Upper Peninsula Teaching & Learning Conference

1:00pm EDT

Conference Check-In

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Ballroom Foyer

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ballroom Foyer

2:30pm EDT

Pre-Conference Workshop: Exploring AI for Teaching and Learning: A Hands-On Workshop

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 4:30pm EDT

Ballroom IV

Designed for those who are interested in employing artificial intelligence (AI) within the context of their curriculum and/or courses, this hands-on workshop will begin by providing participants with a guided, hands-on exploration of key generative AI tools being used today. After exploring this landscape, the workshop will shift to specific applications of AI within teaching and learning...
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Speakers

Dr. C. Edward "Eddie" Watson

C. Edward Watson, Ph.D., is the Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). He is also the founding director of AAC&U’s Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. Prior to joining AAC&U, Dr. Watson was the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Georgia (UGA) where he led university efforts associated with faculty development, TA development, learning technologies, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Plenary Session

7:15am EDT

Conference Check-In

Friday May 29, 2026 7:15am - 3:30pm EDT

Ballroom Foyer

Check-in to get your badge and additional conference information.

Friday May 29, 2026 7:15am - 3:30pm EDT
Ballroom Foyer

8:15am EDT

Breakfast and Keynote: AI’s Impact on Teaching and the Future of Higher Education

Friday May 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT

Ballrooms I & II

Generative AI tools have had an astonishingly quick impact on the ways we learn, work, think, and create. While higher education’s initial response was to develop strategies to diminish AI’s influence in the classroom, it is now clear that AI competencies and literacies must be embraced as essential learning for most colleges and universities. These responses and realities create...
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Speakers

Dr. C. Edward "Eddie" Watson

Friday May 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Ballrooms I & II

Plenary Session

9:30am EDT

Lessons from the Northern Woodshed Project: Teaching and Learning about Renewable Energy Production in the Northern Forest

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Peninsula IV

The farm-to-table movement has demonstrated how eating locally can promote rural economic development, decrease transportation costs, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Northern Woodshed Project has explored the possibilities for heating locally in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Northern Michigan University’s Carbon Neutrality Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gases 50% by...
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Speakers

Ezra Dedenbach

Northern Michigan University

Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt

Professor & Interim Department Head, Northern Michigan University

Sarah Mittlefehldt enjoys working with students, colleagues, and community members to develop local solutions to global environmental challenges. She is author of Tangled Roots: The Appalachian Trail and American Environmental Politics (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2013) and several articles on the history of community-based conservation efforts, energy policy, and land-use decision-making... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Peninsula IV

High-Impact Practices and Experiences

9:30am EDT

Closing the Loop: Integrating Practice-Based Courses with Core Theory in Engineering Curricula

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Founders Room

Engineering curricula are often structured around a sequence of core theory courses complemented by practice-based classes intended to develop professional skills, design intuition, and applied problem-solving. In practice, however, these two components are frequently experienced by students as disconnected or even competing elements of their education. This disconnect can limit students’...
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Speakers

Chad M Walber

Associate Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Chad Walber is an Associate Teaching Professor at Michigan Technological University where he instructs students on noise, vibration, signal processing, dynamics, and other mechanical engineering applications. He has 15 years of industry experience as a research and development engineer... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

9:30am EDT

The Write Pathway: Embedding Career Exploration in First-Year Writing Courses

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Ballroom IV

As colleges and universities are held more accountable to gainful employment metrics, many institutions are increasing their focus on career exploration and essential skills development. In More Essential Than Ever: Community College Pathways to Educational and Career Success, Davis Jenkins, et al. make a compelling case for intentional educational pathways that provide students with the...
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Speakers

Jessica Van Slooten

Dean of Arts and Sciences, Bay College

Dr. Jessica Van Slooten is Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bay College. A first-generation college student and native of West Michigan, Jessica earned degrees in English from Alma College (BA), Michigan State University (MA), and Auburn University (Ph.D). She taught first-year writing... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Ballroom IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

9:30am EDT

Teaching for Access: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Course Design

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Peninsula V

As I have progressed over the past eight years as a writing instructor, both as an adjunct and as a graduate student teaching first-year writing and technical communication, I, like most instructors, am constantly reflecting on ways to improve my course materials. My goal is not only to strengthen assignments in ways that enhance student learning outcomes but also to ensure that all materials are...
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Speakers

