Digital Learning Expo 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026The Center for Teaching Excellence is excited to invite faculty and staff to the 2026 Digital Learning (DL) Expo. This event will feature sessions facilitated by faculty and staff from across campus, showcasing innovative practices and emerging trends in digital learning. Explore sessions related to AI in teaching and learning, Canvas tools and strategies, and practical approaches for digital teaching and learning. Participants will leave with actionable strategies, ready‑to‑use resources, and new ideas they can immediately apply to their courses. The event will be offered in person and as a webinar.
DL Expo Program
You can access the Digital Learning (DL) Expo program through either the website or the Word document.DL Expo Program
Website
DL Expo Program
Word Version
Schedule Overview
Time |
Sessions |
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8:30 – 9:00 AM |
Opening Remarks |
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9:00 – 10:00 AM |
Concurrent Sessions |
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10:00 – 10:10 AM |
BREAK |
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10:10 – 11:10 AM |
Concurrent Sessions |
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11:10 – 11:20 AM |
BREAK |
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11:20 – 11:50 AM |
Concurrent Sessions |
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11:50 – 12:30 PM |
LUNCH |
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12:30 – 1:00 PM |
Concurrent Sessions |
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1:00 – 1:10 PM |
BREAK |
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1:10 – 2:10 PM |
Concurrent Sessions |
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2:10 – 2:20 PM |
BREAK - Webinar Ends |
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2:20 – 3:30 PM |
AI Playground (in-person only) |
Presenters
Explore our program speakers and session Information
College of Nursing Ashley Swinney, Director of Academic TechnologySimple Syllabus 101
Designed for first‑time users, this session walks faculty through the fundamentals of the Simple Syllabus platform. Participants will learn how to open their course syllabus, work within the template, and understand what content is pre‑populated versus editable. Ideal for anyone who wants a clear, straightforward starting point.
College of Arts and Sciences John Weeks, Instructional Associate ProfessorSTEM Friendly Accessibility
PDF solutions for STEM documents have limited accessibility solutions. The focus of this workshop is to introduce HTML and Word solutions with the help of converters and AI. Bring your own issue/concern and we will try to come up with a solution or point you in the right direction.
College of Arts and Sciences Vanessa Coffelt, Instructional Associate Professor
PDF solutions for STEM documents have limited accessibility solutions. The focus of this workshop is to introduce HTML and Word solutions with the help of converters and AI. Bring your own issue/concern and we will try to come up with a solution or point you in the right direction.
College of Education and Human Development Claudia Benavides Espinoza, Clinical Associate ProfessorAI-integrated simulations
Drawing on classroom-based simulation design and implementation, this interactive workshop demonstrates how AI-driven scenarios allow students to practice complex professional judgment in realistic sport management contexts, including ethical dilemmas, leadership challenges, and organizational decision making. Participants will engage in guided activities to explore the structure of AI-supported simulations, experience a sample scenario, and begin drafting their own classroom applications using practical design frameworks.
