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About

Education in the Digital Age:

High‑quality professional development tailored specifically for online educators is still surprisingly rare, especially in a field as diverse and rapidly evolving as digital learning. The 2026 Online Learning Symposium brings this community together by connecting teachers, program coordinators, instructional designers, and educational leaders who support online, hybrid, cyber, alternative, and special education programs across Pennsylvania and beyond.

This virtual conference offers a full spectrum of sessions, from classroom‑level strategies and course design to program leadership, program management, and student support. Whether you teach a single online course or oversee a district‑wide initiative, you’ll find practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and adaptable models that reflect the many ways online learning takes shape.

Above all, the Symposium is about community. Online educators often work in isolation, supporting programs that look dramatically different from district to district. This event creates a space to learn from each other’s experiences, share ideas, and build connections that strengthen the quality of online learning for every student.

Join us to:

Explore effective practices for high‑quality online teaching and program design
Discover strategies that boost learner motivation, connection, and success
Access tools and resources that support diverse student needs
Connect with peers, presenters, and vendors who understand the realities of online education

Event Sponsored by Learning Stream!
Learning Stream is a robust registration and tracking platform that simplifies how organizations manage classes, training, and professional development across in-person, online, and hybrid formats. It automates enrollment, certification tracking, compliance reporting, payments, and certificates, reducing administrative work so educators and teams can focus on delivering high-quality learning experiences.

Agenda

8:30am: Welcome and Event Logistics

Beginn

8:30 AM

Ende

8:50 AM

Sprecher

Dr. Tom Butler

Sabrina Lindsay

Olivia Grugan

Cindi Brown

9:00am: Classroom-Differentiating Opportunities for Student Responses during Video Conferencing

Stuck looking at blank boxes in Zoom? Are students hesitant to unmute themselves? Online educators may wonder whether assessments of student understanding are truly accurate when participation is limited. This session explores strategies educators can use to promote interactivity and increase student engagement in virtual classrooms. Participants will discover ways to vary opportunities for student participation and differentiate online instruction more effectively, building confidence in how they gauge student comprehension and support meaningful learning experiences.

Beginn

9:00 AM

Ende

9:50 AM

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Zachary Marcic

Cindi Brown

9:00am: Classroom-Strong Rapport Strong Results: Rapport Building for Student Success

This session equips online educators with practical strategies for building connections with learners. Participants will explore simple, effective ways to create connection, boost engagement, and support student success in virtual environments. Through real examples and actionable techniques, educators will learn how rapport strengthens motivation, confidence, and academic growth—leading to stronger results for every student.

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9:00 AM

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9:50 AM

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Danielle Cox

9:00am: Leadership-Get On Board with Student Onboarding: How an Online Orientation Course Can Empower Your Students

Enrolling in an online course or program can be an adjustment for many students. This session explores how a well-designed online orientation course can build learner confidence, promote independence, and reduce the need for MTSS interventions later in the year. Participants will explore examples of an effective onboarding course and learn adaptable strategies for designing, implementing, and maintaining interactive, engaging orientations that set students up for success from day one.

Beginn

9:00 AM

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9:50 AM

Sprecher

Dana Ricci

9:00am: Leadership-Scaling Online Professional Learning Without Scaling the Work: Lessons from the Bucks IU Event Hub

Managing online professional learning doesn’t have to mean managing every detail. This session highlights how the Bucks IU uses Learning Stream to run asynchronous video trainings, Canvas courses, and Zoom meetings while automating Act 48 reporting through one centralized learning system. Learn how thoughtful system design and automation can streamline workflows, support compliance, and create a sustainable online learning model.

Beginn

9:00 AM

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9:50 AM

Sprecher

Hannah Haug

Pam Dinan

9:00am: Leadership-The Rise Of Spartan Academy: Making Online Learning Visible Valuable and Local

This session outlines the creation of a robust online learning program for a local school district. Participants will explore the rationale behind the decision, the collaboration involved in creating the components of the program, the ongoing support and continued development, and potential future considerations for growth and sustainability.

