We are excited to host this event all week this Fall. Please see the rough schedule below with sessions. The most current information will be available on Zoom Events.
2025 Professional Development Week & Conference Event Schedule
Full-schedule will be available September 25, 2025.
Most sessions will be hosted on Zoom Events and require registration for access. Internal and external sessions will be identified in the Zoom event space and listed below. Registering grants access to the Zoom Events platform and all programming available for the entire week.
Note: Monday-Tuesday is all internal to Montgomery County Community College. Wednesday-Friday
are internal and external programming.
On Wednesday at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT kicks off the external event programming with
our Keynote. All sessions will be held in EDT.
Monday, September 29, 2025
| Time | Event |
| 10:00-11:30 a.m. |
Open House with Career Services & Student Life
Stop into the new location for our Career Services and Student Life on Campus, located on the main floor of Parkhouse across from the new bookstore. Connect with your colleagues over light refreshments and find out about the services offered and how you can partner with these areas. |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Data Literacy: Understanding Correlation in Data Reports
Join the Business Intelligence team to improve your data literacy. This session will cover the importance of understanding the difference between correlation and causation, emphasizing that when reading data reports, it's critical to understand that other factors could impact variables, and they may not be included in the report. |
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
Understanding Our New Policy on Pregnancy Accommodations & Lactation
Human Resources reviews the College's newest policies, Lactation Policy (6.20) and the Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers Policy (6.21). Join this session to understand how these policies apply to MCCC employees. This session is open to all and is recommended for supervisors. |
| 2:00 - 3:15 p.m |
Title IX Informational Session
Learn about the institutional process and legal obligations if someone discloses sexual violence and identify resources to assist survivors. |
| 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
MCCC Wellness Services for Students
This session will provide an overview of the services available to MCCC students through the Wellness Centers at the Blue Bell, Pottstown, and Online Campuses. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the resources, services, and programs available to students, as well as how to make referrals and connect students directly with Wellness staff (repeat of session hosted on Opening Day). |
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
| Time | Event |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Investments & Wealth Savings
Investments and wealth saving for the future can be confusing. This course explores the types of investment vehicles available and how to choose what’s right for you? Participants learn the basics to navigate their options when it’s time to invest. |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. |
Disability Services Presentation
This session is designed to enhance faculty awareness and understanding of disability inclusion in higher education. It provides an overview of the registration process for students, legal responsibilities for the college, universal design principles, and practical strategies for creating accessible learning environments. Faculty will explore ways to support and collaborate effectively with Disability Services. The goal is to empower educators to build equitable, respectful, and supportive learning experiences for all students. |
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
Leading Others in Mission Driven Work
Join us for an internal discussion around mission-driven work and how we connect ourselves. |
| 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
From Clicks to Classroom Impact: Using Equatio to Support Student Learning
Discover how Equatio can make math, science, and STEM content more accessible and supportive for your students. This hands-on session will introduce you to ways the tool can help learners engage with equations and formulas more effectively, while also giving you practical strategies to integrate it into your teaching. No advanced tech skills are required—this workshop is designed to be user-friendly and welcoming to all faculty. Bring your laptop and explore alongside the facilitator as you leave with both an overview of Equatio’s features and concrete ideas for how it can enhance your students’ learning experience and your course pedagogy. |
|
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Contract Information Session - Supervisors of Support Staff
Supervisors of support staff are invited to attend this open information session covering the support staff contract. This session, facilitated by Shannon Schmidt, will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and gain clarity on the application of the support staff contract in matters such as employee relations and managing workloads. |
|
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Measuring What Matters: Leveraging Outcomes in Canvas
This session explores how Canvas Outcomes can be used to align instruction with institutional goals, track student mastery, and inform continuous improvement. Whether you're new to outcomes or looking to refine your approach, you'll discover practical strategies for designing, implementing, and reporting on outcomes in Canvas. Learn how to turn assessment data into actionable insights that support meaningful learning and drive student success. |
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
| Time | Event |
| 10:00 -11:30 a.m. |
Coffee with a Cop
Coffee with a Cop conversations help to break down barriers between police officers and the individuals they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns and build positive relationships. |
| 11:00 - a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Extended Reality (XR) Lab Informational Workshop
Join us for this informational workshop for the opening of the Extended Reality (XR) Lab in College Hall 265. Learn about XR technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) and how they are being utilized at the Montco to enhance learning experiences. These tools enrich student learning by creating immersive and interactive learning environments that supplement traditional content and learning objectives. In this session, attendees will:
|
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Hiring & Onboarding for Supervisors
Filling a vacancy or new position can be a time-consuming and challenging task for any supervisor; but, the key to a successful hire requires a clear understanding of the knowledge/skills and abilities/education/experience (KSA). Once you have filled the vacancy, an onboarding plan will help ensure a smooth transition for your new team member. During this session, you will review the hiring process and the process to successfully onboard your new staff. |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. |
