SIDLIT 2026

Adult learners bring rich experiences, varied education levels, competing responsibilities, and different learning preferences into asynchronous online courses. Designing in Canvas requires more than uploading content. It requires intentional structure, multiple modalities, and authentic application. 
 
This session will explore practical adult learning strategies for designing asynchronous Canvas courses that engage diverse learners. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how adult learning principles inform asynchronous course design in Canvas. 

This workshop provides an overview of Extended Reality (XR) and teaches the audience how to create a VR learning environment for educational purposes. The presentation includes two parts: 


Part 1: The Concept of XR (10 mins)
Dr. He will clarify the technical distinctions between XR, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), and these modalities' relationship to the physical world and the typical scenarios to apply these different "R"s. 


Part 2: The Skills of Creating VR (80 mins)
Dr. He will demonstrate and guide the audience through a hands-on process to learn how to create a VR learning environment using a free, web-based platform called FrameVR. A laptop is required for this workshop. The audience will learn how to register a FrameVR account, how to customize their avatars, how to navigate FrameVR, how to create and edit objects, and how to make the objects interactive. The audience will create a VR learning environment during the remaining time. 

Ever feel like your classroom assessments and your course learning objectives are speaking two entirely different languages? It’s a common trap: we plan fascinating weekly lectures and activities, only to realize at midterms that our exams don't quite match what we actually expected students to master.


In this hands-on, 90-minute workshop, participants will use the framework of backwards design to build courses where every assignment, quiz, and lecture serves a distinct purpose. You will learn how to align your course with the spectrum of broad institutional goals and program standards down to measurable, daily course competencies. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy as our compass, we will analyze the cognitive levels of our objectives to ensure our summative assessments actually measure higher-order thinking (applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating) rather than just rote memorization. Providing clear evidence of student learning is essential for instructional improvement and accountability.


This is not a passive lecture. Come with a course in mind to create a concrete learning plan. You will walk away not just with theoretical knowledge, but with an actionable blueprint for a course unit that guarantees alignment and drives student success.

Don’t Miss the SIDLIT 2026 Scavenger Hunt—Only for In‑Person Attendees! 
Want a fun, interactive way to meet new colleagues and experience Emporia beyond the conference sessions? Join our SIDLIT Scavenger Hunt, an exclusive in‑person activity designed to spark connection, curiosity, and a little friendly competition!
Team up with fellow attendees from different institutions, follow clues, and uncover hidden gems along the way. But the real reward? The first three teams who complete the hunt will win dinner in downtown Emporia, giving you the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, build meaningful connections, and enjoy the local food scene together.
This is more than just a game—it’s a chance to network in a relaxed, memorable way and experience the community that’s hosting you.
 Come for the conference. Stay for the adventure. Leave with new connections.