January 2024 Newsletter

We hope you have a nice holiday break! Digital Learning is back in the office and ready to help you execute a successful 3-week course and prepare for the spring semester! In addition to our normal hours, we will be offering extended drop-in hours from 4-7 on the following Mondays and Tuesdays:

• Mondays: 1/8, 1/22, 1/29
• Tuesdays: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30

This newsletter contains resources to help you prepare for the semester, information about Gradescope, our new tech tool, and Digital Learning workshops and events being offered during the spring semester. 

The list of links below are tech tips to help you build and prepare your course for the spring semester! A list of all tech tips can be found on our Future-Focused EDU Canvas Tech Tips Page,

• Look over the Beginning of the Semester Checklist
• Wanting to use a past Canvas course? Learn how to Import a Canvas Course
• Wanting to use individual items from past courses? Learn how to Copy Individual Items between Canvas Courses
• Building from scratch? Learn how you can Build Courses Quicker in Canvas!
• Check out Canvas Design Studio for inspiration and Canvas templates
• Import Templates from Canvas Commons
• Creating new quizzes or exams? Learn how you can Build Quizzes and Tests Quicker Using the Akindi Test Importer
• Use the Canvas Link Validator to check for broken links.
• Watch our 6 Quick Tips for Making Accessible Courses video.
• Check the Canvas Accessibility Checker
• Needing to make videos or video quizzes? Check out the YuJa Video Resource Page.
• Check for accessibility and learn how to use YuJa Panorama

NEW TOOL - Gradescope!

Gradescope is now available for all instructors to use at UNO. Gradescope is an integrated Canvas tool that allows you to save time while grading and provide better feedback to your students for both online and in-person assessments.

Join us for a Gradescope Basics session! In this session you will learn how use Gradescope for the delivery and grading of a paper-based assessment. You’ll be walked through the process from creating the assessment, scanning it into Gradescope, grading the assignment with AI grouping and rubrics, publishing the results for students to view, and posting the grades back to Canvas.

• Thurs., Jan. 11 from 1-2pm
• Thurs., Jan. 18 from 11-12pm
• Tues., Feb. 6 from 10-11am
• Thurs., Feb. 29 from 1-2pm
• Tues., Apr. 23 from 1-2pm

YuJa Video Update

As a reminder, our contract with VidGrid ended at the end of June 2023. Although VidGrid videos were operating through most of the fall semester, VidGrid videos are no longer available. We recommend double checking the videos embedded in your course before the semester begins and replacing ones that need to be replaced. For resources or help replacing VidGrid videos, check out the YuJa Resource Page, stop by drop-ins or schedule a meeting with a Digital Learning team member through our bookings page (available through the help icon in Canvas). 

Select the links below to learn more and register for the individual workshops in January!

• YuJa Quick Byte: Advanced Editing, Tues., Jan. 9 from 10-10:30am
• YuJa Quick Byte: Video Quizzes, Wed., Jan. 10 from 10-10:30am
• YuJa Quick Byte: Analytics and Gradebook, Thurs., Jan. 11 from 10-10:30am
• Using Canvas Analytics to Enhance Student Engagement and Retention, Tues., Jan. 16 from 10-11am
• YuJa Panorama, Wed., Jan. 17 from 10-11am
• Revolutionize Your Grading Workflow: Unleash the Power of SpeedGrader and Gradebook, Thurs., Jan. 18 from 10-11am
• AI Panel Discussion: Detection Tools, Syllabus Statements and More, Thurs., Jan. 18 from 1-2pm
• Coffee & Conversations, Fri., Jan 19 from 9-10am

Thinking Outside the Traditional Model Workshops

The workshops below are being offered in February-April. Select the individual links below to learn more and register!

• Optimize your Course for Mobile Usage, Tues., Feb. 8 from 2-3pm
• Strategies for Successful Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI), Mon., March 4 from 2-3pm
• Breaking Free from Grades: A Guide to Ungrading and Student-Centered Assessment, Thurs., April 4 from 2-3pm
• LEVEL UP: Enhancing CBE Courses Through Gamification, Wed., Apr. 17 from 1-2pm

AI in Academia: Exploring Innovative Uses of AI

Join us for a workshop series on AI in Academia! Explore how faculty members are harnessing the Power of AI to revolutionize their classrooms and 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!

• Register for Session 1, Mon., Feb. 12 from 11am-12pm - Matt Hale, Thang Tran, and William Kramer
• Register for Session 2,Tues., Mar. 19 from 1-2pm - Maggie Christensen, Travis Adams, and Jill Quandt
• Register for Session 3, Wed., Apr. 10 from 2-3pm - Adam Whittredge, Melissa Cast-Brede, and Cassie Mallette

Professional Development Courses

Digital Learning is offering two professional development courses during the spring semester. Select the links below to register for one or both of them.

• Empowering Faculty in the World of Competency-Based Education, Parts 1 & 2, Feb. 19-Apr. 7 ($300 Stipend)
• Flexibility by Design: Designing Hyflex Courses to Support Learning Parts 1 & 2, Mar. 18-Apr. 28 ($300 Stipend)
• Foundations of Teaching Online, 12-week course, rolling start date ($1,000 Stipend)

Grant Application Deadline is February 1st!

Three times a year, the Office of Digital Learning awards grants for faculty to develop or improve the online delivery of one of their courses; the next approaching due date is for courses that are marked for Fall 2024 course delivery. Learn more and apply for a grant on our ILCI Course Development Webpage.

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.