D-Jay Bidwell

Graduate Teaching Instructor, Michigan Technological University

I am a PhD candidate at Michigan Technological University. My research centers on technical communication, usability studies, accessibility, and disability studies, with a particular emphasis on rhetoric. His work investigates the rhetorical choices students make in the writing classroom... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

9:30am EDT

Mulligan Exams: Redemption without abolishing deadlines

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Peninsula I

Any student can have a bad day. But giving students multiple attempts on exams is fraught with issues of fairness, exam integrity, and student preparation. In this session, we'll discuss a "mulligan" system used in a very large class (300+) that tries to balance these issues using online exams with large "pools" of questions. We'll explore how to determine who shoud be...
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Speakers

Michael R. Meyer

Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Mike teaches large introductory physics classes. As a former CTL director, he loves talking about teaching and learning.

Friday May 29, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

10:00am EDT

Forensic Chemistry High-Impact Experience Project: Lessons Learned

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT

Peninsula IV

In this 20-minute session, Instructor Crystal Keso will share her experience and lessons learned from implementing a high-impact experience in a Forensic Chemistry course. Forensic Chemistry is an upper-level course required for NMU Forensic Biochemistry majors. Instructor Keso teaches the DNA identity testing unit and has replaced a traditional lecture exam with a unit project assignment. The...
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Speakers

Crystal Keso (she/her)

Instructor, Northern Michigan University

Crystal Keso, M.S., Ed.S.
Crystal Keso (she/her) is an Instructor and the Program Director for Forensic Biochemistry within the Chemistry Department at Northern Michigan University (NMU). Ms. Keso holds a B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in Spanish from Albion College, an M.S. in Chemical Biology from the Un... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT
Peninsula IV

High-Impact Practices and Experiences

10:00am EDT

Teaching historical context in economics classes

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT

Founders Room

In my Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory course at Michigan Technological University, I have experimented with a series of applied, historically grounded projects designed to help students contextualize the development of macroeconomic models. This initiative began after I discovered that a majority of students could not identify the decade of the Great Depression, revealing a significant gap in...
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Speakers

Ann Hardin

Assistant Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Dr. Hardin is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics at Michigan Technological University, where she has taught for the past three years. She teaches a range of undergraduate courses, including International Economics, Macroeconomic Theory, Game Theory, and Principles of Economics... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

10:00am EDT

Whose Draft Is It? Co-Creating Revision Practices with Underprepared Writers in First-Year Composition

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT

Peninsula V

This presentation reconceives revision as an act of authorship rather than correction. Using a constructivist, co-created feedback model and a SWOT-based revision framework, it shows how underprepared writers learn to evaluate, defend, and shape their own rhetorical choices. The session highlights classroom practices that cultivate agency, intellectual risk-taking, and durable writing development.

Speakers

Bob Gidcumb

Full Time Faculty, Bay Mills Community College

Bob Gidcumb is a Professor of English and Communication at Bay Mills Community College, where he teaches first-year composition, research writing, public speaking, and technical communication. He holds an MA in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Creative Writin... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

10:00am EDT

Creating Perfect Groups Instantly in Class with the Click of a Button

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT

Peninsula I

Using a custom, web‑based tool—SwiftFlock (swiftflock.app)—you can create well‑matched groups that respect competencies, gender identities, existing friendships, physical location, or any other rule you define; once the groups are formed you can instantly assign discussion prompts, capture real‑time conversations, and post a follow‑up survey to see if the activity improved targeted...
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Speakers

Shane Oberloier

Assistant Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Shane Oberloier is an award winning assistant teaching professor at Michigan Technological University. He also directs the Alley Makerspace and Open Source Hardware Enterprise. He approaches engineering from an entrepreneurial mindset, and creates strongly collaborative project based... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

10:30am EDT

Cut Through Information Chaos

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT

Ballroom IV

How can you support your students as they navigate today’s evolving, chaotic, information ecosystem? Part of an instructor’s role is to introduce students to the disciplinary literature and conversations in their field. As the breadth of scholarly publications, tools, and resources grows, this becomes increasingly challenging. Additionally, students are entering the classroom familiar with...
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Speakers

Angela Badke

Education and Scholarly Communication Librarian, Michigan Technological University

Angela is the Education and Scholarly Communication Librarian at Michigan Tech. She began her teaching career as a composition teaching assistant and has years of experience working with new college learners.

