50% Completed – 5th Place | OLC Professional Membership ($175 value) |
Sponsor Prize Donations:
| Winner Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize | Donated By |
| William Prado | Prescott College | 1 Green Screen | Examity |
| Sujita Shrestha | SUNY Empire State College | 1 Travel organizers | PSI |
| Anna Zak | St. John’s University – New York | 1 Travel organizers | PSI |
| Rebekah Benson | American InterContinental University | 1 Swag bags (each contains a stuffed moose, a notebook and pen and a tshirt in a D2L tote bag! | D2L |
| Trina McCarty | Kansas State University | 1 Swag bags (each contains a stuffed moose, a notebook and pen and a tshirt in a D2L tote bag! | D2L |
| Corey P. McNair | Alamo College District Office | $100 Amazon Gift Card | DigitalEd |
| Elizabeth Riley | University of Arkansas – Little Rock | $100 Amazon Gift Card | Cidi Labs |
| Osmara Salas | University of Florida | $250 Sunglass Hut Card | Proctor U |
| Lily Oyarzun | Indiana University – Bloomington | $50 Target Kiosk Gift Card | MindEdge Learning |
| Tracy Stuntz | Clovis Community College | $50 Target Kiosk Gift Card | MindEdge Learning |
| Meg Erlewine | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $150 Amazon Gift Card | Honorlock |
| Bart McLeroy | Collin College | $50 Amazon Gift Card | Science Interactive |
| Angela Gibson | Texas A&M University – Kingsville | $50 Amazon Gift Card | ACUE |
| Rebecca Cottrell | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $50 Amazon Gift Card | Respondus |
VSNL: Mad Libs
| Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize –Donated by OLC |
| Jason Reed | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | $25 Amazon Gift Card |
Evening Event: A Very Happy Happy Hour: The Zoom where it happens
| Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize – Donated by Examity |
| Danielle Trueba | Pima Medical Institute | $25 Amazon Gift Card |
Evening Event: Chef-nanigans
| Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize –Donated by OLC |
| Rachel Stern-Lockerman | CUNY | $25 Amazon Gift Card |
Evening Event: Musical Bingo
| Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize – Donated by OLC |
| Angela Gibson | Texas A&M University – Kingsville | $10 Barnes & Noble |
| Stephanie Wood | Granite School District (562030) | $25 OLC |
| Stephanie Wood #2 | Granite School District (562030) | $25 OLC |
| Crystal Nielsen | Northwest Nazarene University | $25 OLC |
| Jason Reed | State College of Florida – Manatee – Sarasota | $25 OLC |
| Wendy Commons | Collin College | $25 OLC |
| Tracy Balduzzi | Syracuse University | $25 OLC |
| Susan Wegmann | University of Mary Hardin – Baylor | $25 OLC |
VSNL: Scavenger Hunt
| Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize – Donated by OLC | |
|
Dorothy Loftin |
Oregon State University |
$25 Amazon |
Closing Event:
| Winner Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize | Donated By |
| Martin Dunlap | West Virginia University | Unlimited Virtual Pkg for a 2021 OLC conference | OLC |
| Omar Jakin | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Individual 2021 Virtual Conference Registration | D2L |
| Rey Martinez | New Mexico Highlands University | Individual 2021 Virtual Conference Registration | Canvas |
| Christina Pinkston | Norfolk State University | Individual 2021 Virtual Conference Registration | Honorlock |
| Travis Phillips | Rowan – Cabarrus Community College | Individual 2021 Virtual Conference Registration | Mediasite |
| Lokman Zaibet | Sultan Qaboos University Oman | Individual 2021 Virtual Conference Registration | VoiceThread |
Session Evaluations (Attendees):
| Winner Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize | Donated By |
| Maria Aurora Yanez | Alamo College District Office | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
| Mary Mahank | Indiana University-East (Richmond) | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
| Malgorzata Ilkowska | Baker College | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
| Fred Telegdy | University of Virginia | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
| Laura McLaughlin | Neumann University | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
Session Evaluations (Presenter)
| Winner Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize | Sponsor |
| Melony Shemberger | Murray State University | $25 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
Post Conference Survey Winners:
| Winner Name | Institution | Gift Card / Prize | Sponsor |
| Martha (Marty) Whalen | Clarkson University | $50 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
| Pamela Darling-Facio | Collin College | $50 Amazon Gift Card | OLC |
Take a look at photos, videos, inspiring quotes, and more that were shared before, during, and after the conference by following the #OLCAccelerate hashtag!