MCCC Wellness Services for Students
This session will provide an overview of the services available to MCCC students through the Wellness Centers at the Blue Bell, Pottstown, and Online Campuses. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the resources, services, and programs available to students, as well as how to make referrals and connect students directly with Wellness staff (repeat of session hosted on Opening Day and Monday, Sept. 29, 2025). |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. |
Classroom Management: Strategies for an Effective Classroom
At the beginning of each semester, establishing a classroom climate of respect and support is key. Once the stage is set, it is critical to continually support and engage students. Please join us for a workshop to share best practices in managing your classroom and developing an engaged learning community. This session will provide some strategies and scenarios followed for some time to connect with colleagues and think about day one and beyond. Participants will be able to:
|
|
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Keynote:The Future Was Yesterday: Higher Education's Great Upheaval & the Needs of the New Learner
The United States is undergoing a profound transformation. As the world evolves into a highly interconnected knowledge economy, the forces of technological innovation, globalization, and shifting demographics present both unprecedented challenges and boundless opportunities. But these macro trends tell only part of the story. Even before the pandemic, institutions stood at a crossroads; today, student needs have shifted rapidly and dramatically, even as online education and the growing integration of AI tools in classrooms and workplaces have introduced new complexities, new risks, and new possibilities. In this session, Scott Van Pelt, co-author of The Great Upheaval and its forthcoming sequel, will explore how institutions can adapt to meet the evolving needs of learners in a time of sweeping change. To learn more about Scott Van Pelt, see our keynote bio page. |
|
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. |
Beyond the Lecture: Igniting Learner Agency and Authentic Connection
This session details a pedagogical shift from standardized lectures to a responsive, empathetic classroom where students genuinely want to learn. Using the Reacting to the Past (RTTP) model as a case study, we will explore strategies for creating tailored learning experiences that build on individual strengths. Participants will learn how to build authentic teacher-learner relationships and develop a nuanced, ethical approach to integrating generative AI—using it for creative content while rejecting it for personal, reflective work. Ultimately, this talk provides a framework for cultivating student engagement in any discipline. |
|
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. |
Humanizing Online Learning: Redesigning Syllabus Policies for Connection and Care
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to explain the importance of human connection in online learning environments, identify barriers that prevent students from feeling seen and valued, apply strategies for empathetic communication and inclusive design to syllabus policies, and develop a personalized plan for integrating humanizing practices into their own courses. |
|
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. |
AI on Demand: Instant Content for Your Course
This workshop is designed for those who want to generate high-quality, engaging materials using AI. We will explore practical, easy-to-use techniques to create a wide range of materials, including lecture notes, simple games, knowledge checks, case studies, and discussion prompts. The session will focus on leveraging AI to add fresh, dynamic content to your courses. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to utilize AI tools to generate a variety of engaging course materials, including lecture notes, quizzes, and discussion prompts; customize AI-generated content to align with specific learning objectives, and integrate newly created AI-powered content seamlessly into any Learning Management System (LMS). Participants will need a Gmail account to participate. |
|
3:15-4:15 p.m. |
Carnegie has been Reclassified
Join this session to understand the process that was developed to revise the Carnegie Classifications. Information will be shared about the new classifications including the College’s new classification and directions for the future. |
|
4:15 - 5:00 p.m. |
Understanding Cultural Differences in Economically Depressed Communities
This professional development session will help college professors gain insight into the unique cultural values, challenges, and strengths of students from economically depressed communities. Participants will explore how economic hardship shapes perspectives on education, communication, and engagement, and learn strategies to foster inclusivity, build trust, and support student success. Through discussion and practical examples, professors will leave with tools to better connect with and empower students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. |
|
4:15 - 5:00 p.m. |
Using the Elephant in the Room: AI in Developmental Writing
In some high schools, students are being told explicitly to “run an essay through ChatGPT” and other platforms to “clean it up” and “make sure it is clear.” These students are then stunned and confused when faced with plagiarism charges for continuing that practice when they get to college. Rather than a complete shift away from platforms that they will likely need to use post-college, facilitating engagement with Artificial Intelligence within specific parameters, and having discussions critically analyzing the artifacts of those engagements, is a path forward that will better prepare students for their future endeavors without compromising the learning objectives of the developmental writing courses. |
|
4:15 - 5:00 p.m. |
Zoom Rooms Whodunit: A Murder Mystery Approach to Faculty Engagement
This session explores how Laredo College's Instructional Technology Center boosted faculty engagement and technology adoption through an innovative, small-group "murder mystery" event. We designed an intimate and immersive experience that not only showcased our Zoom Room capabilities and sparked curiosity and buy-in among faculty. Attendees will hear how we wove storytelling, teamwork, and problem-solving into the event to highlight features in a memorable way. We’ll share lessons learned on managing small-group logistics, crafting themed materials (including a newspaper invitation), and aligning the event with broader faculty development goals. Participants will leave with strategies for designing their own creative, themed events that drive meaningful technology adoption and engagement. |
Thursday, October 2, 2025
| Time | Event |