Jenn Sams

Library Assistant Director, Education & Public Services, Michigan Technological University

Jenn wears many hats as the Assistant Director for Education & Public Services at Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library and has led the library instruction program since 2016. She’s interested in the ways that students’ interactions with information in informal settings... Read More →

Dory Shaffer

Research, Education and Outreach Librarian, Michigan Technological University

Dory is the Research, Education and Outreach Librarian at Michigan Tech. She is passionate about student voices and connecting students with high quality information.

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
Ballroom IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

10:30am EDT

Higher Education Assessment and Its Discontents

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT

Founders Room

Assessment requirements in universities have become nearly universal across higher education institutions. Evaluation efforts typically focus on documenting student and program learning outcomes. Despite being framed as tools to enhance educational quality, decades of assessment efforts strongly suggest that this goal is not being effectively achieved. Despite nearly 40 years of higher education...
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Speakers

Russell

Professor of Psychology, Lake Superior State University

H. Russell Searight, Ph.D., MPH, received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Saint Louis University. He later earned a second master’s degree in public health from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. Dr. Searight has taught in the graduate program at Saint Louis University, as well as in... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

10:30am EDT

A walk in our shoes: building classroom community through arts integration

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT

Peninsula IV

Arts integration isn't new, but often general education teachers don't know where to start. However, we are potentially doing some of our students a disservice by not doing so. Within this session, I will hopefully help you learn that arts integration is as scary or difficult as it may seem. I will also go over an example of integrating art with language arts. Through the use of shoes, students...
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Speakers

Kyle Lafrinere

Graduate Assistant, Northern Michigan University

Kyle is a Marquette transplant, attended NMU in 2012, and found himself unable to leave such a beautiful place once he completed his undergraduate degree. His passion lies in blending art and core subject curriculum, bringing a voice to students who may struggle with traditional classroom... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
Peninsula IV

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

10:30am EDT

Extending Access: Bringing Tutoring and Academic Support to Incarcerated Students

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT

Peninsula V

Prison education plays a vital role in expanding access to learning, supporting rehabilitation, and promoting academic success and community reintegration. This presentation highlights the progress of Lake Superior State University’s STEP UP program through two perspectives: the LSSU Academic Success Center Coordinator involved in program administration and implementation, and a student tutor...
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Speakers

Anirudh Gupta

Student, Lake Superior State University

Biology student at Lake Superior State University. Math Center tutor, STEP UP tutor, Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for Microbiology.

Laura Moening

Coordinator, Academic Success Center & Student Support Advising, Lake Superior State University

Coordinator of the Academic Success Center and Support Advising at Lake Superior State University, where she leads student-centered initiatives focused on tutoring, early alert, and academic success. Member of the STEP UP (Success Through Educational Pathways in the Upper Peninsula... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

10:30am EDT

Using the AI Sandwich Framework to Create OER with Generative AI

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT

Peninsula I

This session explores the potential of generative AI to dramatically accelerate the development of Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are teaching materials that can be retained, reused, revised, remixed, and redistributed due to their license. During the 2021-2022 academic year, college students spent up to $1,240 per year on books; this cost led 63 percent of students to decide not to...
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Speakers

Matt Kilgas

Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Matthew Kilgas is an Associate Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at Northern Michigan University (NMU) and the 2025–2027 NMU Teaching and Learning Scholar. His research focuses on exercise-based interventions to restore musculoskeletal function and improve... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

11:30am EDT

Lunch

Friday May 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT

Ballrooms I & II

Friday May 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
Ballrooms I & II

Plenary Session

12:30pm EDT

Reinvigorating Academic Service Learning at NMU: A Roadmap for Faculty Re-Engagement, Mini-Grants, and Community Partnership

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Peninsula IV

Academic Service Learning (ASL) at Northern Michigan University has a proud history, with a particularly robust campus-wide program through 2015. While ASL has never fully disappeared—a dedicated core of faculty has continued to integrate service learning into their courses—the program has not reached its full potential in recent years. This presentation shares NMU’s experience as a...
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Speakers

