Johns Hopkins is pleased to host the Excellence in Online Teaching Symposium.The Excellence in Online Teaching Symposium brings faculty and instructional staff together to share best practices in designing and facilitating online courses and programs. This is an online event in which members of the Johns Hopkins community hope to learn from and engage with colleagues from institutions across the globe.
December 19, 2025 | 12pm – 4pm ET | Online
Keynote Speaker
David Rettinger, Ph.D.
David Rettinger, Ph.D., teaches Psychology at the University of Tulsa. He holds a Ph.D. and MA in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an AB from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
David has authored two books with Tricia Bertram Gallant: “The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI” (2025) and “Cheating Academic Integrity: Lessons from 30 Years of Research” (2022). His research has been published in psychology and education journals, and he has presented at international conferences. His work has been featured in media outlets like the CBS Morning Show, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
David has delivered keynote addresses and workshops in countries like Nepal, Montenegro, and Mexico. He served as President of the International Center for Academic Integrity. David lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife and daughter, enjoying the outdoors, travel, and watching Michigan football.
Symposium Schedule & Sessions
Date: December 19, 2025, 12pm – 4pm ET
Schedule
12:00pm – 12:55pm | Keynote
Opening remarks and keynote
David Rettinger, Ph.D.
Session Recording
1:00pm – 1:45pm | Breakout Session #1
Track A
Beyond Buzzwords: Practical Gamification for Online Education with AI Integration
Gabriel Alvaro (PMP), Project Manager; Afsaneh I Farhadi (EdD), Instructional Designer; Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence
This session presents a systematic five-phase methodology for integrating gamification into online courses, developed through implementation with 38 international city teams in the What Works Cities program. Participants will examine real learning games that achieved 100% participation rates and demonstrated measurable learning outcomes. The session will demonstrate how AI tools can facilitate game development without requiring extensive coding expertise. Attendees will receive templates, decision frameworks, and implementation resources, providing immediately actionable strategies for enhancing student engagement through evidence-based gamification practices.
Track B
Fostering a Community of Inquiry around AI in Teaching and Learning: A SAIS Case Study
Jennifer Stawasz (MA, MS), Instructional Designer; Tammy McClain-Smith (Ed.D), Executive Director, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
This session shares how the Educational Design and Technology team at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) created an online community of inquiry around artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. The asynchronous professional development course, Harnessing Generative AI: Opportunities and Challenges for Educators, engaged faculty and staff in exploring ethical, practical, and pedagogical applications of AI. Through four structured discussions, participants built a vibrant learning community—sharing strategies, concerns, and innovations. This presentation will highlight course design decisions, engagement strategies, and outcomes. Attendees will be invited to sign up for the next course offering in Spring 2026.
Track C
Building Engaging Online Language Learning Experiences: Practical Insights from Two Case Studies
Sonja Wandelt (PhD), Senior Lecturer, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Omayyah Al-Shabab (PhD), Instructional Designer, Sorbonne University
This session presents two asynchronous online English language courses developed at Sorbonne University to address massive enrollment demands. One course integrates poetry with language learning, while the other focuses on Medical English for healthcare and premed students. Both use content-integrated language learning principles to embed linguistic development within meaningful academic content. We will share practical strategies for designing scalable, engaging online courses that emphasize human connection and dynamic interaction through online activities and interactive tools such as H5P. Special attention will be given to feedback mechanisms that replicate live classroom dialogue and foster meaningful learner engagement.
2:00pm – 2:45pm Breakout Session #2
Track A
Beyond the Lecture: Using Online Tools for Applied Teaching
Rosemary Morgan (PhD, MSc), Visiting Associate Professor; Dr. Anna Kalbarczyk (DrPH), Associate Research Professor, Bloomberg School of Public Health
This session explores how online tools can enhance applied and experiential teaching, drawing on lessons from the Gender and Health Summer Institute at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. We will share strategies for engaging participants for applied learning in virtual environments, including the use of collaborative platforms and AI-supported tools. The session will address challenges related to fostering participation across diverse, multilingual audiences. Participants will gain evidence-based insights and practical approaches to designing inclusive, effective online learning experiences for professional education.
Track B
Inclusive Teaching – The Ripple Effect of Math Accessibility Updates in O365
Sara Shunkwiler (MS Eng, MEd), Instructional Designer, Whiting School of Engineering; Peter Wu (MS) Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft; Katherine Springer (MS, CPACC) Instructional Designer, Whiting School of Engineering
Math accessibility is an essential part of ‘who gets to be’ in STEM. However, with limited resources and understanding of the issues around complex STEM, accessibility efforts often focus on text and document structure over equations. Our team at Whiting School of Engineering partnered directly with Microsoft software developers to close the gap on efficient, accessible, and accurate math content creation. Join us as Microsoft developer Peter Wu shares new accessibility updates in Office 365, and together we explore the ripple effect of equitable access in STEM.
3:00pm – 3:45pm Breakout Session #3
Track A
Round Robin Presentations
This session will include three consecutive presentations on resources to support online teaching professional development programs. The presenter will describe each resource, how it can be incorporated into workshops, and design elements to support online facilitation.
JHU Customizable Teaching Modules
Kelly Clark (MS Ed), JHU Teaching Academy Director, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; Donna Schnupp (MA Ed), Assistant Director, Carey School of Business
Active-Learning Card Set: A physical and digital resource for integrating active learning strategies into online, hybrid, and in-person classrooms.
Caroline Egan (PhD), Program Manager, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; Beth Hals (MEd), Senior Instructional Technologist, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
JHU Online Learning MOOC Resources
Kim Barss (MS), Instructional Designer, Whiting School of Engineering
Track B
Principles for Teaching and Learning in a Strange New World: AI@JHU
James Diamond (PhD), Assistant Professor, School of Education; Olysha Magruder (EdD)
Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning, Whiting School of Engineering; Mathew Pavesich (PhD), Teaching Professor and Director, University Writing Program; Janet Schreck (PhD),
Senior Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Provost’s Office
The Johns Hopkins University AI Teaching & Learning Governance Subcommittee was established to focus on several strategic priorities that support the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning. One of its core responsibilities is to develop comprehensive policies and best-practice guidelines that help faculty and students use AI responsibly and effectively, while also addressing potential risks through appropriate program-level safeguards.
To support this work, the committee has drafted a set of guiding principles that will shape the development of these guidelines. During this panel session, you will learn more about these principles and have the opportunity to offer feedback through an interactive discussion.
Johns Hopkins is committed to promoting the full participation of all individuals with disabilities in the Excellence in Online Teaching Symposium. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Haley Knapp at [email protected]. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to the planning committee.
- Kim Barss – Instructional Designer, Center for Teaching and Learning Design
- Caroline Egan – Program Manager, Johns Hopkins Teaching Academy
- Haley Knapp – Event and Engagement Coordinator, Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation
- Olysha Magruder – Director, Center for Teaching and Learning Design
- Mike Reese – Associate Dean, Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation
- Denille Williams – Faculty Development Manager, Center for Teaching and Learning Design
Thanks to the Center for Media & Technology Services (WSE) for providing the technical support and presenter preparation for the Excellence in Online Teaching Symposium!
Last updated 1/22/26