Educational Technologies
Dedicated to the support and advancement of best practices in teaching and learning at the University of Connecticut.
Technologies to Enhance Teaching and Learning at UConn
Video Conferencing
Use a variety of video conferencing tools to meet with your students.
Recording Technologies
Use technologies such as Kaltura and the Lightboard room to create and share videos.
Collaboration & Engagement
Use a variety of tools to engage students in the classroom and outside it
Testing & Assessment
UConn offers a variety of testing and assessment solutions to better enhance
your teaching.
Accessibility
UConn is committed to providing an accessible digital environment for everyone.
Workshops
Register Today
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Jul
31
HuskyCT Ultra Course View: Transitioning Your Courses For Upcoming Terms 11:00am
HuskyCT Ultra Course View: Transitioning Your Courses For Upcoming Terms
Wednesday, July 31st, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Online
HuskyCT Ultra Course View: Transitioning Your Courses For Upcoming Terms
Tuesday, July 9, 2:30-3:30
Online
Facilitator: Daniel Facchinetti, CETL-EdTechAs we work towards transitioning HuskyCT courses to the new version of Blackboard (called “Ultra Course View”, aka “Ultra”), this workshop will help faculty get started with their own courses. This session will provide an overview of Ultra Course View and we’ll cover the basics of building content, copying content from Original Course View courses, as well as introduce faculty to key features such as assessment tools and grading.
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3072
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Jul
31
Syllabus Basics and Refreshers 1:00pm
Syllabus Basics and Refreshers
Wednesday, July 31st, 2024
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Online
In this workshop we will discuss:
- The purposes of a syllabus
- UConn-specific syllabus requirements, resources, and templates
- Ways to improve your syllabus
- The syllabus as contract, blueprint, reference, or inspiration
You are encouraged to share your questions, ideas, and experiences. We hope you will walk away with new ideas for making your syllabus more interactive and engaging.
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3104
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Aug
6
PowerPoint Design for Engaging Class Materials 11:00am
PowerPoint Design for Engaging Class Materials
Tuesday, August 6th, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
In this workshop, faculty members will learn the necessary skills to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations that elevate their teaching and inspire student participation.
Focusing on strategies for inclusive class material for students’ engagement, participants will learn how to design visually compelling slides that convey complex concepts clearly and concisely. The topics covered will include slide layout, typography, color selection, imagery, and multimedia integration.
Furthermore, this workshop will address best practices for structuring PowerPoint presentations to maximize impact and facilitate learning. Participants will receive guidance on organizing content logically, pacing the presentation effectively, and utilizing storytelling techniques to create a cohesive narrative.
Whether new or not to PowerPoint design, this workshop will empower you to create class materials that leave a lasting impression on your students.
August 6th (Tuesday) / 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM / Online
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3077 -
Aug
6
Enhancing student engagement with the readings 2:00pm
Enhancing student engagement with the readings
Tuesday, August 6th, 2024
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Online
Can students meet your course objectives without reading the texts? If so, what is the value of assigning reading in your course? What learning objectives does reading help students meet? These foundational questions will frame our discussion. Tools and approaches will be shared for:
- Creating reading guides and worksheets
- Choosing texts
- Annotation tools (Perusall, Voicethread)
- Activities such as games, remixes, and Generative AI
- Modeling engagement
Ideas will be shared for curating a reading list, including: alphabetic texts vs. audio and video; amount of reading assigned; and organizing access to course readings. This is an interactive session and participants are encouraged to share their experiences and questions.
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3102
Noteworthy News
Ultra Course View is now available in HuskyCT!
UConn has introduced the new version of Blackboard into our HuskyCT platform, called Ultra Course View (UCV) and instructors can now request to use it for their teaching. Blackboard calls the new product "Blackboard Learn Ultra," although UConn will continue to refer to it as HuskyCT.
Courses will not switch to the upgraded version automatically. For the time being, only those instructors who choose the new version will have their courses switched over. Workshops and more information will be offered through CETL-Educational Technologies throughout Fall 2023 and continuing.
As we continue to roll out the new version of HuskyCT, we anticipate that it will appeal primarily to new users of HuskyCT, instructors who want a pared-down, more intuitive system, and courses with relatively uncomplicated course designs. Blackboard Learn Ultra is designed such that course sites are easier for instructors to build and for students to navigate, but some users may find the overall course layout is less customizable. In the early semesters of transitioning to the upgraded version, instructors of courses that rely on custom visual layouts and designs may choose to stick with "old" HuskyCT, aka Blackboard Learn Original.
If you'd like to learn more about upgrades to HuskyCT, keep an eye on this page and the Daily Digest, attend a HuskyCT workshop, or contact the CETL-EdTech office.
New software review process
Procurement has developed a new software and technology service review process to ensure the safety of FERPA-protected data.