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Below you will find a curated list of online teaching and learning articles, reports, research, white papers, podcasts, webinars, conferences, ed tech news/resources, and AI news/resources by the Academic Services and Products team at Risepoint. This list of resources is updated monthly.
EDUCAUSE Annual Conference
Date: October 27 – 30, 2025 (on-site); November 12 – 13, 2025 (online)
Location: Nashville, TN
The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference provides insights into AI-enhanced curriculum design, digital student experience, and institutional innovation. Sessions will address both in-person and online teaching challenges, focusing on practical strategies for digital transformation.
2025 AASHE Conference & Expo
Date: October 22 – 24, 2025
Location: Minneapolis, MN
This sustainability-focused conference highlights how higher education can integrate environmental and social responsibility into curricula and programs. Sessions will explore virtual education initiatives and peer collaboration through Communities of Practice.
WCET 2025
Date: October 21 – 23, 2025
Location: Denver, CO
The WCET Annual Conference brings together educators and technologists to discuss instructional design, digital equity, and emerging technologies. Attendees will share approaches for improving access, quality, and innovation in digital education.
TechLearn 2025 Conference
Date: October 6 – 8, 2025
Location: New Orleans, LA
Although corporate-focused, this Training Magazine event offers valuable insights for online and accelerated course design. Topics include gamification, simulation-based learning, and XR tools to enhance engagement and performance in digital learning environments.
2025 Leadership in Higher Education Conference
Date: October 2 – 4, 2025
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Organized by MAGNA, this event equips academic leaders with strategies to address budget constraints, technological shifts, and student retention. Sessions emphasize inclusive leadership, institutional resilience, and innovative approaches to student success.
2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education
Date: September 29 – October 1, 2025
Location: Washington, DC
Hosted by UPCEA, this event explores credential innovation in higher education. Sessions will highlight alternative credential models, employer engagement strategies, and digital learning records, offering insights into scaling skills-based education and enhancing learner mobility across flexible formats.
DigiCol 2025
Date: September 28 – October 1, 2025
Location: Online (on-site session full)
Digital Collegium’s annual gathering focuses on digital innovation in higher education. Attendees will explore AI integration, accessibility, UX/UI design, and digital pedagogy, gaining strategies and tools to enhance engagement and streamline course delivery in flexible learning environments.
Thinking with AI: What a viral MIT study reveals about AI and the learning brain | Risepoint
An MIT study released in June 2025 explored the cognitive effects of AI use on students. The findings highlight both risks and opportunities, emphasizing how thoughtful integration of AI can deepen understanding while cautioning against overreliance that may short-circuit essential learning processes.
Free Course Teaches Students AI Skills, Ethics | Inside Higher Ed
The University of Mary Washington has launched a one-credit online course for all students this fall, designed to teach foundational AI skills and ethical considerations. The initiative reflects growing recognition of the need to integrate AI literacy into the core college experience.
More Than a Name: How Assignment Labels Influence Student Learning and Performance | Faculty Focus
Research shows that the way assignments are titled can shape student engagement and learning outcomes, especially in online courses. Purposeful assignment naming, combined with scaffolding, real-world framing, and strong feedback practices, can encourage deeper student participation.
The Urgency for Outreach to Shy College Students | Faculty Focus
Shy first- and second-year students often miss out on critical mentoring, communication skills, and academic guidance. Proactive outreach can help them develop confidence, form connections, and build the academic habits essential to long-term success.
Which Types of Colleges Have the Most Undergraduates With Disabilities? | Chronicle of Higher Education
A Chronicle analysis compares disability enrollment across institutions between 2019–20 and 2023–24. The number of colleges reporting at least 10 percent of undergraduates with disabilities has grown by 50 percent in five years, with significant differences across institution types.
What Does the End of Grad PLUS Loans Mean for Higher Ed? | Higher Ed Dive
Republican lawmakers have voted to phase out the Grad PLUS loan program, in place for 20 years. Experts warn the change may make graduate school inaccessible for many students and could increase reliance on private loans, shifting the financial burden onto borrowers.
90% Of College Students Use AI: Higher Ed Needs AI Fluency Support Now | Forbes
The 2025 AI in Education Trends Report estimates that 90 percent of college students already use AI in their studies, but few receive formal training in how to apply it ethically and effectively. The findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to prioritize AI fluency education rather than focusing solely on preventing misuse.