Beginn

9:00 AM

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9:50 AM

Sprecher

Michele Beck

10:00am: Classroom-Bank on It: Meeting the New PA Finance Requirement with NGPF & OERs

Transform the new PA Personal Finance requirement into a dynamic learning experience! This session unveils a model 0.5-credit Canvas course leveraging Next Gen Personal Finance OERs and Cidi Labs DesignPLUS. We will demonstrate how to move beyond theory, turning students into "savvy money masters" using interactive simulators—from balancing checking accounts to calculating car loans. Learn how we integrated local culture and high-end design to create a cost-effective, standards-aligned course where students "stop guessing and start winning." Participants will walk away with a blueprint for a class that proves financial literacy is a lifelong asset.

Beginn

10:00 AM

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10:50 AM

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Lisa Compher

10:00am: Classroom-Effective Feedback in Digital Classes

This presentation explores actionable strategies for delivering effective feedback in digital classrooms. Attendees will learn techniques to enhance student engagement, foster progress, and support success in online courses.The session will include a demonstration of the screencast tool on Canvas, showcasing its application for providing personalized and impactful feedback. Alternative recording tools and strategies will also be discussed to ensure accessibility for educators not using Canvas. Additionally, the presentation will highlight time-efficient methods to balance quality feedback with workload demands. Join to discover tools and approaches that make feedback both manageable and meaningful in virtual learning environments!

Beginn

10:00 AM

Ende

10:50 AM

Sprecher

Noura Almasaeid

Cindi Brown

10:00am: Classroom-Engage Every Click: Creative Strategies for Asynchronous Online Learners

Keeping students engaged in asynchronous courses can feel like trying to spark connection through a screen that never talks back. This session flips that script with creative, low-lift strategies that bring energy, presence, and interactivity to self-paced learning. From micro-lessons and gamified challenges to AI-supported tools and discussion formats students actually want to participate in, attendees will discover fresh ways to increase motivation and improve completion rates. Participants will walk away with ready-to-use ideas, templates, and routines designed to make every click feel meaningful, connected, and engaging.

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10:00 AM

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10:50 AM

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Kelly Weaver

10:00am: Leadership-Beyond the Traditional Classroom: Using Digital Platforms to Support Diverse Learners in Alternative and Special Education

With the ever-changing educational landscape, educators must acknowledge the need for inclusive, flexible, and engaging learning opportunities. This presentation offers educators the opportunity to learn about digital platforms and how they can break down barriers for students with diverse learning needs in alternative and special education. This presentation offers attendees insight regarding the versatility of the highlighted platforms within a transient education setting. Attendees will have the opportunity to develop a cache of resources, some provided by the presenter and some shared, that could be invaluable. Target audience for this presentation: special education teachers, alternative education teachers, curriculum developers, instructional technologists, and administrators.

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10:00 AM

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10:50 AM

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Laura Abel

10:00am: Leadership-From Policy to Practice: Models for Student Accountability at Camp Hill and Halifax

This presentation will review Pennsylvania’s Senate Bill 315 and the state’s wellness check mandate (SB 927) and discover how other online programs are using these laws to safeguard vulnerable learners and to lay a stronger foundation for attendance and progress. Two School districts will share their approach: (1) Camp Hill will share its model, which uses scheduled homerooms, progress monitoring, and in-person sessions, and (2) Halifax, which uses weekly check-ins through Teams, in-person or video clip submission, along with progress benchmarks. These practices foster accountability, improve attendance, and enhance student connection, leading to better academic performance in online learning environments.

Beginn

10:00 AM

Ende

10:50 AM

Sprecher

Ashley Poorman

Becki Enders

Nicole Nokovich

10:00am: Leadership-Leading with Visibility: The VISIBLE Framework™ for Empowered Online Learning Leadership

In the evolving world of online education, leaders often operate behind the scenes, managing platforms, policies, and pedagogy, while their impact remains largely invisible. This session introduces the VISIBLE Framework™ (Voice, Identity, Spotlight, Inner Work, Belief, Leverage, and Elevation), a practical model designed to help online learning leaders, from tech directors to teacher leaders, step into visible, values-aligned leadership. Participants will explore how to elevate their voice in institutional decisions, spotlight their team’s impact, and leverage their role to lead with clarity, confidence, and connection, whether working in a large cyber charter or building digital pathways in a small rural district.

