Digital Learning Summit 2024

The Digital Learning Summit (DLS) is an invitation-only conference for leaders, emerging leaders, subject matter experts, and generalists who work in digital education and academic innovation spaces at higher education institutions. The goals of our summit are to facilitate connections within and between teams; foster a community of practice; and empower emerging leaders in the education innovation and digital education spaces. The second annual DLS was held at Stanford University, March 27-28, 2024. Read more about the 2024 DLS.

The conference is co-sponsored by HAIL, a network for higher ed leaders who have demonstrated an awareness of and commitment to experimentation for transformational change as a response to the uncertainty in the broader education ecosystem.

Conference themes

In the past few years higher education has experienced major disruptions due to the pandemic, AI, and cultural and political movements. These disruptions have forced institutions like ours to adapt and respond by creating new technologies and support structures that will have lasting impact in education. We know that being able to anticipate and respond to change, adapt to new pedagogical challenges, and leverage resources is essential for being able to meet the needs of our evolving educational landscape.

This year, the summit will focus on what supporting engaging educational experiences in higher education will look like in 2035. We will have a strong focus on equity and innovation, particularly innovation that has a big impact and that is practical and implementable/scalable. What might learning design, learning technologies, and educational media look like in three, five, or ten years at our institutions? How will blended and digital education be poised to advance equitable, just, and accessible education systems and contribute to the public good? What structures will we need in place for our teams and offices? What are we doing to prepare?

Registration

Registration is by invitation only and is open to colleagues who currently work for colleges and universities, and whose work intersects with digital education and learning. Registration for 2024 is limited to 90 people, on a first-come, first-serve basis. We ask that institutions send up to three people so that we can have a wide range of representation.

Agenda

The conference will kick off with a reception at the Jen-Hsun Huang Engineering Center in the Foyer on March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. Conference sessions will be held on the third floor of the Jen-Hsun Huang Engineering Center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 27 (with breakfast and lunch served). A reception will follow in the same space from 5:30 to 7 p.m. On March 28, sessions in the same location will run from 8:30 to 3 p.m (breakfast and lunch will be served). We have included some optional activities before and after the conference for those who are interested.

View the agenda.

Travel and accommodation

Located 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose, Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley.

Both San Jose and San Francisco airports offer public transportation options as well as taxis, Uber, and Lyft (find more travel information). Parking on campus is limited and costly between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are planning to drive, please read through the visitor parking details. The closest parking lots can be located on the attached campus map in G/H5.

The campus map can be searched online or printed.

We have reserved a block of rooms for summit attendees at Sheraton Palo Alto at the rate of $389.00 per night. To reserve your room, contact the hotel at (650) 328-2800. Let them know that you are attending the Stanford Digital Learning Summit.

If you are interested in alternative accommodation options, you might want to look into one of the following: Dinah’s Garden Hotel; The Graduate Palo Alto (within walking distance); AC Hotel by Marriott Palo Alto; Park James; Crown Plaza Palo Alto; The Zen Hotel, Palo Alto; Residence Inn, Redwood City; Residence Inn, Mountain View; or Hampton Inn & Suites, Mountain View.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the summit, please don’t hesitate to email Priscilla Fiden at pfiden@stanford.edu.

2024 DLS Planning Committee

Priscilla Fiden (Stanford University)
Sonia Howell, inaugural DLS Chair (University of Notre Dame)
Patrice Torcivia Prusko (Harvard University)
Rebecca Quintana (University of Michigan)
Rebecca Stein (University of Pennsylvania)
Catherine Zabriskie (Brown University)