Get Ready for the 2024 Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference!

Peer mentor Sam Bardales, a mathematics education major, wears UWW on his hands. New Warhawks participated in a rite of passage for first-year students at UW-Whitewater, the painting of Warhawk Drive purple. (UW/Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues its dedication to educational innovation through the the 2024 Celebrating Teaching and Learning (CTL) Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, at the University Center. This in-person conference, organized by the LTC, LEARN Center, and Office of Academic Assessment, promises to be a vibrant platform for staff to collaborate, share ideas, and discuss innovative teaching practices and research. 

We are excited to announce our keynote speaker, Tammy Lind! Tammy is an Instructional Coach in Southeastern Wisconsin, known for her roles as a Google Education Trainer, Google Certified Innovator, and Intel Master Teacher. Formerly a special education teacher, she utilizes innovative technologies to enhance curriculum accessibility. As a founder of the Southeast Wisconsin Google Educator Group and Instructional Coaching Network, she’s recognized for her leadership within her district and the broader educational community. In 2017, Tammy earned the ISTE “Making IT Happen” award for her national leadership in employing technology, including AI, to equalize opportunities for learners.

The call for presentation proposals is live! This year, there is a special interest in proposals related to generative artificial intelligence, inclusivity and civil discourse, and assessment. However, feel free to propose sessions that focus on other aspects of teaching and learning, as well, such as topics related to team-based learning, engaged scholarship, culturally-responsive instruction, high-impact practices, and fostering student success more broadly. Proposals are due April 1st, 2024.

Simultaneously, we’re delighted to open applications for the Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium. This initiative honors UW-Whitewater instructors who use technology creatively to enhance student learning. We encourage applications that showcase impactful and innovative technology use in education. Applications are due April 3rd, 2024.

Be a part of the campus community and join us at CTL to shape the future of teaching and learning at UW-Whitewater! For more information on proposal submissions and honorarium applications, visit CTL Presentation Proposals and Teaching With Technology Honorarium.

Questions? Email the LTC!

Cisco/Presidio Teaching With Technology Honorarium – Applications Are Open!

2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium Recipient Lori Trimble.

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium recognizes an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to solve common teaching challenges. Applications due April 3rd!

About the Award

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator recognizes an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to create rich learning experiences, thereby increasing student success.

Eligibility and Expectations

To be eligible for this award, the applicant must:

  • Be an instructor at UW-Whitewater
  • Taught at least six (6) credits in the past year 

Finalists will receive a $250 honorarium and agree to present an interactive session at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference.

The individual selected as the 2024 Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium (instead of the $250 for finalists) and agrees to the following:

  • Have their name and picture highlighted in a Learning Technology Center blog post and in the ConnectIT newsletter;
  • Have their name and photograph displayed in the Learning Technology Center;
  • Partner with the Learning Technology Center to highlight their work during the Fall 2024 and/or Spring 2025 semester

Please note: this honorarium counts toward the 20% base salary overload maximum.

Deadline and Submission Instructions

Interested candidates must submit their materials using Qualtrics by April 3, 2024. Finalists will be notified no later than April 17th, and the winner will be revealed at the conference in May.

Application Materials 

Application packages must include:

Core Items

  • Personal reflection (approximately two pages) that describes the role technology plays in the applicant’s teaching philosophy, discussing how they have demonstrated the innovative and effective use of learning technologies to create rich and productive learning experiences for students.
  • Evidence from a student or students (e.g., letters of support, specific excerpts from mid-semester feedback survey data, or end-of-the-semester course evaluations) supporting that the instructor used technology innovatively in a way that enhanced their learning experience. 

Portfolio Items

  • At least two additional items that serve as evidence that their technology intervention contributes to student learning and success. Possible items include, but are not limited to:
    • Examples of how reflection on the use of technology has been used as part of a continuous process of improvement as an instructor
    • Letters of review/support from instructional peers who can speak to the benefits the technology intervention provides
    • Course evaluation data speaking specifically to the technology intervention
    • Evidence of student impact after trying a technology intervention (e.g., pre-/post- analysis)

Note: If materials are missing, an individual’s application for this award may not be reviewed.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of members of the LTC and LEARN Center Advisory Groups using this rubric. Notifications of the selected finalists will be made by April 17th, 2024. Finalists will be expected to submit a description of an interactive, synchronous session to be presented at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference in the University Center on the Whitewater Campus on May 15th, 2024.

About the Sponsors 

This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with UWW’s Division of Information Technology Services and the LTC. Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. The university is dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Questions? If you have questions, please reach out to the Learning Technology Center.

2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium Recipient – Lori Trimble!

