Join Blackboard at the 2019 TxDLA Annual Conference
March 25 – 28, 2019
Galveston, TX | Moody Gardens Hotel
Blackboard – Your Partner in Change
Blackboard is proud to be the Diamond Sponsor for TxDLA 2019, an impactful conference devoted to building community and professional excellence in the field of distance learning, and we have some exciting developments to share with you in Galveston.
Blackboard is committed to supporting the Texas community. For over 20 years we have worked alongside 688 institutions and 3.5M+ learners across K-12, Higher Education, Corporations and Government agencies. We have two offices in Austin & Killeen and we are proud to have 300+ Texas employees dedicated to helping our clients solve their most critical challenges in education to drive student success.
Visit our team at Booth 105 to learn more about Blackboard’s approach to online learning, and why you need more than an LMS to meet your institution’s complex needs. With the broadest portfolio of solutions available today, Blackboard is uniquely positioned to address any challenge your institution may face.
In addition to visiting our booth, here are a few other ways to connect with our experts and learn from your peers:
Join Our Lightning Talks
Join us at Booth 105 throughout the conference for 10-minute sessions on some of the hottest topics in edtech.- The LMS is Not Enough – March 25, 5:50pm | March 26, 12:30 PM
- Your Texas Partner in Change – March 25, 5:10pm | March 26, 4:10 PM
- Why Learn Ultra? Why Now? – March 27, 12:30 PM
Attend a Breakout Session
Visit the TxDLA conference website to view the full program.
Tuesday, March 26
1:00-1:50pm
Everything is "Ultra" Awesome at Blackboard! | Salon F
Speakers:
Luz Elena Cadena, Manager, Distance Learning Support Services, El Paso Community College
Heather Woods, Solutions Engineer, Blackboard
In this session we will review El Paso Community College’s (EPCC) experience enabling Ultra in their Learn environment. Luz Cadena from EPCC, will walk through the transition and implementation as well as how faculty and students were informed throughout the process. Heather Woods from Blackboard will talk about some exciting features coming down the road for the Ultra Course View as well. Join us as we explore how awesome Ultra is!
11:00am-12:00pm
Twine: Using a Non-linear Storybook for Your Classroom | Ivy 2
Speakers:
Yun Li and Armanto Sutedjo. Texas A&M University
Rallying the Troops! | Vine 1
Speakers:
Lisa Brown, Director; Rebecca Burgner, Instructional Designer III; Lynn Cagle, Instructional Design Specialist. Texas A&M University – The Bush School
1:00-1:50pm
From Informal to Formal: Implementing Policies for the Design and Delivery of Distance Education Courses and Programs at UTRGV | Salon G
Speakers:
Francisco Garcia, Director, The Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology, University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley
Data Analytics Drives Higher Education Decision Making | Salon H
Speakers:
Joseph Doan, Educational Technologist and Rinki Suryavanshi, Instructional Designer II. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Google Slide Captioning Builds Community in Webinars | Vine 2
Speakers:
Patricia Ritschel-Trifilo, Director, WBU Online, EIRAC, Wayland Baptist University, and Raymond Rose, Online Accessibility Evangelist, Rose & Smith Associates
3:00-3:50pm
Creating the Online Teaching Community | Vine 2
Speakers:
Rashmi Chhetri, Instructional Designer; Laura Lane-Worley, Distance Education Coordinator; and Monica Martinez, Director – Weekend College. Lee College
Making the Connection: Overcoming Challenges with Distance Learning in a Rural Community College | Ivy 2
Speakers:
Kathleen Cuyler, Associate Professor; Anna Hazelrigg, Professor; and Luz Angela Miranda, Associate Professor. Coastal Bend College
4:30-5:20pm
Creating Student Engagement through the Use of Live Streaming and Creativity | Vine 1
Speakers:
Austin Haynes, Instructional Designer and eLearning Graphic Designer; Scott January, Instructional Designer; and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens, TCC Connect History Department Chair. Tarrant County College
Discussion Bored: Reinventing an Old Friend for a New Generation | Ivy 1
Speakers:
Dr. J. Martin Chernosky, Learning Architect, Texas A&M University
From BbIM to Collaborate Ultra: An Online Tutoring Journey | Vine 2
Speakers:
Luz Elena Cadena, Manager, Distance Learning Support Services. El Paso Community College
Gamification in Education: Where Does it Go Next? | Salon H
Speakers:
Yun Li and Armanto Sutedjo. Texas A&M University
Wednesday, March 27
10:00-10:50am
Roadmap to Quality: QA Initiative at the A&M System | Salon G
Speakers:
