NWeLearn 2024

In the age of instant messaging, social media, and sleek productivity apps, email might feel like an outdated relic to the modern college student. Despite being a crucial communication tool in the professional world, email falls short in meeting the expectations and needs of today's tech-savvy students.

Recognizing the challenges that come with email, many educators have moved on to non-compliant solutions like text messaging, WhatsApp, and GroupMe in an attempt to reach their students and improve learning outcomes. Unfortunately, students are bombarded with messages on these social platforms and most important messages are being left unread or deleted and marked as junk!

Join Pronto as they review communication and technology best practices. This data-driven discussion will include a deep-dive into the problems with phone, email, and text messaging while also providing a hands-on review of Pronto’s fully integrated messaging tool that has connected institutions with millions of students – instantly.

Curious about freelancing in instructional design? In this session, I'll share my journey and practical advice on being a freelancer. We’ll explore the factors to consider in deciding if freelancing aligns with your working style, essential skills for instructional designers, finding opportunities, and adapting to diverse work environments. I’ll also talk about important considerations before starting a project, how to manage projects, and tips for working effectively with clients and subject matter experts. Whether you're contemplating a move to freelancing or looking to broaden your instructional design career, this session will provide valuable insights and practical tips.

In this session, we will share how we’ve used ChatGPT for educational research and assessment. We will discuss two projects that utilized ChatGPT as a co-investigator in qualitative research and as co-faculty in learner assessment. In one study, we performed a thematic analysis of student reflections on the use of AI in nursing education, assessing the utility of ChatGPT as a fourth coder. In the second study, we examined the feasibility using AI for evaluating student assignments. Join us to hear the findings of these two studies and discuss the potential of using generative AI to reduce human biases, improve productivity, and maintain objectivity in both research and assessment.

During this session we will introduce a variety of viewpoints about the expanding use of technology in education, such as AI, XR, and VR. We will look at some exciting XR and AI examples created at Bellevue College by faculty and staff, and we will discuss what you see as appropriate use for AI in education. This session will include a hands-on activity that offers food for thought about best AI practices. The idea is to encourage the use of technology with focused intention, rather than just for the fear of missing out (FOMO).