Tools & Technologies

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

March 2023 Moodle News

Cow bust in the snow with a light blue hat and scarf

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

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.

Zoom Updates for Instructors

table with people and technology

This month’s Blackboard news include Requesting Blackboard and Echo360 courses, Blackboardd Tip of the Month, Blackboard updates and downtimes, and Blackboardd Help and Resources. 

February 2023 Moodle News

woods cover in snow background and a cow with a hat and scarf.

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

January 2023 Moodle News

Cow bust in the snow with a light blue hat and scarf

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

December 2022 Moodle News

Cow bust in a room with a fireplace on in the background, and in the front layer a red mug and red bowl with popcorn

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

Request Your Echo360 Courses

Just like Moodle or Blackboard, you need to request Echo360 courses in SPIRE each semester you plan on using it. What is Echo360 Echo360 is the lecture capture and video streaming platform adopted and supported by UMass. Take a look at our Get Started with Echo360 page, or for a deeper dive check out our…

Continue reading

November 2022 Moodle News

Cow face with glasses on the front, with a classroom on the background and a books at the side.

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

October 2022 Moodle News

Table with many fruitts and veggie with a blur, Caw fave on the background. Thanks giving vibes

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources. 

August 2022 Moodle News

Aerial view: a point piece of island at the left surrounded by a tight beach and light blue water. Blue sky with white cloud in the background and in the front layer at the right, the bust of a caw with purple sunglasses and a straw-hat.

This month’s Moodle news include Requesting Moodle and Echo360 courses, Moodle Tip of the Month, Moodle updates and downtimes, and Moodle Help and Resources.