By Greg Cossette, IDLA Teacher
Another Summer Conference is in the books. One of the qualities I most admire about IDLA is
its commitment to excellence, not only in course delivery but also in faculty training and
preparation. Over the years, professional development opportunities and Just-in-Time trainings
have challenged us to refine our skills and explore new approaches to supporting students.
Summer Conference remains a highlight for me, offering valuable opportunities for growth even
after 78 years of life, 40 years in face-to-face education, and nearly 25 years with IDLA.
This year’s conference was particularly valuable as we prepare for the transition from Schoology
to Buzz LMS. As with the earlier move from Blackboard to Schoology, IDLA has done an
excellent job preparing faculty for this change.
Dr. Jeff opened the conference with an encouraging overview of Idaho’s educational landscape.
Rather than focusing on challenges alone, he highlighted opportunities and reasons for optimism.
His message provided a welcome sense of direction and encouragement.
The keynote presentation was engaging and well received. The emphasis on our partnership with
school districts in promoting educational equity was both reassuring and inspiring. I was
especially interested in the discussion of navigating a society shaped by disruption and captured
several graphics for further reflection on how they may apply to my courses.
The sessions on cohort classes and the new combined HS/MS PLC provided useful insights. I
was pleased to learn that courses will remain largely unchanged as they move into Buzz. I am
also interested in exploring the AI-supported features of BusyBee in the mandated unit activities.
The accessibility session was informative, particularly regarding adjustments to fonts and
formatting within Buzz. I was surprised to learn about the platform’s light and dark viewing
modes and found that I prefer the light mode.
For me, the most valuable session focused on BusyBee. While I continue to have some
reservations about the impact of AI on digital learning, I appreciated learning more about its
capabilities and limitations. The presentation helped clarify its potential and left me looking
forward to future developments.
My one disappointment was the absence of any discussion regarding IDLA’s upcoming 25th
anniversary, including reflections on accomplishments and future goals. Perhaps that
conversation will take place at next year’s conference.