Beginn

10:00 AM

Ende

10:50 AM

Sprecher

Sheena Yap Chan

11:00am Keynote

Beginn

11:00 AM

Ende

11:50 AM

Sprecher

Jill Siler

Cindi Brown

12:00pm Lunch and Exhibitor Time

Beginn

12:00 PM

Ende

12:50 PM

1:00pm: Classroom-Gamification and Interactive Tools in Online Learning

This session explores how gamification and interactive tools can transform online learning by boosting engagement, motivation, and collaboration. Participants will discover practical strategies and tools for making virtual classrooms more dynamic and effective.

Beginn

1:00 PM

Ende

1:50 PM

Sprecher

Stephenie Schroth

Cindi Brown

1:00pm: Classroom-Guiding Student AI Use in the Online Classroom: From Punitive to Formative

As AI tools have become increasingly integrated into students’ academic lives, institutional focus has shifted from detection and correction to intentional pedagogy. Students now routinely incorporate AI into their work, often without conscious consideration of its implications. As a result, educators have reframed goals around fostering appropriate and ethical AI use. This session examines instructional strategies implemented across multiple disciplines to cultivate thoughtful, productive, and ethically grounded student practices with AI tools in academic contexts.

Beginn

1:00 PM

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1:50 PM

Sprecher

Tom Robinson

1:00pm: Leadership-AI Acceptable Use Policy: Building Guidance That Empowers Not Just Protects

Most AI policies either copy other districts or restrict out of fear. This session demonstrates how to synthesize best practices from international, national, and state AI frameworks using tools like NotebookLM, then apply the CURVE Framework to build context-specific policy that empowers educators and students rather than simply limiting risk. You'll leave with a replicable process for creating AI acceptable use guidance that actually advances learning.

Beginn

1:00 PM

Ende

1:50 PM

1:00pm: Leadership-Community-Driven Online Learning

This session highlights how one district’s online program weaves community partnerships into every aspect of online and hybrid learning. Participants will explore positive behavior initiatives that build belonging, locally connected courses, philanthropic collaborations that expand opportunities, hands-on STEM projects inspired by regional partners, and field trips that turn the community into an extension of the classroom. Discover how these experiences help ensure students feel rooted, supported, and empowered—proving that even in a virtual setting, learning thrives when it is connected to the people, places, and possibilities of the community.

Beginn

1:00 PM

Ende

1:50 PM

Sprecher

Anita Young

1:00pm: Leadership-Supporting Special Populations Students in a Virtual Learning Program

This session explores effective strategies for supporting special population students from enrollment through course completion. Participants will gain practical approaches to help learners prepare for success and adapt throughout their online educational experience.

Beginn

1:00 PM

Ende

1:50 PM

Sprecher

Lori Keener

2:00pm Classroom-Classroom Panel

This teacher panel features online educators from a range of disciplines who will share classroom experiences and instructional strategies specific to online teaching. Panelists will discuss engagement, assessment, and instructional practices that support meaningful learning and student success in online learning environments.

Beginn

2:00 PM

Ende

2:50 PM

Sprecher

Emily Gowin

Kelly Weaver

Lindsay McCracken

Olivia Grugan

BLaST IU 17 Tech Support

2:00pm Exibitor Time

Beginn

2:00 PM

Ende

2:50 PM

Sprecher

Dan Feldhaus

2:00pm Leadership-Leadership Panel

This leadership panel brings together experienced leaders from online education programs to share insights from diverse roles and settings. Panelists will discuss challenges, successes, and practical strategies for leading effective online programs, with a focus on decision-making, collaboration, and sustainable growth in virtual and hybrid environments.

Beginn

2:00 PM

Ende

2:50 PM

Sprecher

Anita Young

Dan Feldhaus

Holly Brzycki

Jeanne McCarthy

Lauren McMinn

Michele Beck

3:00pm Prizes and Closing

Beginn

3:00 PM

Ende

3:30 PM

Sprecher

Dan Feldhaus

Cindi Brown

BLaST IU 17 Tech Support

Olivia Grugan

Sprecher

Andere

Anita Young

Online Learning Director @ Huntingdon Area School District: BILD

Mrs. Anita Young is the Online Learning Director at Huntingdon Area School District. She supervises the BILD program to ensure HASD has a quality online learning option for K-12 students in the district. She provides the BILD staff quality professional learning opportunities specifically in online instruction. Mrs. Young also works with students to ensure they are successful with their online learning experiences and provides them the support they may need as well with tech support and planning for success. Along with BILD teachers, she progress monitors student success and attendance. Her office is located in the Central Office building; however, she spends her time at Huntingdon Area High School and Southside Elementary in the BILD classrooms as well.

