{"id":1343,"date":"2021-12-13T15:14:49","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T20:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/?page_id=1343"},"modified":"2026-01-10T21:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T02:44:57","slug":"annual-spring-symposium","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/faculty-development-support\/annual-conferences\/annual-spring-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Spring Teaching Symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Spring 2026 Teaching Symposium: Designing for Engagement & Excellence<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Annual Spring Teaching Symposium<\/strong> is a virtual faculty development event that will look ahead toward the start of a promising new semester, while reflecting on lessons learned from the fall. It includes external speakers, faculty presentations, instructional technology workshops, and much more.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s event will kick off with opening remarks by Dr. <\/strong>Jessica Murphy<\/strong>, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success and Academic Innovation, followed by\u00a0our keynote speaker Dr. Bonnie Stewart’s talk. Dr. Bonnie Stewart<\/strong>, Associate Professor of Online Pedagogy & Workplace Learning at the University of Windsor, is a longtime educator and digital researcher whose work in participatory learning has spanned all eras of the web!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Date: <\/strong>Monday, January 12, 2026 (Online)
\nTime:<\/strong> 10:00am – 3:00pm<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Save the Date & Register Now!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Keynote Presentation: Building Student Agency & Belonging in an Age of AI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> In this complex and challenging era in higher education, how do we understand and navigate the forces attempting to shape learning and knowledge? And what are the uses and limitations of digital tools – including Generative AI – for building the sense of student belonging and agency so crucial for meaningful learning? This keynote will outline shifts in digital infrastructures over recent years, and how they have influenced educational priorities in ways that invite us to reimagine how technology can support creativity, connection, and growth. The talk will emphasize alternate pathways and approaches, rooted in participatory digital pedagogies and educational values, and share Dr. Stewart’s research and classroom practices for fostering agency, belonging, and critical digital literacies.<\/p>\n

Dr. Bonnie Stewart<\/strong> is a longtime educator and digital researcher whose work in participatory learning has spanned all eras of the web. Associate Professor of Online Pedagogy and Workplace Learning at the University of Windsor, Canada, Bonnie explores the implications of digital information ecosystems for institutions and society. Bonnie was an early MOOC researcher and ethnographer of Twitter as an academic environment, and currently investigates what it means to know, to learn, and to belong – at the human level, with agency – in an era increasingly marked by digital automation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Spring 2026 Teaching Symposium Agenda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Time<\/td>\nSession<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
10:00 – 10:15am<\/td>\nOpening Remarks & Keynote Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> Dr. Yanling Sun, Associate Vice President, Instructional Technology & Design Services & Dr. Jessica Murphy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success, and Academic Innovation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10:15 – 11:15am<\/td>\nKeynote Presentation: Building Student Agency & Belonging in an Age of AI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keynote Speaker:<\/strong> Dr. Bonnie Stewart, Associate Professor of Online Pedagogy & Workplace Learning, University of Windsor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

11:15 – 11:30am<\/td>\nBreak<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nTrack 1: Engagement & Excellence in Teaching<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTrack 2: Engagement & Excellence in Technology & Generative AI<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11:30am – 12:15pm<\/td>\nAttuning to AI: Authentic Conversations for Classroom Community<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> John Yi & Joe Yankus<\/td>\n

First Impressions: Guiding Students to Success<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> Abigail Hunte & Pam Fallivene<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12:15 – 1:00pm<\/td>\nLunch Break<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1:00 – 1:45pm<\/td>\nGetting Started with Lucid: Visual Tools to Boost Engagement, Collaboration & Critical Thinking<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> Manveer Mann & Gina Policastro<\/td>\n

Fostering Meaningful Online Discussions in the Age of AI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> Elizabeth Kalajian & Keith Adams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1:45 – 2:00pm<\/td>\nBreak<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2:00 – 2:45pm<\/td>\nIncorporating AI into Everyday Teaching<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenter:<\/strong> Grace Cook<\/td>\n

What\u2019s New in Canvas: IgniteAI Features You Can Use Now<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenters:<\/strong> Patrick Scioscia & Dan Stratthaus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Session Descriptions<\/h2>\n

10:00am<\/h2>\n

Opening Remarks & Keynote Introduction
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nDr. Yanling Sun, Associate Vice President, Instructional Technology & Design Services
\nDr. Jessica Murphy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success, and Academic Innovation
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keynote Presentation: Building Student Agency & Belonging in an Age of AI
\n<\/strong>Presenter:
\nDr. Bonnie Stewart, Associate Professor of Online Pedagogy & Workplace Learning, University of Windsor<\/p>\n

In this complex and challenging era in higher education, how do we understand and navigate the forces attempting to shape learning and knowledge? And what are the uses and limitations of digital tools – including Generative AI – for building the sense of student belonging and agency so crucial for meaningful learning? This keynote will outline shifts in digital infrastructures over recent years, and how they have influenced educational priorities in ways that invite us to reimagine how technology can support creativity, connection, and growth. The talk will emphasize alternate pathways and approaches, rooted in participatory digital pedagogies and educational values, and share Dr. Stewart’s research and classroom practices for fostering agency, belonging, and critical digital literacies.<\/p>\n<\/div>

