May 2024 Newsletter

You've reached the end of the semester! Congrats! As you get ready to take off for summer, a reminder that Digital Learning will still be around to help with any Canvas, YuJa, or academic technology/instructional design needs. Drop-ins will still be open 9-4 M-F, or feel free to schedule a meeting with us through our bookings website (both located in the help icon of Canvas).

Congrats to This Year's Winners!!

Congrats to Robert Fulkerson and Kyle Reestman for co-winning the 2024 Outstanding Innovation in Teaching with Technology Award. Bob and Kyle co-teach CIST 1400: Introduction to Computer Science I. Through the implementation of innovative technology (zyBooks and Poll Everywhere) and a flipped classroom model, they have increased student engagement and decreased their historical DFW rates of approximately 33% to under 8% in recent semesters!! Tell them congrats if you see them around!

Check out all the Showcase Presentations you missed! To find individual presentations, select the show sidebar button (to the right of closed captions), and select indexes. From there, you'll be able to choose the individual presentation you want to watch.

Below are some resources to help you finish out the semester:

Discussion Redesign

COMING THIS MONTH

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 Panels

ILCI hosted AI Community and Student Panels on Wednesday, April 17th. These engaging panels discussed ways they currently us AI, the skills they want potential employees to have, and how UNO can support the development of AI skills in students and employees. Learn about the takeaways below!

Student Panel

7 students shared ways they are using AI, what they want to learn, and how we can support them. Review the highlights from their comments below:

1. Students are using AI as a tool to brainstorm, increase efficiency, streamline processes, and balance the demands of being a student.
2. Students want clear guidance on acceptable uses of AI, what tools are available, and what tools to use when. 
3. Belief that students need to taught responsible use on how to use it appropriately and to be critical of the output (not rely on it to complete work).
4. Desire for AI to be incorporated into classes, curriculum, and internships to prepare them for the workforce. 
5. Need to learn how AI can be a partner and collaborator (capstone classes).

Community Employer Panel

This panel consisted of community employers: Albert Varas, Stefanie Monge, Stephen Osberg and John Weichman. They discussed the importance of AI Skills in future employees, how they are currently using AI in their areas and how UNO can prepare students for the workforce. Review the highlights below:

1. AI is being used to improve efficiency and productivity at their businesses and non-profits.
2. AI skills are becoming increasingly important, especially prompt engineering, the ability to critically assess output, and understanding AI bias.
3. Ethical considerations and transparency when using AI is important
4. AI is transforming communication and processes
5. AI will not take jobs from people; people who know how to use AI will.

Ready to Take Action? 

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.

Course Starting Soon!

Runs May 20th through June 30th

The second of four Humanizing Online courses, Continuing the Momentum to the End will be offered after the semester ends! This course focuses on strategies to design and facilitate humanized and connected online learning communities throughout your course; we hope its content inspires your teaching in all modalities, not just online.

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.