Initiatives & Major Projects

Whether an ongoing, campus-wide initiative or a limited-term, school-level project, our efforts are successful due in large part to our partnerships and participation in committees and groups.

Educational Innovation • Unizin • UW Women in IT • Engage eText • Enrollment Tools Redesign • Learning Analytics • Online Learning • REACH • Student Digital Ecosystem • Student Learning Assessment

Initiatives

Much of our work aligns with campus initiatives, which are efforts that change how the campus does business; have broad campus leadership/executive sponsorship backing and commitment; and have significant campus resources dedicated to them to ensure their success.

Educational Innovation

The mission of the Educational Innovation (EI) Initiative is to engage and inspire students through enriched learning. The initiative strives to fulfill this mission by enabling personalized learning experiences, at scale, using technology and expanding access for both traditional and new student audiences. DoIT AT works with EI on multiple projects including the Student Digital Ecosystem, REACH, Unizin, the Online Learning Initiative and Open Educational Resources.

Unizin

In 2014, UW-Madison joined Unizin, a consortium of like-minded institutions with the mission of improving the learning experience by providing an environment built on collaboration, data, standards and scale. The Unizin efforts at UW-Madison are co-sponsored by Steven Cramer, Vice Provost for Instructional Continuity and Academic Affairs, and Lois Brooks, Vice Provost for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. DoIT AT plays a critical role in leading and supporting the effort on a variety of levels including the management of the Engage eText Pilot and Unizin Data Platform integration.

UW Women In IT

Supported by the Office of the CIO, UW Women in IT (UW-WIT) is a campus organization dedicated to developing strategies to improve the recruitment, retention and advancement of women working in IT on campus. The 400+ member organization holds regular educational and networking events open to all members of campus, often partnering with organizations with similar missions to create the best possible workforce. DoIT AT staff participate in this initiative.

Major Projects

As part of initiatives, partnerships or our daily work serving campus, we contribute to many significant projects. The following are a few of the newer projects sponsored by the Provost Office, Office of the Registrar or cross-campus initiatives. For a full list of our current projects, contact us.

Engage eText

DoIT AT provided technical development, project management, consultation, training and evaluation for the Educational Innovation (EI) Initiative-led Engage eText pilot since spring 2018. With the pilot completed, DoIT AT staff is working towards the launch of the Engage eText platform in fall 2020 as part of the Learn@UW suite of tools. The primary aim is to reduce the weight of textbook costs on students.

Enrollment Tools Redesign

Led by the Office of the Registrar, this project seeks to create the foundation for a single course exploration and enrollment solution for students. Currently, students use disparate systems for exploring available courses, planning their class schedule, enrolling for courses, and tracking their progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. DoIT AT provides project management and strategic leadership in solving this issue.

Learning Analytics

The campus-wide Learning Analytics Roadmap Committee (LARC), led by the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, has contextually defined learning analytics as the undertaking of activities designed to improve student outcomes by informing structure, content, delivery, or support of the learning environment. DoIT AT staff supports this work by collaborating with LARC members.

Online Learning Initiative

Enhancing and scaling online learning is a significant focus for campus and the Educational Innovation (EI) Online Learning Initiative, particularly as both strive to advance personalized learning strategies using technology and to expand access to both residential (“traditional”) and new student audiences. In partnership with schools, colleges and other campus units, EI aims to help enhance and scale high-quality online learning experiences across campus. Online Course Production contributes to the development of new courses as part of the initiative.

REACH

Although our involvement has paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, the REACH (Redesigning for Active Learning in High-Enrollment Courses) initiative aim has been to improve student learning by increasing students’ engagement in large introductory courses. Since its inception in 2016, REACH has benefited over 23,000 undergraduate students, and will continue to do so into the future. In partnership with schools, colleges, and the Office of the Provost, the REACH project is co-sponsored by the Educational Innovation (EI) Initiative and DoIT Academic Technology. The participating departments have been Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Kinesiology, Materials Science & Engineering and Communication Arts.

Student Digital Ecosystem

Revolving around a campus consortium of infrastructure providers, policy-makers and operational teams, the Student Digital Ecosystem (SDE) is an initiative focused on defining and implementing a holistic, well-integrated digital learning environment that promotes student success and provides a consistent and engaging user experience. The group explores the intersection between institutional policy, operational demands and the evolving tools and infrastructure within the ecosystem. Specifically, the initiative has focused on ways data flows through the various facets of the environment that include student information systems, learning management systems, and student learning assessment tools. Learn@UW-Madison, DoIT AT project managers and departmental leadership are engaged in this effort.

Student Learning Assessment

The Student Learning Assessment (SLA) initiative collaborates with academic programs, departments, faculty and instructors across campus by providing resources, planning tools, and consultative services for learning assessment-related activities. DoIT Academic Technology partners with the Office of the Provost around digital learning assessment tools including digital course evaluation and institutional-level surveys, program assessment (learning objectives, plans and annual reports), digital syllabi, direct assessment and Student Digital Ecosystem integration pilots. Learn@UW-Madison, DoIT AT project managers and departmental leadership are engaged in this effort.

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