Snow, ice, and blustery wind chills have you stuck inside? Learn something new with The Learning Technology Center (LTC)! Our Spring Programming is now available! If these topics or times do not fit your needs, please request a consultation with the LTC!
Campus Technology Trainings – These trainings focus on technology specific to UW-Whitewater, suitable for those new to campus or looking for a refresher!
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Short Description
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Webex Basics for Everyone
A workshop for the academic community to master Webex for effective communication, collaboration, and document sharing.
Generative AI – Our spring slate of generative AI workshops are designed to support instructors, administrators, or other campus employees wherever they are on their AI journey. Our Introductory workshop is perfect for those just getting started, while our more advanced offerings on prompt writing and content creation are suitable for anyone with a strong AI interest.
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Short Description
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Introduction to Generative AI
Discover the basics, opportunities, and limitations of generative AI in education, including tools and implications for classroom use.
Quality Course Improvement – This series offers educators comprehensive tools and strategies to enhance online learning effectiveness and student success.
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Short Description
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Leveraging Canvas Analytics for Student Retention
Learn to use Canvas Analytics to identify at-risk students and implement retention strategies, enhancing student retention and support.
Canvas Trainings – Whether you are a seasoned Canvas expert or building your first course, the LTC has developed trainings for all! Join us this spring as we cover a variety of topics, from improving navigation, to grade books, to building pages. No specific questions but want to work on your course under the eye of our Canvas expert? Check out the monthly Canvas Open Labs!
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Short Description
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Registration Link
Improving Course Navigation in Canvas
This session will talk about the best practices around setting up your course navigation, getting the most out of your Syllabus area and calendar, laying out your modules in a meaningful way, and using announcements to prepare students for each week.
In this hands-on session about setting up both points based and weighted gradebooks, we will ensure that your Assignment Groups have the same name as in your syllabus, any needed rules are applied to your Assignment Groups, and that you have a Grade Scheme that matches your syllabus.
Find out what data is already available to you in Canvas, and start setting up materials so you can get even more out of future versions of your course.
This training will focus on making a series of small, easy, and optional, shifts from your current course design to a setup backed by feedback from student panels conducted right here at UW-Whitewater.
This synchronous training is meant as a supplement to our asynchronous, self-paced resource designed to help instructors take lengthy modules, and turn them into sleek pages.
In this workshop, we’ll focus on managing student grade concerns by aligning Canvas features with your syllabus, including setting zeros for missing work, properly weighting assignment groups, and adjusting the course’s Grade Scheme.
This session will explore enhancing quiz integrity beyond monitoring software by using the assessment description for rules reminders, setting up timed and randomized questions, utilizing various question types to hinder answer lookups, and focusing on skill application.
In this workshop, we’ll focus on managing student grade concerns by aligning Canvas features with your syllabus, including setting zeros for missing work, properly weighting assignment groups, and adjusting the course’s Grade Scheme.
The eGrading process allows instructors to transfer final grades from their Canvas Gradebook directly to their WINS Grade Roster. During this training, we will go over the process, and utilize breakout rooms to look at individual gradebooks as needed.
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. Deadline extended to April 12th, 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.
The afternoon sun shines through trees in Chopp Arboretum and illuminates the snow near Hyer Hall. (UW-Whitewater Photos/Craig Schreiner)
Welcome back, Warhawks!
As we begin 2024, the LTC has prepared a series of workshops over Winterim that aim to ensure a seamless start to Spring Semester. LTC experts have selected three series to help instructors: Canvas Course Boot Camp, Quality Course Design, and Generative AI. If none of the listed workshops (or topics!) meet your needs, LTC experts are available for one-on-one consultations!
Get your Canvas courses in fighting shape with our Course Prep Boot Camp Series. In this series, instructors will be guided through refining existing Canvas courses or assisted in building new ones. Series topics include: building content, assignments and grades, accessories, and collaborations. Enroll in one or a few; even if it is a way to dedicate time.
Elevate your teaching methods with the Quality Course Design Series, designed for educators eager to revitalize their teaching strategies and course design in both face-to-face and online settings. This series merges three critical aspects of modern education: incremental course enhancement, fostering student interactions, and aligning learning objectives with outcomes.
