Digital Learning's Insights from the UPCEA 2025 Conference in Denver

April 04, 2025 / Digital Learning / Tags: Conference, UPCEA, Digital Learning

Attending the UPCEA 2025 Conference in Denver was an enriching experience that provided valuable insights into the future of higher education. As members of UPCEA through FGCU, two instructional designers from our team, Kinti Conroy and Lacey Hiatte, had the opportunity to attend and gain valuable insights that we are excited to share with you.

What is UPCEA?

UPCEA is the association for online and professional education, focusing on driving innovation and research. They provide professional development to help maximize success in leadership, online learning, research and consulting, marketing and enrollment success, alternative credentials, and professional and continuing education.

FGCU is an institutional member of UPCEA, allowing all faculty and staff to join and take advantage of all their membership has to offer. Find more information on their website - https://upcea.edu/membership/

Key Takeaways

Our primary focus was to gather information, ideas, and research surrounding Generative AI and how higher education institutions are approaching this topic.

The Generative AI Imperative: Transforming Teaching and Learning
- The conference emphasized the profound impact of Generative AI on teaching and learning. Personalized learning experiences, continuous support, and ethical considerations in Generative AI were key themes. Preparing students for AI-integrated careers is essential, and the conference provided valuable insights into how educators can navigate this evolving landscape. 75% of global knowledge professionals now utilize Generative AI at work, with nearly half adopting it over the last year (Worktrend Index Report, 2024). 66% of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills (Worktrend Index Report, 2024). Additionally, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change by 2030 with AI as the catalyst (LinkedIN Work Change Report, 2025).
Innovating Faculty Development: Embracing AI and Hands-On Workshops
- One of the standout sessions was on Innovating Faculty Development through simulations and AI hands-on workshops. The workshops were particularly impressive, designed to equip instructors with the foundational knowledge and practical experience needed to integrate AI tools into their teaching.
Integrating and Experimenting with AI in Instructional Design
- Another highlight was the session on Integrating and Experimenting with AI in Instructional Design. This session focused on empowering instructional design teams and crafting learner-centric assessments. AI enables personalized learning experience and promotes AI literacy and collaboration among students.

Attending the UPCEA 2025 Conference was an informative experience that highlighted the critical role of Generative AI in shaping the future of education. We are committed to guiding our colleagues and faculty through this transition one step at a time and ensuring that AI integration benefits all students and faculty equally and ethically. The insights gained from the conference will undoubtedly inform our efforts to enhance Digital Learning's offerings and support our colleagues in navigating the future of education.

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"I think overall this conference really provided insight into how we can address and approach the Generative AI workshop we are working on. Many other universities have done or are doing something similar. It was stressed that we "start somewhere" and assist faculty where we can but also emphasize AI is constantly changing so no one is really an AI expert, but we are here to help navigate these changes from a pedagogical perspective and meet faculty with where they are in their journey with Generative AI. The goal of our workshop will be to help faculty build foundational knowledge on how to prompt AI and consider using it for their courses in an ethical and responsible manner that encourages faculty and student AI literacy and augmentation." - Kinti Conroy

"Attending the UPCEA 2025 Conference was an eye-opening experience that highlighted the critical role of Generative AI in shaping the future of education. The sessions on faculty development and instructional design provided invaluable insights into how AI can enhance personalized learning and support innovative teaching practices. I'm excited to apply these learnings to help our colleagues navigate the evolving landscape of AI in education." - Lacey Hiatte