Instructional Technology Council

Distance education leaders: The baseline expectations for the digital campus have officially been raised.

We are seeing a massive shift from experimentation to ex*****on. If you are leading or designing online programs, here are the 3 macro-trends that belong on your radar right now:

1️⃣ Workflow-First AI: Moving past the hype and toward purposeful deployment that streamlines design workflows, automates admin tasks, and gives faculty more time for genuine student connection.

2️⃣ Strategic Hybrid Environments: Blended learning isn't a fallback plan—it's the default. Institutions are mindfully designing fluid, flexible spaces from the ground up.

3️⃣ Skills-First & Career Alignment: Embedding stackable micro-credentials and applied learning frameworks directly into academic pathways to meet the high demand for immediate workforce readiness.

We’re focused on empowering the leaders navigating these exact transitions.

Which of these areas is taking up the most real estate on your strategic plan this year? Share with us!

Remembering and honoring the heroes who gave everything. Forever grateful for their sacrifice. Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

Today is National Road Trip day! Why not take today and plan your next adventure with ITC? Join us in Eugene, OR this summer for the Distance Education Leaderhip Academy. You will not be disappointed.

https://www.itcnetwork.org/2026-distance-education-leadership-academy

In distance education, digital accessibility isn't an "add-on" feature—it is a foundational pillar of student equity.

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day ( ), a critical reminder for higher ed leaders to look closely at the digital environments we build for our learners.

When a course shell, a lecture video, or a syllabus isn't designed with accessibility at its core, we create artificial barriers to learning. Student-centered design means designing for every student from day one.

True digital inclusion in higher ed requires focusing on:
Proactive Design: Building content that natively supports screen readers and keyboard navigation, rather than scrambling for retrofits.
Accessible Media: Ensuring accurate captions and transcripts are standard practice, benefiting all learners.
Faculty Support: Giving instructors the clear, actionable tools they need to easily create accessible materials.

Let’s move past temporary fixes and commit to sustainable, campus-wide accessibility.

What initiatives is your institution driving this year to improve digital accessibility? Let's share ideas below. 👇

**Happy National Streaming Day! 🎧✨**
Looking for your next professional development binge? Skip the TV series today and stream something that elevates your digital learning strategy.

Our Distance Educated podcast is packed with insights, trends, and conversations with leaders dedicated to student-centered design, accessibility, and the future of higher education.

Stream all episodes here: https://www.itcnetwork.org/itc-podcasts

What is your favorite episode so far? Let us know in the comments!

AI is reshaping education, but the "human in the loop" matters more than ever.
Join ITC and Zach Kinzler of BoodleBox for a session focused on clarity, ethics, and evidence-based AI for online educators.

📅 Register here: https://sunyorange.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WSudhlpSTlChqwU_j-qjeQ

Looking to scale your institution’s digital learning? We’ve partnered with Axio Education to bring an exclusive deal to the Instructional Technology Council (ITC) community.
The ITC Member Perk: 💰 Preferred Pricing * 📚 Quick Start Guide * 🎓 Start with 3 Courses

Axio. Built for AI-Driven Learning. Designed for Educators. [email protected]
https://axio.ai/

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Virtual AI Summit! 🚀

Huge thanks to everyone who attended and shared their insights on the impact of AI on teaching and learning. Thank you to OCCDLA and our sponsors for their incredible insights and support!

We’re already planning how to make the next ITC event even better.

As one attendee noted, we're "Looking forward to digging deeper into specific AI tools, features, and how to use them in the classroom."

Are you joining us today? We want to keep the conversations going! Provide your feedback and insights and dont forget to tag us in your posts. See you soon! 👀