Teaching & Learning

From Analog to Digital: The Many Ways to Engage Students in Classrooms

In our seventh meeting of the Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF) on a bright and sunny Wednesday morning on April 26, three fellows presented their innovative tech tools and teaching ideas. Li Hou presented on using Kahoot and Quizlet for language learning, Brokk Toggerson demonstrated the use of analog tools in teaching, and Susan Boyer shared…

Continue reading

From TikTok to Classroom Standards: Making Classrooms More Connected and Engaged

Two students working posting post-it notes on wall.

In the sixth meeting of the Instructional Innovation Fellows (IIF) this March, Li Hou and Kelsey Whipple presented on the topics of using Tik Tok in Chinese language learning to make language learning more relevant and connected to students and the importance of collaboratively creating classroom standards to promote safe and inclusive learning communities respectively.…

Continue reading

Empowering Students through Knowledge Co-Creation: Innovative Approaches to 21st-Century Learning

an instructor high fiving a student.

On a bright and crisp morning on March 8th, 2023, the 5th meeting of the Instructional Innovative Fellows convened at Bartlett Hall. Three innovative fellows shared their unique approaches to teaching, centered around promoting learners’ agency and co-creating educational resources for 21st-century learning. Kelsey Whipple proposed utilizing the University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA) to…

Continue reading

ChatGPT and Emerging Technologies- How IDEAS Innovation Fellows are Embracing Change in Their Teaching

a small robot looking up at the camera

This Spring, the  Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF) meetings resumed with exciting discussions on how to embrace technology, including A.I. tools and social media, to give students agency in their learning, and promote critical thinking skills and professional readiness. In our fourth meeting since the fellowship launched in the Fall 2022 semester, Elizabeth Mikesch showcased her…

Continue reading

Instructional Innovation Fellowship: Looking Ahead to 2023

Group of Instructors seated around a table , and one presenting at a podium.

As we get ready for the Spring 2023 semester here at IDEAS, we are reflecting on last year’s programs. In this blog, we look back at the Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF) launched in Fall 2022, and the various projects that fellows implemented in their classrooms to engage students in creative ways and promote learning. We…

Continue reading

Creative Assessments and Student Collaboration

a woman sitting at a desk with a computer, and another empty spot at the desk with a computer and phone.

Interested in learning about student engagement and collaborative tools or ways to make your classroom projects meaningful and impactful? The UMass Amherst instructors shared what they do during the third meeting of the Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF).

Creative Teaching Methods from the IFF

A woman's back to the camera, as she records herself using a phone. We can see her smiling on the phone's recording.

From FlipGrid to ScreenToGif to ‘ungrading’, three Innovation Fellows presented their ideas of creative teaching methods through exploring new technologies at the second meeting of the Instructional Innovation Fellowship.

IDEAS Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF) launched!

table with people and technology

The Instructional Design, Engagement and Support (IDEAS) team launched the Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF) in October 2022. The fellowship opportunity is offered to all UMass instructors who are engaging in innovative teaching practices to share their ideas with (and learn from) other UMass instructors. Ten instructors from departments across campus are meeting monthly to share resources and ideas. We will extend these innovative ideas to the wider university community through the Instruct at UMass Blog

Share with students: Seeking Student Applications for $2500 Digital Storytelling Scholarship

recording equipment

Please share this widely with your students. Students can submit their applications now. The application period closes Tuesday, December 13. The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s UMass Flex Initiative is pleased to kick off the Student FLEXperience: Amplifying Student Voices through Digital Storytelling in 2022-2023. All matriculated UMass Students are invited to propose Digital Stories to…

Continue reading

Introducing Techspresso Retreats

From Idea to Innovation: Introducing TECHSPRESSO Retreats Next week we will launch new TECHSPRESSO Retreats: Drop-in events where faculty can work with key Instructional Innovation staff, resources and campus partners to bring instructional ideas to life. Transform your course completely, or simply add a new component. Drop by to see the latest in instructional technology…

Continue reading

October 2016 Moodle News

Turnitin Scheduled Downtime Saturday, Nov. 5 On Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Turnitin will be unavailable while Turnitin performs maintenance on internal network hardware to increase capacity and ensure continued dependable service. No submissions or grading will be possible during the downtime. We advise instructors to set submission deadlines be…

Continue reading

10 New Echo360 Lecture Capture Classrooms for Fall 2016

For the Fall 2016 semester, UMass Amherst has 10 new classrooms with integrated Echo360 lecture capture technology: Ag Engineering 119 Arnold House 120 Furcolo 101 Furcolo 102 Draper 124 Herter 225 Marcus 131 Morrill IV N201 Stockbridge 301 Totman 156 To request Echo360 for these or any of our other classrooms with integrated lecture capture technology, see our Request…

Continue reading