ASCILITE NEWS

ASCILITE2018 Keynote Speakers Announced

The Conference Organizing Committee for ASCILITE 2018 is pleased to announce the keynote speaker line up for the conference. We hope you are as excited as we are about this exciting line-up as we announce further conference developments in the weeks and months ahead.

Paul LeBlanc, President, Southern New Hampshire University

Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Under the 13 years of Paul’s direction, SNHU has more grown from 2800 students to over 100,000 and is the largest non-profit provider of online higher education in the country, and the first to have a full competency-based degree program untethered to the credit hour or classes approved by a regional accreditor and the US Department of Education.

In 2012 the university was #12 on Fast Company magazine’s “World’s Fifty Most Innovative Companies” list and was the only university included. Paul won a New England Higher Education Excellence Award in 2012, the 2015 NH Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and has repeatedly been named one of “New Hampshire’s Most Influential People” by New Hampshire Business Review. Forbes Magazine has listed him as one of its 15 “Classroom Revolutionaries” and one of the “most influential people in higher education” for 2016. He was featured on Bloomberg TV’s “Innovators” series, Fast Company included him in its “1000 Most Creative People” List, and Washington Monthly named him one of America’s ten most innovative university presidents.

In 2018, Paul won the prestigious IAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education, joining some of the most respected university and college presidents in American higher education.

Among the innovations created with Paul’s leadership include:

The first degree program in e-commerce (1998);
The SNHU Advantage Program, which cuts the cost of a degree by 40% (2006);
College for America, the first direct assessment competency-based degree program approved by an accreditor and the US Department of Education (2013);
Expansion of SNHU’s Degree-in-Three undergraduate program (2014);
Successful roll out of online CBE for refugees in the Kiziba Refugee Camp in Rwanda (2015) and four other camps in Africa (2018);
Launching an initiative to educate 1000 DACA recipients nationwide;
Approval for Title IV dual enrollment and participation in RISE High, the XQ Super School Prize winner, focusing on the education of homeless youth and those who have timed out of foster care in LA County (2016).

Current projects include rethinking engineering education, social finance bonds, and expansion of the refugee camp work.

He served as Senior Policy Advisor to Under Secretary Ted Mitchell at the US Department of Education, working on competency-based education, new accreditation pathways, and innovation. He also serves on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Board on Higher Education and Workforce (and served on its Committee on Quality in Undergraduate Education). He also serves on the ACE Board and chairs the AGB Council of Presidents.

Paul immigrated to the United States as a child, was the first person in his extended family to attend college, and is a graduate of Framingham State University (BA), Boston College (MA), and the University of Massachusetts (PhD). From 1993 to 1996 he directed a technology start up for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, was President of Marlboro College (VT) from 1996 to 2003, and became President of SNHU in 2003. His wife Patricia is an attorney and their daughters Emma and Hannah are doctoral students. Annie, their black Labrador Retriever, studies sleeping on the couch and ways to steal food from the counter tops.

Margaret Bearman, Associate Professor (Research) within the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University.

Margaret Bearman is an Associate Professor (Research) within the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University. She holds a first class honours degree in computer science and a PhD in medical education.

Over the course of her career in health professional and higher education, Margaret has written over 70 publications and received over $7.5 million in research and development funding. She has been formally recognised for her work as an educator and researcher, including awards from the Australian Office of Learning and Teaching and Simulation Australasia.

Margaret’s interests include: assessment and feedback; simulation and digital technologies; sociomateriality; and educational workforce development. Her methodological expertise includes qualitative and quantitative research designs, as well as evidence synthesis.

Jan Owen AM, CEO, Foundation for Young Australians

Jan is a highly regarded social entrepreneur, innovator, commentator and author who has spent the past 25 years growing the youth, social enterprise and innovation sectors.

In 2012 she was named Australia’s inaugural Australian Financial Review and Westpac Woman of Influence. Jan has been awarded honorary degrees (honoris causa) from the University of Sydney (DLitt) and Murdoch University, Western Australia (DUniv); and was awarded membership to the Order of Australia in 2000. She is the author of Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime (1996) and The Future Chasers (2014).

Jan is currently the CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians; was previously Executive Director of Social Ventures Australia; and Founder and CEO of the CREATE Foundation.

