Partners In Learning

Partners In Learning Conference 2026

In Celebration of Promising Practices

Friday, May 8  |  9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  |  Zoom

This year's conference, "In Celebration of Promising Practices," focuses on lifting up and celebrating the amazing things happening in the De Anza campus community. It is designed to be a recognition of the incredible work and dedication of De Anza faculty, classified professionals and administrators.

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Schedule of Zoom Workshops

All sessions are offered via Zoom. Click JOIN next to any session to enter that room.

Schedule of Zoom Workshops – Partners In Learning Conference 2026

Time	Session Title	Presenter(s)	Join on Zoom
9:00 – 9:50 am Opening Keynote	Empathy as Strategic Support for Student Wellbeing	Calista Leung, Clinical Intern, Mental Health and Wellbeing Center; and Sharon Li, Clinical Intern, Mental Health and Wellbeing Center	Join
9:50 – 10:40 am Concurrent Sessions	Village Language Cafés: Building Community Through Language	Brian Malone, English faculty; Diana Ferrara, Italian faculty; and the De Anza Villages Team	Join
	OER and ZTC in Action: Practical Pathways for Teaching	James Perla-Adams, OELP and OER Coordinator	Join
10:40 – 10:50 am — Break
10:50 – 11:10 am Concurrent Sessions	Building a Community Through Student Success	Kasey Walker, student; Caitlin Lam, student; and Phillip Chang, student	Join
	Exploring Personal Bias in a Safe Environment	Melissa Sherman, Nursing faculty	Join
11:10 am – 12:00 pm Concurrent Sessions	Accommodating Blind and Visually Impaired Students in the Classroom	Deborah Armstrong, Alternative Media Specialist, Disability Services	Join
	Making Ideas Real: 3D Printing as a Tool for Interdisciplinary Learning	Kara Krone, Design and Manufacturing Technology faculty	Join
12:00 – 12:30 pm — Lunch
12:30 – 1:20 pm Concurrent Sessions	Library Services for Student, Staff and Faculty Success	James Perla-Adams, Equity and Instruction librarian; Cecilia Hui, librarian; and Keri Kirkpatrick, Equity and Instruction librarian	Join
	Support Your Own Adventure: Balancing Agency and Decision Fatigue Through Scaffolded Choice	Sarah Wilker, Equity Faculty Coordinator	Join
1:20 – 2:10 pm Concurrent Sessions	The Whole Student Approach: Transforming Education with Trauma Informed Care	Jila Maleksalehi, Child Development and Education faculty	Join
	Collaborating to Support: ESL and Math Embedded Tutoring Pilot	Diana Alves De Lima, Student Success Center Co-Director; Melissa Aguilar, Student Success Center Co-Director; and Linda Yee, English as a Second Language faculty	Join
2:10 – 2:20 pm — Break
2:20 – 2:40 pm Concurrent Sessions	Social Media as a Tool for Inviting Students to Access Services	Raquel Perez, HUB Student Success Specialist; Grisel Vasquez, HUB Program Coordinator; Elina Isaeva, student; and Gabriela Reyna Pardo, student	Join
	How to Encourage More Robust Interaction in Discussions	Melissa Sherman, Nursing faculty	Join
2:40 – 3:30 pm Closing Keynote	Mindful Movement: Breath and Presence	Noemi Teppang, International Student Programs counselor	Join

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About the Conference

Each group of employees was invited to submit conference proposals focused on “promising practices” that support student engagement and success. These include thoughtful approaches to complexities, successful pedagogical strategies, innovative assignments and assessments, meaningful strategies and services, intentionally designed programs or anything that they were excited to share with their colleagues.  Students were also invited to submit proposals for the conference focused on positive experiences they have had at De Anza that support student engagement and success. These include incredible classroom experiences, assignments with faculty members or meaningful interactions with Student Services and other offices.

This event is hosted by the Office of Professional Development.