Don Ludemann

Academic Service Learning Facilitator, Northern Michigan University

Don Ludemann has been newl-appointed as NMU's Academic Service Learning Facilitator. He's also a Contingent Instructor in the College of Business, where he has taught International Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Nonprofit Management, Introduction to Business, Introduction to... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Peninsula IV

High-Impact Practices and Experiences

12:30pm EDT

Active Learning Made Manageable: Getting Started with POGIL

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Founders Room

Are your students engaged, thinking critically, and learning with each other? In this interactive workshop, participants will experience Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) from the learner’s perspective and discover how this approach transforms the classroom into a space for active, student-centered learning. POGIL is built around structured teamwork, defined roles, and guided...
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Speakers

Bridgette Russell

Assistant Professor, Lake Superior State University

Dr. Bridgette Russell Assistant Professor of MathematicsLake Superior State University

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

12:30pm EDT

Open Education Initiatives in the Upper Peninsula: Innovation & Collaboration to Make Education More Accessible

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Peninsula II

Institutions of Higher Education in the Upper Peninsula have been working to promote and support Open Educational Resources (OER) on their campuses for many years. OER are course materials available at little or often no cost and can be used for teaching, learning, or research (EDUCAUSE, 2010). OER, along with other Open Educational Practices, foster a collaborative, learner-driven environment,...
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Speakers

Kathy Adair

Social Science Department Chairperson, Bay Mills Community College

Kathy Adair holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work with a specialty in Indian Child Welfare from Grand Valley State University. Since 2005, I have been employed at Bay MillsCommunity College (BMCC) as Director of Development and Social Science Department Chair. The development position... Read More →

Annelise Doll

Scholarly Communications Librarian, Michigan Technological University

Annelise Doll is a Scholarly Communications Librarian at Michigan Technological University’s Van Pelt and Opie Library, where she supports the use of open educational resources and open licensing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Master of Science in Information... Read More →

Joseph Mold

Executive Director of Online Learning and Instructional Design, Bay de Noc Community College

Joseph Mold has 15 years of experience leading online learning, instructional design, and faculty development at Bay College. He oversees the college’s transition to Blackboard Ultra, equity-centered OER initiatives that have saved students over $3 million, and accessibility-focused... Read More →

Emera Bridger Wilson

Incoming Director of Olson Library and NMU Archives, Northern Michigan University

Emera Bridger Wilson is the Chair of the OER Working Group at Northern Michigan University. Emera has a Masters in Library and Information Science and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, both from Syracuse University. For her Ph.D. Her research interests revolve around questions of... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Peninsula II

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

12:30pm EDT

Welcoming Challenge: Talking About Failure

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Peninsula V

Learning requires us to risk (and often experience) failure. If we want our students to develop a willingness to welcome challenges and risk failure, we as teachers must grapple with our own discomfort with failure. This interactive session explores how fear of failure prevents us from embracing growth opportunities and offers practical strategies for building resilience through reframing failure...
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Speakers

Maria Bergstrom

Asociate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Associate Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Dr. Maria Bergstrom is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Sciences and Arts and Associate Teaching Professor in the Humanities department at Michigan Technological University. She is also co-director of Michigan Tech’s IDEAhub, an educational innovation... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

12:30pm EDT

Beyond Quizzes: Practice-Based Learning Activities with Generative AI

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Peninsula I

Generative AI tools are increasingly used in teaching and learning, yet many classroom implementations rely on familiar formats such as quizzes, summaries, and short responses. While useful, these approaches can overlook opportunities for deeper engagement, reflection, and skill development.This interactive session introduces ten practice-based learning activities that instructors can use with...
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Speakers

Dr. Athena Stanley

Founder & CEO, Athena Global Learning

Dr. Athena Stanley, a Marquette native and proud Yooper, holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning from the University at Buffalo (2018), as well as an M.A.E. in Instruction (2013) and a B.A. in Elementary Education (2010) from Northern Michigan University... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

12:30pm EDT

Beyond the Prompt: Building Custom Gemini "Gems" for Faculty Productivity and OER Design

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT

Ballroom IV

As artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of the higher education landscape, the focus often shifts to student usage. However, for faculty, the most significant potential of Generative AI lies in its ability to reduce administrative overhead and accelerate course design. This hands-on workshop introduces participants to Gemini Gems, customizable AI Personas within the Google...
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Speakers

