Presentation Panel
Beyond Boundaries: Policies and Pathways for Inclusive Learning
Date Friday, Dec 5 Time – Room: Schöneberg
How can education systems adapt to today’s learners while ensuring equity and inclusion? This panel examines policy and practice through connected lenses, from smart device policies and decentralised higher education programmes to learner agency, authentic assessment, and scalable community-based Learning Labs. Explore approaches that turn barriers into opportunities, create adaptive and inclusive systems, and empower learners across diverse contexts.
Ann Marcus-Quinn
Associate Professor/Course Director for the MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning, University of Limerick
Dr. Ann Marcus-Quinn is the Course Director for the MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning at the University of Limerick, Ireland. In a previous role Ann worked with the National Digital Learning Resources service (NDLR) as a national advocate for Open Educational Resources. Ann has been awarded both national and international funding for her research. She has a wide range of publications to date reflecting her specialist teaching and research interests, including, eLearning Open Educational Resources (OERs), usability, instructional design and the use of ICT at post-primary level. Ann is also a Research Affiliate of the Economic and Social Research Institute, Ireland. See https://www.ul.ie/research/dr-ann-marcus-quinn
Leigh Fitzgerald
Global Hubs Director , Learnlife
Leigh Fitzgerald is the CEO of Learn Hubs at Learnlife- an organization dedicated to inspiring a love of learning in children and adults. Leigh began her career in education as a Middle and High School English and Social Studies teacher before moving into school design and administration. She has served as a school and district leader in the public, private, and charter school sector in Hawaii, USA, served as a teacher and Head of School internationally, and has worked as a school leadership coach and program manager at Stanford's d.School, Cintana Education, and Arizona State University. Leigh’s two decades of work in progressive education focus on designing for deeper learning; building inter-sector professional learning communities; and leveraging technology, community partners, dynamic school structures, and a focus on relationships to enable educators and students to learn the way that we live.
Nancy Pratt
Executive Director Division of Continuing and Extended Education, Cleveland State University
Dr. Pratt joined Cleveland State University in May 2018 as the Division's inaugural executive director. She oversees all continuing education, professional development, workforce development, and lifelong learning throughout the University. Before joining CSU, she worked as Executive Director of Continuing Legal Education and Master's Degree Programs at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she held multiple positions during her seventeen years of service there.
Dr. Pratt's first Ph.D. is in Interdisciplinary Studies, specializing in organizational leadership during conflict and crisis. Dr. Pratt is completing her second Ph.D. in Urban Education at Cleveland State University, specializing in Adult, Continuing, and Higher Education. Her current research interests include crisis leadership for higher education institutions, the future of credentialing systems, and education as meaning-making for mature adult learners.
Pratt is an alumna of Union Institute and University (Ph.D.), Hiram College (M.A.), and Case Western Reserve University (B.A.).
Links
Moderator
Herman van der Merwe
Deputy Dean: Teaching & Learning, North-West University
Prof Herman calls himself a “recycled Geneticist”, but his previous Vice-Chancellor renamed him “e-Man” to capture his fascination for the use and management of technology in education!
Currently Deputy Dean of the Faculty Economic and Management Sciences, responsible for Teaching and Learning and the CEO of an expert centre called CUTE (Centre for the Utilisation of Technology in Education).
A CoP in innovative teaching and learning with technology (iTLT) support his research initiatives in a creative environment.
In 2015 the University recognised his contribution to innovation with an “Innovation Evangelist” award.
“As a teacher, researcher, policy advocate, manager and leader, he is a visionary leader whose fascination with technology has been informed by his commitment to serving the highest ideals of people and education.” Prof Reggie Ncobo
Links
Disconnected by Design? Rethinking Acceptable Use Policies for Smart Device Integration in Irish Secondary Schools, Ann Marcus-Quinn
Outdated Acceptable Use Policies in Irish secondary schools are limiting smart device integration, impacting student engagement and digital skill development. This presentation examines these challenges and offers practical strategies to modernise policies for responsible and effective technology use.
Learner Agency & Authentic Assessment: A Living Learning Vitae, Leigh Fitzgerald
With the exponential advancements in technology, never was it more relevant for the global learning community to reflect on what skills and competencies make us inherently human, and how we can grow and measure our progress as lifelong learners. Lifelong learning will become a necessity, in an ever-changing and ever-evolving world, and therefore how we track and measure this will also change. Learnlife will share the journey we have undergone and a blueprint for other schools looking to innovate, as well as the challenges and progress made towards finding an authentic approach to assessment that benefits each learners' growth and development towards lifelong learning.
Community-Based Workforce Evolution in an Expanded University Campus, Nancy Pratt
Our presentation introduces Workforce Development Learning Labs, a scalable model that embeds digitally connected microcampuses in trusted community spaces to deliver modular credentials, wraparound services, and workforce training for marginalized demographics, including neurodivergent learners. By fostering collaboration between non-credit divisions, colleges of education at a University, and external partners, the Learning Labs create inclusive, equitable workforce ecosystems that strengthen cities, provide industry with skilled talent, and ensure underserved and displaced workers are not left behind in the AI era.