Teaching with technology

DoIT Academic Technology manages a core suite of digital learning tools, including Canvas, Kaltura and Zoom. University instructors and students also have free access to major software suites like Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Active learning refers to a process where learners engage purposefully with instructors, other students and course content to promote problem-solving, application and understanding. A wide variety of technologies such as Google Apps for UW–‍Madison, Top Hat, Piazza and Kaltura MediaSpace can help foster active learning.

A wide variety of instructional technologies, both hardware and software, are available to help foster active learning. Active learning classrooms on campus provide the technology and physical environment needed for active learning. Any instructor can apply to teach in active learning classrooms in the Wisconsin Collaboratory for Enhanced Learning (WisCEL), which provides semester-long support for instructors. In addition, any instructor can work with their departmental curricular representative to request a General Assignment collaborative learning classroom (CLC); General Assignment requests are managed by Curricular Services in the Office of the Registrar.

Learning technologies can improve the student experience, whether the course is taught in-person, online or as a hybrid. They can also help instructors complete tasks more effectively through features like Canvas’s SpeedGrader.

To help instructors make the most of the Learn@UW suite of tools — that includes widely used ones like Canvas — the team provides a variety of trainings and events. The team also provides guides on pedagogical uses of tools and the Learn@UW KnowledgeBase. Individual consultations with the Learn@UW–‍Madison team are also available through the DoIT Help Desk year-round.

The Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring provides pedagogical support on using instructional technology through its programming and consulting services.

Enhancing and scaling high-quality online learning experiences across summer and academic-year offerings, in partnership with schools and colleges, continues to be a significant priority for the university.

In collaboration with schools and colleges, the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring provides instructional design services and resources for online undergraduate programs, professional degrees and certificates, and Summer Term. The website Design+Teach+Engage offers guidance for designing and teaching online courses.

Through a university subscription, instructors can access Quality Matters — a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses. Quality Matters is centered around a rubric developed by faculty for faculty based on extensive research and instructional design best practices to guide in developing, reviewing and maintaining online courses. More details are available on Design+Teach+ Engage about how to use Quality Matters as a guide to develop an online or blended course or request a formal quality review.

DoIT AT’s Teaching & Research Application Development (TRAD) team partners with instructors to create innovative applications for teaching and research. This can include apps for research data collection or situated (location-aware) learning, games and simulations for teaching complex concepts, as well as modules for interactive educational websites that leverage a content management system (CMS), such as WordPress.

In addition to designing and developing custom tools, the TRAD team also integrates new tools into or adapts current tools within the university’s digital ecosystem. For a consultation with the TRAD team, email academictech@doit.wisc.edu.

If you would like support designing assignments, the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring can assist by connecting you to support in your school or college or through individual consulting

As you incorporate technology into your course projects and assignments, even your most tech-savvy students may need help. DesignLab works with instructors to develop and assist with digital media assignments (which they call Instructional Packages or IPs). This includes developing assignment goals and prompts, providing lecture(s) on design or software tailored to the digital media assignment, or providing in-class workshops for one-on-one or small-group design help. DesignLab also helps students improve their digital design skills as they produce everything from posters and videos to presentations and websites. In a nutshell, the DesignLab supports students in completing digital assignments just like the Writing Center supports students in completing textual assignments. Students can make an appointment, start a chat/text or drop-in to get help at any point in their project, from first concept to final touches.

DoIT AT’s Software Training for Students (STS) offers free training workshops that teach students the software programs needed for coursework. In addition, the Ask a Trainer program offers one-on-one training for specific projects. STS also hosts drop-in sessions in College Library’s DesignLab space.

STS can provide custom software training tailored to an instructor’s curriculum. For instance, an instructor could invite the STS trainers to conduct a workshop on the Photoshop and Illustrator techniques needed to complete a class project.

Faculty, staff and students can also access thousands of instructional videos and training courses through UW–‍Madison’s license with LinkedIn Learning for free.