WILMINGTON – Goldey-Beacom College Center for Professional Development and Partnerships, led by Dr. Deanna Merritt, convened educators, policymakers and industry leaders to explore and discuss the transformative role of digital technology in expanding global education access.
Dr. Alexandra Salas, founder of the DelMarVa Digital Learning Association, and Dr. Deanna Merritt, director of professional development and partnerships, both professors at GBC, partnered with the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to present the inaugural Advancing Digital Learning Symposium.
Guest speakers addressed important topics including the basics of practical uses and ethical guidelines to the more complex topic of how to apply trauma-informed approaches in online learning. Attendees discussed foundational aspects of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) including the challenges and benefits of AI in education, the need for responsible and innovative use and the initial resistance that many institutions are experiencing.
Office of Digital Learning presenters from the Delaware Department of Education explained Senate Bill 195, the Digital Citizenship Act, which emphasizes media literacy and internet safety. The bill includes 13 key elements for K-12 education and defines media literacy broadly, encompassing all communication forms and integrates digital citizenship norms. Although the legislation was written before the boom of generative AI, there are direct connections that will guide how we embrace the use of AI. Many guests agreed that AI is not our competition. Our competition is the person who uses AI the best.
The DelMarVa Digital Learning Association (DelMarVa-DLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to growing an ecosystem of support and experiential opportunities for students and educators. Through strategic partnership and grant-funded initiatives, DelMarVa-DLA will host exchanges, webinars and affinity discussions aimed at advancing knowledge about digital learning and its role and impact across industries to develop meaningful connections and catalyze positive change in education.
DelMarVa-DLA was formed to foster dialogue, innovation and advocacy through collaboration and partnerships in the Delmarva region (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia). As a state chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and in collaboration with other affinity groups, DelMarVa-DLA aims to be a steward in the transformational digital learning space to contribute to improving knowledge access and success outcomes.
