Staff Highlight – Melanie Fairfax
This month, the Office of Information Technology is celebrating Melanie Fairfax, IT Contracts Manager. Melanie works in the IT Administration…
AI Ready: Don’t Let AI Dumb Us Down
At a recent AI and Future of Work conference, USC’s Matt Beane warned educators about “deskilling”—students losing abilities by over-relying on AI. He urges a shift: use AI to build, not replace, skill. Beane’s “impossible task” method challenges learners to grow through AI-enabled exploration, critical thinking, and mentorship.
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EdTech Essentials: Navigating the Cognitive Era’s Information Flood
Humanity’s journey has been shaped by how we share knowledge. From spoken words to writing, printing, and the internet, each Information Age brought profound change. Now, AI marks the Cognitive Age, augmenting our intelligence. Understanding this evolution is key to navigating our rapidly changing world and equipping students with essential digital skills. Join my Faculty Tech Day session to explore this further! Continue Reading EdTech Essentials: Navigating the Cognitive Era’s Information Flood
Bb Mailbag: Adding a Personal Touch to Discussion Boards with Audio Feedback
Want to boost engagement and save time on discussion boards? Try using audio summaries. This week’s Blackboard Mailbag explores how voice feedback can add warmth, clarity, and personal connection to your online teaching. Learn how to record quick audio responses using Panopto and support your students more meaningfully. Continue Reading Bb Mailbag: Adding a Personal Touch to Discussion Boards with Audio Feedback
AI Ready: Smarter Sources and Mind Maps with NotebookLM
NotebookLM’s new Mind Map and Discover Sources features offer fresh ways to engage with research materials. Mind Maps visualize concept relationships within your uploads, while Discover Sources suggests related content from the web. These tools enhance exploration and organization but work best alongside traditional academic methods and critical evaluation. Continue Reading AI Ready: Smarter Sources and Mind Maps with NotebookLM
EdTech Essentials: Spring Highlights
Looking for quick inspiration or a tool you might’ve missed? We’ve rounded up highlights from this semester’s EdTech Essentials blog series. From gamification to accessibility, these practical posts are packed with strategies to energize your teaching and support student success—all in one place. Continue Reading EdTech Essentials: Spring Highlights
Bb Mailbag: Banner Image vs Description
Course descriptions in Blackboard are managed by your department or dean, and can only be updated through a request to your department chair. However, instructors can personalize their course banner by editing display settings and selecting a custom image to enhance the course’s visual appeal.
AI Ready: Student Grading AI Responses
This assignment flips the script on AI use by asking students to grade AI’s responses to key course concepts. It fosters critical thinking, reinforces content, and promotes ethical AI engagement—equipping students with skills to evaluate AI-generated information thoughtfully and responsibly in both academic and real-world contexts.
EdTech Essentials: Level Up Learning with Gamification
This post explores how gamification can enhance teaching and learning by boosting motivation, engagement, and collaboration. Learn how to integrate game mechanics like points, badges, and challenges into your course design—and join us for a hands-on workshop to discover practical tools and strategies for gamifying your classroom.
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Bb Mailbag: Using Letter Grades & Grading Schemas
Grading schemas let you control how student grades appear in Blackboard—whether as letter grades, percentages, or pass/fail. Customize them to match your course policies, clarify grade interpretation, and streamline evaluations. Set up schemas early and always input numeric scores for the most accurate, consistent results. Continue Reading Bb Mailbag: Using Letter Grades & Grading Schemas