July 2024 Newsletter

As the summer days unfold, we're still in full stride to bring you exciting updates and valuable support! In this newsletter, you'll find insights into innovative projects and new opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) on campus. Enjoy your summer, and keep an eye out for our next newsletter in August.

Drop Ins – Summer Hours

For the month of July, Digital Learning drop-in hours will take place on Mondays–Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. We’re still here to help you, but with reduced demand during the summer and staff taking vacations, etc. we are limiting the number of days per week to staff drop in support. You can always email the team at uno.its.digitallearning@unomaha.edu and someone will get back to you as soon as we can.

To schedule a meeting with Digital Learning, visit the ILCI website. 

Open AI Challenge RFP Is Now Open!

We’re excited to announce that the Request for Proposal (RFP) portion of the Open AI Challenge is now open! Submit an RFP for the opportunity to receive one of UNO’s 1000 ChatGPT enterprise licenses. We’re seeking proposals that cultivate creativity, enhance engagement, and improve efficiency among other considerations; with a priority on those proposals that complement our goal of AI fostering a positive campus-wide impact.

New AI Learning Lab Website Launched

The AI Learning Lab will now have a more robust website to offer details and resources on all things AI at UNO. On the website, you’ll find:

• Open AI Challenge Information
• Information about the AI Campus Consortium
• AI-Powered Resources and Professional Development Opportunities
• The NEW AI-Powered Educator Badge
• AI Spring Summit information
• Stories of AI on campus

AI-Powered Teaching Grants Now Available

ILCI is now offering our first round of AI-Powered Teaching grants to help you integrate Generative AI into your course(s). Collaborate with an Instructional Designer to effectively and meaningfully implement AI into your teaching in three different ways.

• Tier 1: Assignment Implementation
• Tier 2: Module Implementation 
• Tier 3: Full Implementation

AI Professional Development Course Started Yesterday

Last chance to sign up for our first cohort of our AI professional development course, The AI Advantage: Transforming Teaching and Preparing Students to Thrive, running through August 18.

This non-credit course is offered online using the Canvas LMS, over a 6-week period. It is asynchronous, but not self-paced. You should plan to spend about 3-5 hours per week. The first 120 faculty and staff will receive a $300 stipend for successfully completing all discussions and assignments.

In June, Canvas added the Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite to the rich content editor, making it freely available to everyone. As a tool, Lucid lets you create mind maps, flowcharts, Venn Diagrams and more, allowing real-time collaboration access.

Learn more about the tool and its integration with Canvas in this blog post, Getting Started with the Canvas and Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite.  

Have you ever wanted to assign specific modules in your course to a specific student or section? We have! Starting July 20, 2024, Canvas will allow you to assign a module to a specific student or section. To learn more about this upcoming feature, check out the following blog posts for a preview of its functionality and design:

• Releasing Modules to Students and Sections
• The Latest on Releasing Modules to Students and Sections

EDUCAUSE Learning Lab: Developing and Teaching an Online Humanized Course

The Division of Innovation Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI) is excited to partner with EDUCAUSE, a national leader in advancing higher education with information technology, to launch a Learning Lab on Developing and Teaching a Humanized Course. This Learning Lab offers live sessions on creating a humanized online learning environment. We encourage you to share this exciting opportunity with your colleagues and networks to help spread the word about this valuable course!

Learn more here. 

Marketing and Communications Project Request

ILCI offers marketing and communications support for your online degrees and programs! This service will offer support in strategizing and designing your marketing and communications needs. You can receive this support by submitting the Marketing and Communications Project Request Form. 

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.

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.

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.