An item from the folks at the USDLA.

Tuesday 1/30: USDLA News Meet our 2024 National Conference Speakers Dear USDLA friends: We are thrilled to announce that we have selected three speakers to share their insights and wisdom at our 2024 National Conference: Navy Seal Don Mann is the author of 22 motivational books and host of the Surviving Mann TV show. Learn about Don’s speaking savvy: speakerdonmann.com. Joe Sallustio, EdD, is the co-author of the award-winning book “Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education,” and the host of the nation’s leading higher education podcast “The EdUp Experience.” Check out Dr. Joe and his show: joesallustio.com. Dr. Robbie Melton is a long-time USDLA board member and Tennessee State University’s acting interim vice president for academic affairs and associate vice president of SMART Global Technology Innovation Strategies. Click here to learn more about this award-winning educator. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about each of our amazing speakers. Scroll down to learn about our Conference Specials of the Week. Find tons of information about the conference on our website: usdla.org/2024-national-conference. Questions? Contact our conference committee chairwoman, Bernadette Deamico: bdeamico@usdla.org. USDLA Conference Specials Win twice when you register early We love offering special deals to our members: This week, you’ll win twice! First: Register for our Early Bird Conference Special before March 31. Click here to save! Second: When you register, we’ll send you a copy of Joe’s book, co-written by last year’s popular conference speaker Kate Colbert. USDLA executive director Pat Cassella penned the foreword of this edition. Click here for a preview of Pat’s important article about the future of distance learning. And there’s more: We want as many of you as possible to have the opportunity to submit your application to be considered for a USDLA award in 2024. We’ve extended our proposal deadline to midnight on Jan. 31: Click here to submit a nomination for one of the awards: usdla.org/2024-distance-learning-awards Click here to submit a proposal to speak at the conference: usdla.org/2024-call-for-proposals Distance Learning Industry News National Educational Technology Plan The U.S. Department of Education has released the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design and Use Divides. First released in fulfillment of the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994, NETP has been updated multiple times since its original release, most recently in 2016. While past NETPs have largely served as surveys of the state of the field, the Department of Education’s 2024 NETP frames three key divides limiting the transformational potential of educational technology to support teaching and learning: The Digital Use Divide: Opportunities to improve how students use technology to enhance their learning, including dynamic applications of technology to explore, create, and engage in critical analysis of academic content and knowledge The Digital Design Divide: Opportunities for educators to expand their professional learning and build the capacities necessary to design learning experiences enabled by technology The Digital Access Divide: Opportunities for students and educators to gain equitable access to educational technology, including connectivity, devices, and digital content. This also includes accessibility and digital health, safety, and citizenship as key elements of digital access. Click here to download your copy of the report. Become a MEMBER of USDLA Become a SPONSOR of USDLA Higher Education Certification Professional Learning Certification Support USDLA When You Shop @Amazon Smile Thank You to Our National Sponsors D2L, Instructure, JDL Horizons, Poly, Google, Verizon, Carolina Distance Learning,  Harmonize, FDLA, IAP, Nearpod, ViewSonic, Wolfvision, Anatomage,  Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, GoReact, Huddly, BocaVox, Softchalk, NC Sara, Simple Syllabus, VDO360, Symbiosis,  VirtualCare, Waldorf University, Merlot, IntelliBoard, Flo-ops,  Upswing, Questionmark, Perlego, Padlet Thank you for supporting USDLA, our Sponsors, and our State Chapters. Chuck Sengstock, President Valary Oleinik, President-elect About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Formed in 1987, USDLA is a 501(c)3 non-profit association formed in 1987. Our weekly newsletters reach more than 100,000 people globally, including our members and sponsors working in industries including pre-K-12 education, homeschooling, higher education, continuing education, corporate, military, government, and telehealth. Our mission is to promote the development and application of distance learning for education, training, advocacy, and networking: USDLA.org USDLA | www.usdla.org

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