Major Organizations Commit to Supporting AI Education | The White House
The White House announced a coalition of companies, nonprofits, and education partners pledging to expand access to AI training and fluency. The effort aims to equip students, teachers, and families with free tools and resources to ensure an AI-ready workforce and maintain U.S. leadership in the global AI landscape.
Anthropic launches higher education advisory board and AI Fluency courses | Anthropic
Anthropic has introduced two higher-education initiatives: a Higher Education Advisory Board composed of academic leaders, and three AI Fluency courses co-created with faculty. These resources, released under Creative Commons, aim to support responsible integration of Claude AI into classrooms while promoting academic integrity and critical thinking.
Anthropic Education Report: How educators use Claude | Anthropic
Anthropic’s report details how university educators use Claude for tasks ranging from teaching support to student engagement. Educators show a clear preference for AI as a tool for augmentation rather than automation, reflecting interest in collaboration rather than replacement.
How AI Is Changing—Not ‘Killing’—College | Inside Higher Ed
A recent Student Voice survey finds that most college students use generative AI for coursework, with mixed effects on critical thinking. While students generally do not believe AI diminishes the value of college, they want clearer guidance, ethical training, and institutional policies rather than strict enforcement or punishment.
AI Has Broken High School and College | The Atlantic
The Atlantic argues that AI has so deeply shaped student life that disruption is now part of the norm. While AI has brought convenience and efficiency, the article suggests it has also amplified existing problems in education, making systemic challenges more visible.
Teaching in the Age of AI | Inside Higher Ed
The strategic use of AI tools is helping personalize learning and improve engagement. From interactive chatbots to generative AI in scaffolded assessments, these approaches ensure that AI complements rather than replaces human elements in teaching.
A Misled Generation’s Dilemma: To Code or Not to Code | Ed Tech Digest
While AI can generate code quickly, coding skills remain essential for applying ethics, context, and creativity. The article argues that coding proficiency continues to be a critical skill for professionals guiding AI outputs responsibly in an AI-driven world.
How Universities Can Use Copilot+ PCs to Accelerate Research Projects | Ed Tech Magazine
Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, equipped with AI capabilities and a neural processing unit, enable faculty to run AI locally and offline. This reduces reliance on cloud-based programs, while improving efficiency and expanding research opportunities in higher education.
Universities test AI as debate aid for controversial topics | Ed Scoop
Universities are piloting Sway, an AI tool designed to support classroom debates by pairing students with differing views. The platform promotes respectful, constructive dialogue while cultivating empathy and critical thinking.
New TikTok feature aims to connect students with classmates | Ed Scoop
TikTok has introduced a feature that lets students add their school and graduation year to profiles, creating connections across over 6,000 institutions in partnership with Unidays. While promising for engagement, the tool raises privacy concerns.
Free Tool to Try in Online Courses: Kialo-Edu | Kialo-Edu
Kialo-Edu is a free online debate platform that uses visual argument maps to structure discussions. Compatible with major LMS platforms like Canvas and Blackboard, it helps foster inclusive engagement, structured debates, and stronger essay brainstorming.
Voices of Student Success: AI Chatbot Provides Resources, Early Alerts | The Key with Inside Higher Ed
This episode highlights how Western New England University uses a generative AI chatbot to connect students with academic resources and provide early alerts. The tool helps identify students at risk and supports timely interventions.
Why Accreditation Isn’t the ‘Innovation Killer’ You Think It Is – with Dr. Heather Perfetti | EdUp Experience
Dr. Heather Perfetti of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education challenges the view that accreditation stifles innovation. Instead, she argues that accreditation can provide a framework for quality assurance while fostering institutional creativity.
“Demands for Data on Race and the Future of College Admissions” | dotEDU
ACE hosts examine the implications of new federal requirements for colleges to report admissions and enrollment data by race and sex. The episode highlights questions of legality, privacy, and how transparency may reshape admissions practices.
“Crisis or Reform? Higher Education in Milei’s Argentina with Marcelo Rabossi” | The World of Higher Education
Marcelo Rabossi offers an international perspective on Argentina’s higher education system under President Milei. The conversation explores how political changes are affecting governance, funding, and academic freedom.
No Relaxing Summer for Higher Ed | Future U Podcast
This episode reviews a busy summer in higher education, covering new federal executive orders, AI-related announcements, and policy controversies. The hosts unpack what these developments may signal for the academic year ahead.
