OLC Innovate 2021 - Engagement Opportunities
Get more out of your conference experience!
Field Guide Program
The OLC Field Guide program is designed to enhance the conference experience for first-time conference attendees and anyone looking for additional networking opportunities at OLC conferences.
Innovation Studio
OLC Live
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 for your chance to connect virtually with a variety of personalities from the OLC community.
Equity & Inclusion
Many of us in education are engaged in work that seeks to create and promote diverse and inclusive learning environments. The E&I Committee aims to leverage that knowledge and passion to elevate the OLC conference experience.
The Sanctuary
Everyone needs a break and time to decompress when at a large conference… even when it is virtual. Take advantage of opportunities to unplug and refocus.
OLC Presenter Services
OLC Presenter Services is dedicated to enhancing the conference experience for all attendees by offering specialized coaching to presenters. Our goal is to offer guidance on best practices in audience engagement strategies, slide design, and delivery skills necessary to ensure a successful conference session.
Speed Networking Lounge
The OLC Speed Networking Lounge is an informal space that allows participants to connect with fellow attendees through lightweight, collaborative activities.
Virtual Experience
Make the most of your virtual conference experience. This space is intended to help guide you through the technical aspects of the conference as you prepare for an engaging and interactive virtual experience.
Schedule
All times are listed in US Central Time Zone.
| 12:15pm - 12:45pm | OLC Innovate 2021 Pre-conference Workshop Networking Event Madeline Shellgren, Angela Gunder |
Searching for a fun way to end your week and launch your OLC Innovate experience? Look no further! Whether you're new to the OLC or been with us for years, join us for light networking and insider tips into how to get the most out of your online conference experience. We'll show you tips and tricks for engaging with Zoom, and crowdsource ideas for how you might run virtual networking in your own contexts. And of course, you'll leave with new connections and friends to navigate your OLC Innovate experience with. |
| 4:15pm - 5:00pm | OLC Innovate 2021 Conference Preview Madeline Shellgren, Angela Gunder |
Large professional development opportunities like conferences can be difficult to plan for, particularly in today's climate when most of us are attending alongside or in between work commitments (as opposed to having the flexibility to travel for and focus on the event itself). With this in mind, we've designed this session to help you make the most of your conference experience. Join members of the OLC team and our amazing group of volunteers for an engaging preview of the conference. Get a sense of what all the conference has to offer, hear from others who've attended before about the things you shouldn't miss, and importantly kick off your OLC Innovate experience with fun community building. |
| 9:00am - 9:45am |
Rolando Mendez, Makena Neal |
Join your volunteer Field Guides and other conference attendees for the synchronous Field Guide Power Hour, where they will help you plan your conference experiences based on your areas of interest, help you connect with an Innovation Crew, and create an OLC Innovate engagement plan. During this power hour, you’ll have the chance to organize your conference schedule and select presentations and activities you want to attend. The OLC Field Guides will be there to suggest interesting presentations and virtual social activities, train you on the use of the OLC Innovate Virtual conference venue and website, and point out Engagement Maps designed to help with your program planning. We’ll also discuss ways to the variety of ways to participate virtually - including Slack and Twitter! Meet old friends, make new acquaintances, and plan your schedule. We can't wait to see you there! |
| 9:45am - 10:15am | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Make the most out of your conference experience by joining OLC Live! hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr in a kickoff discussion with engagement chairs about specially designed opportunities to engage with fellow attendees virtually at the conference! |
| 11:00am - 11:30am | Virtual Speed Networking Lounge: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Welcome Monica Simonsen, Julie Evey |
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the core of our professional practice and organizational mission, but what does that mean to you? Join the DEI committee for a virtual coffee to hear about OLC’s new DEI initiatives, tools and resources, and to kick off the DEI Innovate Challenge! |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm |
Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Join OLC Live hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr for a post-keynote discussion focused on open learning trends, strategies, and collaborative efforts. |
| 6:45pm - 8:45pm | OLC & MERLOT Awards Gala & Social Jessica Knott, Angela Gunder, Jennifer Mathes, Jane Moore |