Grant Langdon

Assistant Director & Adjunct Faculty, Northern Michigan University

Grant Langdon is the assistant director of Career Services. His work focuses on preparing students to choose the next career step and develop the skills required to pursue that desired path while ready for the unforeseeable opportunities that come from the chaos of life. Grant... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 12:30pm - 1:20pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Teaching with Technology

1:30pm EDT

Artificial Intelligence for Teaching and Learning Complexity and Complex Systems

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Founders Room

The use of artificial intelligence in academia has accelerated, alongside growing concerns that it may contribute to students’ cognitive decline and the erosion of critical thinking and deep learning. Proponents of AI, particularly university administrators, argue that its efficient, effective, and ethical use can enhance teaching and learning while improving students’ employability. When...
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Speakers

Jelili Adebiyi

Faculty, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Jelili Adebiyi is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner who draws on systems thinking, mixed methods, and participatory approaches to model and understand decision-making, inform policy formulation, and advance solutions to messy and complex agrifood, environmental, climate... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

1:30pm EDT

Can Your Students Describe What They Learned? A Practical Introduction to Competency-Based Thinking

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Ballroom IV

Good course design starts with one clear question: what must students actually be able to do? Competency-based education is built on that question. When the answer is clear, something else happens too: students leave with language for what they learned, not just a grade that summarizes it.This session offers a beginner-friendly introduction to CBE: what it is, what it is not, and what it actually...
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Artists

Sarah DeMark

Founder, Brightline Strategy

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

1:30pm EDT

Mindful Self-Compassion for Students and Faculty

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Peninsula IV

College students who are navigating high levels of stress, perfectionism, and fear of failure often experience difficulties with motivation, resilience, and academic performance (Kahn et al., 2023). Simultaneously, faculty are expected to maintain academic rigor while responding to growing student needs, often without additional time or resources (Riba, 2025). This session explores how mindful...
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Speakers

Christina Hartline

Associate Professor/Psychologist, Northern Michigan University

Christy is originally from the Iron Range in Minnesota. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Dakota. Dr. Hartline completed her pre-doctoral psychology... Read More →

Becca Redmond

Assistant Professor/Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Northern Michigan University

Becca grew up in the northern region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. She discovered her love for the Upper Peninsula while attending Northern Michigan University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2013. After several years working in outdoor education, she pursued her passion... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Peninsula IV

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

1:30pm EDT

Universal Design for Learning in University Language Classrooms

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Peninsula V

This presentation explores how university-level foreign language courses can be intentionally designed to advance accessibility, equity, and belonging through principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Framed within the conference track on Supporting Accessibility and Belonging, the session highlights how language instructors can reduce barriers while maintaining rigorous communicative and...
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Speakers

Estela Mira Barreda

Assistant Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Estela Mira Barreda (Assistant Teaching Professor) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from her home university, Universitat Jaume I in Spain; a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education with Bilingual and ESL endorsements from the University of Illinois... Read More →

Bela Soderquist

Undergraduate Student, Michigan Technological University

Active students are those who do more than just show up to class every day. Active students take a, well, ACTIVE role in their academic, professional, and personal lives. For example, I spend my time at MTU focussing on more than just my studies. Although studying is at the very top... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

1:30pm EDT

Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Peninsula II

During the 2025-2026, the Center for Teaching and Learning sponsored a Faculty Learning Community (FLC) that explores and develops methods for integrating assignments and other activities where students create digital content and deliverables. Adobe Express will be the primary tool set utilized for these activities. As the initial cohort of six faculty, we are representing 5 different disciplines...
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Speakers

Tom Adolphs

Assistant Professor, NMU

Co-Lead of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Rebecca Estelle

Contingent Senior Instructor, Deaf Studies ~LLiS, Northern Michigan University

Member of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Maryam Khaledi

Associate Professor, NMU

Member of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Don Ludemann

Academic Service Learning Facilitator, Northern Michigan University

Hayden McKee-Zech

Assistant Professor, NMU

Member of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Elizabeth (Liz) Monske

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Member of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Carmen Ollila

Contingent Instructor, NMU

Member of the Digital Communication and Creation Across Disciplines Faculty Learning Community

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Peninsula II

Teaching with Technology

1:30pm EDT

Efficacy of Faculty Training to Improve Confidence Implementing Ethical Use of Generative AI in the Classroom

