Welcome to the UW-Green Bay Instructional Development Institute (IDI) registration and information page! For quick access to conference details, use the table of contents below:
Conference Overview & Theme
Moving from Access to Connection
The IDI will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, and is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) and the Instructional Development Council (IDC). This year’s theme, “Moving from Access to Connection,” invites attendees to consider how we can expand access to higher education while also prioritizing genuine human connections in an environment where technology is ubiquitous. This year’s conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock, followed by sessions led by UW-Green Bay faculty and staff.
The IDI is a free, all-day virtual conference open to faculty, staff, and educators beyond UWGB. Registered participants will access the conference through a dedicated Canvas course, which will host links to live Zoom sessions and on-demand, asynchronous materials.
More information regarding the schedule and session details will be shared later this fall. Please refer to this blog post for future updates or consult the FAQ at the bottom of the page.
Keynote Speaker
About Michelle Pacansky-Brock
Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock is a noted leader in higher education with expertise in online teaching, course design, and professional development. She is also an advocate for access to higher education.
Her work has helped college professors, instructional designers, and institutional leaders across the nation and beyond understand how to craft relevant, humanized online learning experiences that support the diverse needs of college students. Her earliest memory of technology is from the 1980s when her dad pointed to his huge computer screen and said, “See that? That’s a message from my co-worker.” The simple notion that a computer could connect two people across distance formed her earliest thoughts about technology. Over the decades, Pacansky-Brock’s work has consistently examined the intersection of relationships, technology, and learning, emphasizing the vital role that emotions play in one’s ability to achieve their full potential.
In addition to holding positions in teaching and faculty development, she is an author, an award-winning teacher, and has led two grants totaling $2 million that advanced a model of humanized online teaching across California public higher education. Currently, she is leading statewide professional development efforts in support of AI literacy in California’s community colleges.
Keynote Address
Connection as Curriculum: Embedding Humanity in Digital Learning (Jan. 6, 2026, 10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.)
This session explores what it means to be human in an age of artificial intelligence. We’ll examine how 21st century technologies are reshaping our emotional lives, well-being, and capacity for connection. Drawing on Allison Pugh’s concept of “connective labor,” we’ll discover how educators can transform their classrooms into spaces that simultaneously foster genuine human connection and develop critical AI literacy.
Live Sessions (Jan. 6, 2026)
All session times are in CST.
9:15 – 10:00 a.m.
Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, & Provost Remarks
Kate Burns (Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs) and Kris Vespia (Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning Director)
10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Keynote Address
Connection as Curriculum: Embedding Humanity in Digital Learning
Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock (Visiting Expert, Professional Development, AI)
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Session Block #1 (Three Concurrent Sessions)
AI Literacy in Practice: Fostering Critical Thinking Through an AI Framework
Renee Ettinger (Assistant Library Director for Research Services) and Jodi Pierre (Research & Instruction Librarian)
Creating an Open Textbook for Information Literacy
Carli Reinecke (OER Librarian) and Jodi Pierre (Research & Instruction Librarian)
Why Aren’t My Students Engaging? A Discussion and an Action Plan
Jennie Young (Associate Dean of College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences), Jenny Ronsman (Teaching Professor), Roshelle Amundson (Teaching Professor), and Rosie Ray (Lecturer)
Building Connection through Short-Term Travel Courses: A Faculty Roundtable
Tara DaPra (Teaching Professor), Jaye Case (Associate Professor), Cristina Ortiz (Professor), and Lisa Wicka (Associate Professor)
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch Session
Kris and Pam Tackle Teaching: Student Voice and Why It Matters
Hosted by Kristopher Purzycki (Assistant Professor & CATL GAI/Digital Accessibility Specialist) and Pamela Rivers (Instructional Designer)
Featuring special guests and contributors: Jennie Young (Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences), Paul Belanger (Teaching Professor), Tanim Ahsan (Associate Professor), and Robert Riordan (Lecturer).
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Session Block #2 (Three Concurrent Sessions)
Creating Together: A Panel on Open Access Book Projects
Zhuoli Axelton (Assistant Professor), Qiushan Liu (Assistant Professor), and Kristopher Purzycki (Assistant Professor & CATL GAI/Digital Accessibility Specialist)
Strategies and Resources for Managing Disruptive Student Behavior
Mark Olkowski (Associate Dean of Students) and Kristi Pearson (Assistant Dean of Students)
From Access to Agency: A New Grading Paradigm for Diverse Learners
Amy Kabrhel (Associate Professor) and Brian Rempel (Associate Professor)
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Session Block #3 (Three Concurrent Sessions)
From Access to Impact: Building Connection Through Student Support and Campus Collaboration
Erin Van Daalwyk (Dean of Students) and Katie Morois (Assistant Dean of Students)
Engaging Students Across Modalities: Building Relationships and Creating Productive Learning Environments
Jiahong Wang (Assistant Professor)
Welcome to the Rebellion: Infusing Pop Culture into Alternative Assignments
Clifton Ganyard (Associate Professor), Carli Reinecke (OER Librarian), and Kate Farley (Digital Collections and Metadata Librarian)
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Final Session & Wrap-Up
Humanizing Collegial Teaching Observations
David Voelker (Professor & CATL Peer Observation/Mentorship Specialist)
On-Demand Sessions
AI and Academic Integrity in Your Online Class
Pamela Rivers (Instructional Designer)
Assessing Standards-Based Grading Using an Intro Biology Course
Stephanie Ramadan (Assistant Professor)
Faculty AI Explorer Showcase
Fall 2025 Faculty AI Explorer Participants
Ghosts in the Machine: Reflections on History, AI, and the Uncanny
Clifton Ganyard (Associate Professor)
The Vitruvian Machine: Experiments in AI and Creativity
Paul Belanger (Teaching Professor)
Institute FAQs
Q: What types of sessions does this conference include?
A: The 2026 IDI is entirely virtual, hosted through a Canvas course. You can look forward to a keynote address by Michelle Pacansky-Brock and live presentations led by UW-Green Bay faculty and staff. In addition to live presentations, the Canvas course also includes asynchronous presenter materials for attendees to engage with between live sessions or after. The conference schedule and session details will be posted later this fall.
Q: How do I access the IDI Canvas course?
A: Everyone who registers for the conference will be sent an email in January, with a link to self-enroll in the IDI Canvas course. Follow the steps in the email to set up a Canvas account (if applicable) and complete the self-enrollment process. By joining the IDI Canvas course, you will have full access to all the live and on-demand sessions and materials. If you have any issues joining the course, please contact us at CATL@uwgb.edu.
Q: What are the live sessions and how can I access them?
A: All live sessions will take place on Zoom, with links provided in the IDI Canvas course and made available on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Q: What are the on-demand sessions and how can I access them?
A: In addition to the live presentations, you can also explore a mix of on-demand sessions from pre-recorded presentations, podcasts, and online resources that explore concepts in teaching and learning. These sessions will be available in the IDI Canvas course and can be accessed after the conference as well.
Q: Will the live sessions be recorded?
A: Yes, all live sessions will be recorded and posted in the IDI Canvas course after the conference. We will post an announcement in the course once all session recordings have been made available. You will be able to watch the recordings at any time up to a year after the conference date.
Q: I don’t work at UWGB — can I still attend this conference?
A: Yes! The 2026 IDI is free and open to all educators in the UW system and beyond.
Q: I have a conflict on Jan. 6 — can I still register to get access to the recordings?
A: Yes, those who are unable to attend live on Jan. 6 can register after the conference concludes for access to the session recordings.