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2016 Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA) Conference Highlights - Blended Pathways for Learning
Missouri Distance Learning Association and Florida Distance Learning Association meet in Saint Charles
Texas Distance Learning Association held Annual Conference in San Antonio, March 28-31
Illinois Distance Learning Association (ILDLA) has a board meeting
Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) Offers Annual Spring Conference and Monthly Webinars to Higher Education and K-12 Educators
Ohio's Eye On The World Through Distance Learning

2016 Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA) Conference Highlights - Blended Pathways for Learning

The Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA) held its 15th Annual Conference in February in Omaha, NE. More than 115 attendees learned from keynote speakers Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, and Dr. Matthew L. Blomstedt, Nebraska’s Commissioner of Education.

Marcia Kish, with DSD Professional Development, conducted a special blended learning pre-conference workshop. More than 30 breakout sessions for K-12 and higher education instructors, content providers, and blended learning and telehealth professionals were presented by distance learning experts and conference sponsors.

Gordon Roethemeyer, former director of ESU CC, was honored with the Wayne Fisher Distance Learning Outstanding Professional Award. The NDLA also recognized board members for their years of service: Rothemeyer, 2007–2015; Linda Dickeson, 2010–2016; Al Steckelberg, 2011–2015; and Mary Lister, 2014–2015.

The conference provided networking opportunities through roundtable discussions moderated by NDLA sponsors and board members. The conference closed with a panel discussion on “Tech Trends in Education,” which was moderated by Beth Kabes of ESU CC and an NDLA board member.

Check out - http://ndla.org, Facebook - NebraskaDistanceLearningAssociation or Twitter - @NebraskaDLA for more conference highlights.

Missouri Distance Learning Association and Florida Distance Learning Association meet in Saint Charles

Crystal Howard, Florida Distance Learning Association (FDLA) Board member and Florida Virtual School Global Account Manager, attended the Midwest Education Technology Community (METC) Conference held in Saint Charles, MO, in February. Mr. Howard visited the Missouri Distance Learning Association (MoDLA) booth and enjoyed talking with Felicia Morley and JoAnn Mattson. Ms. Morley serves as MoDLA President and Instructional Designer and Technology Coordinator at Missouri Southern State University. Ms. Mattson is the Director of eLearning at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO. The three discussed Distance Learning Association (DLA) membership strategies, particularly K-12. They look forward to reconnecting in St. Louis in May at the USDLA 2016 National Conference.

Texas Distance Learning Association held Annual Conference in San Antonio, March 28-31

Distance learning professionals from across the state put on their superhero capes to attend the innovative, inspiring and motivational sessions during the 19th Annual Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA) Conference, March 28-31, 2016, in San Antonio, TX.

Every hero has a defining moment. In the field of distance education, we interact with heroes every day. Playing off this theme, the TxDLA Conference presented a variety of topics and activities that support these courageous superheroes, pushing distance education to unimaginable limits. Sessions focused  on trends in educational technology, innovative and best practice, research, accessibility, cyber security and data analysis, faculty and student support, administration and policy, and more.

About TxDLA:

TxDLA is the leading Texas membership association for distance learning professionals. Our members represent public and private education institutions at all levels, as well as corporate training professionals, and distance learning equipment and content providers. All of our members have a strong interest in keeping abreast of the ideas, technologies, and content that will help them develop and maintain leading-edge distance learning programs and products. Our broad definition of distance learning results in an inclusive association. We address issues of interest to the entire distance learning community, which includes the learners themselves as well as the administrators; educators; instructors; corporate trainers; content, equipment, and software producers/publishers/providers; telecommunications providers; and others involved in the typical distance learning situation.

Illinois Distance Learning Association (ILDLA) Holds Board Meeting!

Growth strategies are planned, officers elected

The Illinois Distance Learning Association had a formal board meeting in February 2016, and for the first time had enough members to appoint officers. Our momentum will continue as we focus on growth strategies for the near future.

Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) Offers Annual Spring Conference and Monthly Webinars to Higher Education and K-12 Educators

MDLA 15th Annual Spring Conference - Engaging Students in Digital Learning Environments: Design, Assessment, and Mobility

The Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) held its annual conference at the Conference Center for the Maritime Museum in Linthicum Heights, MD on Thursday, March 10th.

The one-day conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Vanessa Dennen, Associate Professor, Florida State University. The conference also offered 16 breakout sessions, breakfast, and a delicious lunch buffet.

MDLA Wired Wednesdays

The Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) sponsors a professional development series called “Wired Wednesdays.” The webinars will alternate between technological and pedagogical topics for online faculty. A Wired Wednesday Webinar is offered every month. Wired Wednesday’s Webinars are FREE to members and can be attended from your computer at work or home.

Please refer to the MDLA web site for a webinar schedule and topics: http://www.marylanddla.org/.

Ohio's Eye On The World Through Distance Learning

The Ohio Distance Learning Association (OhioDLA) recently participated in Ohio’s premier P-20 Ohio State Educational Technology Conference (OETC) in a big way. The OETC is visited annually by more than 4,000 educational technology professionals and enthusiasts, gathering to explore the forefront of P-20 learning and innovation in Ohio. As a Content Sponsor for the OETC, the OhioDLA was asked to provide concrete examples of effective classroom technology in action.

To this end, eight videoconference sessions were organized and hosted by OhioDLA: Educators from the Columbus Zoo, WVIZ Ideastream, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ohio History Connection, Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center, and the Mote Marine Lab (Sarasota, FL) all discussed with conference attendees the dynamic nature of live videoconference programs for student audiences. Andy Campbell of the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center took his session one level further by conducting a school program directly from the conference to an elementary school in Rochester, NY. This allowed teachers to see students benefiting from educational technology in real time. Mr. Campbell's lesson included a variety of hands-on activities; one crowd (and student) favorite was a squishy demonstration of intestinal peristalsis, with the classroom teacher providing a stocking and wet bran cereal, and Andy coaching the enthusiastic students to “SQUEEEEZE that food through!”

In addition to hosting these live connections, association members staffed informational tables during the three-day conference, connecting with hundreds of teachers seeking new ways to integrate technology into their classrooms.

OhioDLA’s mission is to promote and foster the formation of partnerships among schools and affiliates to further the effective use of distance learning. Current members include educational services centers, information technology centers, educational technology agencies, school districts, individuals, and content providers. Their focus is on videoconferencing, online learning management systems, and blended learning opportunities.

OhioDLA will be represented at the USDLA 2016 Conference by Lee Gambol, Distance Learning Coordinator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Ms. Gambol is presenting a session with the title “Is That REAL: Digitally Connecting Today's Students With Yesterday's Discoveries.” She will be showcasing an IVC program that the museum developed to link museum curator field research to specific Ohio Academic Science Standards. The Museum recently celebrated a milestone of teaching to all 50 states since its launch of distance learning programs in 2007.