To start this introduction it seems necessary to provide a little backstory. This time last year, we were eLearning and Academic Technology, while the Opportunity Center was across the hall. So how did The Center for Academic Innovation come to be?
Many faculty have used the Tech Hub for years for technology resources, workshops on the LMS and general support for teaching online. We also collaborated with the Opportunity Center to provide a variety of workshops throughout each year around other teaching resources. In January of 2018, a decision was made to combine the efforts of the two departments to become a “one-stop shop” for faculty regardless of teaching modality or professional development need.
So, what can you expect to see from us in the coming year? We are planning for a comprehensive faculty needs assessment. We want to meet you where you are at, and provide the resources you’re looking for. This means we need to hear your voice! You may have already noticed some changes to how faculty retreat was planned, faculty orientations and other events like Sara Varnum. You can expect to see ongoing support and training like eInstitute, Hybrid Training, Gradebook training, eLearn tools and more. You can also expect to see a list of local and regional professional development conferences listed on our website so you can plan to attend any that spark your interest. You’ll also see training offered in more flexible modalities and a new exciting podcast for your listening pleasure. Our physical space has also been modified to offer conversation spaces, training areas and a hospitality area for faculty coffee and tea.
More to come, we can’t wait to be on this journey with you! Please reach out if you have ideas, concerns or again just want to enjoy a cup of coffee and use one of us as a sounding board.