Library Lynsey Eames, Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Services LibrarianInformation Literacy, Upgraded: Digital Tools for Today’s Classroom
Join us for a practical, interactive workshop on integrating information literacy into your curriculum through digital learning. We’ll introduce the Libraries’ Office of Information Literacy and highlight the support we offer for you and your students, including ready‑to‑use digital learning tools, customizable modules, and instructional infographics you can easily embed in your courses. You’ll also participate in a hands‑on activity exploring Library AI tools available to faculty and students. You’ll leave with concrete strategies, digital resources, and classroom‑ready materials to help strengthen information literacy across your curriculum
Library Alex Mitchell, Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Services LibrarianInformation Literacy, Upgraded: Digital Tools for Today’s Classroom
Join us for a practical, interactive workshop on integrating information literacy into your curriculum through digital learning. We’ll introduce the Libraries’ Office of Information Literacy and highlight the support we offer for you and your students, including ready‑to‑use digital learning tools, customizable modules, and instructional infographics you can easily embed in your courses. You’ll also participate in a hands‑on activity exploring Library AI tools available to faculty and students. You’ll leave with concrete strategies, digital resources, and classroom‑ready materials to help strengthen information literacy across your curriculum
College of Education and Human Development Yuling Zhuang, Assistant ProfessorIntegrating ChatGPT into Mathematics Methods Courses to Support Practice-based Teaching
This presentation aims to demonstrate innovative ways of integrating GenAI, specifically ChatGPT, into mathematics teaching methods courses to promote preservice teachers' pedagogical practices. We will share detailed examples of AI-integrated activities to support teachers' teaching practices. Participants will be able to engage with AI-simulated middle school students struggling with mathematical concepts.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Tamy Frank-Cannon, Clinical Associate ProfessorFostering Student Growth and Learning with Technology Supported Feedback using Peerceptiv
Providing effective feedback in project‑based course activities is challenging, particularly in large classes. Students benefit from repeated practice and specific, descriptive feedback, yet instructors often feel pressured to limit assignments to a single final submission because grading practice attempts become overwhelming. Peerceptiv is a technology tool available within the Canvas learning management system that offers practical ways to deliver meaningful feedback without creating an unmanageable workload for instructors. This session will look at how Peerceptiv can be utilized to engage students with the instructor’s project and grading expectations in a formative learning platform that fosters skill development and provides each student with specific feedback in advance of a summative project submission while keeping the instructor workload manageable.
School of Public Health Sherry Lin, Instructional Associate ProfessorCanvas Design for Success: Accessible and Engaging Learning
Inconsistent digital course design creates significant barriers to student success. This presentation details how student-centered Canvas templates transform learning through intuitive navigation and rigorous accessibility standards. By implementing consistent module structures, clear headings, and internal linking, instructors reduce confusion across all course modalities. Attendees will explore customizable frameworks that foster deeper interaction and inclusive instruction. The primary objective is to demonstrate how standardized, yet flexible, course structures can transform student engagement and success. Specifically, this session aims to: -Identify common organizational pitfalls that lead to student confusion and missed deadlines. -Showcase how to implement consistent module structures, clear headings, and logical file-naming conventions. -Illustrate the integration of accessibility standards to ensure inclusive learning environments for all students. -Provide a framework for using pedagogical-specific templates to align Canvas pages with course goals.
College of Arts and Sciences Landon Sadler, LecturerLessons from CTE Digital Accessibility Learning Community
This roundtable will feature faculty from different departments who participated in a year-long learning program created by the Center for Teaching Excellence. These instructors will reflect on how they collaborated across disciplines to improve student learning and overcome barriers related to digital accessibility. Roundtable speakers include Dorothy Todd, Tonya Shepherd, John Weeks, and Landon Sadler.
College of Arts and Sciences Dorothy Todd, Instructional Assistant ProfessorLessons from CTE Digital Accessibility Learning Community
This roundtable will feature faculty from different departments who participated in a year-long learning program created by the Center for Teaching Excellence. These instructors will reflect on how they collaborated across disciplines to improve student learning and overcome barriers related to digital accessibility. Roundtable speakers include Dorothy Todd, Tonya Shepherd, John Weeks, and Landon Sadler.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Tonya Shepherd, Research Specialist I and Assistant LecturerLessons from CTE Digital Accessibility Learning Community
This roundtable will feature faculty from different departments who participated in a year-long learning program created by the Center for Teaching Excellence. These instructors will reflect on how they collaborated across disciplines to improve student learning and overcome barriers related to digital accessibility. Roundtable speakers include Dorothy Todd, Tonya Shepherd, John Weeks, and Landon Sadler.