Share these exciting keynote details with your colleagues below and find-out about conference registration here.

Transforming Assessment (e-Assessment) SIG News: Next Webinar

The next TA-SIG webinar is scheduled for 6 June 2018. This session is an e-Assessment awards panel review session (eAA UK) which will take the form of a panel style review by selected awardees from eAAwards 2018. The Panel Chair is Patrick Craven, Vice Chair, e-Assessment Association (UK) and the panel presenters comprise:

Gareth Hegarty, International Baccalaureate, “Delivering high stakes e-assessment at scale across four subject areas and a unique examination testing interdisciplinary skills”.
Captain John Lloyd, RD, MBA, FNI, The Nautical Institute, “Robust and repeatable e-assessment across 92 testing centres, in 30 countries, controlled from headquarters in London”.
Professor Graham Orpwood, Vretta Inc. “Personalized, interactive e-assessments in numeracy with immediate diagnostic feedback, developed in collaboration with colleges in Ontario, Canada”.

For further information and to register visit this link here.

LA-SIG Webinar Recording: Learning analytics and learning design: promoting a conversation among equals

On The aim of this LA-SIG webinar was to present a simple Learning Analytics – Learning Design (LA-LD) framework, designed to help teachers to align the use of common types of learning analytics data with the normal rhythms of teaching.

The aim in developing the framework was to support reflection in and on action through the familiar cycles of planning, teaching, assessment and review. We used common teaching scenarios to illustrate ways that learning analytics can be used to influence student retention, engagement and achievement, and provide teachers with feedback before, during or after an event. We ran workshops to gain feedback on practical application of the LA-LD framework, and invited participants to develop a plan to use student data in their own teaching context. This entry level professional development strategy was based on two assumptions; that teachers a) are more likely to engage with learning analytics if the potential is presented as a way to support core aspects of their current practice; and b) need to become familiar with learning analytics concepts to represent their interests in design, development and implementation initiatives.

The session was presented by Associate Professor Cathy Gunn and Dr Claire Donald, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Learning and Research in Higher Education (CLeaR), The University of Auckland.

You will find the video recording here. (Slides for the session appear at the 2:20 mark).

Winner of the ASCILITE2018 Best Keynote Suggestion Competition

We are pleased to announce that Lisa Bugden, Senior Learning Designer at the University of New England is the winner of the Best Keynote Suggestion for ASCILITE 2018 and as such has received a $100 Gift Voucher for her efforts. Well done Lisa!

MoodleCloud Comes through to support the TELedvisors SIG online presence

ASCILITE and the TELevisors SIG extends its gratitude to MoodleCloud for supporting the SIG through a significantly discounted online account. When the SIG reached 200 members recently, the SIG’s MoodleCloud annual fee should have risen sharply but thanks to the support of Moodle, the increase was waved. Thanks MoodleCloud!

If you are interested in the work of the TELedvisors SIG, visit the group on MoodleCloud here.

OTHER NEWS

Position Vacancy: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), Macquarie University

Highly ranked Australian University
Innovation, strategy and technology focus
World-class facilities

Macquarie University has risen to be a progressive and influential institution locally, nationally and internationally. Uniquely located in the heart of Australia’s largest high-tech precinct, the campus spans 126 hectares and brings together 40,000 students and 3,200 staff. Macquarie is recognised globally as one of Australia’s leading research universities and is ranked among the top two per cent of universities in the world. With more than 300 leading companies located on or around the campus, our students can tap into industry connections that give them an edge in their future careers, while our staff have access to outstanding research and innovation opportunities. More than AU$1 billion has been recently invested in our facilities and infrastructure, so our students and staff can work in an environment that is inspiring and switched on to the latest digital technologies.

The PVC (Learning and Teaching) reports directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and will provide leadership to strategic initiatives that enhance the quality and outcomes of learning and teaching and the employability of Macquarie graduates. S/he will continue to develop an environment of innovation and excellence in digital and face-to-face learning and teaching by building dynamic partnerships that encourage creative pedagogy and the use of educational technologies. The PVC (Learning and Teaching) will provide a fresh focus on innovation and technology, supporting new approaches to teaching and learning and ensuring that the infrastructure supports an excellent learning environment.