OLC Live! and Open Sessions
As part of the broader Virtual Experience at #OLCAccelerate 2020, OLC Live! is a catered virtual lounge and conversation space where participants can engage directly with keynote speakers, select presenters, and other attendees. Join our OLC Live guest hosts Jenae Cohn and Nate Angell for your chance to connect virtually with a variety of personalities from the OLC community. If you missed them live, you can still enjoy the recorded sessions. Of special note, check out these recordings:
- OLC Live Conference Preview
- OLC Live: The Accelerate Experience (Tuesday, Nov. 10)
- OLC Live: The Accelerate Experience (Wednesday, Nov. 11)
- OLC Live: Sponsor Chat with Proctor U
- OLC Live: Sponsor Chat with Examity
- OLC Live: The OLC Experience (Monday, Nov. 16)
- OLC Live: The Accelerate Experience (Tuesday, Nov. 17)
- OLC Live Networking Coffee Break: Sponsor Chat with HP
- OLC Live: Closing Event – Beyond the Keynote
The Exposition Foundry
Informally called “The Foundry,” this collaborative space brings together educators, technologists, researchers and advocates of all positions (from institutions, companies, associations, etc.) to design and implement change work around online, blended and digital learning.
- A comprehensive Learning Solution in One Platform
- At Your Service: What Does ‘We’re Here To Support You’ Really Mean?
- Beyond Zoom: XR for Teaching and Research in the Covid-19 Era
- Community Building With Yellowdig
- Dark Patterns In The Digital Classroom
- Ensuring Continuity In Art And Design Education With ZCentral
- Escape First Year Biology – A Digital Escape Room Using HHMI BioInteractive Resources And How To Design One
- Exposition Foundry – VitalSource
- HP’s CTO Discusses Academic Cyber Integrity
- Hindsight Is 20/20: Comprehensive Reporting To Improve Your Online Program
- Holistic Student Engagement: 8 Key Areas For Student Success
- How To Support A Competency-Based Learning Model Online
- Keeping Students In Their Virtual Seats – Intentional Engagement Through Online Science Labs
- Learner Stage Fright When Testing Via Webcam
- Let’s Play A Match Game! How To “Match” Your Exams To The Right Level Of Online Proctoring
- Online Proctoring & Student Authentication: Ensuring Integrity Throughout The Entire Student Lifecycle
- Overcoming Test Anxiety With A Dose Of Preparedness: What Students Need To Know About Online Proctoring
- The ACUE Experience: Engaging Faculty For Student Success
- The Benefits Of Creating A Sense Of Belonging For Students And Faculty
- The Current & Future State Of Student Success
- The Roadtrip Nation Experience
- Tiny Social Reading Activities
- Voices And Faces In Your Online Spaces
- What Drives Student Success? Our Survey Results Provide Insight
- What Is Effective Learning In The 2021 World Of Multiple Modalities?
“This was my first OLC Accelerate conference. Though I wish I could have been onsite, it was an incredible virtual conference with amazing opportunities. I have never had a virtual conference that is so organized, engaging, easy to navigate, fun, relaxing, and informative all in one. I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibit hall experience, the Ex Foundry Games, the relaxation/quiet room, and the opportunities to network. What I enjoyed most was the engaging and incredible workshops. I have learned that I prefer the virtual experience because I could hop out of a workshop that ended up not being geared to what I needed and jump right into another one of interest, while maximizing my time in the session. In a traditional conference, I would waste 10 minutes walking to another session, missing valuable information. I maximized my time to learn as much as possible on my breaks from teaching. This is a conference that I would not hesitate to attend virtually again or in person. Thanks for an amazing and dynamic conference experience.”
Celia Kerr
Psychology Instructor, York Technical College
“Learned so many amazing things and was able to build networks with others in my academic interest area.”
Dr. Tina Callaway
New England Institute of Business at Cambridge College
“I was very hopeful when the conference had to be changed to a virtual environment and I was not disappointed. This was my first OLC Accelerate experience, but certainly not my last. There is nothing like leaving a conference with things to try and a broadened perspective. I look forward to next year’s event!”
LaDonna Reynolds
Instructional Designer, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (Salisbury, NC)
Thank You, OLC Accelerate Volunteers!
You may have noticed that in addition to our presenters, each session had a Zoom room manager and volunteer session chair helping manage this huge program. A special thanks to our session chair team!
Additionally, beyond the OLC staff, there was a team of reviewers, track chairs, engagement, program and conference chairs, steering committee, Field Guides, etc. helping plan and implement the various aspects of the conference.
Special thanks to the Accelerate 2020 team, who ended up volunteering for this all-virtual event. If you are interested in getting more involved, become part of our volunteer team.
“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to volunteer as session chair during the Innovate conference. I also wanted to share faculty have provided very positive feedback on the conference and several have asked about the Accelerate conference virtual attendance. I look forward to future volunteer opportunities with OLC.”
Penny Kuckkahn
Director of Instructional Effectiveness and Flexible Learning
Nicolet Area Technical College