| 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. |
Coffee with a Cop
Coffee with a Cop conversations help to break down barriers between police officers and the individuals they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns and build positive relationships. |
| 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. |
Coffee, Tea, and Philanthropy
Stop into the new location for Institutional Advancement in Parkhouse Hall 24. Meet with the Advancement team to see the exciting work they are engaged in and how you can support and contribute to this vital work. Enjoy light refreshments as you connect with colleagues. |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Modern Think Survey Data
Join this session to hear the findings from the Modern Think survey, which is a third-party, confidential climate survey from “Great Colleges to Work For” that the College has participated in for several years. What areas has the College trended up in and what are some of the challenges faced by employees? |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Mixed Reality in Classroom Environments
At Bucks County Community College, we’ve utilized mixed reality in the classroom for a variety of subjects, including Biology, History, Geography, the Arts, and with job training. We will be presenting these technologies and their uses in the classroom in this presentation. This will include the ways in which faculty can build assessment strategies after using these mixed reality tools. In assisting faculty in achieving their learning outcomes, we have found success in using mixed reality. Feel free to join us for this intriguing presentation. |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Blueprints for Learning: Structuring, Aligning, and Scaling Online Courses
Designing effective online courses requires intentional structure, clear alignment,
and scalability in its organization. Much like blueprints for constructing a building,
this type of future planning is crucial for course success.
The session will introduce practical strategies for curating and chunking course materials,
aligning them with learning objectives and assessments, and organizing content with
flexibility in mind. The crux of this is in the documentation itself: “blueprints”
(templates and worksheets) to adeptly plan out each element of the course.
Participants will be able to utilize these practices and provided resources to adapt
courses for different schedules, systems, and modalities.
|
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
Sexual Abuse Awareness Bystander Training
Learn about how to recognize interpersonal violence. Identify when and how to intervene in various scenarios. |
| 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. |
AI Fundamentals and Microsoft Copilot: Your Professional Toolkit
Explore and discover how AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, can simplify your workload and boost productivity. Whether you're writing emails, managing projects, or preparing documents join us as we look into how this technology is innovating our work and how we can use them safely and responsibly. In this session, participants will:
|
| 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. |
Faculty discussion about the use of AI by faculty and students
This session will be a chance for faculty to share ideas about how they are using AI, how they have their students use AI and the times they disallow it's use. |
|
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Assisting Your Team During Challenging Times
This session open to supervisors, will cover:
|
|
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Financial Essentials: Investments, Retirement & Budgeting Overview
This virtual information session offers a practical overview of foundational financial topics, including budgeting strategies, basic investment concepts, and key retirement planning insights. Designed to support personal and professional development, participants will gain tools to make informed financial decisions and build long-term financial wellness. |
Friday, October 3, 2025
| Time | Event |
| 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. |
Written Language: Evidence of Learning in Computing
How does the expression of technical material in written languages, in relation to forms of research and development in computing, demonstrate evidence of learning, primarily in schools, but equally in many regards to the efficacy of technology transfer, in industrial contexts? |
| 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. |
Increasing Growth Mindset in Students Using a Mindset Module
Educational interventions and pedagogical tools can shift students towards a growth mindset that bolsters their resilience and persistence. At Kingsborough Community College, some students complete a curated Mindset Module introducing them to the benefits of a growth versus a fixed mindset for academic and life success. To determine the impact of the Mindset Module, questionnaires are administered to students to identify shifts in mindset profiles and students' perception of their success. Attendees will explore the Mindset Module content, review preliminary data from initial iterations and workshop how the Mindset Module might be adapted to meet the needs of their particular discipline or area of expertise. |
| 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. |
On the Horizon: ADA Compliance for 2026 (and Beyond)
Join the Instructional Design team at Montco we explore essential actions faculty can take now to review and update their courses in preparation for the upcoming Title II accessibility compliance deadline. We’ll address common challenges in course materials, offer practical strategies for improving digital content, and highlight tools to create an inclusive learning environment. Discover how proactive adjustments to your course now can help all students succeed moving forward. |
| 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. |
Beyond Orientation: A Multimodal Adjunct Onboarding Model Integrating Teaching and Student Support Services
This presentation will highlight the comprehensive adjunct onboarding program at Reading Area Community College. This program uniquely integrates teaching support with library resources, advising, behavior intervention, career services, tutoring, and accessibility services. Delivered through a multimodal design—both asynchronous and synchronous—it introduces new faculty to key offices and personnel while respecting their limited time. Instructors can also complete it entirely online. The program’s thorough yet flexible approach fosters belonging, equips adjuncts with essential knowledge, and strengthens connections that support student success. |
| 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. |
Demystifying Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI): Strategies for Compliance and Engagement
This session offers a practical overview of Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI),
focusing on its regulatory foundation, benefits, and implementation in online courses.
