Category: Tools & Technologies

Meet the 2023-2024 IDEAS Instructional Innovation Fellows

2023-2024 IIF Fellows

The Instructional Design, Engagement and Support (IDEAS) team is thrilled to introduce the new group of 12 fellows for the 2023-2024 Instructional Innovation Fellowship (IIF). These fellows are all about innovation in teaching with technology, and we’re excited to kick off this journey with them. Our 12 fellows come from across UMass. They’ll meet monthly…

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Reflecting on an Inspiring Journey: Inaugural Instructional Innovation Fellowship First Year Concludes

Starting the Fall of 2022, the IDEAS team had the privilege of facilitating knowledge exchange meetings for an exceptional group of innovative teachers at UMass. We wrapped up the first year of the Instructional Innovation Fellowship at the end of May in Spring 2023. Throughout the 2022-2023 IIF fellowship year, the ten fellows shared a…

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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…

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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.…

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Welcome to Canvas – Sandbox and Training Course Announcement

With the recent announcement of the move to Canvas as the single UMass LMS, we’re excited to help you ease into learning the new LMS and get started. Canvas is a user-friendly learning management system that allows you to create engaging online course content and activities. View the multi-year transition plan. Ask a Canvas question (instruct@umass.edu)…

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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…

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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…

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Fall 2022 Needs Assessment: Summary of Survey Results

Needs Assessment Preview

In Fall of 2022, the IDEAS team conducted a needs assessment with the goal of better understanding instructor needs and preferences related to technology training at UMass Amherst. One aspect of the needs assessment was a survey for instructors and teaching assistants, which was included in the IDEAS newsletter in November and December of 2022.

Check for iClicker Software Updates

Check if your i>clicker software is current: If you’re using i>clicker 7 software, please run the “Check for Update” feature to download the most recent version of i>clicker 7. Staying current with the latest i>clicker release helps your classes run smoothly. The newest available release is version 7.10. This is an optional update, however, updating to this version…

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