Using AI to Improve DEI in Higher Education

Learn how AI tools can improve DEI in higher ed as well as practical steps to start the change process.

As we integrate AI into more parts of our lives, it’s also becoming indispensable in higher education, especially when it comes to improving accessibility for the 1 in 5 college students with disabilities.

The benefits extend far beyond just meeting accessibility compliance standards. When used the right way, AI can help create genuinely meaningful and engaging learning experiences—in some pretty surprising ways—for everyone involved.

But with so many AI tools available now, where do you start? Join this webinar to learn how AI tools—from Emotion AI and ITS to AI for accent recognition and content localization—can improve DEI in higher education and practical steps to start the change process.

Webinar takeaways:

  • How existing and emerging AI can be integrated and used to boost DEI in various areas of higher education.
  • The problems AI can solve in higher education, ranging from creating truly inclusive and accessible classes to building equitable admissions processes and improving the entire student experience.
  • Practical steps to start the change process at your institution

Register here.

WEBINAR: Surviving Remote Teaching: Top 5 Things You Need to Know

Until now, the idea that nearly every class in HigherEd would be taught online seemed improbable. In just a few weeks, that idea became a reality as almost every college and university moved face-to-face classes to “remote instruction” in response to the ongoing health crisis. The initial approach was to “make it work” –– to keep the flow of the learning already taking place so that students could complete their courses despite the disruption. But as we all transition into an uncertain Fall, we can now start applying the proven fundamentals of quality online instruction and remote teaching strategies to our emergency response efforts. In this session, we will explore some fundamentals of online learning and explore some of the lessons learned in the recent rapid move to remote instruction to help foster successful online learning.

After this session, you will be able to:

1. Recall evidence-based practices in online teaching
2. Identify ways to integrate evidence-based practices to your course design
3. Describe ways FERPA & Accessibility policies apply in the online courses

Speakers:

Gabriela Alvarez

Director of Learning Design and Innovation at Florida International University

Gabriela Alvarez is the Director of Learning Design and Innovation at Florida International University, where she leads a team of over 100 learning design professionals who partner with faculty and industry subject matter experts to create meaningful online learning experiences. She is also a Faculty Fellow in the Honors College at FIU, where she teaches two seminar courses. Gaby holds a Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building, all from Florida International University.

WEBINAR: VPAT, Accessibility Conformance Reports, and Developing Alternate Access Plans

Colleges and universities have legal obligations and institutional goals to ensure technology is accessible to all users. However, most technology is not completely accessible. By reviewing information and communication technology (ICT) products for accessibility conformance, institutions can be part of the collective efforts to reduce the accessibility barriers for students, faculty, and staff, anywhere the products are used. In this session, participants will learn: how a product’s VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) can help an institution develop an alternate access plan and ensure the institution is taking steps towards achieving Section 508 compliance.

  • Participants will be able to describe the terms Section 508 standards, VPAT, ACR, and Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan.
  • Participants will be able to list six (6) types of accessibility conformance reviews.
  • Participants will be able to determine if a VPAT or ACR is relevant to an accessibility conformance review.
  • Participants will be able to describe how the information in a VPAT or ACR can be used to develop an alternate access plan.

Speakers:

Nicolás M. Crisosto

Nicolás M. CrisostoAccessibility Specialist at a California Community College

Nicolás M. Crisosto is the Accessibility Specialist at a California Community College and has been an Education and Technology consultant since 2003. He reviews technology as a certified Trusted Tester, evaluates VPAT or ACR documentation, and recommends alternate access plans as part of an institution’s information and communication technology compliance review process. Nicolás works with companies and non-profit organizations to implement solutions for accessibility challenges. He provides training for faculty members and staff on a variety of topics including web accessibility, creating accessible documents (Word, PDFs, and forms), and reviewing accessibility documentation for Section 508 and WCAG conformance.

Bandit, Nicolas’ guide dog, is an accessibility advocate who enjoys playing fetch, taking naps, and traveling with his human.

How Honorlock uses AWS AI to Support Efficacy and Security in Online Learning

Many colleges and universities have recently changed their plans for reopening on-campus classes or are considering reversals of their reopening plans. The rapid expansion of virtual learning due to COVID-19 has reinforced the need for effective remote learning and online proctoring solutions to improve student success and outcomes. Join us for a free AWS webinar where we will provide an overview of how AI and machine learning are being applied in online learning, and showcase a specific example of a leading solution for virtual proctoring. To support efficacy in online exams and to protect students’ data and privacy, Honorlock has teamed up with AWS to provide an easy-to-use cloud-based remote proctoring solution for effective virtual learning.

Download the PowerPoint

Speakers:

Joe Pringle

Technical Business Development Manager @AWS

Joe Pringle is a Technical Business Development Manager at AWS supporting education customers in their adoption and use of AI and machine learning. Joe’s passion is helping customers unlock new insights and value from data, and he brings 20 years of experience working with public sector organizations in government, the non-profit sector, and academia.

