We are very excited to invite you to the Summer Institute for Distance Learning and Instructional Technology (SIDLIT “Side Light”) 2024 Annual Conference, which will be held on July 29-31, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. This year marks the 25th anniversary of SIDLIT, and we have prepared a special program to celebrate this milestone. For the first time ever, our physical location this year is: The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS, 66160 – or join us virtually!
The theme of SIDLIT 2024 is “Lensing the Past, Zooming In on the Present, Developing Future Passions for Learning.” We will explore together how we can use the lessons learned from the past, the challenges, opportunities, and innovations of the present, and the emerging trends of the future to enhance our online learning and instructional design practices. We will also collaborate on how we can foster and activate a passion for lifelong learning among ourselves and our students.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
C2C aims to host SIDLIT 2024—in-person and virtually—in a mutually respectful environment. SIDLIT 2024 is inclusive of people from all backgrounds: ethnicities, races, countries of origin, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, body sizes, economic backgrounds, educational backgrounds, professional backgrounds, employment statuses, abilities, and other dimensions. We are getting together, staying together, and building the future together, with all of our strengths together.
Host Institution
KU Med Center - 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160
After the keynote, please join us for closing remarks and the annual SIDLIT Awards!
Keynote Title: Embracing the Digital Turn: A New Era of Quality, Equity, and Care in Online and Blended Learning
Keynote Description: At the crossroads of technology, pedagogy, and advocacy, a challenge looms - the creation of online, blended, and digital learning environments that prioritize quality, equity, and care. Building upon the perspectives of thought leaders in digital learning pedagogy, this keynote will delve into the exploration of these three fundamental pillars and their manifestation in accessible and impactful digital learning broadly. As we navigate a digital education landscape transformed by rapid change, how can we, as educators, center our focus on creating digital learning environments that foster quality, uphold equity, and promote care? In the pursuit of an equitable future of education, our approach requires strategic intentionality and collaboration. This keynote will dissect these elements, highlighting the powerful role that each plays in the continuous evolution and improvement of digital learning spaces.
We will journey through the triptych of quality, equity, and care, exploring their interconnectedness and individual nuances in a digital education context. The discussion will move beyond the surface, articulating what these principles look like when genuinely centered in our learning environments and strategies. Participants will gain insights into creating inclusive and accessible digital spaces that are not just high-quality but also empathetic and equitable. Participants will engage in reflective activities, analyze current trends, and apply their newfound knowledge to their individual and collective practices. Themes of community building, pedagogical innovation, and the leveraging of technology for educational transformation will serve as the foundation of this engagement.
Ultimately, this keynote is a call to action for all education stakeholders to seize the potential of digital learning centered on quality, equity, and care. We will illuminate the path towards a future where our learning environments, whether physical or virtual, reflect our commitment to access and inclusion. This talk aims to empower participants to be architects of this future, transforming education one digital interaction at a time.
Wednesday July 31, 2024 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
HEB G201
