TOPPS: Transforming Online Pedagogy and Practice Symposium


TOPPS 2019 Master Schedule

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Kristen Betts

Clinical Professor, Educational Leadership & Management, Drexel University
Principal Investigator: Neuromyths & Evidenced-Based Practices in Higher Education

Dr. Kristen Betts is a Clinical Professor in the School of Education at Drexel University. Dr. Betts teaches in the EdD Program in Educational Leadership & Management, MS Program in Higher Education, and Graduate Certificate Program in Neuroscience, Learning & Online Instruction.

Dr. Betts’ research focus is on online and blended learning; Mind, Brain, and Education; Online Human Touch/high touch; Brain Targeted Teaching; student retention; and faculty development. Dr. Betts is a Middle States peer evaluator and Quality Matters peer reviewer. She is also an instructor for the Online Learning Consortium Advanced Certificate program and Neuro, Cognitive & Learning Sciences workshop series.

Dr. Betts lead a two-part workshop series with the theme:

Science & Art of Changing the Brain through Instruction and Instructional Design

Monday, May 13: Neuro-Pedagogy & Dynamic Learning Environments
9 am – 1:15 pm (Lunch included)

On the first day, we will explore how the Learning Sciences and Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) science are transforming instructional design and pedagogy to support deeper learning, critical thinking, and real-world transfer within online and blended/hybrid courses. Participants will engage in individual and group activities as well as identify evidence-based practices to support teaching and instructional design that can be applied to current or future courses. We will also discuss the critical balance between content, instruction, assessment, and cognitive load.

Tuesday, May 14: High-Touch Feedback & Transformative Learning
9 am – 1:15 pm (Lunch included)

On the second day, we will explore transformative learning and high-touch strategies for providing student feedback through multiple modalities (text, voice, video, LMS). The session will include demonstrations of innovative ways to provide effective and timely feedback to support motivation and transformative learning. Participants are asked to bring laptops to engage in individual and group activities as well as to showcase best practices that support feedback through formative, interim, and summative assessment. We will also discuss the connection between high-touch feedback back, differentiated instruction, and Universal Design for Learning in meeting stated outcomes.