Jose Gonzalez

Jose GonzalezDirector of Customer Success @Honorlock

Jose Gonzalez is the Director of Customer Success at Honorlock. He has 5+ years of Customer Success experience in the higher education space. He has a passion for client advocacy, backed with a diverse background in leadership, client onboarding and training, as well as account management.

Implementation Webinar: How Two Colleges Quickly Set Up Online Proctoring

Implementing software or any new technology can be a daunting task, but what if that implementation was strategically streamlined, expertly project managed, and fully supported throughout? Hear from two current Honorlock online proctoring customers as they speak to their experience implementing our online exam technology.

During this implementation webinar, each college will describe:

  • Implementation experience
  • The simple and speedy implementation timeline
  • Who was involved in the decision process and actual implementation
  • Ongoing technical support

Speakers:

Honorlock online proctoring customer

Cody Moyer

Director of Learning Technology Polk State College

Steven Daniello

Director of Assessment Services Indian River State College

Jose Gonzalez

Director of Customer Success @Honorlock

How to Use Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Online Learning

Did you know that a recent survey found that about 70% of students prefer and expect to have online or blended learning environments moving forward?

But with the growth of online learning, how do you overcome the challenges of establishing and using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in a remote environment?

Regardless of your role in higher education or experience with online learning, DEI should be at the forefront of your efforts.

During this webinar, industry experts will provide practical strategies to implement DEI and provide key insights such as:

• How DEI improves online learning — even in some areas you may not expect
• Overcoming obstacles in a remote environment to establish DEI
• Ways to use DEI in online courses to improve student engagement and build a learner community

Can’t attend the webinar? You should still register — all registrants will receive a recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation.

Captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing is provided by CaptionAccess for all Inside Higher Ed webinars. Transcripts available upon request.

Speakers

Misty Brown Fischer, MA

Chief People Officer (CPO)
@e-TeleQuote Insurance Inc.

With 20 years’ experience in employee engagement, culture development, corporate communications, advertising, PR and digital marketing, Misty Brown Fischer plays a pivotal role in the company brand and talent experience. Drawing from a diverse background, she leads the people function through progressive strategies that attract, excite and retain great employees. Misty has held global executive roles in advertising, insurance and higher education, supporting multiple Fortune 500 companies and top-ranked universities. Her efforts in corporate leadership and change management have resulted in award-winning cultures and workspaces, diverse employee populations and engaged communities. Misty is a Los Angeles native. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication Management from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from University of Phoenix. Now in Tampa Bay with her husband, she is Mom to a 16-year-old son and two Boston terriers.

Bethany J. Adams, MA, SHRM-SCP

Instructor & Associate Director of HR,
Development Programs @Villanova University

Bethany Adams has more than 15 years of experience in HR and education. She began her career working in training and development and human resources in the restaurant and retail industries. She has experience in both small, privately-owned businesses and large, Fortune 500 organizations. Bethany holds a BA in Psychology, MA in Organizational Management and the SHRM-SCP certification. She currently teaches full time at Villanova University and serves as the Associate Director of Marketing & Strategy for the Villanova Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development. Bethany has spoken at a wide variety of HR and education conferences throughout the country on topics including strategic HR, organization development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, design thinking and emotional intelligence. Bethany hosts an HR podcast called HR Tea.

Submit your email below to download our 5-part DEI eBook

 The eBook covers everything you need to know about establishing and using diversity, equity, and inclusion in your online classes.

Part 1: Addressing the need for DEI in online education

Part 2: Strategies to develop diverse, equitable, and inclusive online courses

Part 3: How to create accessible online courses (with real examples)

Part 4: Tips to improve your connection with students in an online learning environment

Part 5: How to use educational technology to create a fair testing environment

Webinar: What the Great Resignation Means for Women in Leadership

We’re experiencing one of the most extraordinary transformations in the workplace: The Great Resignation.

Women in leadership are making significant strides in work/life integration, but do we sustain and build on this?

Watch the webinar recording which covers:

  • Where you work makes all the difference
  • Burnout isn’t a badge of honor
  • Three questions you should ask yourself every seven years…regardless of a pandemic

Speakers:

Robin Kistler, MALA

Executive Talent Program Director @Anthem, Inc.

Robin Kistler spent 20 years in higher education at the University of Notre Dame and LSU and currently runs Anthem’s in-house People Leader Fundamentals Transition Coach program.

Before joining Anthem, Kistler spent 20 years in higher education at the University of Notre Dame and Louisiana State University, helping grow and develop into high performing leaders, teams, and organizations from around the world Kistler is currently running Anthem’s in-house People Leader Fundamentals Transition Coach program, a group of dedicated and experienced leaders helping new people leaders become more confident and competent in their role. Over the course of her career, Kistler was actively involved and served as a board and committee member in several professional associations including the Association for Talent Development, the Conference on Management and Executive Development, and Unicon: The Global Consortium for University-Based Executive Education. Kistler earned bachelor’s and master’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in from LSU and served in the Louisiana Army National Guard for six years.

