Teaching, Learning, & Technology Blog

Reminder: Register for ION Courses that start on 8/18/2025
2025-08-04 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
The Teaching and Learning Center is continuing to offer the opportunity for instructors to take courses from the Illinois Online Network, a subsidiary of the University of Illinois. Courses begin August 18, 2025 with a registration deadline of August 18, 2025.

Step 1: Decide what course you plan to take. For full course descriptions, visit https://www.uis.edu/cape/professional-development/ion/course-catalog-registration

Step 2: Get Approval from SSC. If you are interested in registering, please complete our TLC application to get started – https://forms.office.com/r/axmQgDiETK (your login for this form is your SSC email address and regular network password).  If you are approved, SSC will cover the cost of your registration.

Once you are approved, you will receive a code to use at registration in Step 3. Using this code allows you to register with SSC paying for the registration.

Step 3: Register for the Ion Course. Visit: https://www.uis.edu/cape/professional-development/ion/course-schedule-important-dates#calendar

On this page you have two options:

Already have an ION Account? If you already have set up an ION account, visit the Continuing and Professional Education self-service portal.

Don’t have an ION Account? Follow the directions to create an account, then proceed to the Continuing and Professional Education self-service portal.

Remember: Use the Code provided in Step 2 during registration. This means that SSC will pay for the course on the instructors’ behalf.

College Closed
2025-08-01 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-25 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-11 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-04 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-20 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-13 08:00 - 17:00 and 1 more date

Summer Final Grades Due
2025-07-28 08:00 - 17:00

OLC: Stress-Free Course Policies: Supporting Student Learning & Easing Anxiety Without the Extra Work (Vendor Webinar)
2025-07-24 13:00 - 14:00
Today’s undergraduate students experience high levels of anxiety, which can hinder their learning. Course policies grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles can help alleviate student anxiety by supporting both cognitive and emotional aspects of learning, thus promoting learner agency. This webinar will present findings from several semesters of student surveys that indicate common stressors and reveal ways UDL-based course policies can decrease anxiety.

The webinar will focus on two course policies that reduce stress for students while maintaining manageable workloads for instructors. The first policy addresses flexible late work submissions, including examples, implementation techniques, and student feedback on specific policies. The presenter will also share data she’s collected where students report just having these policies available to them reduces their anxiety and the number of students who actually utilize late-work policies are far fewer than one might expect. The second policy covers the acceptance of multiple assignment formats (e.g., audio, video, written), offering practical strategies for grading efficiency. The session will conclude with reflections on survey feedback and actionable takeaways for creating low-stress, anxiety-reducing classroom environments.

Intended Audience:

Faculty, instructional designers, and student support personnel

Key Takeaways:

Identify key factors of how student anxiety can impact learning in undergraduate classrooms.

Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to course policy development.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to late work submissions, with consideration for grading efficiency and instructor workload.

Evaluate strategies for accepting multiple formats (audio, video, written, etc.) for the same assignment, with consideration for grading efficiency and instructor workload.

Develop course policies and strategies for creating anxiety-reducing classroom environments while increasing learner agency and maintaining similar instructor workload.

Register for this Event

Overcoming Academic Freedom Objections to QM (Vendor Webinar)
2025-07-16 12:00 - 13:00
Presented by Amy Heston, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Walsh University; Stephen Kaufman, Senior Instructional DesignerStrategic Initiatives Coordinator at University of Akron; and Brenda Boyd, Vice President of Quality Standards & Evaluation at Quality Matters

Faculty resistance to using the QM Rubric is often framed in the context of “Academic Freedom” however, the QM Rubric supports faculty choice and academic freedom. Join us for this interactive session that will give instructional designers techniques and tactics to overcome this common objection to using the QM Rubric.

Register for this Event

Special Note: SSC is a member of Quality Matters, so this webinar is free. You may have to create a Quality Matters account to register. Remember, to use your SSC email when creating an account.

LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests (Vendor Webinar)
2025-07-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:00
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams in Blackboard, Brightspace, Canvas, Moodle, and Schoology. LockDown Browser is a custom browser that prevents digital cheating during an online exam. Respondus Monitor is a companion product for LockDown Browser that deters cheating when students take online exams in non- proctored environments. Students use their own computers with a standard webcam to record assessment sessions. The training will cover: – How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments – How to use Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments, to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity – The student perspective using each application – Efficient review of the assessment data collected, including the Review Priority system, timeline, and milestone features – Best practices and tips for success with both applications All attendees will receive a link to a recording after the session.

Register for this Event

OLC: Call Us Irresponsible: Designing Online Curricula for the AI Era (Vendor Webinar)
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:00
In this webinar, we propose a bold new model for course design that integrates Large Language Models (LLMs) directly into the curriculum. Breaking away from traditional limitations on AI use, we explore how strategically embedding AI tools within online course content enables students to experiment, problem solve, and improve their digital competencies.

The webinar will begin with a brief demonstration of how students can easily use LLMs to complete traditional online assignments like discussion posts, essay questions, and quizzes. Next, attendees will be introduced to a course design model grounded in a rearranged Bloom’s Taxonomy (Hardman, 2024). Then, attendees will engage in a design sprint aimed at developing content and assessments that directly incorporate LLMs into the student experience. The focus will be on real-world applications of LLMs in online course design, with participants leaving the session equipped with strategies and examples they can use immediately in their own contexts. Join us in a foray into irresponsible student use of AI!

Intended Audience

This session is aimed at educators and designers at all levels of tool proficiency, with scaffolded models and examples.

Key Takeaways

Identify and implement strategies for integrating generative AI tools into online course designs.

Collaboratively develop an assignment or project that encourages students to explore the capabilities of AI for enhanced learning.

Examine how AI can shift course design away from preventing its use and toward a more open, experimental approach that encourages creativity and critical thinking.

Register for this Event

Holiday - College Closed
2025-07-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-19 08:00 - 17:00

D2L: Q&A
2025-07-02 10:00 - 11:00
You bring the agenda. Ask your Brightspace D2L questions about teaching, course building, training, supporting or administering in our open question and answer session.

Register for this Event

OLC: Learning Together, Leading Together: A Look at the Ivy Tech & Purdue Global Collaboration (Vendor Webinar)
2025-06-30 01:00 - 12:00
This session unpacks the urgent need for collaboration in higher education, examining the significant hurdles students face today, from navigating complex transfer pathways and the demand for diverse skill sets to rising affordability concerns. No single institution can tackle these multifaceted challenges alone; therefore, collaboration isn’t just beneficial, it’s a strategic imperative for both student success and institutional vitality.

We’ll highlight the powerful partnership between Ivy Tech, Indiana’s community college system, and Purdue Global. This collaboration thrives due to shared student demographics, particularly their strong support for adult learners across Indiana. We’ll delve into the specific reasons this alliance was forged, demonstrating how each institution leverages the other’s strengths. This reciprocal learning has not only advanced both institutions but also positioned them as leaders in innovation and adult learner support statewide.

ntended Audience

This webinar is primarily intended for higher education professionals, administrators, and faculty, particularly those involved in student success, institutional leadership, and program design. Participants will benefit from learning insights into effective collaborations, understanding best practices for adult learners in online education, identifying solutions for common student challenges, leveraging institutional strengths, and fostering innovation and leadership.

Key Takeaways

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Identify critical student challenges (e.g., transfer complexity, skill gaps, affordability) that necessitate inter-institutional collaboration in higher education.

Articulate how leveraging complementary institutional strengths, particularly in serving shared student populations like adult learners, forms the foundation of successful higher education partnerships.

Register for this Event

QM: Optimizing Online Learning: Bridging UDL & Cognitive Load Theory (Vendor Webinar)
2025-06-17 13:00 - 14:00
Explore how integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) principles enhances the usability and effectiveness of online lectures, promoting inclusive and engaging learning experiences.

