ASCILITE NEWS

ASCILITE 2026 Draft Program is now available!

Things are getting real! We’re excited to share the first draft of the ASCILITE 2026 conference program, giving you an early look at what’s in store in Brisbane this November.

With a fantastic range of presentations, panels, Pecha Kuchas, posters and other sessions across the three days, there is plenty to start exploring as you plan your conference experience.

View the draft program: https://2026conference.ascilite.org/program/

A small but important disclaimer: this is a very early draft of the program and it is highly likely that there will be changes as we continue to refine the schedule. Please check back regularly for the latest version.

If you spot something that doesn’t look right or have a question about your presentation or the program, please get in touch via conference@ascilite.org and the team will be happy to help.

Be a Buddy at ASCILITE 2026

Coming to a conference where you don’t know many people can be daunting — and a friendly face can make all the difference.

Our ASCILITE Conference Buddy Program connects experienced ASCILITE conference-goers with delegates who are new to the conference or would simply appreciate having someone to connect with.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people willing to be a Buddy this year. It doesn’t require a big commitment — just being a welcoming point of contact, saying hello, perhaps meeting for a coffee, and helping someone feel part of the ASCILITE community.

If you know your way around an ASCILITE conference and would be happy to help someone else find their feet, please consider putting your hand up to be a Buddy.

Simply email conference@ascilite.org with the subject heading Conference Buddy Volunteer.

Bronze Sponsor Spotlight

Our conference simply wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Over the next few bulletins, we’ll be introducing some of the organisations supporting ASCILITE 2026 as Bronze Sponsors.

Portflow by Drieam — Supporting institutions to rethink the student portfolio as a connected space for learning, reflection, feedback and professional development.

Stackle — Helping educators make learning visible by capturing evidence of student engagement, thinking and development within the LMS.

Instructure — The company behind Canvas and a suite of learning technologies supporting teaching, learning, assessment and student success around the world.

A big thank you to Portflow by Drieam, Stackle and Instructure for supporting ASCILITE 2026 and our community.

Elaine Huber
Chair ASCILITE Conference 2026

ASCILITE Committee election 2026

Voting closes midnight 15 October 2026.

To all the members that have already voted – Thank you!

If you have not voted, and were a member on the 18th of September, please check your inbox for the email with subject line:  “2026 ASCILITE Executive Committee Election” sent to you from SurveyMonkey or Mailchimp.

The voting link embedded in each email is unique to each recipient.

We hope that all current members can take a few minutes to participate in the poll, so please locate your email.

If you have not received your voting link please email the ASCILITE Secretariat.

Returning Officer,
ASCILITE 2026

TELedvisors Network September webinar: Making the third space a great space

Date: Wednesday 30 September
Time: 4:00pm AWST | 6:00pm AEST | 9:00pm NZDT

What is needed to better support third space practitioners in higher education to develop careers and extend relationships?

Join us for this special international edition of the TELedvisors monthly webinar, bringing together our colleagues and friends from Australia and the UK in a panel discussion considering how we can collectively increase

•     Recognition and accreditation of third space work
•     Organisational structures and representation
•     Employment security
•     Psychological safety
•     Opportunities to grow as a third space practitioner

Invited panelists include:

• Dan Laurence (Victoria University)/Meredith Hinze (The University of Melbourne)
• Kelly Vere  (University of Nottingham)/Charlotte Verney (University of Bristol)
• Representative from (Australian) National Tertiary Education Union
• Dustin Hosseini (University of Cumbria, University of Glasgow)
• Colin Simpson (Deakin University)
• Hosted by Elizabeth Black (Deakin University)

This is intended to be an engaging discussion drawing on the views of the third space practitioner community, so we will also create an online space facilitating structured reflections on challenges and possible solutions in the two weeks leading up to this webinar.

Register here.

Colin Simpson, Wendy Taleo, Penny Wheeler, & Antony Tibbs
TELedvisors SIG Leads

ASCILITELive! October Webinar: From Slides to Standout: Delivering Engaging Presentations That Connect

Date: Friday October 16th 2026
Time: 9:30am AWST | 12:30pm AEDT | 2:30pm NZDT
Register link.
Webinar link.

