Author: bblair

As you prepare your Canvas course for the upcoming Fall semester, don’t forget: accessibility starts with the visuals. That beautiful banner you added to your homepage? It needs alt text. Why?Alt text ensures that students using screen readers can understand the purpose of an image. If your banner includes important text (like your course name or […]

On July 16th, Digital Learning Strategist Millie Tullis led a Workshop Wednesday session titled Simple Strategies for Making Your Canvas Course Beautiful. The session focused on practical design tips and ready-to-use templates from the Faculty Resource Center that can help instructors create more consistent, accessible, and visually appealing Canvas courses. Tullis began by sharing general design […]

Summer teaching often brings a change of pace, and sometimes a change of location. Whether you’re instructing from a home office, a quiet beach town, or in between conference sessions, teaching online doesn’t have to tie you to one physical spot. With the right setup, you can stay connected, responsive, and professional—from anywhere. Here are […]

On July 9, Digital Learning Strategist Dr. ‘dara Abimbade led a Workshop Wednesday session titled Increasing Engagement in Your Zoom Classroom. The session explored why engagement on Zoom often falls short and offered practical strategies to improve it. Dr. Abimbade began by identifying common challenges to Zoom engagement in online classrooms. He then introduced a range […]

As you prepare your course materials for Fall 2025, now is a great time to ensure that the images you use in your teaching are fully accessible. Whether you’re uploading lecture slides, designing content in Canvas, or sharing supplemental media, every image in your digital classroom should include thoughtful, accurate alternative text, or “alt text.” […]

First impressions matter, even in digital spaces! Whether you’re teaching asynchronously, synchronously, or somewhere in between, the start of the semester is your chance to set the tone for a connected, inclusive, and engaged classroom. And yes—it is possible to break the ice digitally. Here are a few digital icebreakers that actually work in online courses (and don’t make […]