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium is awarded to an instructor demonstrating marked integration of technology into their teaching to mitigate common challenges and enhance student learning. 

Lori Trimble, lecturer of biology and chemistry, was named the 2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium recipient. Congratulations, Lori!

Award recipient Lori Trimble giving her presentation, “Leveraging a Variety of Technology Tools to Help Students”.

The LTC would like to congratulate the other outstanding finalists, Brian Schanen, Dr. Courtney Powers, Dr. Jeanine Rowe, and Linda Amann for their exceptional work demonstrating technological innovation and creativity in the classroom. Thank you for your continued dedication to UW-Whitewater students!

Each finalist presented their technology innovations at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning conference on May 17th. This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with ICIT and the LTC. Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. ICIT and the LTC are dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Brian Schanen, lecturer of communication, delivered his presentation, “The Attendance Conundrum”
Dr. Courtney Powers, assistant professor of communication, gave her presentation, “Fostering Connections through an Innovative Teamwork Model”. 
Dr. Jeannine Rowe, professor of social work, discussed, “Impact beyond Walls: Using Technology to Connect Students to the Community”
Linda Amann, lecturer of information technology and supply chain management, presented, “Interactive & Accessible Canvas: Learning in Action-Based Tasks”.

 

Announcing the 2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium Finalists!

UW-Whitewater photo/Nick Pook

The LTC has the pleasure of announcing the finalists for the 2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in the use of technology in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning.

After a rigorous review of numerous outstanding applications, the following individuals have been selected as finalists:

  • Mr. Brian Schanen, Lecturer of Communication
  • Dr. Courtney Powers, Assistant Professor of Communication
  • Dr. Jeannine Rowe, Professor of Social Work 
  • Ms. Linda Amann, Lecturer of Information Technology and Supply Chain Management
  • Ms. Lori Trimble,  Lecturer of Biology and Chemistry

These finalists have demonstrated exceptional use of technology in their teaching, showing a dedication to innovation and creativity in the classroom. Their commitment to leveraging technology to improve student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall teaching effectiveness is truly commendable.

The winner will be announced at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference on May 17th, 2023. The conference will feature a range of expert presentations by fellow educators –  this is an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest trends and best practices in using technology to enhance teaching and learning within the UW-Whitewater community. 

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn and grow with us! Register now for the Teaching with Technology Conference! We hope to see you there!

Rescheduled! Incorporating AI Into Assessments Workshop

As campus and some of the city of Whitewater has no power, we are regrettably rescheduling our Incorporating AI into Assessments Workshop, originally planned for today, April 19th at 3:30pm. 


We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We have rescheduled the workshop for Monday, April 24th at 3:30pm in McGraw 19A or Webex. If you have already registered, the Webex link will remain the same. If you weren’t able to attend, now is your chance – register here! As before, the workshop will be recorded for those unable to attend. 


Thank you for your understanding – we hope you are able to join us for the rescheduled workshop. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact us at ltc@uww.edu.

2023 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium – Applications Are Open!

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium recognizes an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to solve common teaching challenges. Applications due April 3rd April 10th!

About the Award

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator recognizes an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to create rich learning experiences, thereby increasing student success.

Eligibility and Expectations

To be eligible for this award, the applicant must:

  • Be an instructor at UW-Whitewater
  • Taught at least six (6) credits in the past year 

Finalists will receive a $250 honorarium and agree to present an interactive session at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference (May 17, 2023), where they will also be recognized.

The individual selected as the 2023 Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium (instead of the $250 for finalists) and agrees to the following:

  • Have their name and picture highlighted in a Learning Technology Center blog post and in the ConnectIT newsletter;
  • Have their name and photograph displayed in the Learning Technology Center;
  • Partner with the Learning Technology Center to highlight their work during the Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024 semester

Please note: this honorarium counts toward the 20% base salary overload maximum.

Deadline and Submission Instructions

Interested candidates must submit their materials using Qualtrics (https://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6mvojPwNpMviRlI) by April 3, 2023. extended to April 10th, 2023! Finalists will be notified no later than April 11th, and the winner will be revealed at the conference in May.

Application Materials 

Application packages must include a:

  • Personal reflection (1-2 pages) that includes the applicant’s teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, specifically discussing how they have demonstrated the innovative and effective use of learning technologies to create rich learning experiences for students that work to increase retention and success
  • Portfolio of 3-5 items that serve as evidence of their teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, as well as ways their use of technology contributes to student learning and success. Possible items include, but are not limited to:
    • Letters of support from students, colleagues, or leadership.
    • Course evaluation data. 
    • Evidence of student impact (e.g., grades, learning, etc.) after trying a technology intervention. 
    • Examples of how the instructor contributes to their college, campus community, and beyond related to teaching and learning with technology.

