Results from the 2019 IU Online Conference are in, and survey respondents gave the conference a big thumbs up. More than 90 percent expressed satisfaction with the conference overall, and almost 90 percent said they would recommend the conference to colleagues. More than 85 percent said they knew more about online education at IU as a result of the conference. Among faculty attendees, some 60 percent had not taught fully online courses, suggesting a heightened interest in learning about the topic. The majority agreed that the conference expanded their understanding of IU Online and provided a welcome opportunity to network with colleagues.
Comments included the following:
"It's always great to hear about the strides IU has made and where we're planning to go."
"I liked hearing about other universities and how they do online classes and programs. The panel [of online education leaders from other major public universities] touched on topics that many of us are struggling with, at the undergrad or grad level, online or not. This panel was very helpful in providing perspectives on the current trends and future of online education."
"The sessions I attended were profoundly relevant to my work in career services in an office where we currently offer no online sections of our career courses. I brought back many trends, concepts, and resources to the larger team that will inform our work and strategic planning for years."
"There were so many good presentations this year that it was difficult to choose from among them."
The breadth of topics and perspectives suggests the conference has outgrown its "IU Online Conference" name. An attendee suggested calling the conference "Technology and the Future of Education" for its value in "presenting trends, concepts, and resources to the larger team that will inform our work and strategic planning for years."
The discussion of topics in online education continues during the spring semester thanks to the Continuing the Conversation webinar series. Hosted by Learning and Design Technology Faculty Fellow Gina Londino-Smolar, the series is a forum for presenters across campuses and disciplines to share their experiences in online instruction. Learn more and register at teachingonline.iu.edu. Interested in presenting a webinar? Contact Londino-Smolar at glondino@iupui.edu.
Planners are already looking ahead to the fifth annual Bicentennial IU Online conference, which will be held on Friday, October 30, at the Sheraton at Keystone Crossing in Indianapolis. Visit the conference website to stay up to date on plans for the 2020 conference. We look forward to seeing you there.