In the Generative AI Series, workshops will focus on preparing instructors for AI use in the classroom, from building a syllabus policy, to integrating AI into student assignments, to finding ways to streamline classroom prep. Workshops include updated information and resources to keep you on top of this emerging technology. All generative AI workshops are interconnected, but not serial, so register for as many as interest you!
Find more details, including registration links, click here. Or visit our Events Calendar.
Attitudes about generative AI have shifted from apprehension to curiosity. (Image created using DALLE-3.)
The Learning Technology Center has been actively exploring and integrating generative AI into campus educational practices. This exploration has manifested through a series of workshops, panel discussions, and informational sessions, reflecting a shift in attitude from initial apprehension to curiosity and tentative adoption in teaching methodologies.
Lessons Learned
Communication, Transparency, and Setting Expectations Comprise A Responsible Use Framework: Thoughtful integration of generative AI in the classroom necessitates that instructors clearly outline their expectations, regularly address generative AI use with students, and acknowledge when and how they are using it. Use of generative AI is not appropriate for every classroom, and as such, providing students with an explanation of AI’s limitations will help dissuade improper use.
Privacy and Security Remain Critical Consideration Areas: As companies continue to modify, expand, and monetize platforms, how they will use personal data remains unclear. Users should be diligent in what information they share with any generative AI platform and be cognizant of what information is kept or stored with any platform.
Generative AI Has Capabilities to Augment, Not Replace, Education: In just over a year of generative AI use, the best examples of AI’s transformative power in education have been in helping students and instructors achieve more, such as, increasing student access to personalized feedback and decreasing instructor workload in generating rubrics, course materials, or assignment ideas. Generative AI is not a replacement for teaching and learning, but a tool that can help all succeed.
Humanity in Technology is Vital: As Dr. McGovern stated in our panel discussion, “Human beings are the final arbiters of truth.” Generative AI is not a replacement for human creativity, creation, or critical thinking. In a world where deep fakes and disinformation will need to be actively countered, it is imperative that students, instructors, and all campus constituents think critically about what content is considered original and credible.
Awareness and Detection of AI Workshop: This workshop focused on equipping educators with skills to differentiate between student-generated and AI-generated content and discussed the ethical use of generative AI in coursework.
Incorporating AI into Assessments Workshop: This workshop demonstrated the use of ChatGPT in streamlining assessment processes, reducing instructor workload, and enhancing learning objectives.
Use Cases and Opportunities for AI Workshop: This workshop highlighted the diverse applications of generative AI in higher education and discussed strategies for effective implementation.
Ethics and Limitations of AI Workshop: This session delved into the ethical concerns surrounding generative AI, discussing the importance of responsible AI literacy, verification of authentic work, and the vital role humanity still plays in technology.
Panel Discussion on Generative AI in Academia: This event brought together various campus community members to discuss AI’s burgeoning role in academia, covering topics like academic integrity, educational reshaping, and institutional responsibility.
Other Resources
Introduction to Generative AI Knowledge Base (KB) Article – This KB gives a brief overview of what generative AI is and how it can be used with respect to privacy and security concerns. Additionally, it provides a repository of sources and links to more information.
Generative AI Syllabus Policy Language KB – This article gives examples of syllabus policy language instructors can use to set expectations for generative AI use in the classroom. The example language gives instructors flexibility to determine what is best for their classroom. As the Faculty Senate passed a resolution that an AI policy must be included in syllabi, this document is invaluable in assisting instructors getting started with this process.
Looking Ahead
Winterim Programming – In the Generative AI Series, workshops will focus on preparing instructors for AI use in the classroom, from building a syllabus policy, to integrating AI into student assignments, to finding ways to streamline classroom prep. All generative AI workshops are interconnected, but not serial, so register for as many as interest you!
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.
Join the Learning Technology Center (LTC) this Winterim to get a jump start on Spring Semester! Our experts have crafted a series of workshops to help instructors prepare for the coming semester.
Workshop topics include:
Canvas Course Prep
Quality Course Design
Generative Artificial Intelligence
Find full workshop descriptions and more detailed information here. For sign up information, visit our Events Calendar.
Already made your Winterim plans? Not to fear! LTC staff are available for one-on-one consultations throughout Winterim, which can be scheduled during our normal hours, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Reach out to the LTC directly here.