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

Peninsula I

The applied improvement project implemented professional development training to boost faculty readiness for ethical AI integration in the classroom. Guided by Magana’s T3F Framework, it addressed questions on how an online AI module would support ethical strategies, confidence, implementation across disciplines, understanding of benefits, and training effectiveness. Faculty from varied...
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Speakers

Vince Jeevar

Contingent Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University

I have been in the US for over 25 years, having moved over here from England for my wife. We met online way before it was normal. We live in the UP of Michigan with our two children (a daughter and a son), two dogs, and two cats. I love soccer, and I support Austin FC. I spent most... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

2:30pm EDT

Courageous Care: Sharing CLASS Highlights

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT

Peninsula IV

Courageous Care recognizes that transformative education emerges when universities genuinely prioritize student and educator learning, well-being, belonging and success. In this session, Dr. Joubert will share her takeaways from the recent Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS) hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. She will showcase proven practices...
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Speakers

Dr. Lanae Joubert

Professor; Wellbeing Scholar, NMU

A tenured Professor at Northern Michigan University (NMU) since 2010, Dr. Joubert has taught a variety of nutrition courses and is an outdoor enthusiast. Holding a PhD in Nutrition from Oregon State University, she is a board-certified sports dietitian and a strength & conditioning... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT
Peninsula IV

High-Impact Practices and Experiences

2:30pm EDT

Evaluating Hands-On Learning: The Impact of Physical Manipulatives on GD&T Instruction

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT

Ballroom IV

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a system that uses symbols on engineering drawings to communicate a design intent, tolerances, and dimensions. GD&T has many complex concepts that are difficult to understand. Although GD&T is an essential skill for students seeking a career in manufacturing and engineering, many college graduates enter the workforce without a strong conceptual...
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Speakers

Teresa Janowski

CTE Engineering Design Instructor, Michigan Technological University

Teresa Janowski graduated from Michigan Technological University in 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. She is currently a full-time graduate student at Michigan Technological University while also teaching Engineering Design through the Copper Country... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

2:30pm EDT

Turning Grade Grubbing into learning: End of term strategies

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT

Founders Room

As we reach the end of the term, we dread the student e-mails that read "Is there any way I can get just a few more points to raise my grade? I'm so close..." Planning for these inevitable requests provides opportunities to have students learn just a bit more before the semester ends. The presenter will explore two strategies used for finalizing end-of-term grade assignment, and...
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Speakers

Michael R. Meyer

Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Mike teaches large introductory physics classes. As a former CTL director, he loves talking about teaching and learning.

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

2:30pm EDT

Using Student-Generated Data to Understand Motivation, Identity, and Cross-Cultural Differences in Statistics Courses

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT

Peninsula V

In my engineering statistics and biostatistics courses, I introduced a series of optional extra-credit questions on each homework assignment designed to encourage personal expression—questions such as “Can you teach me a slang word?”, “Who is your idol?”, and “What is your dream job?” Over the semester, I collected more than 120 responses for each question, analyzed the patterns, and...
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Speakers

Xiaoqing Gao

Assistant Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Xiaoqing Gao, Ph.D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Michigan Technological University. Dr. Gao has a background in biostatistics and has taught a variety of undergraduate statistics courses. Her teaching interests include regression modeling, statistical methods, and the development... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

2:30pm EDT

Generative AI in the Math Classroom

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT

Peninsula I

Generative AI is rapidly working its way into the classroom. How do we use these technologies? What are AI’s strengths and limitations? What even is Generative AI? As educators, we must understand emerging technologies as they evolve to support our students’ learning needs!This talk will touch on findings from a semester-long, student-driven research study regarding the benefits of Generative...
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Speakers

Erin Frank

Student, Northern Michigan University

NMU Secondary Math Education Student

Shelby Juidici

Contingent Instructor, Northern Michigan University

NMU Math Instructor/ Study Lead

Daniel Maki

Student, Northern Michigan University

NMU Secondary Math Education Student

Laura Walch

Student, Northern Michigan University

NMU Secondary Math Education Student

Friday May 29, 2026 2:30pm - 2:50pm EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

3:00pm EDT

Bridging Theory and Practice: A Faculty-Driven Skills Camp to Strengthen NP Students’ Clinical Readiness

