Agenda and workshops

Agenda

9:00 – 09:30
Check-in
09:30 – 09:45
Welcome Remarks

RMIT Representative

09:45 – 10:45
Keynote: A purposeful approach to the integration of GenAI into education

Associate Professor Amanda White OAM, Deputy Associate Dean Education (Learner Experience)​, University of Technology Sydney

11:00 – 12:00
Parallel session #1
  • Introduction to Universal Design for Learning: Karen Benson, Senior Manager, Learning & Teaching and Thi Nguyen, Learning & Teaching Coordinator, Academic Experience & Success 

  • Scholarship of Learning & Teaching: Dr Ebony Coletu, Senior Lecturer, Learning & Teaching, Academic Experience & Success

  • Learning Futures: Nick McIntosh, Learning Futurist, Academic Experience & Success

  • Learning Design: Sasha Stubbs, Manager, Learning Design, Academic Experience & Success

12:00 – 13:00
Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:00
Panel discussion
  • Facilitator: Dr Justin Battin, Associate Program Manager, Digital & Contextual Media, SCD, RMIT Vietnam
  • Associate Professor Donna Cleveland, Dean of School of Communication & Design, RMIT Vietnam

  • Associate Professor Amanda White OAM, Deputy Associate Dean Education (Learner Experience)​, University of Technology Sydney

14:00 – 15:00
Parallel session #2
  • SCD: Dr Justin Battin, Associate Program Manager, Digital & Contextual Media and Dr Soumik Parida, Associate Program Manager, Advertising, SCD, RMIT Vietnam

  • SSET: Dr Linh Tran and Dr Thanh Pham, Lecturer, School of Science, Engineering & Technology

  • TBS: Dr Tuan Chu, Associate Program Manager, The Business School

  • Learning Design: Sasha Stubbs, Manager, Learning Design, Academic Experience & Success

15:00 – 15:30
Unconference Time
  • AI in Education
  • Learning Design
  • Accessibility
  • Academic Development

 

15:30 – 16:00
Networking reception

Workshops details

 

Introduction to Universal Design for Learning

  • Karen Benson, Senior Manager, Learning & Teaching
  • Thi Nguyen, Learning & Teaching Coordinator, Academic Experience & Success

Traditional higher education has long followed a lecture-based, one-size-fits-all approach, offering limited interaction and uniform learning experiences. However, today's increasingly diverse student population demands more inclusive, learner-centered practices to foster higher-order thinking skills. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, developed by Rose and Meyer (2002), supports this shift by promoting flexible, accessible, and equitable learning environments. UDL emphasizes understanding learners' needs, preferences, and barriers to engagement. This interactive workshop introduces UDL's core principles and practical strategies for enhancing engagement, representation, and expression - empowering educators to design responsive instruction that supports diverse learners effectively.

Scholarship of Learning and Teaching

  • Dr Ebony Coletu, Senior Lecturer, Learning & Teaching, Academic Experience & Success

Learning Futures

  • Nick McIntosh, Learning Futurist, Academic Experience & Success

Welcome to the wild frontier of 2025's AI landscape! This immersive workshop takes you beyond ChatGPT to explore the full spectrum of emerging technologies reshaping education. From reasoning models and deepfake detection to VR integration and AI agents, participants will rotate through hands-on stations experiencing cutting-edge tools, confronting new challenges, and discovering unexpected opportunities. We'll tackle the big questions: How do we prepare students for a world of digital humans and instant video generation? What does assessment look like when AI can use computers? Join us for a fast-paced exploration of learning futures that are arriving faster than we expected.

Learning Design

  • Sasha Stubbs, Manager, Learning Design, Academic Experience & Success

Join our award-winning Learning Design team as we share our approaches to creating effective, meaningful and inclusive learning experiences. In this dynamic workshop, we'll explore principles like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and contextualisation, and how we apply them to ensure all learners benefit. We'll examine how thoughtful course design sets the foundation for inclusion, while skilled facilitation brings it to life. Come elevate your learning design and facilitation skills.

SCD

  • Dr Justin Battin, Associate Program Manager, Digital & Contextual Media
  • Dr Soumik Parida, Associate Program Manager, Advertising, SCD, RMIT Vietnam

This workshop explores the integration of sustainability-focused assessment briefs in SCD classrooms, informed by industry partners, to facilitate authentic learning. Emphasizing the development of industry-ready students, these briefs embed sustainability challenges reflective of current professional practices in Vietnam. Complementing the briefs, a robust Canvas shell supports scaffolded learning pathways, fostering skill development through structured activities and collaborative, community-driven engagement. Participants will learn strategies to co-create meaningful assessments that align academic outcomes with industry needs, promoting critical thinking and sustainable solutions. This approach enhances student preparedness and deepens connections between academia and industry for a sustainable future.

SSET

  • Dr Linh Tran, Lecturer, School of Science, Engineering & Technology
  • Dr Thanh Pham, Lecturer, School of Science, Engineering & Technology

This interactive workshop explores practical, hands-on approaches to applying AI in higher education, empowering educational leaders, lecturers, and researchers to integrate AI effectively within their institutions. Participants will examine principles of ethical and responsible AI use, practise effective prompt engineering techniques, and explore AI tools for interactive teaching, educational management, and administration. The program also introduces advanced features such as AI-assisted deep research, agentic AI, and AI-driven automation to support classroom management and streamline institutional processes.

TBS​

  • Dr Tuan Chu, Associate Program Manager, The Business School

This session explores the transformation of BUSM2585 – Business Graduate Folio, a final-year capstone course in the Bachelor of Business, into an industry-integrated, work-ready experience. Highlighting the integration of a semester-long collaboration with an industry partner-including micro-internships, real-time business challenges, and career readiness workshops-this case demonstrates how authentic learning design can foster student confidence, adaptability, and career clarity. Participants will gain actionable insights on embedding real-world relevance into capstone learning, aligning graduate capabilities with employer expectations, and scaling industry engagement in resource-constrained contexts.

Weaving Accessibility & Learning Design to Bridge the Digital Divide for Equitable Learning

  • Melanie Casul, Advisor, Equitable Learning & Accessibility
  • Linh Nguyen, Learning Designer, AE&S

This one-hour workshop explores the intersection of accessibility and learning design to improve outcomes for all students. Through a case study of "Linh", a blind student at RMIT Vietnam, participants will learn how a co-designed equitable learning plan bridged the digital divide using both human-centered and digital support. The session offers practical strategies for creating accessible content, fostering collaboration between educators and designers, and building inclusive institutional ecosystems. Attendees will engage in hands-on activities, including creating accessible PowerPoints, and gain insights into accessibility analytics. The workshop provides a framework for integrating accessibility into tertiary education at individual, team, and systemic levels.

Join our guided unconference discussions to explore key topics shaping the future of learning and teaching. Facilitated by experts, these sessions offer an open, collaborative space to exchange ideas, share experiences, and spark new thinking around AI in assessment, blended learning strategies, equitable learning, and career readiness. Whether you're looking to deep dive into a topic or hear diverse perspectives, the unconference format ensures your voice is part of the conversation. Choose the themes that matter most to your work and walk away with practical insights and connections to support your initiatives.