Note: If materials are missing, an individual’s application for this award may not be reviewed.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of LTC Staff and members of the LTC Advisory Group.  Notifications of the selected finalists will be made by April 11, 2023.  Finalists will be expected to submit a description of an interactive, synchronous session to be presented at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference in the University Center on the Whitewater Campus on May 17th, 2023.

About the Sponsors 

This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with UWW’s Division of Instructional, Communication, and Information Technology (ICIT) and the LTC. Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. ICIT and the LTC are dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Questions? If you have questions, please reach out to the Learning Technology Center.

Honoring Campus Innovators

On May 18, the campus community gathered at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference to celebrate innovative teaching and learning initiatives at UW-Whitewater. The Learning Technology Center, LEARN Center, and Office of Academic Assessment proudly hosted this engaging professional development opportunity. Many thanks to those wo were able to attend and to those who worked behind the scenes!

Two of the afternoon sessions showcased the technological innovations by Steven Girard, associate professor of chemistry and Lama Bergstrand Othman, associate professor of special education, finalists for the 2022 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium.

Steven Girard’s presentation “Technologies to Improve Student Accessibility” described assembling/coauthoring free and fully open-source educational resource (OER) textbooks for use in his chemistry courses, and designing an augmented reality (AR) app with his colleague Fred Leighton, assistant professor of media arts and game development.

Lama Bergstrand Othman outlined how the SAMR and TPACK frameworks inform her teaching, how she models them for future teachers, and how she encourages students to employ them in their work in her presentation “Future Teachers and Digital Classrooms.”

The conference concluded with the announcement of this year’s Cisco/Presidio “Teaching with Technology Innovator” honorarium, awarded to Steven Girard.

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium recognizes an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to solve common teaching challenges related to creating rich learning experiences to increase student success. This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with ICIT and the LTC. Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. ICIT and the LTC are dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Congratulations to each of this year’s finalists, your innovative approaches in the classroom are much to be celebrated!

2022 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium is a recognition that will be bestowed upon an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to solve common teaching challenges related to creating rich learning experiences to increase student success.

For 2022, finalists for this award need to be willing to present at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.  The instructor selected as the Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium.  The other finalists will receive $250 honorariums.  These awards are paid for by private donated funds.

Eligibility and Expectations

There is an open call for applicants for this recognition. Any individual who applies must have taught at least six credits for the past year to be eligible. If selected as a finalist for the Teaching with Technology Innovator, the individual will receive a $250 honorarium and must agree to present an interactive session at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference (May 18, 2022), where they will also be recognized.

The individual selected as the 2022 Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium (instead of the $250 for finalists) and must also agree to the following conditions:

  • Have their name and picture highlighted in a Learning Technology Center blog post and in the ConnectIT newsletter;
  • Have their name and photograph displayed in the Learning Technology Center
  • Partner with the Learning Technology Center to highlight their work during the Fall 2022 and/or Spring 2023 semester.  

Please note: this honorarium counts toward the 20% base salary overload maximum. 

Submission of Application Materials

  • Application packages must include a: Personal reflection (1-2 pages) that includes the applicant’s teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, specifically discussing how they have demonstrated the innovative and effective use of learning technologies to create rich learning experiences for students that work to increase retention and success. 
  • Portfolio of 3-5 items that serve as evidence of their teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, as well as ways their use of technology contributes to student learning and success. Possible items include, but are not limited to: 
    • Letters of support from students, colleagues, or leadership.
    • Course evaluation data. 
    • Evidence of student impact (e.g., grades, learning, etc.) after trying a technology intervention. 
    • Examples of how the instructor contributes to their college, campus community, and beyond related to teaching and learning with technology.

Materials must be submitted through Qualtrics (http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eflnjKb810emUt) by March 27, 2022 April 11, 2022. If materials are missing, an individual’s application may not be considered.

Selection Process

Application packages will be reviewed by a committee composed of Learning Technology Center (LTC) Staff and members of the LTC Advisory Group (which is composed of 1-2 instructors from each college) after the deadline.  Notifications of the selected finalists will be made by April 11, 2022.  Finalists will be expected to submit a description of an interactive, synchronous session to be presented at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference in the University Center on the Whitewater Campus.

About the Sponsors 

This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with UWW’s Division of Instructional, Communication, and Information Technology (ICIT) and ICIT’s Learning Technology Center (LTC). Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. ICIT and the LTC are dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Questions? If you have questions, please reach out to the Learning Technology Center

Honoring Campus Innovators

“Fireworks 04” by drjoshuawhitman is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

On May 19, 2021, UW-Whitewater colleagues gathered for a day-long discussion and series of presentations about equity, inclusion, and technological innovations in teaching and learning. The Learning Technology Center and the LEARN Center joined to host both of these events. Many thanks to those who were able to attend and for those behind the scenes!