College of Arts and Sciences John Weeks, Instructional Assistant ProfessorLessons from CTE Digital Accessibility Learning Community
This roundtable will feature faculty from different departments who participated in a year-long learning program created by the Center for Teaching Excellence. These instructors will reflect on how they collaborated across disciplines to improve student learning and overcome barriers related to digital accessibility. Roundtable speakers include Dorothy Todd, Tonya Shepherd, John Weeks, and Landon Sadler.
College of Education and Human Development Nathan Hawk, Clinical Assistant ProfessorAuthentically Engaging Online Learners and Augmenting Social Presence
Most of us use Canvas, but how do we make it feel like more than just a place to post files? In this session, I’ll share how I use, and plan to use, external tools like Peerceptiv and TAMU-hosted AI tools to get students more involved. We’ll talk about a proposed simple process for "co-constructing" assignment rubrics with students from initial AI creation, so students build in student-instructor interaction opportunities. We plan to discuss how to use Canvas as a starting point for better engagement rather than just a digital folder, improving various areas of online student engagement and social presence.
College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers, Instructional Assistant ProfessorInnovating Dance Pedagogy with AI
As generative AI reshapes creative industries, how does it intersect with the most embodied of art forms: dance? This workshop aims to reveal how dance pedagogy can lead the conversation on integrating AI not just as a tool, but as a partner in creative and critical practice. We move beyond the theoretical to share concrete findings from a series of pedagogical explorations across dance technique, conditioning, and research courses, focusing on three central themes.
College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts Vanessa Reiser, LecturerInnovating Dance Pedagogy with AI
As generative AI reshapes creative industries, how does it intersect with the most embodied of art forms: dance? This workshop aims to reveal how dance pedagogy can lead the conversation on integrating AI not just as a tool, but as a partner in creative and critical practice. We move beyond the theoretical to share concrete findings from a series of pedagogical explorations across dance technique, conditioning, and research courses, focusing on three central themes.
Libraries Seyed Abdollah Shahrokni, Open Publishing Platform ManagerFrom Pressbooks to Canvas: Creating Interactive OER with Built-In Assessment
This interactive workshop introduces faculty and instructional support staff to the Pressbooks app in Canvas and demonstrates how instructors can create engaging Open Educational Resources (OER) using Texas A&M's Open Digital Publishing Pressbooks platform. Participants will learn how to develop an open textbook, embed interactive learning activities, and seamlessly integrate their content into Canvas modules. The session will also showcase how H5P activities embedded in Pressbooks can pass grades directly to the Canvas gradebook, enabling low-stakes formative assessment that enhances student engagement and comprehension.
Libraries Lindsey Todorovich, Open Education LibrarianFrom Pressbooks to Canvas: Creating Interactive OER with Built-In Assessment
This interactive workshop introduces faculty and instructional support staff to the Pressbooks app in Canvas and demonstrates how instructors can create engaging Open Educational Resources (OER) using Texas A&M's Open Digital Publishing Pressbooks platform. Participants will learn how to develop an open textbook, embed interactive learning activities, and seamlessly integrate their content into Canvas modules. The session will also showcase how H5P activities embedded in Pressbooks can pass grades directly to the Canvas gradebook, enabling low-stakes formative assessment that enhances student engagement and comprehension.
Center for Teaching Excellence Michele Vick, Educational ConsultantGoogle Gemini Toolkit: From AI Foundations to Practical Applications
This workshop introduces how artificial intelligence works and explores its limitations alongside its practical applications in teaching and research. Participants will learn how to prompt Gemini to summarize readings, analyze datasets, and generate engaging instructional materials. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical strategies for using Gemini to enhance student engagement and streamline administrative tasks.
Center for Teaching Excellence Carlos Perez, Senior Educational ConsultantGoogle Gemini Toolkit: From AI Foundations to Practical Applications
This workshop introduces how artificial intelligence works and explores its limitations alongside its practical applications in teaching and research. Participants will learn how to prompt Gemini to summarize readings, analyze datasets, and generate engaging instructional materials. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical strategies for using Gemini to enhance student engagement and streamline administrative tasks.