Patricia Abrego, Director, Instructional Technology & Distance Education, Texas A&M International University; Lisa Bunkowski, Director, Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, Texas A&M University – Central Texas; and Kelley Shaffer, Director, Center for Instructional Innovation, Tarleton State University
11:00-11:50am
Consultation is the Answer to Rapid Course Development | Vine 1
Speakers:
Claudia Arcolin, Senior Instructional Designer; Mayra Collins, Instructional Designer; and Jonathan Gutierrez, Instructional Development Specialist
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Building Digital Bridges: Supporting Learners Experiencing Food Insecurity | Vine 2
Speakers:
Kinsey Hansen, Assistant Professor; Kristen Lyons, Instructor; and Gina Shipley, Instructor
Angelo State University
1:40-2:30pm
The Journey of a Team Into a Community of Practice | Salon F
Speakers:
Claudia Arcolin, Senior Instructional Designer and Michael Brand, Instructional Development Specialist
The University of Texas at San Antonio
2:40-3:30pm
Are Active Learning Classrooms a New Fad or do they Produce Results that Warrant the Investment? | Vine 1
Speaker:
RashJeff Kurtz, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology Services, Texas A&M University – College Station
Integrating a 24/7 All-in-One Support Center in Blackboard | Vine 2
Speakers:
Mary Canales, Instructional Technology Support Specialist and Eric Silva, Instructional Designer
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Social Heutagogy and Self-Determined Learning Expectations: Values, Standards, Competencies, Dispositions | Salon F
Speaker:
Caroline Crawford, Associate Professor, Instructional Design and Technology, University of Houston – Clear Lake
3:40-4:30pm
Exploring How Students Use Feedback to Take Ownership and Deepen Learning | Salon G
Speakers:
Dwayne Harapnuik, Clinical Instructor and Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux, Assistant Professor, Digital Learning and Leading Master’s Program
Lamar University
Thursday, March 28
9:00-9:50am
Are You Available? Social Presence in Online Courses | Vine 1
Speakers:
Allegra Hanna, Department Chair, Humanities; Austin Haynes, Instructional Designer and eLearning Graphic Designer; Cristina Sullivan, Dean
Tarrant County College – Connect Campus
10:00-10:50am
Building a Culture of Online Learning: Redesigning a Distance Education Program | Salon G
Speaker:
Mary Sizemore, Director of Learning Technology, Lamar State College Orange
Building Community | Salon H
Speaker:
Lisa Brown, Director, Texas A&M University – The Bush School, Office of Extended Education
Attend Post-TxDLA Blackboard Events
Blackboard’s Waltz Across Texas
April–May, 2019
From El Paso to Dallas, Lubbock to Houston and more, Blackboard is going on the road in Texas! We’ll be offering FREE one-day programs for our clients across the state. The program will feature academic, management, technical and roadmap sessions, and include lunch. All we need is YOU to join and contribute your ideas and best practices!
Find out more and register here!
- TAMU Corpus Christi (South Texas Region) – April 10
- TAMU Texarkana (East Texas Region) - April 12
- Texas Tech University (Pan Handle Region) - April 16
- El Paso Community College (West Texas) - TBD
- University of Texas at San Antonio (Central Texas Region) – TBD
- University of Texas at Dallas (DFW Region) – TBD
- University of Houston (Gulf Coast Region) – TBD
*Dates and location subject to change.
Upcoming Blackboard Webinars
April–October, 2019
Can’t make it to a roadshow or just need to learn more? Check out the list of upcoming Blackboard webinars and register here!
- Pathways to Inclusion: Let’s Launch Accessibility into the Classroom!
April 25, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - Why Learn Ultra? Why Now?
May 23, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - Blackboard Grade Center – More Than Just Grades
June 27, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - Quality Assurance with Blackboard’s Exemplary Course Program
July 18, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - 10 Features You Might Not Know are in Blackboard Learn!
August 22, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - Tips & Tricks for Teaching Online
September 26, 2019 | 2:00pm CT - 5 Ways to Increase Engagement
October 24, 2019 | 2:00pm CT
BbWorld19 | Austin, TX
July 23-25, 2019
BbWorld brings together the brightest learning professionals around the world. Attendees have the chance to learn firsthand about innovations in education and professional development. Join us for three days of deep-dive sessions tailored to your expertise—then bring back actionable insights on how to take your learning programs to the next level.