What’s happening?
HelioCampus AC – Evaluations ending today
Most HelioCampus AC course evaluations are concluding today, May 2, at 11:59pm. Please contact the DoIT Help Desk for assistance.
Canvas – Updated media player
On April 24, Instructure rolled out an updated version of the Canvas media player. For details, refer to the Canvas LMS Blog.
As always, Kaltura should be the video solution of choice in Canvas, but we are providing Canvas player update information for edge cases where it is used.
Honorlock – Improvements released April 28
On Monday of this week, April 28, Honorlock released two improvements:
- Improved keyboard navigation. Enhanced accessibility for sessions downloaded as HTML by improving keyboard navigation support.
- Fixed Session Viewer Layout button. Resolved a visibility issue where the keyboard tabbing focus border was hidden behind the Change Layout button in the Session Viewer.
For the details of this release, click here.
DoIT – Microgrants deadline, May 22
Academic Technology and the Division of Teaching and Learning (DTL) are offering microgrants to help explore how data empowered education practices (DEEP) help faculty and instructional staff gain insights into how to support student success.
This year’s microgrant program focuses on a critical question: How does engagement with online course content potentially impact student performance? Learn more here.
The application window for the 2025-26 academic year is open through May 22.
Piazza – Revamped user interface
This month, Piazza begins rolling out a new version of its user interface. In addition to a new look, the interface allows instructors to schedule posts and reset student answers.
For now, the timeline is as follows:
- Until mid-August, the current interface is the default and the new version is available for instructors to try.
- From mid-August until early-October, that will flip–the new interface becomes the default; the old interface remains available.
- At some point in October the old interface will be decommissioned.
Watch future issues of this newsletter for details.
Top Hat – Happenings in May
The May release of Top Hat introduces a couple features of interest:
- Guest mode (formerly known as guest access). Engage an audience without requiring participants to create an account. This is great for meetings or public events. To learn more, click here.
- New “join” screen for classroom sessions. Students can join classroom sessions by scanning a QR code on the join screen.
- Instructor content search. Allows instructors to quickly find and navigate to specific content within their course.
Also, Top Hat has announced a scheduled maintenance event for this Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 4:00am CT to 7:00am CT. During this period, Top Hat will not be available.
Engage – Ordering for fall
For instructors intending to use Engage for fall 2025, the ordering period for eTexts and digital learning tools is currently open and will remain open until Wednesday, May 28.
To review the catalog of available resources or to place orders, access the Engage ordering tool here.
General – End-of-semester dates for spring 2025
- May 2 – Last day of classes
- May 2 – HelioCampus AC surveys close at 11:59p
- May 3 – Study day
- May 4-9 – Exams
- May 7 – Deadline to request grading extension
- May 12 – Grading deadline
- May 15 – Extended grading deadline
- May 16 – HelioCampus AC survey results become available to instructors
Upcoming events
CTLM – Upcoming events
In the coming months, UW–Madison’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring (CTLM) is hosting the following opportunities to sharpen your instructional skills and engage with colleagues. Contact CTLM with questions at ctlm@wisc.edu.
Course Design Institute, May 12-14
The Course Design Institute is an annual three-day workshop aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of course design to result in a better learning experience. CTLM and campus teaching and learning partners will support you as you work on multiple aspects of your course. For more information, click here.
Teaching & Learning Symposium, May 15
The biggest annual teaching event on campus! Keynote speaker Christina Katopodis, co-author of “The New College Classroom,” will present the latest science of learning and share teaching strategies that anyone can adapt easily and effectively in every field. Learn more and register.
Enhancing Online Education Summer Programs
Designed especially for instructors teaching online and hybrid courses, these programs explore six foundational topics to promote student engagement and success. Sign up for as many topics as you like and choose from webinars, micro-courses or both. The series kicks off May 20 with our newest topic, developing instructional materials. Learn more and register.
Teaching at UW April programs
Teaching with the Chazen, April 25 – Enjoy a special tour of the museum and learn about interdisciplinary partnership opportunities to bring works from the collection into your course.
InstructureCon 2025 – July 22-24
InstructureCon 2025 will be held in Spokane, WA, during the week of July 22-24. Early bird registration is open until March 28. For more information, click here.