April 2024 NEWSLETTER

We are in our last full month of the semester! We know the end is near, but we've still got a lot of awesome things coming up! In this newsletter, you'll learn about:

• Resources to help develop fall 2024 courses
• Canvas Discussion Redesign coming soon!
• Upcoming AI student and community panel
• Digital Learning Showcase information, submissions, and award nominations
• Digital Learning Faculty Fellow Opportunities
• April workshops on Ungrading, AI, and Gamification
• ILCI training, call for microcredential proposals, and grant opportunities

FALL COURSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Fall Courses are now available for you in Canvas! If you're already looking ahead and want to get started in the course shells, here are some tips:

• Copying an Entire Canvas Course [importing courses in Canvas]
• Copying individual items between Canvas Courses
• Quicker Course Building by Duplicating Items in Canvas

DISCUSSION REDESIGN

COMING IN MAY

Canvas has redesigned their discussion tool to improve experience and accessibility! The new Canvas Discussions will be turned on for UNO at the end of the spring semester! To learn more, check out the following resources:

• Dive into the Discussion Redesign Blog Post and Video
• Discussion Redesign Information Sheet

AI COMMUNITY AND STUDENT PANEL

Wednesday, April 17, 10am-12pm, MBSC Room 207/201

Join the Division of Innovative and Learning Centric Initiatives (ILCI) for an engaging discussion on the future of AI in education and the workforce. This panel will bring together UNO students and Omaha Community Members for a dynamic conversation covering topics such as current AI usage, emerging trends, essential skills, and potential areas for collaboration between academia and industry professionals.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Mark your calendars for our annual Digital Learning Showcase on Wednesday, May 1st, from 2-4pm in Criss Library. At this year's showcase, we will highlight the innovative strategies that UNO faculty are using when they teach online or with technology, and award the 2024 Outstanding Innovation in Teaching with Technology Award! 

NOTE: Although this is an in-person gathering, Zoom functionality will be available to accommodate those who are not local.

PRESENTER PROPOSALS

Submit your proposal by Friday, April 5!

Digital Learning is looking for faculty to present at our showcase; if you're implementing innovative technology and techniques into the online or in-person classroom, we encourage you to submit a proposal!

If you wish to be a presenter, please submit a topic proposal by selecting the button below. Feel free to submit multiple proposals if you have more than one topic to share. Faculty presenters will receive a $100 stipend for their time. 

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Nominations for the award close Friday, April 5!

We are now accepting nominations for the the 2024 Outstanding Innovation in Teaching with Technology Award. This award honors faculty who have implemented outstanding innovative teaching approaches, shown to increase student learning, engagement and success. All current full-time and part-time UNO faculty are eligible to be nominated. Nominations from current or former students, faculty members, staff members, or administrators (chair/director, dean) will be accepted; individuals can also self-nominate.

A Guide to Ungrading and Student-Centered Assessments

Thursday, April 4, 2:00-3:00pm

Grades have been synonymous with education for as long as we can remember, but what happens when we remove grading and focus on student learning? Join Digital Learning and faculty member, Andrea Grover for a session that dives into what ungrading is, the benefits of ungrading and the approaches to help get you started!

AI in Academia: Exploring Innovative Uses of AI

Wednesday, April 10 from 2-3pm

Join us for a workshop series on AI in Academia! Explore how faculty members, Melissa Cast-Brede, Adam Whittredge and Nicole Infante are harnessing the Power of AI to revolutionize classrooms and their work. Discover innovative ways AI is enhancing the teaching and learning experience and dive into practical applications of AI in Academia! Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the amazing things your colleagues are doing!

LEVEL UP: Enhancing Your Course Through Gamification

Wednesday, April 17, 1:00-2:00pm

Are you ready to take your course(s) to the next level? Join us for an engaging workshop that dives into the dynamic world of gamification. In this session, we’ll explore how game elements, such as points, rewards, and interactive challenges, can be strategically incorporated into courses (especially Competency-Based Learning courses) to motivate and engage learners like never before! Don’t miss this opportunity to LEVEL UP your course(s) and create an educational environment that students will not only excel in, but also thoroughly enjoy.

2024-2025 OPPORTUNITIES

The Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI) is pleased to announce a call for Digital Learning Faculty Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year. One-year appointments will begin in Fall 2024 and can be renewed for up to two additional years. Fellows will work with the Digital Learning team in ILCI and across campus in one of two areas:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Gather information from across campus on the potential benefits of and concerns about AI in higher education. Explore and share recent advances and potential future developments and best practices in AI with the campus. 

• Student Success: Explore and share recent research that addresses student success in online and flexible learning. Conduct research on UNO student success and retention in online courses and programs using institutional or primary data. 

All UNO full-time tenured faculty are eligible to apply. For more information and detailed application instructions, please see the ILCI website.

ADVANCING EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE TEACHING BADGE

ILCI's Digital Learning team offers a non-credit Advancing Excellence in Online Teaching Program that is designed to prepare you for online instruction or advance your skills if you are a seasoned instructor.

MICROCREDENTIAL CALL FOR PROPOSALS

ILCI is currently recruiting UNO faculty and staff to serve as Course Developers for a variety of high-priority microcredential topics. To see the topics we are recruiting for and submit a proposal, check out this Online at UNO webpage on Microcredentials.

COURSE DEVELOPMENT GRANT OPPORTUNITY

The Office of Digital Learning awards grants for faculty to develop or improve the online delivery of one of their courses; these due dates are now rolling, meaning you can apply for a course development grant at any point during the year. Learn more and apply for a grant on our ILCI Course Development Webpage.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

Digital Learning is offering two upcoming professional development courses through the summer. Select the links below to pre-register and learn more information:

• Humanizing Online: Continuing the Momentum to the End (May 20-June 30)
• AI Professional Development Course (Coming July 2024)

TRAINING ON DEMAND

PROGRAM TUNE-UP

Digital Learning/ILCI is now offering a new opportunity for academic programs to comprehensively review and refresh their online/flexible courses and programs. A program tune-up may be especially useful for programs with longstanding online degree offerings, programs considering curriculum changes, programs updating their strategic plans, or programs preparing for an upcoming Academic Program Review. If you’re interested in learning more about tune-up grant possibilities in your program, please see the Program Tune-Up webpage or reach out to Dan Hawkins, Director of Online Development, at dhawkins@unomaha.edu.