Concurrent Session III

Shared Mini-Presentations (25 min.)

*This format features short presentations within the same session block. Each presenter is given 25 minutes to share their work.

Beyond Detection: Cultivating Joyful Learning Through Strategic AI Fluency and Agentic Pedagogy

Session Track:

Innovative Practices across Teaching Modalities

Presenter:

Stacy Ybarra, Our Lady of the Lake University

It’s 2026, AI fluency is a baseline skill. This session pivots faculty from reactive detection to strategic design. We will explore Agentic AI’s impact on learning and redesign assignments to compel authentic human input, leveraging UDL and AI-enabled tools to reduce faculty burnout and reclaim the joy and purpose of teaching.

Playful disruptions: Inspiring students with creativity, knowledge, and collective care to dream of and build better futures

Session Track:

Student-Centered Teaching Pedagogy

Presenter:

Iglika Pavlova, Michigan State University

Playfulness is often seen as antithetical to the perceived rigor of college level classrooms, especially in the natural sciences. We will share examples of playful disruptions that can help better equip students with the knowledge, creativity, hope, and resilience to imagine and respond to the evolving challenges and build a better world.

___________________________________________________________________________

Building Empathy and Self-Advocacy Through Inclusive Service-Learning

Session Track:

Strategies that Foster Student Success and Well-Being

Presenter:

Sam Kind Mooneyham, Converse University

Achievement gaps occur for a number of reasons, several of which are economic disparities and adverse childhood experiences. While educators can often feel helpless to effectively address such systemic inequities, the integration of service-learning into their curriculum can result in powerful pedagogy. This session will focus on inclusive service-learning strategies that.

Learning with Purpose: Cultivating Joy through Personal Community Engagement in Language Education

Session Track:

Student-Centered Teaching Pedagogy

Presenter:

Rosa Toledo, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

This session highlights purpose-driven Personal Community Engagement Projects that help students connect learning to real-world contexts. By fostering reflection, community connection, and authentic application, the approach cultivates joy, motivation, and deeper learning across disciplines.

Cultivating Joy and Connection in Your Scholarly Writing

Session Track:

Emerging Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Presenters:

Kelsey Frederick, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center

Janet Cooley, University of Arizona

Kate Newman, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Suzy Larson, Midwestern University, Glendale

Many faculty struggle to find joy in scholarly writing. This session shares findings from a qualitative study of an academic writing retreat supported by Social Cognitive Theory. Participants will explore practical strategies to cultivate joy, purpose, and community in writing to enhance and sustain scholarly productivity.

___________________________________________________________________________

Walking in their shoes: Using Guided Imagery in Higher Education to Build Empathy for Gender Minorities

Session Track:

Emerging Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Presenter:

Lisa Moyer, Auburn University

In recent years, numerous anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed by state legislatures to reduce the rights of gender minorities. A guided imagery activity was implemented in a sexual education course to foster empathy for gender minorities. This session will present the guided imagery exercise and data on its effectiveness.

*This presentation has been withdrawn.

___________________________________________________________________________

From Rankings to Transformation: FIES, a Framework of Indicators for Education and Sustainability in Higher Education

Session Track:

Emerging Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Presenter:

Carmen Díaz-López, University of Málaga

Carmen María Muñoz González, University of Málaga

Alejandro Morales Ruiz, University of Málaga

María Dolores Joyanes Díaz, University of Málaga

This session presents FIES, a Delphi-validated framework of 68 indicators that re-centers teaching and learning in university sustainability assessment. Participants will explore its five dimensions, see gaps in existing rankings, and discuss how to use the framework to redesign courses and programs around sustainability competences and climate justice.

___________________________________________________________________________

Poster Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Authentic Teaching Practices

Session Track:

Strategies that Foster Student Success and Well-Being

Presenters:

Vanessa Holtgrave, University of Massachusetts Global

Frank Weber, University of Massachusetts Global

Jenny Good, University of Massachusetts Global

This presentation showcases practical strategies instructors can use to build authenticity in their classrooms. Featuring a “potluck” of real teaching practices, from storytelling and successes, this presentation highlights how small, intentional acts foster trust, engagement, and genuine connection. Attendees are also invited to contribute their own “dish” to share!

___________________________________________________________________________

Joy, Belonging, and Data: Reimagining First-Year Learning for Black and First-Gen Students

Session Track:

Strategies that Foster Student Success and Well-Being

Presenters:

Erica Reaves, Chicago State University

Joy Thomas, Chicago State University

Chicago State University redesigned first-year learning to center joy, belonging, and purpose for Black and first-generation students. This session shares practical, research-informed strategies that integrate inclusive teaching, early alerts, and coordinated care to strengthen student well-being, engagement, and academic success.

___________________________________________________________________________

Teaching as a Practice of Care: Small Moves That Make Big Meaning

Session Track:

Student-Centered Teaching Pedagogy

Presenter:

Penny Quinn, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Small, intentional teaching moves create deep connection and belonging. This session introduces micro‑practices and sustainable rituals that reduce anxiety, build trust, and energize instructors. Participants will explore meaningful moments of care and leave with practical, immediately usable strategies to infuse joy into everyday teaching.

___________________________________________________________________________

Teaching with Joy and Purpose: Kindness, Presence, and Possibility in Student-Centered Pedagogy

Session Track:

Student-Centered Teaching Pedagogy

Presenter:

Sondra LoRe, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

This interactive session explores how kindness-centered, student-focused teaching practices grounded in presence, care, and adaptability can cultivate joy, purpose, and connection in higher education. Participants will learn practical strategies for designing student-centered learning environments that foster belonging, engagement, and meaningful learning experiences.

___________________________________________________________________________

Innovation Under Pressure: Student Partnership in Accelerated Learning Formats

Session Track:

Student-Centered Teaching Pedagogy

Presenters:

Daniel Guberman, Purdue University

Kal Holder, Purdue University

Kelsey Smart, Purdue University

Ameera Paunikar, Purdue University

Shelby Palmer, Purdue University

Talia Morgan, Purdue University

Student-faculty partnership enhances challenging compressed courses. We share how this collaboration transformed winter session classes from transactional endurance into joyful spaces of innovation, connection, and shared purpose. This presentation offers timely strategies for enhancing educational quality in accelerated formats.

___________________________________________________________________________

Enhancing Digital Case Studies: Using GenAI and Accessible HTML to Create Immersive LMS-Based Learning

Session Track:

Technology Innovations that Foster Deeper Learning

Presenters:

Ashley Pennell, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tracey Aranzazu, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

This presentation demonstrates how GenAI and accessible HTML can be used to design immersive, LMS-based case studies. Through examples from a forensic social work course, attendees will explore design techniques, learn key strategies for accessibility and engagement, and leave with adaptable templates for narrative-driven, interactive learning across disciplines.

___________________________________________________________________________

An Integrative Approach to Using LLM in Simulation Examinations

Session Track:

Technology Innovations that Foster Deeper Learning

Presenters:

James Labadorf, Rutgers University/dd>

Rahul Mittal, Rutgers University

MediExam AI enables students to design and diagnose AI-powered patient simulations. This session presents data demonstrating that 61% of students report high engagement the simulation, preferring it over traditional assessments. We discuss how peer-driven case creation fosters purposeful, joyful learning through simulated clinical application and collaboration