Mechanical Engineering Jonathan Weaver-Rosen, Instructional Assistant ProfessorAligning Incentives with Learning Through Mastery Assessment
Many students perceive their grades and ultimately the pass/fail outcome of their courses above learning outcomes. This is a logical response to their situation, but a student's desire to collect the full points on formative assessments can get in the way of their learning if they turn to cheating, AI, etc. When the goal of a formative assessment changes from learning to earning the highest grade, it has lost its purpose. Furthermore, subsequent scaffolded courses rely on course grades as an indication of a student's understanding. If students are able to pass a course based on excellent formative assessment scores and sub-par summative assessment scores, we are doing a disservice to our students and society.
Texas A&M Institute of Data Science Yalong Pi, Associate Research ScientistHow large language and computer vision models work: Introduction of neural networks
This talk will introduce the core concepts that power modern AI systems, focusing on how neural networks compute with a simple example. We will explore the fundamental building blocks—neurons, layers, activations, and training processes—and show how these components scale to create advanced architectures used in natural language processing and image analysis. By the end of the session, attendees will understand why AI is so powerful, as well as it has the well known limitations, such as hallucination.
Libraries Beth Chenette, Reserve Services Coordinator (Associate Librarian)Why Open Matters and How OpenEd Can Support Your Success
Textbook costs shouldn't be a barrier to student success. Join OpenEd presenters Beth Chenette and Hannah White for an engaging exploration of how open educational resources and practices are transforming teaching and learning at Texas A&M. Discover the principles behind the open education movement, see real examples of innovative open practices in action, and learn how the OpenEd department can partner with you to reduce course costs while enhancing educational quality. Whether you're new to OER or looking to deepen your open education practice, you'll leave with practical strategies and direct connections to support your goals.
Libraries Hannah White, Assistant LibrarianWhy Open Matters and How OpenEd Can Support Your Success
Textbook costs shouldn't be a barrier to student success. Join OpenEd presenters Beth Chenette and Hannah White for an engaging exploration of how open educational resources and practices are transforming teaching and learning at Texas A&M. Discover the principles behind the open education movement, see real examples of innovative open practices in action, and learn how the OpenEd department can partner with you to reduce course costs while enhancing educational quality. Whether you're new to OER or looking to deepen your open education practice, you'll leave with practical strategies and direct connections to support your goals.
TAMU Brooke Witkowski, Program Manager, Digital Content AccessibilitySimple Strategies for Using and Creating Video Content for Optimal Learning
Ever wonder if the videos you are using in class are conducive to all students? In this short presentation, we will look at methods when using and creating videos for learners that not only meet the requirements for accessibility but also apply the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). We will look at simple strategies to meet WCAG's guidelines for audio descriptions that include integrating the audio description within the video or a text alternative.
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Catherine Silkwood, Instructional Associate ProfessorFrom Syllabus to Sidekick: Exploring AI Chatbots as Tutors, Guides, and Academic Allies
AI presents many possibilities to improve the academic experience from both the student and the instructor perspectives. In this session, I will explain how I developed a syllabus chatbot and a tutor chatbot in NotebookLM for my Biomedical Genetics course and how this supported student learning and engagement while simultaneously "lightening my burden" as an instructor. I will then walk participants collectively through the process of setting up their own syllabus chatbot and tutor chatbot and subsequently testing the chatbots' capabilities in order to evaluate both the promise and the potential limitations of these AI chatbots for broad, multidisciplinary use.
Vet Med-Physology & Pharmacology Shannon Washburn, Clinical ProfessorBeyond the Chalkboard: Evaluating Digital Tools to Enhance Science Teaching
This presentation explores the implementation and evaluation of multiple digital tools designed to improve student engagement, learning outcomes, and conceptual understanding in undergraduate and graduate physiology courses. Examples include the use of interactive modules for cardiovascular physiology, digital whiteboards for real-time guided drawing in large lecture settings, lecture capture technologies, and blended learning approaches incorporating analogies and multimedia. The strengths, limitations, and student feedback from each intervention will be reviewed, along with practical strategies for integrating these tools into diverse instructional contexts. Outcome data and lessons learned will be shared, providing guidance for educators seeking to align digital technology with pedagogical goals and maximize its impact on engagement and mastery in concept dense disciplines.