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT

Ballroom IV

Background/Introduction: As nurse practitioner (NP) education increasingly shifts to hybrid and online models, there is a growing need to bridge theoretical learning with hands-on clinical skills and experience. Students often lack in-person opportunities to build procedural confidence before clinical rotations.Purpose: The objective of this project was to design and implement an immersive,...
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Speakers

Michelle Andriacchi

Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Michelle Andriacchi is an Associate Professor at Northern Michigan University. She teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She is the Wildpups coordinator. She is an experienced nurse practitioner and is part of the graduate committee. Michelle and her therapy dog... Read More →

Melissa Romero

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Melissa Romero is a Professor at Northern Michigan University. She teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She is the Graduate program coordinator at NMU. She is an experienced nurse practitioner. Melissa and her therapy dog, Sweedee, are part of the Wildpups program... Read More →

Anne Stein

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Anne Stein is a Professor at Northern Michigan University. She teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She is an experienced nurse practitioner and is part of the graduate committee. Anne and her therapy dog, Ramsey, are part of the Wildpups program and support the... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

3:00pm EDT

Closing the Learning Gap: Using Structured Self-Analysis to Help Students Develop Effective Study Approaches

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT

Founders Room

Students often come to college without understanding how to approach learning effectively. This study examined the impact of structured self-analysis and reflection on 15 undergraduate students' metacognition, grit, learning styles, self-efficacy, and motivation. At the beginning of the semester, students completed a researcher-developed pre-assessment documenting their integrated understanding of...
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Speakers

Jen

PhD Student, Research Assistant, MTU

Jenifer Shaud, a PhD student at Michigan Technological University. She is a dedicated educator and researcher with extensive expertise in special education and supporting students with disabilities. Jen earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

3:00pm EDT

The Accessible Tech Challenge: Gaining Buy-In Through Gamification

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT

Peninsula V

With recent ADA Title II changes, getting faculty onboard with accessibility issues is more important than ever. At Michigan Tech, we developed a pilot program called the Accessible Tech Challenge, which seeks to gamify learning about accessibility issues and train faculty in how to apply our existing framework (a “5+2” approach which emphasizes focus on the biggest accessibility challenges in...
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Speakers

William Crowell

Instructional Developer, Michigan Tech

William is an Instructional Developer at Michigan Tech who focuses on digital accessibility and online instruction. He holds a MA in Media Theory and Research from Southern Illinois University and a MLIS from the University of South Florida.

Jeff Toorongian

Director, Michigan Technological University

Jeff is the Director of the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning where he leads initiatives in digital accessibility and faculty development. He has a Masters of Educational Technology from Boise State University.

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

3:00pm EDT

Breaking the AICE: Simple AI Tools That Help Faculty See AI as C-3PO (Not Terminator)

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT

Peninsula I

Many instructors are curious about AI but hesitant to try it—concerned about academic integrity, accuracy, and “opening the floodgates.” This 20-minute mini-session is designed to break the AICE: the awkward first step where AI feels intimidating or risky. Using a familiar, low-stakes starting point—simple AI tools built into Blackboard Ultra—we’ll help faculty experience AI as a...
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Speakers

Joseph Mold

Executive Director of Online Learning and Instructional Design, Bay de Noc Community College

Friday May 29, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

3:30pm EDT

Heart-based Learning with Arts-Based Methods

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Peninsula IV

Come explore the integration of heart-based learning in educational practice in this 50 minute participatory session. Northern Michigan University teacher and re-Searcher Jaime VanEnkevort and co-presenters will facilitate conversation on what heart-based teaching and learning is and share an example of an arts-based method called, "A Walk in Your Shoes." Presenters will speak and share from their...
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Speakers

Jaime VanEnkevort

Instructor, Northern Michigan University

Jaime is a teacher and re-Searcher in the Education department at Northern Michigan University. Jaime is interested in youth advocacy, teaching for liberation and change, and learning from more-than-human relatives to enact joy and belonging in educational spaces.

