2025 Virtual Faculty Symposium Preview
đź“… Mark your calendar for Monday, September 29, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. (CST). Registration for the symposium is now open. You should have received an invitation via email. If not, or if you have any questions, please contact Inga Dilla.
Please Join Us for the 2025 Virtual Faculty Symposium
Designed for faculty across the Universities of Wisconsin teaching in online programs supported by OPLR, this year’s faculty symposium offers an engaging afternoon of professional development and practical teaching strategies—all fully online.
Kicking off with a keynote from Tim Taylor, co-founder and president of America Succeeds, the symposium will spotlight durable skills—those broad, transferable abilities like communication and critical thinking that various industry groups have identified as essential in today’s ever-changing workforce.
Following the keynote, you’ll have the chance to select from several talks spread across three breakout sessions. Topics range from storytelling and community building to using AI to enhance learning and craft interactive course elements. The afternoon ends with a panel discussion on AI. We hope you’ll leave energized to connect with your colleagues and inspired to try something new in your own course. And, since we’re online this year, no more circling endlessly for a parking spot or rushing to the union to find a seat—just log in and enjoy the symposium from wherever you are!
Here’s a preview of what your colleagues will be presenting in each session:
✔️ Breakout Session I
Telehealth TEACH Curriculum | Deborah Walrath
Learn how the UW-Oshkosh College of Nursing partnered with ThedaCare healthcare system to teach nursing students telehealth skills aimed at improving chronic illness outcomes in rural Wisconsin. This session shares how the program partnered with private industry to design virtual simulations and home visits to give students direct experience supporting patients in underserved communities.
Fundamentals of Competency-Based Education | Nicole Simonson
Curious about how students can move through courses entirely at their own pace while still meeting program goals? This session explains the basics of competency-based education using examples from UW Flexible Option. You’ll learn how CBE might be applied to other academic programs and what personalized approaches can help students stay on track while meeting clearly defined learning objectives.
Using AI to Build Critical Thinking and Scalable Assignments | Erin Bauer
See how AI tools can be used to design assignments that support critical thinking and are manageable across different formats, including in-person and online classes. You’ll look at ways to use AI to design assignments that are both intellectually challenging and suitable for a variety of learners.
From Months to Minutes: Using AI to Level Up Course Interactivity | Nathan Ewings
Learn how AI can speed up the process of creating interactive course elements that have traditionally taken much longer to develop. This session will share both simple and advanced examples from live courses and explore common challenges in using AI to build interactivity, along with practical solutions.
✔️ Breakout Session II
Consistency and Transparency: Enhancing Program Design and Assessment | Eileen Horn & Sue Stalewski
See how UW-Milwaukee’s Health Sciences Program redesigned six courses in six months using a consistent course template that incorporated campus branding, TILT-inspired design, and clear assessment methods to support student retention and satisfaction. This session outlines how these changes helped students better understand course expectations and improved their overall learning experience.
Storytelling That Sticks: Engage, Inspire, and Make Learning Last | Amy Lane & Jennifer Jaworski
Learn how using storytelling—through case studies, simulations, short narratives, and more—can help students better understand the course content. This session introduces practical techniques for incorporating storytelling into your course and offers ideas you can adapt to your own teaching.
Scaffolding Open Educational Resource Implementation | J. Richard Freese
See how one instructor created an open educational resource (OER) to replace a traditional textbook in a music appreciation course. This session covers the steps involved, from gathering materials to making the OER available to students. You’ll get practical advice on how to start small and build your resource over time.
Building Community in an Online Class | Jennifer Drake
Building community in an online class is both challenging and essential, especially when students come from different backgrounds and disciplines. This session shares strategies used to foster connection, participation, and a sense of belonging in asynchronous courses. You’ll leave with practical ideas for creating a classroom community that encourages personal growth, strengthens motivation, and supports students’ resilience and sense of responsibility.
✔️ Breakout Session III
Revolutionizing Education: AI Tools for Deep Learning, Retention, and Comprehension | Mita Banerjee & Bill Burnett
Can AI help students learn more deeply? This session shares examples of assignments where students were required to use AI and reflect on their learning, revealing some surprising insights. Their reflections highlighted the value of strategies like spaced repetition, the iterative process of drafting (through writing AI prompts), fostering student agency, and deepening comprehension of course content with AI.
Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Undergraduate and Graduate Courses | Pritosh Kumar & Michelle Gabor
Explore a strategic approach to incorporating AI content into undergraduate and graduate courses. This session addresses common challenges such as limited instructor knowledge about AI, time constraints, and resource availability. You’ll learn practical, low-effort ways to test AI activities that enhance learning and prepare students for a changing workforce.
3-on-3 Course Revision | Robert Kuzoff, Astrid Ramos, & Ian Stone
Learn how a course instructor, instructional designer, and media specialist revised three courses in the UW Applied Biotechnology Program by meticulously reviewing student feedback and performance data. This session walks through their process and what changes were made based on what they found. You’ll get ideas for using your own course data to guide your revisions.
✔️ AI Panel | John Muraski, Kyle Sky, & Kristin Kowal
Hear from faculty and instructional designers as they explore how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. This panel highlights real-world examples and practical approaches. You’ll leave with valuable ideas for using AI and having meaningful conversations with your students about its role in the classroom and workplace.
Read more detailed descriptions of the talks and learn more about the presenters on the symposium website.