Ashley Poorman

Distance Learning Coordinator @ Camp Hill School District

Becki Enders

Distance Learning Coordinator @ Halifax Area School District

BLaST IU 17 Tech Support

BLaST IU 17

Cindi Brown

ASL Interpreter @

Dan Feldhaus

Online Learning Coordinator @ BLaST IU 17 Pennsylvania

Dana Ricci

Student Support Liaison & Instructional Designer @ Chester County Intermediate Unit/Philadelphia Virtual Academy

Danielle Cox

Teacher @ Accelerate Education

Dr. Tom Butler

Executive Director @ Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8

Emily Gowin

ASL Teacher @ WOL Appalachia Intermediate IU08

Hannah Haug

Professional Learning Coordinator @ Bucks IU

I am the Professional Learning Coordinator at Bucks County Intermediate Unit, where I manage our Event Hub registration platform, support Canvas administration, and oversee professional learning systems and compliance reporting. In this role, I help streamline the management of high volumes of events and registrations while improving the experience for both organizers and participants. In my symposium session, I will share how Bucks IU uses our event registration platform alongside Canvas integrations to support online and asynchronous learning with less administrative work. I will also highlight how our Act 48 integrations and automation have simplified reporting, improved efficiency, and made professional learning more scalable.

Holly Brzycki

Supervisor of Online Learning @ CAIU 15

Jeanne McCarthy

Division Director Brandywine Virtual Academy @ Chester County Intermediate Unit

Dr. Jeanne McCarthy was appointed Director of Brandywine Virtual Academy in February 2024 and leads online learning programs with partner schools and districts throughout Pennsylvania. With nearly two decades of diverse experience spanning public, private, charter, and virtual education realms, Dr. McCarthy is recognized as a leader in PK-12 virtual learning, instructional leadership, technology, and curriculum development. Before her current appointment, Dr. McCarthy served in pivotal roles such as Director of Learning Technologies and Associate Vice President of Instruction and Staff Development at Commonwealth Charter Academy. There, she spearheaded initiatives in curriculum and educational technology development, teacher induction, and professional learning, fostering innovative solutions and communities of practice for both virtual teachers and learners.

Jeff Rhodes

IU08 - World of Learning Institute

Jill Siler

Dr. Jill Siler served as the Superintendent of Gunter ISD for nearly ten years and now serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). Jill grew up in Rochester & Buffalo, NY and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh where she was a collegiate swimmer. She was a teacher and coach in Pflugerville ISD and began her administrative career in Marble Falls ISD. In 2004, Jill went to Lake Travis ISD where she served as a campus and district leader for 8 years. During that time, she completed her doctorate at the University of Texas. In her first months as a superintendent, Jill faced a financial crisis along with many other challenges that leadership brings. In 2015, her school board was named a TASA Honor Board as one of the top 5 school boards in the state and one of her campuses was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School. Jill served as the Chair of the Future-Ready Superintendent Leadership Network (FRSLN) Design Team where innovative leaders across Texas gather to learn, share and grow together. Jill has a passion for helping others reach their goals and is the leader of Texas’ Aspiring Superintendent Academy and leads Texas’ First Time Superintendents Academy. Jill speaks at leadership and teacher conferences across the country. Her first book, Thrive Through the Five was published in 2020 and talks about how to thrive in the most challenging times.

Kelly Weaver

English Teacher @ CCIU - Brandywine Virtual Academy

Laura Abel

BLaST IU17 @ BLaST IU17

Lauren McMinn

Supervisor @ World of Learning, IU8

Lauren McMinn is a Supervisor at the World of Learning Institute. She works closely with districts, students, and teachers to create a learning environment where everyone can thrive. Lauren is passionate about building strong partnerships to support meaningful and engaging learning experiences.

