June 2024 Newsletter

The academic year has come to a close, and we would like to thank all the faculty and staff for your hard work this year! As summer begins, we're excited to share a season filled with new opportunities and initiatives for the 2024-2025 academic year. Enjoy your summer, and keep an eye out for our next newsletter in July for important announcements. 

Drop Ins – Summer Hours

For the months of June and 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. 

AI Learning Lab

LAUNCHING FALL 2024

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) plans to scale up its innovation efforts using AI through the launch of an AI Learning Lab in the Fall of 2024. This lab aims to achieve the following goals:

• Upskilling UNO faculty and staff with AI skills
• Infusing AI into courses and learning experiences for students to help prepare them for the workforce
• Identifying opportunities for operational efficiency in administrative units through specific AI-based pilots
• Amplifying the ethical, responsible, and appropriate use of AI throughout the UNO community to support a broader culture of innovation on campus

The AI Learning Lab represents a step forward in empowering our UNO community to thrive in an increasingly digital-driven world. We're looking forward to this initiative and the positive impact it will bring!

Want to Learn More About AI?

Sign up for our AI professional development course, The AI Advantage: Transforming Teaching and Preparing Students to Thrive, Running July 8-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. Participants receive a $300 stipend for successfully completing all discussions and assignments.

Marketing and Communications Project Request

ILCI now 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. 

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

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.