11:30am<\/h2>\n

During this time slot, you will be free to choose one of the following breakout sessions to attend!<\/p>\n

I. Attuning to AI: Authentic Conversations for Classroom Community
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nJohn Yi, Director, Teaching and Learning, Center for Teaching and Academic Innovation
\nJoe Yankus, Lead Instructional Designer, Instructional Technology & Design Services<\/p>\n

Faculty across all disciplines are encouraged to foster meaningful dialogue that reveals how students understand, use, and sometimes misuse AI. This workshop explores how authentic conversations about AI can deepen classroom community, strengthen engagement, and prepare students to navigate an AI-shaped future with confidence and integrity. Together, we will reflect on our practices, consider guiding questions for transparency and responsible use, and craft learning goals that attune students to AI as a shared tool for inquiry and growth.<\/p>\n

II. First Impressions: Guiding Students to Success
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nAbigail Hunte, Senior Technology Trainer, Instructional Technology & Design Services
\nPam Fallivene, Lead Technology Trainer, Instructional Technology & Design Services<\/p>\n

Make a strong first impression with a well-designed, accessible Canvas course that guides students towards success. Regular substantive interaction is essential for maintaining instructor presence and creating an engaging, effective learning experience. From creating an announcement to setting up a course landing page, this session will give you all the tools you need to build a solid, accessible Canvas course incorporating the Montclair Syllabus.<\/p>\n<\/div>

1:00pm<\/h2>\n

During this time slot, you will be free to choose one of the following breakout sessions to attend!<\/p>\n

I. Getting Started with Lucid: Visual Tools to Boost Engagement, Collaboration & Critical Thinking
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nManveer Mann, Associate Professor, Marketing
\nGina Policastro, Instructional Designer, Instructional Technology & Design Services<\/p>\n

Lucid is an online visual workspace that makes it easy to create diagrams, brainstorm ideas, and support collaborative learning. In this session, you\u2019ll learn how to access your Lucid account in Canvas and see practical examples of how Lucid can boost student engagement, strengthen group work, and help learners organize and share their ideas. You\u2019ll also explore a variety of instructional and assessment use cases from different disciplines and walk away with helpful resources to get started using Lucid with your students.<\/p>\n

II. Fostering Meaningful Online Discussions in the Age of AI
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nElizabeth Kalajian, Instructional Designer, Instructional Technology & Design Services
\nKeith Adams, Instructional Designer, Instructional Technology & Design Services<\/p>\n

Tired of lifeless posts and \u201cI agree\u201d replies? You\u2019re not alone. As generative AI makes it easier than ever for students to produce generic, surface-level responses, it\u2019s time to breathe new life into the online discussion forum. In this interactive, hands-on session, we\u2019ll explore how to “AI-proof” your online discussions, transforming them into opportunities for authentic connection, reflection, and deep learning. You\u2019ll leave with revised, ready-to-use prompts and a fresh perspective on how online discussions can have meaningful impact again.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

2:00pm<\/h2>\n

During this time slot, you will be free to choose one of the following breakout sessions to attend!<\/p>\n

I. Incorporating AI into Everyday Teaching
\n<\/strong>Presenter:
\nGrace Cook, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Program Area Lead for Computer Science and Mathematics<\/span><\/p>\n

This session explores practical, classroom-tested approaches for integrating AI into an introductory college course without requiring any computer science background. Drawing on experiences from teaching CMP100: Introduction to Informatics, this talk highlights ways AI tools were woven into weekly activities, assignments, and discussions using pop-culture examples, media analysis, and hands-on experimentation. We\u2019ll discuss the benefits and challenges of student AI use, how we scaffolded responsible and critical engagement, and how these strategies supported majors and non-majors alike. Participants will leave with adaptable activities and insights relevant across disciplines, including ways to examine AI bias, data ethics, misinformation, and the social implications of automation.<\/p>\n

II. What\u2019s New in Canvas: IgniteAI Features You Can Use Now
\n<\/strong>Presenters:
\nPatrick Scioscia, Director of Instructional Technology, Instructional Technology & Design Services
\nDan Stratthaus, Manager of Instructional Technology Support, Instructional Technology & Design Services<\/p>\n

This session will introduce the new AI tools in Canvas. Participants will explore what is available now in Canvas and what\u2019s coming for early adopters, with hands-on examples of how these tools can streamline teaching and enhance student support.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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For a view of the 2025 agenda, please visit our Past Spring Symposiums<\/a> page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Spring 2026 Teaching Symposium: Designing for Engagement & Excellence Spring 2026 Teaching Symposium Agenda Time Session 10:00 – 10:15am Opening Remarks & Keynote Introduction Presenters: Dr. Yanling Sun, Associate Vice President, Instructional Technology & Design Services & Dr. Jessica Murphy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success, and Academic Innovation 10:15 – 11:15am Keynote Presentation: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":277,"featured_media":5267,"parent":1162,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1343","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/277"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1343"}],"version-history":[{"count":77,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8403,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1343\/revisions\/8403"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/itds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}