Office of Digital Learning and Technology

Canvas Accessibility Week Recap

The Office for Digital Learning and Technology has just wrapped up hosting its biannual Canvas Accessibility Week! It was a great week, with lots of valuable information being shared. Thank you to those who could join us! If you were not able to join us, don’t worry. You can find a recap of, and link […]

Increasing Engagement in your Zoom Classroom 

Teaching over Zoom can be challenging for any instructor. Students often choose Zoom classes for their flexibility. They can attend from anywhere, skip the commute, fit class around work or family obligations, and sometimes rewatch recorded sessions when it’s time to study. That convenience comes with a cost, though. Without the structure of a physical […]

Best Practices for Online Group Work 

Group projects build collaboration and communication skills, encourage active learning, and bring diverse perspectives into the conversation. In a virtual setting, they also build flexibility and tech skills students will use long after the course ends. Many students have harsh experiences with past projects where a few people did all the work. Other students lack […]

Digital Accessibility and ODLT Resources

Defining Accessibility Accessibility is the practice of designing content, spaces, products, and experiences so that everyone can use them, including people with disabilities. In the digital space, accessibility is “designing better user experiences for everyone by first improving the user experience of persons with disabilities,” according to Accessibility Coordinator, Michelle Tutin. As instructors, we must […]

Canvas Accessibility Week is Oct 19-22!

Mark your calendars and join the Office of Digital Learning and Technology for our Canvas Accessibility Week! These sessions will help you improve digital accessibility in your courses and incorporate accessible best practices into your pedagogy. Register for one or more of our accessibility-themed presentations and workshops to learn more about accessibility pedagogy, accessibility technology, […]

Preventing Burnout for Students and Instructors 

Burnout is a common problem for both students and instructors. The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines burnout as physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others. It results from performing at a high level, leading to stress and tension, especially from extreme and prolonged physical […]

AI-Resistant Assessments and Student Motivation

AI is a complex and ever-changing element of higher education and teaching, especially when it comes to online courses. Today’s blog focuses on several strategies for developing AI-resistant assessments and increasing student motivation for online coursework. Whether you are revising assessments to discourage AI use or simply interested in learning more about strategies to helps […]

Three DSA Courses Newly QM Certified

The Office of Digital Learning and Technology is excited to announce that three DSA courses have received Quality Matters (QM) certifications! These courses are: These courses underwent a vigorous review process, guided by the ODLT team. QM-reviewed courses are expected to meet expectations involving learning objectives, assessments, instructional materials, and accessibility. Analytics Bootcamp DSA/MGT 8280 […]

Best Practices for Designing a Welcoming Canvas Course

There are many ways to create a welcoming Canvas course for your learners, from building instructor presence to organizing your instructional materials. Today’s blog focuses on some practical tips to make your Canvas course inclusive to a wide variety of learners. First Impressions First impressions are an important part of a Canvas course. Uploading a […]

Turnitin and Canvas – What’s Changed?

Turnitin is a popular academic integrity tool for monitoring potential plagiarism in student writing. Turnitin is a plagiarism-detection tool that can be easily integrated with Canvas and creates a convenient report for each student submission. Turnitin’s interface has changed within Canvas, but is still easy to use in your fall courses. This blog will cover […]