What’s happening

Canvas – Learning Continuity features being tested

Learn@UW has been invited to participate in a Canvas early adopter program (EAP) for new administrative Learning Continuity settings. These settings have the potential to create automated gradebook and roster backups for our entire Canvas instance. Over the next few weeks we’ll test these features and provide feedback to the vendor. More information will follow as we move through the EAP and as UW–Madison makes decisions about full implementation.

Atomic Assessments – October 6 updates

This week, Atomic Assessments received some updates which include:

• Unsaved work reminder. Instructors are now asked to confirm before leaving the question editor with unsaved changes.
• Accurate auto-submit times. For assessment attempts that ran out of time, the timestamp recorded in the Canvas gradebook is when time actually ran out (not up to five minutes later).

For more, please refer to the full release notes.

Honorlock – HonorPrep improvements for students

Instructors can improve their students’ experience with Honorlock by suggesting they run through the HonorPrep guide before taking exams. Honorlock recently updated HonorPrep with a more intuitive pre-exam walkthrough, which includes direct access to resources like how to set up the Honorlock mobile app and how to set up and troubleshoot the desktop app.

Engage – Ordering period for spring 2027

Instructors can use Engage to deliver eTexts and digital learning tools (DLTs) in their courses. The window for selecting these digital resources for spring 2027 courses is October 19-December 7. To review textbooks and other resources available through Engage, go to the Engage order tool and browse the catalog.

Upcoming events

HelioCampus AC training

In preparation for this semester’s course evaluation surveys, Learn@UW provides the following learning opportunities for all HelioCampus AC departmental administrator and their associates.

Creating Survey Forms (Templates)

• Monday, October 19, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Scheduling Surveys & Assigning Course Sections

• Tuesday, October 20, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

HelioCampus AC – Q&A

• Monday, November 2, 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, November 12, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, November 16, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Turnitin webinars

Turnitin is hosting two webinars to cover new features available through the updated Canvas integration, which is now available to UW–Madison instructors. These webinars introduce the workflow to access new features, multipart assignments, and Turnitin feedback tools.

• Thursday, October 15, 12:30 a.m. (CT)

This training is provided by the vendor and registration is required. Click the link above to register.

Top Hat training

The following training sessions are provided by the vendor.

Top Hat Drop-In Office Hours [in person, on campus]

Wednesday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Computer Science Building, 3139ABC

No registration necessary.

Inspiring Students to Do the Hard Work of Learning [webinar]

October 28th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CT)

(Jal Mehta, Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of In Search of Deeper Learning)

How do we inspire students to invest in learning when motivation is low and AI makes it easier to sidestep the hard work? Harvard educator and author Jal Mehta will share how mastery, creativity, and identity can fuel deeper learning. Faculty will leave with strategies for sparking curiosity, encouraging deeper thinking, and helping students see themselves in their discipline.

Learn more and register.

Joyful Teaching in Every Class [On demand]

(Flower Darby, author of Small Teaching Online and The Joyful Online Teacher)

What does it take for students—and educators—to flourish? In this free, self-paced faculty development course, acclaimed educator and author Flower Darby explores the science of human flourishing and shares research-informed strategies for strengthening engagement, relationships, motivation, and well-being in online and in-person courses. This free 90-minute on-demand course includes a certificate for faculty development credit.

Learn more and register.

Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring

UW–Madison’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring is hosting a series of events this semester in a program titled Exploring AI in Teaching. These sessions provide opportunities for instructors and instructional support staff to hone their skills for both in-person and virtual classrooms, to discuss and explore emerging strategies, and to connect with colleagues. Below are the dates of the remaining sessions. Learn more and register for any or all of the sessions.

• Oct. 15 – Student Use Survey
• Oct. 27 – Making Space for Instructors’ Concerns
• Nov. 6 – The Messy Middle
• Nov. 16 – Supporting Diverse Learners
• Dec. 4 – Students Speak

Note: All Exploring AI in Teaching sessions are remote except for October 27, which will be held in person at the Memorial Union.