The Learning Technology Center, LEARN Center and Office of Academic Assessment are excited to invite proposals for UWW’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference (CTL) which will be held on May 15th, 2024. We invite UW-Whitewater faculty and staff to share their educational innovations for teaching and learning with the wider university community.
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.
Concurrent presentation sessions will last 45 minutes. You are welcome to propose a variety of formats, such as a panel discussion, interactive workshop, or presentation of research. We strongly encourage you to incorporate open discussion/Q&A time into your session.
Required Submission Materials:
-Presenter(s) Names and Photos -Presentation Abstract (max 400 characters) -Presentation Description and Goals (max 3000 characters)
Feel free to reach out to the LTC with any questions about the proposal process at ltc@uww.edu.
Applications close April 1st, 2024 and notifications of acceptance will be received no later than April 12th, 2024.
The shape of Hyer Hall dominates as a blanket of fine snow fall on the UW-Whitewater campus on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (UW-Whitewater Photos/Craig Schreiner)
Make the most of Winterim with the LTC! We have developed a wide array of programming to help instructors get a jump start on the spring semester and beyond! Registration links are provided below, or visit our Events Calendar.
The Course Prep Boot Camp Series is designed for instructors looking to get their course for next semester up and running, but all faculty and staff are welcome. Come with previous content ready to be updated, or moved from paper into Canvas (i.e.,moving a quiz or rubric into a digital form). This series of workshops will provide you the how-to and time to complete specific tasks to get your course set up. Enroll in one, a handful, or all of them; even if it is just for a way to schedule your time.
Elevate your teaching methods with the Quality Course Design Series, designed for educators eager to revitalize their teaching strategies and course design in both face-to-face and online settings. This series merges three critical aspects of modern education: incremental course enhancement, fostering student interactions, and aligning learning objectives with outcomes.
In the Generative AI Series, workshops will focus on preparing instructors for AI use in the classroom, from building a syllabus policy, to integrating AI into student assignments, to finding ways to streamline classroom prep. If you are new to generative AI, the Introductory workshop is a great place to start! All generative AI workshops are interconnected, but not serial, so register for as many as interest you!
The LTC, LEARN Center, and Office of Academic Assessment would like to invite you to save the date for the Celebrating Teaching and Learning (CTL) Conference on May 15th, 2024! The conference will be held in person at the University Center. It is open to all University of Wisconsin – Whitewater staff. More information about registration, the call for presentation proposals, and applications for the Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium will be coming soon! We look forward to our campus community coming together to share ideas, collaborate on common challenges, and build camaraderie! If you have any questions about this conference, please contact theLearning Technology Center.
Join the LTC in 2024 in exploring the Educause Horizon Report!
This spring, join the LTC and LEARN Center in a dynamic exploration of the 2023 Educause Horizon Report “Teaching and Learning” Edition! The report discusses the emerging trends, key technologies, and innovative practices set to redefine the student experience and our collective future in higher education.
In an era where generative AI and other technological advancements are revolutionizing content creation, communication, and learning, the higher education sector buzzes with new possibilities, but equal challenges. These developments prompt vital questions about the responsible use of technology and its potential overreach.
Our unique “book-club-inspired” Explorers Group invites you to delve deep into these issues. Engage with fellow inquisitive members of the UW-Whitewater community, including educators, leaders, administrators, and technologists. Together, we’ll explore how the insights from the Horizon Report resonate with our experiences both inside and outside the classroom, and potential ways to prepare for the challenges it highlights.
Meeting semi-weekly, our group will focus on the essential theme of our shared humanity. We will tackle how to meet the diverse needs of our students in the face of powerful technological shifts and the growing necessity for human-centered approaches in education. Your participation will enrich our discussions on building institutional communities that prioritize student well-being and a sense of belonging.
As we conclude our sessions, we’ll reflect on the implications for educational institutions. How can we effectively prepare for the future outlined in the report? Our goal is to derive actionable insights that can significantly influence our professional paths. We’ll ponder crucial questions: What actions should we take now? What strategies should we develop for the future?
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a vital conversation about the evolving landscape of higher education and its impact on our roles and responsibilities!
Excursion Dates and Time Various Thursdays, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – McGraw 19A or Hybrid via Webex
Please register individually for the session(s) you can attend.
Date
Topic
February 8th
Intro and Trends: Scanning the Horizon – What is the Educause Horizon Report?