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Peninsula IV

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

3:30pm EDT

Integrating AI Literacy into the Composition Classroom: Successes, Challenges, and Insights

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Founders Room

Integrating AI Literacy into the Composition Classroom: Successes, Challenges, and InsightsTo address the rising use of generative AI by students to write their assignments in English classes, I decided to try something different. Instead of banning AI use – an approach which I have found impractical and ineffective - I integrated activities into the course work to help students better...
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Speakers

Nancy Gold

Contingent Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University

Nancy Gold has taught a variety of English courses - including developmental composition, creative writing and mythology - at Nothern Michigan University for the last 12 years. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Norhtern... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Founders Room

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

3:30pm EDT

Bridging Cultures and Concepts: Indigenous Approaches to Inclusive STEM Teaching

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Peninsula II

This presentation explores practical ways to integrate Indigenous culture into science and mathematics instruction to improve understanding and create more inclusive classrooms. Participants will examine a culturally-based visualization tool that models complex biological and anatomical structures and helps students grasp difficult scientific ideas. The session will also demonstrate math lessons...
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Speakers

Natalia Chugunov

Science Department Chair and Faculty, Bay Mills Community College

Natalia Chugunov is originally from Russia where she earned her MD degree at St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University in 1996. She moved to the United States in 1998. She taught Biology and Anatomy and Physiology courses, both on-campus and online, at Ivy Tech Community college... Read More →

Jan Miller

Math Department Chair and Faculty, Bay Mills Community College

Jan Miller serves as Mathematics Department Chair at Bay Mills Community College. She has taught in a Tribal College for most of her teaching career. Jan has a Masters in Mathematics from University of Houston.

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Peninsula II

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

3:30pm EDT

Learning to see with both eyes: Teaching for both Indigenous and academic Science

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Peninsula V

Since time immemorial, Indigenous communities have employed scientific processes to understand and steward resources here on Turtle Island (North America). Educators seeking to bring these Indigenous knowledges into their classroom need frameworks for conceptualizing the historical and current relationships between Western/academic science, and Indigenous science. This discussion-based session...
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Speakers

[email protected]

Student Success Advisor; MS alumni, Northern Michigan University

Andie Balenger (she/her) is an alumni of NMU (2025), where she earned a Master’s degree in the administration of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. She is currently a Student Success Advisor at NMU and a former crew leader for the Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps. Her... Read More →

Mai Anh

Ph.D. candidate, Forest Science, Michigan Technological University

Thi Mai Anh Tran is an environmental and natural resource scientist and Ph.D. candidate in Forest Science at Michigan Technological University. Her research bridges Indigenous and Western sciences to strengthen forest stewardship, community resilience, and climate adaptation. In partnership... Read More →

Tommy Mackey

Professor of Outdoor Recreation and Education, Lake Superior State University

Tommy (he/him) is an outdoor educator and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Outdoor Recreation and Leadership at Lake Superior State University. He holds a PhD. in Environmental Education (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) and a M.Ed. in Secondary Science... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Peninsula V

Supporting Accessibility and Belonging

3:30pm EDT

AI for Doubters: Why None of Us Should Ignore Artificial Intelligence (even though we may really, really want to)

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Ballroom IV

Second Life. Wikis. Blogs. Flip video cameras. Interactive DVD courseware.If you've been around higher ed for the last 10 or 15 years, those are just a few of the educational technology tools that you've seen spike in popularity, then fall into niche usage or go away entirely. Will AI be the next "revolutionary" technology to have a few shining moments of glory before fading into ed tech...
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Speakers

Matt Smock

Director, Northern Michigan University

Matt Smock is the founding Director of Northern Michigan University’s Center for Teaching and Learning, which facilitates excellence in classroom and online instruction and promotes scholarship of teaching and learning by providing professional development, tools, and other supporting... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Ballroom IV

Teaching with Technology

3:30pm EDT

Is Excel dead? How do we teach data literacy in the AI era?

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Peninsula I

The current generation of college students are accustomed to apps, internet searching and AI to answer questions. With the push towards Artificial Intelligence fluency in the classroom and workplace, how do we develop critical thinking skills related to data analysis? Recent news articles in the Wall Street Journal highlight this environment with a WSJ article on UC – San Diego noting that...
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Speakers

Roger Woods

Teaching Professor, Michigan Technological University

Roger Woods has taught at Michigan Technological University’s College of Business since 2003 and is currently a Teaching Professor. Before his teaching career he worked as an industrial engineer and engineering manager at IBM. Roger has taught a variety of 10 different courses across... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Peninsula I

Teaching with Technology

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