Register for this Event

Please note: SSC is a member of Quality Matters, so these webinars are free. You may have to create a Quality Matters account with your SSC email.

QM: Beyond the Online Checklist (Vendor Webinar)
2025-06-04 12:00 - 13:00
Learner interaction is a key element of quality online learning — but as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, new challenges have arisen for educators trying to keep interaction and assessment authentic. How can we ensure that learner engagement remains meaningful amidst concerns about bots, academic integrity and more?

This webinar will explore how QM principles and learner interaction strategies can help guide us in maintaining authentic student interactivity, with a focus on ways in which AI and third-party tools can be leveraged to build more interactive activities into online courses. Whether you’re an instructor struggling with AI-generated responses or a distance education leader looking for effective strategies, this session will provide practical insights to enhance authentic learning experiences.

Register for this Event

Please note: SSC is a member of Quality Matters, so these webinars are free. You may have to create a Quality Matters account with your SSC email.

D2L: Ask Any Questions (Online Webinar)
2025-06-03 10:00 - 11:00

Summer Courses Begin
2025-06-02 08:00 - 17:00

QM: Designing Courses for Gen Z (Vendor Webinar)
2025-05-21 14:00 - 15:00
Born between approximately 1997 and 2012, Generation Z now dominates our college campuses, including the online classroom. These digital natives are comfortable texting, playing a game, and watching Tik Tok, all while completing their coursework. This presentation will examine the contextual factors that shape Generation Z learners and how the implementation of Quality Matters Standards can foster a successful learning environment for all students in our college classrooms.

Register for this Event

Please note: SSC is a member of Quality Matters, so these webinars are free. You may have to create a Quality Matters account with your SSC email.

Final Grades Due
2025-05-19 08:00 - 17:00

QM: AI Strategies for Personalized, Inclusive Online Course Design (Vendor Webinar)
2025-05-15 12:00 - 13:00
Join Dr. Grady and Dr. Brooks for an interactive webinar celebrating the release of the latest Quality Matters white paper, From Automation to Transformation: AI Strategies for Personalized, Engaging, and Inclusive Online Course Design. In this session, participants will explore how AI can be used not only to streamline online learning — but to elevate it. Designed for educators, instructional designers and academic leaders, this conversation will highlight key insights from the paper and offer practical strategies for using AI to support learner success, fairness and innovation.

Register for this Event

Please note: SSC is a member of Quality Matters, so these webinars are free. You may have to create a Quality Matters account with your SSC email.

Bright Ideas: D2L Adoption Webinar Series for Upskilling - Accessibility for Professional Learners (Online Webinar)
2025-05-15 10:30 - 11:30
Save your seat in our “Bright Ideas” 💡 Webinar Series. Each webinar is 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. Take a deep dive with our Adoption Team into Brightspace tips and tricks for better professional learning experiences!

❓ What to Expect

⭐ Create an inclusive and accessible training environment so all learners succeed

🌎 Best practices for designing content that meets diverse needs

📋 Ensure compliance with accessibility standards

Register for this Event

Please Note: In order to register, you may have to create an account with the D2L Community. Remember to use your SSC email when creating the account.

Bright Ideas: D2L Adoption Series - Creating Assignments and Discussions (Online Webinar)
2025-05-14 12:00 - 13:00
Save your seat for our “Bright Ideas” 💡 Webinar Series. Each webinar is 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and networking. Take a deep dive with our Adoption Team into Brightspace tips and tricks for better digital learning experiences!

❓ What to Expect

📑 Learn how to create detailed and engaging Assignments and Discussions

🎉 Features to personalize and differentiate learning

📊 Tips to enhance your assessment skills

👩‍🏫 Ideal for faculty and instructional designers

Register for this Event

Please Note: In order to register, you may have to create an account with the D2L Community. Remember to use your SSC email when creating the account.