Attendees will learn criteria for meeting RSI standards, explore course design and
delivery strategies, and review real-world examples. The session also provides actionable
tips for sustaining RSI and includes helpful resources to support ongoing compliance
and student engagement.
Whether you're new to RSI or seeking to strengthen existing practices, this session
will equip you with the tools and knowledge to meet standards confidently and enrich
your students’ online learning experience.
|
| 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. |
Creating Equitable Learning Experiences with Generative AI
This session explores how generative AI tools like ChatGPT can help faculty design
accessible, inclusive course content that supports all students. With the upcoming
Title II update, digital accessibility is more critical than ever. You’ll see a hands-on
demonstration and leave with practical strategies for using AI to build content that
promotes equity and engagement.
|
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Crafting Engaging Online Courses With User Stories
This session explores how student personas and user stories can transform online and
hybrid course design into a student-centered experience. Participants will learn how
to craft personas, map student journeys, and apply user stories to guide course design.
By focusing on students' goals, challenges, and motivations, designers and faculty
can build engaging, flexible courses that improve satisfaction and outcomes. Attendees
will leave with strategies to create personas, apply journey mapping, and develop
an action plan for integrating user stories into their own course design practices.
|
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Spark, Connect, Persist: create a community of motivated learners and help them succeed
This session will share some of the recent topics and the strategies that our Bucks
faculty have learned and implemented in our Faculty Learning Communities. We will
look at the role of emotions in learning, and ways to build connections and community
with our students. Finally, we will explore course design ideas that help students
develop positive habits and learn how to be successful.
Participants will
|
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. |
Introducing the Generative AI Quick-Reference Guide for Students!
“How can I support faculty and students in courses permitting the use of Generative
AI?” That was my question this summer, when all our courses officially started allowing
some level of generative AI assistance – but without faculty actually instructing
students about how to use the technology.
My 7-page, user-friendly handout provides students with essential information while
not placing undue burden on faculty. We’ll review the handout together, highlighting
each page’s role and importance. I will provide an editable version of this handout
for you to adapt to your own course or institution!
|
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Credit 101
Credit is an important part of a sound financial plan when it is managed responsibly. This workshop will teach participants when to use credit, how to identify and avoid predatory lenders, and how to compare credit cards for the best value. |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. |
Classroom Management: Strategies for an Effective Classroom
At the beginning of each semester, establishing a classroom climate of respect and support is key. Once the stage is set, it is critical to continually support and engage students. Please join us for a workshop to share best practices in managing your classroom and developing an engaged learning community. This session will provide some strategies and scenarios followed for some time to connect with colleagues and think about day one and beyond. Participants will be able to:
|
| 1:00-1:45 p.m. |
Design for All: Unlocking Learning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Every learner is unique—so why design learning experiences that assume they’re all the same? In this session, we’ll explore the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how they can transform your instructional approach to be more inclusive, flexible, and engaging. Whether you're designing a course, a module, or a single activity, you'll leave with practical strategies to apply UDL in any learning context. For Montco faculty, this is a similar presentation from Opening Day. |
| 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. |
Law and Human Computers: Short Stories on Math Pedagogy
Widespread access to low-cost computational tools suggests a shift in mathematics pedagogy across the traditional college curriculum. In the spirit of Goodhart’s Law, I argue that traditional targets—such as speed and accuracy on standardized problem sets—no longer signal true ability; indeed, maybe they never did. Drawing on classroom experience, I show how integrating open-source scientific computing software, AI tools, project-based learning, authentic mathematical contexts, and less conventional problem sets fosters deeper reasoning, creative problem-solving, and the skills needed to thrive when computation is abundant --while revealing major skill gaps in our student population. |
| 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. |
Virtual Reality as Place: Creating Engaging Online Classrooms with FrameVR
In online learning, “place” is often the missing element. This can leave students feeling disconnected from their instructors, peers, and the learning experience itself. This session explores how virtual reality (VR) can be used to reimagine “place” in online courses. Using FrameVR, an accessible browser-based platform, you will learn how to design immersive, interactive learning environments that strengthen student presence, connection, and engagement. Participants will be able to experience an example of a VR space see how virtual settings can bring a sense of co-presence to online learning. |