Congratulations on reaching the end of the Spring ‘24 term! CCAPS Academic Technology and Design has a few updates to help ensure your online, blended, and face-to-face instructional success as you prepare to wrap Spring courses and launch into Summer ‘24. 

Important Reminders

Wrapping Spring 2024

  • Submitting Grades & Incompletes: Course grades for all students should be submitted by May 15 @ 11:59 PM. For guidance on this process, explore the Final grade entry page on the Academic Support Resources site.
  • Student Rating of Teaching: Remind your students to complete the Student Ratings of Teaching (SRTs) through Canvas. The SRT link can be located in your Course Navigation panel. Read more about the SRT Process on the Office of Measurement Services website.

Launching Summer 2024

  • CCAPS Instructor Orientation Course: CCAPS ATD offers a short course that includes an overview of Canvas, as well as information on grading, communicating, and guiding your students throughout the semester, including access to just-in-time instructional resources. While intended for new instructors, instructors wishing to refresh their knowledge are welcome to self-enroll.
  • Open Summer Courses to Students: Instructors should open Canvas courses on May 6, 2024 in order allow students time to acclimate to the online environment. Don’t forget to send a welcome message this week! Opening Your Canvas Online Course provides directions for opening your online course to students.
  • May 13, 2024: 14-week UMN Courses officially begin. Consult OneStop Dates and Deadlines for a list of all important dates for the Twin Cities campuses.
  • Communicating with your students: It is a best practice to contact your students for the first time via MyU → Key Links → Faculty Center → Class Roster. Be sure to provide students with a link to the Canvas course site and encourage them to update their Canvas notification preferences to receive your Announcements throughout the semester.

Teaching Tips

AI in Teaching in Canvas

Curious about how Generative AI can be used in your classroom? Check out the recording of Canvas Investigation’s “Current state of AI in teaching and learning with Canvas” (Presenters: Asa Olson, Asst. Director of Academic Technology; Dan Emery, Asst. Director of Writing Across the Curriculum; and Sara Schoen, Instructional Designer for Academic Technology Support Services). Check out the ATiCoP Investigations - Generative AI if you would like to review the slide presentation.

Explore Generative AI Tools

If you’d like to stretch your AI knowledge further, you may be interested in 
Explore Generative AI Tools webinar, presented by Academic Technology Support Services. This short, pre-recorded webinar is free to all UMN staff/instructors and discusses the positive uses of these new tools in the classroom.

ATD Highlight

The Instructor Presence in Discussions presentation from the Spring 2023 UAPS faculty meeting is now available to all CCAPS instructors. This brief slide deck examines how your presence & participation in course discussions enhances the student learning experience.