College of Performance, Visualization, & Fine Arts Carolyn Rabbers, Instructional Assistant ProfessorReducing Generative AI Misuse Through Reflective Integrity-Specific Pedagogy in DCED Courses
As generative AI becomes embedded in students’ academic workflows, educators face a critical question: how can we uphold integrity while helping students use these tools responsibly without weakening authentic learning? This session presents a cross-course instructional model implemented across three undergraduate dance education courses (DCED 202, 230, and 363) that measurably reduced generative AI misuse in core written assignments while strengthening authorship, critical thinking, and reflective learning. This presentation shows how transparent expectations, reflective authorship practices, and guided AI experimentation can reshape student understanding of academic responsibility. Rather than relying only on restriction or detection, this approach treats integrity as a teachable practice supported through course design, dialogue, and structured inquiry.
College of Arts and Sciences Alice Brandao, Instructional Assistant ProfessorPractical tips for engaging students in high enrollment
Keeping the quality of teaching for high enrollment courses is a challenge which is becoming familiar to more and more faculty members in campus. Tasked to educate and engage our almost 80,000 students across one of the largest universities in the US, we must find creative and efficient ways to teach large groups of students and maintain the integrity of our teaching. In this presentation I will share some practical tips on how to facilitate that mission using mainly digital tools.
Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine Vincent VanBuren, Instructional Associate Professor and Faculty OmbudsBeyond Lecture Capture: Engineering Asynchronous Learning for Today and Tomorrow
As institutions redesign curricula for flexibility, flipped classrooms, and competency-based progression, lecture capture remains anchored to an outdated production model: record, edit, upload, repeat. This approach is labor-intensive, difficult to update, and poorly aligned with modern digital learning design. This project replaces recording with structured content engineering. We developed an AI-enabled pipeline that transforms PowerPoint slide decks into modular instructional videos using cloned faculty voice, tagged slide segmentation, automated narration synthesis, caption generation, and video rendering. Rather than capturing live delivery, the system parses presenter notes and embedded delimiters to generate reusable, precisely segmented modules from a single source deck.
TAMU Institute for Data Science TAMIDS - Drew Casey, Associate Institute DirectorAI On-Ramps: Texas A&M Institute of Data Science Services and Resources
Join a collaborative roundtable discussion highlighting the role of the Texas A&M Institute of Data Science in supporting AI-enabled education and research across Texas A&M University. This session will introduce participants to current services, tools, and programs offered by the Institute, while creating space for open dialogue about emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities. Attendees will be invited to share perspectives and help shape future AI initiatives that advance interdisciplinary research, education, and real-world impact.
Division of Student Affairs Kristie Orr, Director of Disability ResourcesUtilizing Universal Design Strategies in Digital Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles have long been promoted as inclusive teaching that is beneficial for teaching students from a variety of backgrounds, educational preparation, nationalities, and students with disabilities. Online learning provides flexibility to meet a variety of students' needs with careful course design. This roundtable will highlight strategies for using UDL in online courses to improve class performance for all students.
Center for Teaching Excellence Reem Hussein, Educational ConsultantDesigning an Innovative Technology Learning Environment: A Classroom Renovation Project
This session explores a faculty-driven classroom renovation project that transformed a traditional lecture space into an innovative technology-enhanced learning environment. Guided by the TPACK framework, the redesign aligned spatial layout, pedagogy, and emerging technologies to support active, collaborative, and immersive learning. Participants will gain a replicable model for reimagining underutilized instructional spaces and scaling classroom innovation across their institutions