Want to become a more engaging and confident presenter? Join Associate Professor Amanda White for this practical pre-conference webinar, where she’ll share strategies to help you connect with your audience, deliver presentations with impact, and keep participants engaged from start to finish. An experienced speaker who has delivered numerous engaging keynotes and presentations, Amanda will draw on her expertise to provide practical tips. Whether you’re presenting at a conference, facilitating a workshop, or leading a meeting, you’ll leave with greater confidence and tips you can apply straight away.

Karine Cosgrove, Lisa Bugden & Amanda White
ASCILITE Live! Webinar leads

Nobody told me… Advice for third-space practitioners

What do you wish someone had told you when you first started working in the third space?

In our latest TELall blog, we reflect on what practitioners shared about navigating ambiguous roles, building relationships, learning the organisation and making their contribution visible.

From “Nobody told me…” to “Now I’d tell someone…”, the conversation became a collection of shared professional wisdom.

What would you tell someone starting out?

Nobody told me… Advice for third-space practitioners – ASCILITE TELall Blog
Sandy Barker & TELedvisors Leads

Are you a TELedvisors Network member who has moved to a new job? 

Over the weekend, we cleaned up our mailing list and found a lot of zombie email addresses. This is not so surprising, given that people in the sector move between jobs and institutions semi-regularly, but it does mean that you may be missing out on opportunities to connect with your third space colleagues. (To those of you who did update your details on our form, we thank you)If you received the email on your active email address, you do not need to do anything. All is well. 

If you work in a third space TELedvisor role such as learning designer, educational technologist, academic developer (or a host of similar roles with other titles) and would like to connect (or reconnect) with your colleagues, please consider adding your details here: Sign Up TELedvisors Network Membership is free for both members and not-yet members of ASCILITEColin Simpson
TELedvisors Network convenor

OTHER NEWS

EDEN DLE 2027 Research Workshop

Join EDEN in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 25–26, 2027 for the EDEN DLE 2027 Research Workshop!

The Research Workshop will bring together researchers, academics, and digital education professionals to share research, exchange ideas, and discuss current developments and emerging trends in digital education.

Call for papers coming soon, get ready with your research ideas!

Date: February 25–26, 2027
Where: Lisbon, Portugal

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more information about the programme, submissions, and registration.

SAVE THE DATE! 

More information is available here.

FLANZ Conference 2026:  He Tāngata: Programme now published

Join the FLANZ 2026 Conference (7-9 October, Otago Polytechnic,Ōtepoti Dunedin) for three days of keynotes, workshops and presentations exploring practice, curriculum and our changing world.

Full programme published here.

Build your personalised schedule, connect with colleagues, and engage with leading thinkers shaping the future of flexible and online learning in Aotearoa.

There is still time to register.

Invitation to Participate in a Study: Australian Academics Invited to Share Tech (ICT) Experiences

UNE PhD candidate Daniel Reeves is seeking Australian academics to participate in research exploring how changing policy affects their use of Information and Communication Technologies.

The confidential survey takes 10–15 minutes and welcomes perspectives from academics using digital tech for their research, teaching and service. A diverse range of academics’ perspectives helps to shape policy development (and how policy affects tech use in their work).

Please complete the survey at here.

The project has UNE Human Research Ethics Committee approval (HE-2026-2943-5657), valid until 30 July 2027.

Questions can be directed to Daniel.

Invitation to Participate in a Study:  Exploring educators’ experiences, perceptions, and professional learning needs relating to AI-driven and emotion-sensitive educational technologies in higher education

You are invited to participate in a University of Technology Sydney (UTS) research study exploring educators’ experiences, perceptions, and professional learning needs relating to AI-driven and emotion-sensitive educational technologies in higher education.

The online survey takes about 10 minutes.

Participation is entirely voluntary for academics and learning and teaching professional staff at higher educational institutions.

At the end, you may optionally express interest in a follow-up co-design workshop. UTS HREC approval number: HE-2026-0784.

For any questions, please reach out to Dr Amara Atif amara.atif@uts.edu.au or Dr Mais Fatayer mais.fatayer@uts.edu.au.