Unfixed: How AI is Reshaping Higher Education – Ep. 11: AGI and the Future of Higher Ed: Talking with Ray Schroeder | Unfixed: How AI is Reshaping the University
Ray Schroeder explores the potential impact of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) on higher education. The discussion examines how teaching, learning, and institutional structures could shift as AI agents become more powerful.
CHLOE 10 | Meeting the Moment: Navigating Growth, Competition, and AI in Online Higher Education | Quality Matters: CHLOE
A national survey of chief online officers highlights surging demand and increasing competition for online programs. Many campuses still lag in faculty readiness, continuity planning, and coordinated AI strategy, underscoring the urgent need for cross-campus alignment on quality.
Canaries in the Coalmine: Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence (Working Paper) | Stanford University
Drawing on high-frequency payroll data, researchers document six early labor-market shifts tied to generative AI. Findings include a 13 percent relative employment decline for workers ages 22–25 in the most exposed occupations, with impacts seen in employment rather than pay.
Benchmarking Online Enterprises: Insights into Structures, Strategies, and Financial Models in Higher Education | UPCEA
This study benchmarks the structures, staffing, finances, and KPIs of 121 higher education “online enterprises.” Results show rising budgets and revenues, uneven efficiency, persistent academic decentralization, and varying levels of AI decision-making maturity.
Driving Toward a Degree 2025: Delivering Value and Ensuring Viability | Tyton Partners
Based on input from 3,000+ respondents across 825+ institutions, this report spotlights financial pressures, high advising caseloads, and lagging adoption of generative AI. It urges stronger integration of career readiness throughout the student journey to sustain value and viability.
Navigating the AI Education Landscape | Validated Insights Inc
This market brief estimates the AI education sector at $16.2 billion, with rapid growth fueled by persistent skills shortages. While higher education captures only a small share, edtech providers dominate upskilling enrollments.
Tracking Transfer | National Student Clearinghouse Research Center
The latest national data update tracks two-to-four-year transfer metrics. Among fall 2017 community-college starters, 31.6 percent transferred within six years, and nearly half of those transfer students (49.7 percent) went on to complete a bachelor’s degree.
October 2, 2025: Beyond the Hype: How AI Is (Actually) Changing Higher Ed | EDUCAUSE
Part of EDUCAUSE’s Industry Insights series, this session examines real-world AI use cases across teaching, learning, and administration. Presenters will discuss risks, ethical considerations, and strategies for scaling adoption.
October 8, 2025: Leadership Through Listening: Employee Experience Strategies for a Resilient Campus | Inside Higher Ed
This webcast will explore how institutions can foster resilience by centering faculty and staff voices in leadership decisions, improving engagement, and adopting listening strategies to strengthen campus culture.
October 8, 2025: The Chronicle’s Higher-Education Mental-Health Forum | The Chronicle of Higher Education
This half-day forum provides strategies for responding to rising student, faculty, and staff mental-health challenges. Sessions will focus on cultivating connection, calm, and positivity across campus communities.
October 8, 2025: UPCEA Central Regional Salon: Preparing for 2030 and Beyond | UPCEA
This virtual salon guides participants through forward-looking strategies for online and professional education leaders. It includes expert panels and breakout discussions on adaptability, agency, and preparing institutions for the decade ahead.
October 9, 2025: BOnES 2025 – Data and Insights from the Latest UPCEA Online Enterprise Study | UPCEA
UPCEA will release findings from its 2025 Benchmarking Online Enterprises Survey. The webinar will cover trends in organizational structure, staffing, finances, and the role of generative AI in online education.
October 21, 2025: 2025 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference: Know Before You Go | EDUCAUSE
This webinar previews what attendees need to know before participating in the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference. It covers networking, engagement, and logistics to help participants maximize their conference experience.
October 28, 2025: Donald Trump and Higher Ed: We Answer Your Questions | The Chronicle of Higher Education
Part of a four-part fall webinar series, this session connects Chronicle journalists with institutional leaders to discuss policy changes, governance, and institutional strategy in the current political environment.
October 28, 2025: Mid-Atlantic Regional Salon: Growth in the Climate of Change | UPCEA
This half-day virtual salon invites professionals in online and professional education to explore themes of resilience, shared leadership, and institutional growth amid uncertainty. The format fosters dialogue, insight-sharing, and networking.
Live online course design and delivery webinars hosted by the Academic Services and Products team
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700 North Pearl Street, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75201
855-593-6050