Leah Dreibelbis

IU8- Virtual Learning Facilitator @ Intermediate Unit #8

Leah is the 7-12 English Language Arts teacher at Extended Campus. She centers communication in all that she does and engages families as well as students with her upbeat but relentless approach! (placeholder)

Lindsay McCracken

Elementary BILD Teacher @ Huntingdon Area School District

Lindsay McCracken is the Elementary BILD teacher for the Huntingdon Area School District. She has been teaching with BILD, HASD’s online learning program, for three years.

Lisa Compher

Brandywine Virtual Academy - CCIU-24 @ Brandywine Virtual Academy - CCIU-24

Lori Keener

Supervisor of Special Populations and Student Services @ Allegheny Intermediate Unit - Waterfront Learning

Matt Karabinos

Emerging Technology and Project Specialist @ IU8

In my new role with the IU8, my goal is to help as many people as I can learn about AI in a human-centered way. I strive to showcase how AI can help enhance learning rather than replace it. I focus on practical uses and always share hands-on demos and time with tools when they are appropriate for my session. AI is becoming ubiquitous in society, and I believe it is time to learn about the technology, tools, and ethics around it. I bring previous experience as a middle school math/science teacher with me, as well as my experience in presenting in various online and in-person trainings, workshops, and sessions around the world. My goal is to empower educators and leaders so they can grow and learn to share knowledge with our future, the students.

Michele Beck

Spartan Academy Coordinator @ East Lycoming School District

Nicole Nokovich

Program Assistant @ Capital Area Intermediate Unit, CAOLA

Noura Almasaeid

World of Learning Institute @ WOL

My name is Noura Almasaeid, and I am an Arabic Virtual Learning Facilitator at the World of Learning Institute (WOL), where I teach Arabic 1 and 2 to high school students. Additionally, I teach part-time with other online schools. I hold a Master’s degree in World Language Education (MAT) from the University of Georgia and a K-12 Arabic teacher certification in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. I have more than nine years of teaching experience.

Olivia Grugan

Supervisor of the World of Learning Institute @ Appalachia Intermediate Unit

Hello! I am a supervisor at the World of Learning Institute where I love working with my teacher colleagues to design and deliver engaging synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences. I believe curiosity is at the heart of all learning and that our most important job as educators is to protect children's natural desire to pursue answers to their many questions.

Pam Dinan

Sabrina Lindsay

Director Bureau of School Support @ PDE

Sheena Yap Chan

The Tao of Self-Confidence @ n/a

Stephenie Schroth

Virtual Learning Facilitator @ IU08 - World of Learning Institute

Dr. Stephenie Schroth is an Altoona native and a three-time alum from The Pennsylvania State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Kindergarten Education, a Master of Education in Instructional Systems and Educational Technology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Learning, Design, and Technology. Dr. Schroth also earned a certification as an Instructional Technology Specialist. With over 20 years of experience in the field of education, she has taught as an elementary teacher, gifted education teacher, junior and senior high school teacher, reading specialist, and special education teacher at cyber charter, private, and public schools. Dr. Schroth is currently a virtual learning facilitator where she teaches upper elementary students. She is also adjunct faculty where she teaches education and technology courses. Dr. Schroth also conducts professional development training in workforce education. With over 15 years of experience in the field of learning design, she has worked as a graphic designer, instructional designer, learning designer, and multimedia specialist for colleges and universities, cyber charter schools, and private corporations. Dr. Schroth is currently an independent contractor where she designs and develops creative and effective professional development and training materials for clients from all over the world.

Tom Robinson

Accelerate Education

Xiaowei (Vivi) Tang

Zachary Marcic

Virtual Learning Facilitator - HS Social Studies @ IU08 - World of Learning Institute

Zachary Marcic is a third-year teacher at the World of Learning. He teaches 7-12th grade social studies courses for Extended Campus. Zach currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his fiancée and two cats.

2026 Online Learning Symposium

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Exhibitors

2026 Online Learning Symposium

Countdown

About

Schedule for the Day

Ticket Offerings

Contact Us

Agenda with filters

Agenda

Sprecher

App herunterladen

Event Sponsors

Exhibitors