Macquarie University is seeking an outstanding individual to provide leadership in the delivery of innovative, quality learning and teaching that is student focused and reflects the unique Macquarie University brand. The successful candidate will demonstrate solid success in the delivery of innovative approaches to learning and teaching, leading strategic transformation initiatives and quickly developing and maintaining strong, collegial relationships. S/he will be highly credible in learning and teaching technology, exhibit deep understanding of employability strategies, as well as inspiring enthusiasm and building coalitions within and outside the University to underpin this role.
Macquarie University has engaged Carol Watson Executive Search and Consulting to assist in the recruitment process.

Closing date for applications: Friday, 22 June 2018.

You will find this job advertisement located at: http://jobs.mq.edu.au/cw/en/job/503986/pro-vicechancellor-learning-teaching

For a copy of the Position Description or to apply for this role please email Debbie Dickinson and for a confidential discussion of the role with one of our Consultants you may also email your CV to Debbie.

Macquarie University is an EO Employer committed to diversity and social inclusion. Applications are encouraged from people with a disability; women (particularly for senior and non-traditional roles); Indigenous Australians, people who identify as GLBTI; and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Do You Know How University of Newcastle Builds Virtual Reality?

At the University of Newcastle, virtual reality will be used to teach midwifery students how to resuscitate babies at birth. The University says it has developed VR/AR programs covering anatomy and birthing techniques. It simulates a real-world delivery room, providing midwifery students with a virtual emergency neonatal resuscitation scheme. New graduates often find transitioning from performing a neonatal resuscitation in an educational setting to a real-world emergency room an overwhelming shift and this program helps them to overcome the pressure in time-critical, emergency environment.

To guide you on successful implementation of blended learning with immersive AR/VR and next generation learning spaces, Clariden Global is holding the 2nd Annual Digital Campus and Learning Transformation 2018 this July at The Langham Hotel (Melbourne) and the International Convention Center (Sydney),

ASCILITE members are entitled to a 10% discount when attending either the Melbourne or Sydney event*.

This national event is comprised of 3 separately bookable conferences including:

Blended Learning Innovations, Analytics and AI for Education
Immersive AR/VR For Transformational Learning Experiences
Next Generation Learning Spaces and Digital Campus Design

For more information, visit the conference website here or email Karen Williams.

*When registering for the Melbourne sessions, ASCILITE members should use the code L8071_ASC_10OFF and for Sydney use L8128_ASC_10OFF.

EOI Invite for Associate Editors of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice

Expressions of interest (EOIs) are invited for Associate Editors of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice (JUTLP), for information on the journal visit http://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp/.

Associate Editors are responsible for managing the peer-review process for manuscripts that progress past the initial stage of article submission. Candidates applying should send their EOI via email to Associate Professor Dominique Parrish by COB Friday 29 June 2018. EOIs should address the essential criteria for selection and provide Name, Affiliation, email and daytime contact as well as a current CV of no more than two (2) pages.

Essential criteria for selection:

A well established track record of journal publications in higher education teaching and learning practice
Significant experience in peer-reviewing journal articles
Experience in researching and scholarship of learning and teaching
Knowledge of educational research methodologies
Good communication skills

For further information email Dr Alisa Percy or Associate Professor Dominique Parrish.

ALT (UK) Annual Conference Early Bird Registration Opens

As part of ASCILITE’s long standing relationship with ALT in the UK, we are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2018 ALT Annual Conference taking place 11 – 13 September 2018 at the University of Manchester (UK)

The conference provides an international platform for Learning Technology research, practice and policy work from across sectors with themes this year including:

Participation through Learning Technology
Collaboration for Learning Technology
Critical perspectives in Learning Technology
Openness and Learning Technology

We have confirmed keynotes by Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, Amber Thomas and Dr. Maren Deepwell. This line up, combined with the outstanding quality of session submissions we have received this year, means we are set for a very exciting programme. You can keep up to date with programme announcements and follow all the conference news on the ALTC 2018 website.

Register now to take advantage of early bird prices. Members can benefit from a discounted rate to attend all 3 days including the gala evening this year being held at The Midland. Single day tickets and non-member rates are also available. This year we have introduced a discounted rate for non-members who are attending the conference as presenters, as part of the conference committee or full/part time students.

The early bird deadline is 9 July. Register for the event at https://altc.alt.ac.uk/2018/registration/.