News
From a new cohort graduating from Information Technology Academy or Blend@UW to an extra learning technologies launching in Learn@UW, there’s always something going on at DoIT Academic Technology. Check back regularly to stay updated!
During the second annual IT Recognition Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 4, 2021, the IT community recognized colleagues from DoIT Academic Technology. Learn@UW–Madison, the service that manages the Learn@UW suite of learning technologies, won the Team Achievement Award for their part in the continuity of instruction effort the university underwent during the pandemic. Naomi Bernstein,… Theme The May 5, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on ways instructors are implementing structures to promote a welcoming and antiracist learning environment. Takeaways Get comfortable with discomfort: Improvement can feel overwhelming. Effective physical workouts, good learning exercises — these are difficult, challenging, and uncomfortable, but they’re important to do. (See also: Purposeful Action –… While some may get ready for summer by hitting the gym, buying extra sunscreen and checking out the latest beach reads – many instructors are focused on getting their courses into shape. To help, the Learn@UW–Madison team is providing trainings, updates on tools, and reminders about resources. Plus, instructors can always contact the DoIT Help… Theme The April 28, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on ways to design a rigorous, high-expectations course for uncertain times and changing circumstances. Setting other factors aside, College is stressful. Add to this the understanding that, as with all humans, students’ lives are full of complexity. Also factor in that students are often trying to figure… Theme The April 21, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on strategies and examples for clearer communication of expectations, simpler access to activities, and more welcoming design. Takeaways “The result of calm technology is to put us at home, in a familiar place. When our periphery is functioning well we are tuned into what is happening… Theme The April 7, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on ways to keep track of the mental and emotional health of remote students. It’s difficult, but they’ll be better learners if you do. Because the culture of western education (and especially of higher education) stresses achievement and competition, students will often not readily display signs of… Theme The March 31, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on ways to engage students during synchronous sessions. Takeaways To fully engage, we need to feel a significant level of connection (Does this matter to me?) and comfort (Can I ask, listen, take risks, make mistakes, and recover with grace & humility?) Create space to engage:… Theme The March 25, 2021 Active Teaching Lab focused on ways to engage students more actively during remote instruction by integrating internet research and critical thinking into lessons and activities. Takeaways We’ve probably all seen articles like The Internet is NOT the Best Place for Kids to Learn After the Coronavirus Pandemic (tl;dr — upset… Theme The Lab theme for the March 17, 2021 Active Teaching Lab was: Fostering confident and supportive student interactions that increase multiperspective problem-solving and critical thinking. Takeaways Role of Participation in Learning Our learning is derived from feedback — from direct experience (fire is hot), from parents (pulling sibling’s hair is wrong), from teachers (2+2=4),… Theme of March 10, 2021 Lab The Lab participants discussed insights into the experiences and expectations of remote students. Takeaways Why listen to students? One might well argue that students don’t know what they don’t know. Many don’t know the research on effective teaching & learning, and they certainly don’t [yet!] know about the content…University’s IT Community Recognizes DoIT AT Colleagues
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Build equity and belonging into your course
Get Courses in Shape for Summer
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Flexible and fair course design
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Improve Canvas Navigation
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Support Struggling Students
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Improve synchronous student engagement
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Engage students with the internet
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Improve student participation
Active Teaching Lab Recap: Students Want You to Know