Digital Education Exchange Retreat (DEER)
This transformational journey allows Penn State faculty to explore digital possibilities, create technology-enhanced instructional materials, and exchange positivity and growth.
What is DEER?
DEER is a two-and-a-half-day experience that puts people before pedagogy, and pedagogy before technology. Throughout the retreat, faculty will explore digital technologies, critique research-informed instructional practices, exchange ideas on how to enhance their teaching practices, acknowledge and overcome barriers to become digitally fluent educators. As a result, participants will have created agile and cost-effective course materials that can be implemented immediately in their upcoming classes.
Our Mission
Our goal is to elevate faculty to well-rounded, confident, and agile educators who can design and deliver effective technology-enhanced instruction. Through a carefully designed program, we aim to reignite the passion for teaching and the joy in creating powerful learning experiences for students.
Why This Retreat?
DEER is a high-touch program that promotes digital fluency and empowers faculty with resources to implement technology-enhanced teaching practices. With the digital landscape of higher education redefining how learning is assessed, experienced, and sustained, the journeys at DEER will help faculty effectively navigate digital technologies and leverage tools that transform student experiences.
Types of Engagement
From guided workshops and community-building activities to one-on-one consultations and reflections on personal growth, DEER brings educators a diverse set of engagements to enhance and refine their understandings on the science behind learning and instruction.
DEER 2024 Applications Are Open!
The technology that college students access today can provide rich, instant, and dynamic connections with others anywhere in the world and at any time. However, the same technologies can also cause students to feel isolated, disconnected, and unmotivated to engage in the learning process.
Recognizing these challenges in higher education, the Learning Design Team will host the Digital Education Exchange Retreat (DEER) this summer to engage Penn State faculty to create Technology-Enhanced Experiences (TEEs) that leverage community platforms such as Spatial, Padlet, and Teams. Former DEER faculty will also join us to share their wisdom with new members, and expand the network of educators passionate about instructional technology.
Over a 2.5 day program, faculty will explore evidenced-based strategies to build and maintain communities in the classroom, learn research-informed designs of effective and meaningful group work (e.g., cooperative learning), and acquire skills to implement Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (DEIB) focused teaching practices.
DEER 2024 will be held at the Toftrees Golf Resort from May 22-24th, 2024. Lodging, meals and mileage are included. Interested faculty, adjunct instructors, lecturers and staff (e.g., instructional designers) who will teach during the fall 2024 or spring 2025 semesters are invited to apply by May 10th. Faculty from all campuses are welcome to join! Applicants who are selected will be notified in early May. For more information, please contact Helen Hu at huh162@psu.edu or Katy Colby at krc178@psu.edu.
Check out the DEER flyer for more information on the program!
Past DEERs
DEER 2023
We successfully hosted the inauguration of DEER at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park on May 23, 2023. Participants attended workshops, learned best practices, and networked with 17 different Penn State faculty representing seven campuses and 11 disciplines. Some of the retreat sessions included:
- Building a Sense of Community Belongingness
- Designing Technology-Enhanced Instructional Materials (TEIMs) Featuring Adobe Express
- TEIM Production and Prototyping
- Strategies for Implementing TEIM
For more information about DEER 2024, contact the Learning Design team.