ÒùÆÞÉç

ÒùÆÞÉç Online

NATIONAL DISTANCE LEARNING WEEK

ÒùÆÞÉç is excited to celebrate National Distance Learning Week 2026! Each year, ÒùÆÞÉç joins institutions across the country in partnership with the to spotlight the power of online education. This annual event brings the Rocket community together for a week of activities that share best practices, celebrate success stories, and explore the future of digital learning:

Monday, Nov. 2

Online Student Appreciation Day

At ÒùÆÞÉç, our students are at the heart of everything we do—no matter where they learn.

To kick offÌýNational Distance Learning Week, we’re celebrating our online Rockets by sending a special ÒùÆÞÉç flag to our upcoming online graduates. It’s a small way to share a big message:ÌýRocket pride goes wherever you go.

Keep an eye on your mailbox for your ÒùÆÞÉç flag, and know that wherever life takes you after graduation, you’ll always be part of the Rocket family.

Tuesday, Nov. 3

Discovery Day: Online On Campus

Stop by our ÒùÆÞÉç Online information table to spin the wheel for a prize and chat with our team to learn about helpful resources and tips for thriving in the digital learning space.

Whether you’re taking one online class or completing a fully online degree, see how ÒùÆÞÉç empowers Rockets to succeed from anywhere, no campus required!

Student Union (Food court area)
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Blackboard Day

ÒùÆÞÉç Online is bringing Blackboard to campus for an exclusive site visit, and faculty won’t want to miss it! Dive into interactive workshops led by Blackboard experts, discover new ways to elevate your courses, and get an insider’s look at the future of the platform during a dynamicÌýRoadmap Lunch & Learn. Register by session: morning, lunch, afternoon, or for all 3!

Seats are limited—only the first 60 registrants will secure a spot in each session.

Agenda:

Morning Session | 10 a.m. - Noon

    • 10 -Ìý11Ìýa.m.ÌýAI in Ultra: Save Time, Engage StudentsÌý
    • 11 a.m - 12 p.m.ÌýBlackboard Office Hours: Ask the Experts from Blackboard and ÒùÆÞÉç Online!

Lunch & Learn | 12 - 2 p.m.

    • 12 Ìý- 1 p.m.ÌýPizza Lunch
    • 1 - 2ÌýÌýp.m. Blackboard Ultra RoadmapÌý

Afternoon Session | 2 - 4 p.m.

    • 2 - 3Ìýp.m. Accessibility Made Simple: Practical Tools in Blackboard AllyÌý
    • 3 - 4Ìýp.m. Fix Your Content! Use Ally and Hands-on Help from Blackboard and ÒùÆÞÉç Online!

Thursday, Nov. 5

Faculty Appreciation Day

ÒùÆÞÉç Online is proud to celebrate the incredible faculty and staff who bring innovation, dedication, and excellence to online teaching and learning. Watch your inbox for an email invitation to this special event to recognize those who have developed new online courses and programs, advanced professional development initiatives, and achieved the milestone ofÌýQuality MattersÌýcourse certification. It’s our way of sayingÌýthank youÌýfor the impact you make on our students and the future of online learning.Ìý

Friday, Nov. 6

Instructional Design Day

Celebrate innovation and excellence in online teaching duringÌýInstructional Design Day! This special event features a series of faculty-led webinars showcasing inspiring success stories and innovative teaching practices. Hear how your colleagues are transforming their courses, discover creative strategies and best practices, and explore tools that enhance student engagement and online learning experiences. Join us to exchange ideas, gain practical insights, and be inspired by the achievements of our Rocket faculty!

Register by Wednesday, November 4Ìýby clicking on the titles of the sessions below:

10 - 10:45 a.m.

Dr. Tavis Glassman, Professor, Population Health

In this session, participants explore how thoughtfully designed, personally relevant assignments can transform student engagement in online courses. Drawing from a Quality Matters certified Community Mental Health class, examples include a “Happiness Journal� where students practice gratitude, engage in random acts of kindness, and explore self-compassion through reflective writing. The assignment culminates in connecting personal experience with the science of happiness and its implications for public health. This presentation also highlights ways AI tools can enhance both teaching and learning, while reinforcing the central philosophy: when students find meaning in the material, deeper learning and better outcomes follow. Finally, Dr. Glassman reflects on what worked and what needs revising after teaching the class.


11 - 11:45 a.m.Ìý

Dr. Peter You, Instructional Designer, ÒùÆÞÉç Online

This demonstration workshop moves faculty beyond using Copilot to generate or revise content. Participants will explore advanced applications that can extend student support and provide opportunities for authentic practice.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Create a course tutor prototype that supports students using instructor-provided course materials.
  • Design an AI-supported role-play activity that promotes active learning, decision-making, communication, or professional practice.

The goal is not to use every available Copilot feature. Select and configure the right capability for a clearly defined teaching and learning need while preserving faculty oversight and meaningful student thinking.


12 -1 p.m.Ìý

Dr. Fred Ahrens, Associate Lecturer, Information Operations and Technology Management; Dr. Carmen Cioc, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology; SusanÌýShultz, Senior Lecturer, Department of Marketing/Edward Schmidt School of Professional Sales;ÌýDr. JoanÌýWakasaÌýMurumba, Assistant Professor, Emerging Technologies & AI Librarian, University Libraries; Dr. Peter You, Instructional Designer, ÒùÆÞÉç Online

In this virtual session, faculty who participated in ÒùÆÞÉç Online’sÌýUltra AI Tool PilotÌýandÌýAI for Teaching and LearningÌýcourse from 2025–2026 will share practical and innovative ways they are using AI to enhance teaching and student learning.

Faculty are moving beyond exploring AI and putting it into practice. Through brief lightning talks followed by engaging discussions, presenters will showcase real-world examples, share lessons learned and offer practical strategies for using AI to enhance course design, enrich learning experience, and support student learning. Join us to hear what your colleagues are trying, exchange ideas, and discover approaches you can adapt to your own teaching across disciplines.

Registration for these webinars will place the event in your Outlook and Teams calendars with a link to join. UTAD authentication required.