SIDLIT 2026

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) avatars—digital representations of human instructors driven by synthesized speech, natural language processing, and advanced kinematic video generation—represent a structural shift in how asynchronous educational content is designed, delivered, and consumed. This session will provide introductory material for the design, implementation and sources for generating these technologies in higher ed.

Canvas is packed with powerful features that can save instructors time, improve course quality, and enhance the student experience, yet many of these tools remain underutilized. In this session, participants will explore practical Canvas tips and hidden gems, including targeted messaging in the Gradebook, content recovery tools, accessibility features, page design enhancements, and AI-supported workflows. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to streamline course management, create more accessible and engaging content, and make better use of Canvas’s built-in capabilities.
Participants are recommended to attend with a laptop and try these tips during the presentation. 

SIGs are a networking opportunity to allow professionals to collaborate on relevant topics. These are held over the lunch hour. Hosts prepare questions and facilitate a discussion on the topic of their choice.

SIGs are a networking opportunity to allow professionals to collaborate on relevant topics. These are held over the lunch hour. Hosts prepare questions and facilitate a discussion on the topic of their choice.

High engagement doesn’t come from expensive tools; it comes from intentional design. In this session, we’ll share how our nonprofit team builds highly engaging Canvas professional development for adult learners ages 14–70+ by thoughtfully selecting and layering the right tools for the right purpose. 
You’ll see real examples of how we use Canvas with interactive slides, flip cards, embedded activities, and structured discussions; alongside aligned objectives, reflection, and knowledge checks; to create meaningful learning experiences. More importantly, we’ll unpack the “why” behind each choice: how we match tools to learning goals, cognitive load, application, and desired levels of interaction. 
Leave with practical engagement strategies and tools that are purposeful, scalable, and budget-conscious; no premium integrations required. 

During our inaugural year in partnership with the Center on Rural Innovation’s Artificial Intelligence Consortium (CORI-AI Consortium), Emporia State University (ESU) engaged in a collaborative, community-centered initiative to advance AI literacy and institutional capacity within a rural context. As part of the “Higher Ed AI Consortiums in Rural America” project, supported by Microsoft and LinkedIn, ESU partnered with Emporia Main Street and the Emporia Public Library to design and implement a scalable and sustainable framework for AI education delivery. What transpired from this partnership was the development of a flexible “template app” that supports the delivery of repeatable workshops across diverse audiences. Grounded in a train-the-trainer framework and a growing community of practice, the model enables facilitators to maintain consistency while adapting content to local needs. The resulting model offers implications for broader adoption, contributing to workforce readiness and regional economic development in increasingly AI-integrated landscapes. This presentation shares both the process and the outcomes of this first year, highlighting lessons learned at the intersection of community engagement and the push for equitable AI understanding, usage, and exploration.