Learning technologies can transform your courses in many exciting ways. The right tools and strategies can help engage students deeply, enhance learning outcomes, and create more flexible, interactive learning environments.
Incorporating Technology meets teaching and learning needs:
- Student Engagement: Create more interactive, collaborative, and engaging learning experiences.
- Flexibility: Offer hybrid, online, or blended learning environments that fit into students’ varied schedules.
- Data-Driven Decision-making: Leverage analytics to identify areas where students are struggling and provide real-time feedback to improve learning outcomes.
- Accessibility: Ensure that all students can access course content and participate fully in learning activities.
Flipped Classroom Models
Instead of traditional lectures, faculty can use a variety of digital and interactive course materials for students to view at home and replace lectures delivered in class. Reclaim precious class time to pursue active learning activities, such as discussions, problem-solving, and collaborative projects.
- Tech tools: Lecture capture tools (YuJa), video editing (), and Blackboard Ultra for distributing content.
Tech-enhanced Learning Environments
By integrating tools for hands-on creation, professional content development, and hybrid teaching, instructors can design engaging learning environments that promote active learning and collaboration. Faculty can also foster critical thinking and innovation by encouraging students to experiment with emerging technologies, create professional-grade media, and connect classroom learning to real-world applications. Together, these tools empower faculty to create dynamic and future-focused learning environments.
- The GAIA Makerspace
- GAIA, located in UGLC 202, is the first open Makerspace in Â鶹¹ÙÍø. Offers its space, resources, and training to all students, faculty, and staff without the restriction of college, major, degree, or departmental affiliation. GAIA focuses on 3D Design, Scan, and Print; Audio/Video streaming and production; and Game Development Augmented and Virtual Reality. The skills learned in the Makerspace inform and cross-pollinates between projects, people, and events that branch out to the greater campus and region.
- Learning Studio
- The Learning Studio, located in UGLC 110, is a room that can help faculty in creating audio and video content to enhance lectures, presentations, projects, or any other creative endeavors that require a professional recording studio setting. For more information and to reserve the studio, please click here (under UGLC).
- Connected Classrooms
- A Connected Classroom allows Â鶹¹ÙÍø instructors in the classrooms to stream their lectures and engage students who are either attending in person or through the web. Connected Classrooms are equipped with high-definition PTZ cameras and microphones. For the locations of Connected Classrooms at Â鶹¹ÙÍø, use our .
Open Educational Resources (OER)
OER are freely accessible, openly licensed educational materials that can be utilized for teaching, learning, and research. Incorporating OER into course design helps faculty offer affordable, flexible, and customizable resources to students. By replacing traditional textbooks or proprietary materials, OER fosters equity in education and provides opportunities for both instructors and learners to create more engaging and personalized learning experiences.
- Tech tools:
- OER Repositories: Platforms like and provide access to a vast array of free course materials, textbooks, videos, and interactive simulations that can be integrated into your course design.
- A tool for creating and sharing open-access textbooks and educational resources that are editable and customizable to meet course needs.
- Creative Commons Licenses: Enable easy sharing and modification of resources, ensuring legal use and attribution while offering flexibility for adaptation and reuse.
- Collaborative Creation: Collaborative tools that allow students to engage in creating, editing, and sharing open documents, presentations, or data-driven assignments.
Interactive & Collaborative Learning
Create opportunities for students to collaborate in real-time, participate in interactive discussions, and engage with peers and instructors beyond class time.
- Tech tools: Collaborative platforms like Microsoft Teams or Whiteboard for brainstorming; interactive discussion forums in Blackboard Ultra; real-time polling tools like iClicker
Gamification and Game-Based Learning
Incorporate elements of games; such as rewards, levels, and challenges, into the classroom experience to make learning more engaging and motivate students to actively participate.
- Tech tools:
- iClicker: Reward students for real-time participation and correct answers with points or badges.
- : As students progress through assignments and activities, they level up, earn badges, and unlock new milestones. They can track their progress on a visual leaderboard.
- Gradescope: Use streaks and improvement challenges to motivate students to consistently improve their work. Offer rewards for revisions or peer feedback.
- YuJa: Students engage with multimedia content, answer embedded quiz questions, and submit creative video reflections to earn points, badges, or leaderboard positions.
Â鶹¹ÙÍø & Hybrid Course Design
Develop fully online or hybrid (blended) courses that allow for flexibility in learning, providing students with access to resources and activities whenever they need them. Create a balanced mix of live, interactive sessions (synchronous) and independent, self-paced learning (asynchronous) to cater to diverse student needs and schedules.
- Tech tools:
- Blackboard Ultra for organizing course materials, assessments, and discussions.
- Video conferencing tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams for live sessions.
- Engagement tools like iClicker; and
- Digital or ePortfolios () for tracking and reflecting on student progress.
Accessible Learning
Ensure that all students, regardless of ability or background, have equal access to learning by integrating accessibility features into course design.
- Tech tools:
- Captioning tools for video (YuJa)
- Accessibility: Ensuring all reading materials are accessible via screen reader () and accessible course design features within Blackboard Ultra.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chatbots
Automate some aspects of teaching, such as grading or providing instant feedback using AI tools. Chatbots can help answer student questions, provide tutoring, and even guide students through course content.
- Tech tools:
- Microsoft Copilot (licensed by Â鶹¹ÙÍø) is a chatbot for students to ask questions specifically about your course or assessments
- Gradescope for automatic and speedy grading.
Other engagement tools to consider:
- Simulation
- AR/VR
- Podcasts (capabilities for recording on campus with the Learning Studio)
- Individualized Learning Paths
- Global pen pals
- Learning puzzle/games
- Interactive multi-media
By integrating these technologies thoughtfully into course design, you can create more dynamic, inclusive, and effective learning environments that increase engagement, improve student success, and ultimately help students develop the skills they need to thrive in a digital world.