The morning session began with the LEARN Center Equity Ambassadors: Jenna Cushing-Leubner (COEPS), Nate Maddux (COIS), Juk Bhattachryya (COLS), Christine Hoover (COBE), and Susan Wildermuth (COEPS). Each of the presentations offered keen insight into the development of equitable courses and inclusive classroom communities with each talk offering participants precise strategies to implement in the future. Thank you for your hard work!

The afternoon sessions marked the beginning of “Celebrating Teaching and Learning,” a yearly event hosted by the Learning Technology Center designed to showcase technological innovations by UW-Whitewater instructional staff and faculty. This time around, Erin Bauer (Music) walked us through the affordances of online platforms to critically interrogate traditional music history curricula. Meg Waraczynski (Psychology) dove into granularity of adaptive, scenario-based learning using the Realizeit platform. Jeannine Rowe (Social Work) articulated her foundations in the PICRAT framework and methodology to structure students’ technology-mediated engagement in the course. Finally, Steven Girard (Chemistry) exhibited his use of interactive quiz technologies (Kahoot) to engage students and build community, as well as his creation of an online, open resource textbook created specifically for his students.

The Celebration concluded with the announcement of this year’s Cisco/Presidio “Teaching with Technology Innovator” honorarium, awarded to Meg Waraczynski! Congratulations again to each of this year’s finalists!

Next year’s “Celebrating Teaching and Learning” is scheduled for May 18, 2022 – we hope to see you there!

2021 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium

The Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Innovator Honorarium is a recognition that will be bestowed upon an instructor who displays an outstanding commitment to leveraging learning technologies to solve common teaching challenges related to creating rich learning experiences to increase student success.

For 2021, finalists for this award need to be willing to present an interactive virtual session at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.  The instructor selected as the Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium.  The other finalists will receive $250 honorariums.  These awards are paid for by private donated funds.

Eligibility and Expectations

There is an open call for applicants for this recognition. Any individual who applies must have taught at least six credits for the past year to be eligible. If selected as a finalist for the Teaching with Technology Innovator, the individual will receive a $250 honorarium and must agree to present an interactive session at the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference (May 19, 2021), where they will also be recognized.

The individual selected as the 2021 Teaching with Technology Innovator will receive a $1000 honorarium (instead of the $250 for finalists) and must also agree to the following conditions:

  • Have their name and picture highlighted in a Learning Technology Center blog post and in the ConnectIT newsletter;
  • Have their name and photograph displayed in the Learning Technology Center
  • Partner with the Learning Technology Center to highlight their work during the Fall 2021 and/or Spring 2022 semester.  

Please note: this honorarium counts toward the 20% base salary overload maximum. 

Submission of Application Materials

  • Application packages must include a: Personal reflection (1-2 pages) that includes the applicant’s teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, specifically discussing how they have demonstrated the innovative and effective use of learning technologies to create rich learning experiences for students that work to increase retention and success. 
  • Portfolio of 3-5 items that serve as evidence of their teaching philosophy and the role technology plays in it, as well as ways their use of technology contributes to student learning and success. Possible items include, but are not limited to: 
    • Letters of support from students, colleagues, or leadership.
    • Course evaluation data. 
    • Evidence of student impact (e.g., grades, learning, etc.) after trying a technology intervention. 
    • Examples of how the instructor contributes to their college, campus community, and beyond related to teaching and learning with technology.

Materials must be submitted through Qualtrics (http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eflnjKb810emUt) by March 5, 2021 March 14, 2021. If materials are missing, an individual’s application may not be considered.

Selection Process

Application packages will be reviewed by a committee composed of Learning Technology Center (LTC) Staff and members of the LTC Advisory Group (which is composed of 1-2 instructors from each college) after the deadline.  Notifications of the selected finalists will be made by March 31, 2021.  Finalists will be expected to submit a description of an interactive, synchronous virtual session to be presented at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning event.

About the Sponsors 

This award is sponsored by Presidio and Cisco Systems in conjunction with UWW’s Division of Instructional, Communication, and Information Technology (ICIT) and iCIT’s Learning Technology Center (LTC). Presidio and Cisco are proud of their work with institutions of higher education to inspire learning and connect campuses to enhance student outcomes. ICIT and the LTC are dedicated to working with instructors to understand teaching challenges, explore solutions, implement strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Questions? If you have questions, please reach out to the Learning Technology Center