How to Create & Proctor Online Authentic Assessments

Online learning presents a unique set of challenges for authentic assessments. Trying to enforce academic integrity in this environment only adds another layer of complexity. But these challenges are not insurmountable.

During this webinar from an expert panel at The University of Florida, you’ll see real examples and insights that you can leverage to improve authenticity in your online assessments including:

  • Examples of authentic assessment projects that replicate real-life tasks
  • Tips for overcoming logistical challenges, including how to scale the grading workload, test security, group work, and phased submission
  • Tangible benefits for students, instructors, and institutions after implementing online authentic assessments while sustaining academic integrity

Speakers

Diba Mani

Instructional Assistant Professor at
the University of Florida

Heather Maness

Assistant Director, Learning Analytics and
Assessment at the University of Florida

Megan Mocko

Megan MockoLecturer at the University of Florida

Academic Integrity and Assessment Design in the Age of AI

 

In the last three years, the percentage of exam content found on the web has grown from 12% to 36%. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, are academic leaders prepared to develop procedures and assessments that support academic integrity? The data available to address these concerns is overwhelming. Deciphering how to sort through it, determine the best game plan and find ways to turn the data into actionable next steps is even more daunting.

Join Dr. Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology at the University of Texas at Austin, and Jordan Adair, Honorlock’s VP of Product, as they discuss meaningful and real-world advice on navigating and utilizing the wealth of data found in higher education to help build an environment of academic integrity and student success. Learn how to use analytics to address gaps in the teaching and learning experience, deliver a healthier academic environment, and save faculty valuable time.

As you walk away from our session, we hope you learn:

• Tips to evaluate and develop policies and procedures that support academic integrity
• Best practices to build better assessments using data insights
• Tactics to improve faculty engagement and bolster learning outcomes

Can’t attend the webinar? You should still register — all registrants, including attendees and absentees, will receive a recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.

This webinar was made possible in part by the financial support of Honorlock. I understand that by registering for this webinar, my registration information will be shared with Inside Higher Ed and the sponsor for marketing purposes.

Captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing is provided by Ai-Media for all Inside Higher Ed webinars. Transcripts available upon request.

Webinar speakers

Jordan Adair
VP of Product at Honorlock

Jordan Adair is the VP of Product at Honorlock who leads product development initiatives. Jordan believes in delivering a solution that empowers instructors and improves the student experience. He began his career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher. Jordan has a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. Julie Schell
Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology, The University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Julie Schell is the Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology and the Director of the Office of Academic Technology at The University of Texas at Austin. She oversees the University’s technology-enhanced learning ecosystem and works to advance teaching and learning through the strategic use of academic technology. She is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Departments of Design and Educational Leadership and Policy, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on learning experience design. In her current studios, Dr. Schell and her students are partnering with generative AI to prototype speculative objects and environments designed to improve teaching and learning in education settings.

Dr. Schell is also an award-winning college teaching and learning expert with over 25 years of expertise in higher education. She has delivered over 100 talks, workshops, and keynotes on teaching and learning. She is the creator of Think Before You Design Think, a popular introductory human-centered design curriculum she first launched at AT&T and has delivered at Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations throughout the United States. Dr. Schell’s approach to design thinking focuses on using the principles of learning science to develop design thinking self-efficacy, especially among non-designers. She has supported thousands of new learners in their journey to understand and apply human-centered design to improve lived experiences.

Dr. Schell completed her doctorate in higher and postsecondary education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a four-year post-doctoral fellowship focused on the science of teaching and learning in the Mazur Group at Harvard University. She has held positions at the nation’s top research universities, including Yale, Stanford, Columbia and Harvard.

How to Adopt DEI Best Practices in Online Learning | Honorlock session | 2023 ICAI Annual Conference

A recent survey of chief online officers published by Quality Matters predicted that by 2025, programs that blended on-campus and online learning will become the norm for students. As institutions rapidly adapt to meet these demands, they are met with a challenging question: how will they ensure that they are creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environments for their students?

Hear from Elisabeth Greenwood, Instructional Technology Specialist and Chair of the Academic Affairs DEI task force at the University of Central Florida, and Jordan Adair, VP of Product at Honorlock, as they discuss:

  • How to overcome the challenges of establishing and using DEI in online learning
  • Ways to use DEI in online courses to improve student engagement
  • Steps to create equitable learning environments

Speakers

Elisabeth Greenwood

Instructional Technology Specialist and Chair of the Academic Affairs DEI task force at the University of Central Florida

Jordan Adair

VP of Product at Honorlock