By Matt LaBrake, Hudson Community College & Jennifer Wurch, Penn Foster Group, Innovate 2025 Program Chairs
Every year, OLC Innovate brings something new to the table, but there’s something truly special about 2025. This year marks a decade of innovation, and we can’t wait to share what makes this conference such a game-changer for educators, researchers, and digital learning enthusiasts.
The best part? It’s not just a conference—it’s a place where ideas turn into action. From April 1-3, 2025, we’ll gather virtually to challenge norms, connect with brilliant minds, and create meaningful change in online, blended, and digital education. Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning for more, Innovate 2025 will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to take your work to the next level.
Conference Theme & Tracks
This year’s theme, “The Rhythm of Innovation: Hitting the High Notes in Digital Education,” perfectly captures what makes this event so impactful. Digital learning is evolving rapidly, and Innovate 2025 ensures we stay in tune with the latest breakthroughs while keeping human connection at the heart of everything we do. With over 120 sessions to choose from, this year’s conference is designed to spark creativity, foster collaboration, and equip you with tools to innovate in your own practice.
The conference features five engaging tracks:
- Discover cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of digital teaching and learning in the Emerging Education Technologies and Innovations track, and learn from the successes and challenges of those pioneering them.
- Explore the Future of Work, Career, and Industry track to reflect on innovative strategies that connect education with career success, with a focus on lifelong learning, upskilling, and credentialing.
- Engage with the Leadership and Organizational Success Strategies track to uncover inclusive leadership methods, practices, and partnerships for driving strategic transformation in online and blended learning.
- Delve into the Learning Design, Instruction, and Open Pedagogy track to experience inclusive pedagogies, open education initiatives, and creative approaches to curriculum development and teaching in digital environments
- Join the Student Support, Success, and Empowerment track to discover diverse services and practices that nurture, empower, and humanize the learner’s journey.
This year’s conference has something for everyone!
Why We’re Fully Virtual
If you’ve attended Innovate in recent years, you know we’ve been incorporating virtual participation for a while. But in 2025, we’re making the full leap—Innovate is now a fully virtual event. Why? Because we’ve been listening to our community.
We know that for many, professional travel has become harder to justify—whether due to budget constraints, packed schedules, or just the simple reality that virtual collaboration is more effective than ever. At the same time, we’ve seen just how powerful and engaging a virtual conference can be when it’s designed with connection in mind.
So rather than split our focus, OLC is making a strategic shift: Innovate will now be our premier fully virtual event, while Accelerate remains our flagship in-person conference in the fall. This way, we can continue delivering high-quality learning experiences in a way that fits attendees’ needs, whether they prefer virtual or in-person engagement.
And don’t worry—everything you love about Innovate is still here. You’ll still get engaging sessions, meaningful networking, and opportunities to connect with presenters and peers. Plus, we’re introducing some exciting program updates, like Design Sprint sessions, while shifting Discovery Sessions exclusively to Accelerate.
With breakout sessions, 1:1 conversations with presenters, and interactive engagement activities, Innovate 2025 isn’t just about watching presentations—it’s about being part of something dynamic, flexible, and deeply engaging.
What Makes Innovate Sessions So Engaging?
One of the things we love most about Innovate is that it’s never just another conference. We’re breaking the mold through engaging session formats designed to maximize interaction and learning.
- Dive into hands-on problem-solving with Design Sprints; interactive sessions that challenge participants to collaboratively explore innovative strategies, technologies, and leadership approaches.
- Join guided discussions on community-driven topics in Conversations, Not Presentations, which promise to foster meaningful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving among participants.
- If you love fast-paced inspiration, Lightning Talks will deliver TED-talk style, high-impact presentations that share quick success stories and innovative ideas.
- Providing a platform for graduate and doctoral students to showcase their research, Graduate Student Lightning Talks are short, drop-in sessions that spark new insights.
- Bring learning to life during conference breaks and social events with Engagement Activities; think networking games, design sprints, mindfulness sessions, and cutting-edge tech-fueled interactions.
No matter how you engage, these session formats ensure you leave with fresh ideas, new connections, and actionable takeaways!
Special session designations further enrich the experience by allowing presenters to align their topics with specific themes, such as blended learning, or focus on particular communities, including MSIs, HBCUs, and community colleges. Empirical research presentations will highlight data-driven insights into digital education.
Featured Sessions at Innovate 2025
Speaking of special sessions, if you only have time for a few, make it these:
- Using the MERLOT Repository to Support Teaching, Learning, and Open Education – Editors from MERLOT provide an in-depth look at how to leverage peer-reviewed open educational resources (OER) for teaching and learning. This session will walk attendees through searching for high-quality OER materials, creating bookmarks, and building personalized collections. (Tuesday, April 1 | 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM)
- AI and Student Engagement in Higher Education: Key Findings and Practical Implications – AI is rapidly changing the way students engage with learning, and this session will dive into the latest research findings and practical ways to incorporate AI while addressing challenges like ethical concerns and over-reliance. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to enhance student engagement using AI-driven tools. (Wednesday, April 2 | 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM)
- Embedding Accessibility into Our Pedagogy and Curriculum – Accessibility is more than just compliance—it’s a key principle in effective teaching and learning. This session explores how to integrate accessibility into pedagogy and curriculum design, ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed. (Thursday, April 3 | 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM)
Find our featured sessions listed here: https://bit.ly/IN25FeaturedSessions
Making the Most of Your Virtual Experience
Here’s our advice: Treat this like an in-person event. Block your calendar, set up a distraction-free space, and actively participate in discussions. Having attended a virtual Innovate before, we know the connections you make in chat discussions, Q&A sessions, and networking spaces can be just as valuable as the presentations themselves.
A strong tech setup—good lighting, a solid headset, and a stable internet connection—can also make a huge difference. And don’t forget to bring your curiosity and an open mind!
See You Online!
OLC Innovate 2025 isn’t just another conference for us—it’s an event that sparks ideas, builds community, and fuels our passion for digital education. Join us in celebrating ten years of innovation in digital education at OLC Innovate 2025! By engaging with the community and taking part in this transformative event, you’ll contribute to the ongoing evolution of digital transformation and online learning. We can’t wait to see what new innovations and collaborations emerge this year. Let’s make this a virtual experience to remember!