The OLC & MERLOT Awards Gala marks a time of ceremony and celebration as we spotlight the achievements, elevate the innovations, and honor the commitments of this year’s award recipients. We are privileged to have these leaders join us on the virtual stage as we thank them for their dedication to quality online, digital, and blended learning, and engage them in dialogue on their perspectives on what’s to come. In line with the celebratory nature of the session, we invite you to select your most festive Zoom background, prepare a celebratory beverage or snacks, and join us for an enlightening evening filled with accolades and new ideas, featuring some of the amazing individuals in our field! |
| 11:00am - 11:30am | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Dive deeper into the conference experience with OLC Live! Hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr as they lead focused conversations with presenters and participants focused on this year’s conference themes: -Blended Teaching and Learning -Career and Technical Education -Instructional Technologies and Tools -Leadership and Advocacy -Open Learning -Process, Problems, and Practices -Research: Designs, Methods, and Findings -Teaching and Learning Practice |
| 1:30pm - 2:00pm | Fill Your Cup: Setting Expectations for the Speed Networking Lounge Clea Mahoney, Lara Tompkins |
The OLC Speed Networking Lounge is all about casual conversation and connecting with colleagues. What might that look like for OLC Innovate 2021? Join this kick-off session to help session co-chairs, Clea and Lara, shape upcoming Speed Networking sessions to meet your needs and interests. |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | OLC Live: Let's talk about Compassion Fatigue Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Join OLC Live hosts Chris Stubbs & Katrina Wehr for a discussion about compassion fatigue. Here from the OLC community about how they've dealt with burnout and supporting their instiitutions throughout the pandemic and discuss strategies you can implement to make space for this real phenomenon. |
| 5:30pm - 6:15pm | Storytelling with Dice & Dungeons Keegan Long-Wheeler, Laura Widenor |
Join us for an evening of improvised, collaborative storytelling! We'll use the Dungeon World roleplaying game as a guide to drive our storytelling. What will you do as wizard in a strange land? Who will you save as a devoted cleric? What will you prize as a rougish thief? Come for adventure, stay for our awesome community! No prior experience required! |
| 9:45am - 10:15am | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Dive deeper into the conference experience with OLC Live! Hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr as they lead focused conversations with presenters and participants focused on this year’s conference themes: -Blended Teaching and Learning -Career and Technical Education -Instructional Technologies and Tools -Leadership and Advocacy -Open Learning -Process, Problems, and Practices -Research: Designs, Methods, and Findings -Teaching and Learning Practice |
| 11:00am - 11:30am | Choose Your Own Speed Networking Adventure: Breakout Bonanza Clea Mahoney, Lara Tompkins |
Join us in the Speed Networking Lounge for a “whatcha wanna talk about?” experiment where we leverage the power of Zoom breakout rooms to create casual, “mini speed networking lounges” based on common interests. We’ll determine interests and themes in the first 10 minutes, but hop in whenever you can and we’ll help you make some quick friendships before the 30 minutes are up! |
| 12:15pm - 12:45pm | OLC Design Sprints (Part 1): A Lunch Networking Event Madeline Shellgren, Angela Gunder |
Grab a snack or lunch, and join us for the first of a series of OLC Innovate Design Sprints! The Design Sprints will take place over the course of three days. This session in particular will center community building. Participants will be divided into teams and together you will generate solutions to a unique design challenge. Along the way, you'll have a chance to make meaningful connections with other conference participants (including our industry partners), will leave with innovative ideas, and even have an opportunity to win a prize! |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Dive deeper into the conference experience with OLC Live! Hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr as they lead focused conversations with presenters and participants focused on this year’s conference themes: -Blended Teaching and Learning -Career and Technical Education -Instructional Technologies and Tools -Leadership and Advocacy -Open Learning -Process, Problems, and Practices -Research: Designs, Methods, and Findings -Teaching and Learning Practice |
| 6:45pm - 7:30pm |
Keegan Long-Wheeler, Laura Widenor |
Join us for a relaxing night of treats and trivia! Bring your own drinks, cookies, and any other delectables. Be ready to share recipes and join in the fun and laughter of an evening of trivia among new friends. This is a family friendly event. The more the merrier! |
| 11:00am - 11:30am | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Dive deeper into the conference experience with OLC Live! Hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr as they lead focused conversations with presenters and participants focused on this year’s conference themes: -Blended Teaching and Learning -Career and Technical Education -Instructional Technologies and Tools -Leadership and Advocacy -Open Learning -Process, Problems, and Practices -Research: Designs, Methods, and Findings -Teaching and Learning Practice |
