In this panel, five staff and faculty members from across USA's campus will discuss their LevelUP projects, which help students broaden, identify, and articulate skill sets that they are developing beyond the classroom. Competencies that students gain during activities outside of coursework, such as internships, on-campus employment, and study abroad, as well as across disciplines, such as informational literacy and cross-cultural communication, are challenging to define and express. Drawing on their experiences as instructors, advisors, supervisors, and mentors, the panelists will provide examples of how we can assist students in preparing for the next steps in their academic and professional journeys into our hybrid future. Panel attendees will leave with sample assignments, assessments, and conversation starters to use with students and help students make connections between their studies and varied experiences.
This fast-paced, “Pecha Kucha” style session explores how disruptive technologies like Generative AI and Open Educational Resources (OER) can enhance transparency, accessibility, and career readiness. Aligned with the conference theme Preparing for a Hybrid Future, our presentation examines macro- to micro-level interventions that equip students with essential workforce skills. Presenters will showcase LevelUP projects, including classroom strategies, lab assignment models, and OER resources to emphasize how student feedback can be used to drive instructional change and align learning with NACE competencies.To promote engagement, attendees will interact with LevelUP participants through a live Q&A and collaborative Padlet activities. By the session’s end, participants will gain practical tools to integrate AI and OER in their own classrooms, fostering student success in an evolving professional landscape.
Community College’s efforts to accelerate the connection of young people with career pathways in Career and Technical Education are underutilized. Across the country, educational systems are partnering with the private sector and community partners to create sophisticated, career-connected learning experiences. Learners are increasingly exposed to the world of work and potential careers. One option often conspicuously absents in this rush to bolster career and technical education pathways is apprenticeships. It’s a missed opportunity, especially amid efforts to diversify the workforce, creating interest in technical education and securing retention for both the employer and the educational institution. Apprenticeships work!
This interprofessional education (IPE) research event examines collaboration of care between Physical Therapy (PT) and Physician Assistant (PA) students at the University of South Alabama in the assessment and treatment of back pain. The primary focus of this investigation centers on comparison of virtual interaction versus in-person interaction with standardized patients and whether outcomes demonstrate statistically significant variability. Additionally, the study examines participants' understanding of interdisciplinary roles and explores how this knowledge could potentially influence collaborated care. This IPE event, conducted in partnership with the South Alabama Simulation Lab, utilizes a HIPAA compliant virtual care delivery platform akin to real-world virtual care practices in PT and PA settings.
Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education, centered around the innovative AI video resources developed by the University of Alabama Teaching Academy and the AI Initiatives of the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education. The panel of experts will share practical applications of these AI resources, demonstrating how they can enhance teaching methodologies, foster student engagement, and prepare the workforce of tomorrow. Attendees will gain valuable insights on leveraging AI tools to create a dynamic and effective learning environment. This session is ideal for educators, administrators, and industry professionals seeking to harness the power of AI in education.
“Open” culture in academia is everywhere, encompassing everything from open source software & hardware, to open education (such as freely available homework problems, tutorials, example builds, tests, and lectures), to open access publications & data, and so much more. But what does it all mean? What myths are associated with the open movement? How can a campus community successfully navigate the open landscape? And most importantly, why does it all matter? Join this Open South panel session to learn why open culture matters for academia. Gain a better grasp of definitions and tools related to open culture, and successfully navigate the open landscape. Hear multiple perspectives from around campus. Be invited to engage with our Open South Faculty Learning Community working to better serve our students, departments, and communities. Knowledge is open; let’s learn together!
Studies suggest that active learning increases understanding and retention for higher-ed STEM students. As educators, we need to support students with a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and former education. It can be difficult to meet students where they are because their experiences cover an expansive continuum of understanding and knowledge. Active learning can take many forms, but this panel will focus on the use of videos as an active learning tool. Videos have a low learning curve since the technology is widespread and commonly used. We will discuss challenges, share tips, highlight effective strategies for boosting student success, and discuss curation of videos. Attendees will leave the session with an understanding of how technology can bridge learning gaps, and they will be better equipped with practical strategies to include videos, curation of quality instructional videos, and assessment of student learning.
