NOVEMBER 20, 2025 | 12:15–3:00 PM EDT
Fall Refresh offers insights and inspiration to elevate your next term—featuring a keynote from acclaimed author Dr. James Lang on reclaiming student reading in the age of AI. Register now.
Join us for an energizing look at the future of teaching and learning. Explore new innovations from Top Hat that make personalized, accessible learning easier to achieve. Plus, hear how faculty are using Top Hat and AI to spark discussion, streamline course prep, and make learning more interactive. Fresh ideas. Smart tools. Classroom-ready practices. It’s all part of Fall Refresh 2025.
Attend individual sessions or stay for the afternoon. Either way, we’re glad to have you!
12:15–1:00 PM EDT
Clare Castro, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Top Hat
Discover how the next wave of innovation from Top Hat is helping educators personalize learning, reduce prep time, and make learning active—in and out of class. That includes new AI-powered features that let you upload course materials and receive clear, actionable guidance to meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA). No expertise required. The result? Learning that’s more accessible, affordable, and effective for every student.
1:00–1:45 PM EDT
Dr. Jessa Roisen, St. Ambrose University
Dr. Ross Avilla, University of California, Merced
In this rapid-fire panel, instructors share how they’re using Top Hat and Ace to energize learning and make lessons more interactive. Hear how AI is helping students rehearse key concepts through simulated conversations, build comprehension with dynamic content, and generate everything from discussion prompts to quiz formats. Whether you’re new to Top Hat or looking for fresh inspiration, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to boost participation, understanding, and the energy in your classroom.
2:00–3:00 PM EDT
Dr. James Lang, educator and author of Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It
Surveys and headlines point to a troubling decline in student reading, even as research continues to affirm its vital role in comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity. So how do we get students to engage deeply with course texts—whether they’re tackling dense academic articles or AI-generated summaries?
Learn what reading does to the brain, why it matters more than ever, and how you can help students build the stamina, skills, and motivation to read with purpose. You’ll leave with practical strategies—both low-tech and digital—to encourage reading and help students get more out of what they read.
James Lang
Educator and Author of Distracted
Eric Gardiner
Director of Educational Programming,
Top Hat
Clare Castro
Sr. Product Marketing Manager,
Top Hat
Ross Avilla
University of California,
Merced
Jessa Roisen
St. Ambrose University