| 12:15pm - 12:45pm | OLC Design Sprints (Part 2): A Lunch Networking Event Madeline Shellgren, Angela Gunder |
Don't miss the opportunity to join others during lunch for the second part of the OLC Innovate Design Sprints series! The first Design Sprint centered community building. In this session you will be asked to dive into the world of collaborative meaning-making. Participants will be divided into teams and together you will generate solutions to a unique design challenge. Along the way, you'll have a chance to make meaningful connections with other conference participants (including our industry partners), will leave with innovative ideas, and even have an opportunity to win a prize! So grab a snack or a meal and hop into a team for some quick designing and lots of fun! |
| 2:45pm - 3:15pm | Follow Me: Buddy Up Your Conference Sessions Clea Mahoney, Lara Tompkins |
Have you ever had that magical moment where you just “clicked” with a fellow conference attendee and ended up attending some conference sessions together just to keep the conversation going? This session is all about how we can make that happen in the virtual world! Join us for strategies, inspiration, and of course, the casual socialization you’ve come to expect (and love) from the Speed Networking Lounge. |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | OLC Live: The Innovate Experience Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Dive deeper into the conference experience with OLC Live! Hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr as they lead focused conversations with presenters and participants focused on this year’s conference themes: -Blended Teaching and Learning -Career and Technical Education -Instructional Technologies and Tools -Leadership and Advocacy -Open Learning -Process, Problems, and Practices -Research: Designs, Methods, and Findings -Teaching and Learning Practice |
| 5:30pm - 6:15pm | Happy Hour: Letters of Appreciation Keegan Long-Wheeler, Laura Widenor |
Need a break and wish to spread some joy? Join us for an evening of writing letters of thanks and encouragement! Use this time to show appreciation for OLC Volunteers, colleagues, students, or anyone else who needs a joyful letter. This is a family friendly event. The more the merrier! |
| 9:45am - 10:15am | Recharge Your Batteries with the Slow Networking Lounge Clea Mahoney, Lara Tompkins |
It’s been a wonderful week of conference sessions, and our brains are buzzing with new knowledge, inspiration, and hopefully, new friendships. Remember, though: your brain needs downtime, too! Join us in our final Speed...er, Slow Networking Lounge session for an open invitation to take a breath, take a walk, take a stretch, and take what you need to recharge your batteries. |
| 11:00am - 11:30am |
Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Join OLC Live hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr to discover ways to make the most of all the ideas and resources from the conference and beyond with the OLC community. Discuss upcoming opportunities to engage with the community after the conference ends. |
| 12:15pm - 12:45pm | OLC Design Sprints (Part 3): A Lunch Networking Event Madeline Shellgren, Angela Gunder |
Join us for the final session of the OLC Innovate Design Sprints series! The Design Sprints consist of three related sessions - each designed and structured in the same way but featuring different challenges. Thus far, designers have delved into considerations of community building and collaborative meaning-making. In the final installment of the series, you'll be asked to design with asynchronous engagement in mind. Participants will be divided into teams and together you will generate solutions to a unique design challenge. Along the way, you'll have a chance to make meaningful connections with other conference participants (including our industry partners), will leave with innovative ideas, and even have an opportunity to win a prize! Snacks or lunch welcome for this third and final lunch networking session! |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | OLC Live! Closing Event Celebration Chris Stubbs, Katrina Wehr |
Join us in celebration of the transformative practices, connective networking, and impactful discussions from OLC Innovate 2021. With an inside look at the big takeaways from the conference, members of the OLC & MERLOT community will share stories of their favorite moments from the conference. OLC Live! hosts Chris Stubbs and Katrina Wehr will close us out with lightning interviews of the conference operations committee, including members of the OLC Board of Directors, OLC Staff and MERLOT Staff. Let’s close our time together in appreciation of all that we’ve learned, and in celebration of the monumental advancements to come within the field of online, blended and digital learning. |
| 4:30pm - 5:00pm |
Madeline Shellgren |
The sessions may be over, but due to your overwhelming requests for one last party, the fun doesn't stop there! Live music, fun games, virtual celebrations, organically unpredictable Zoom antics...what's not to love? The OLC Innovate 2021 After Party will be an experience you don't want to miss, and we hope to see you there! |