Happy New Year and welcome to the Spring 2025 semester! We hope you are safe and extend our thoughts to everyone affected by the fires, including the tireless first responders. To those impacted in our CSUN community, please know you are not alone. For resources, please visit the CSUN Fire Advisory and Resources page at https://www.csun.edu/csun-fire-advisory-and-resources, contact HR Employee Relations, or Faculty Affairs. 

Mark your calendars for Digital Equity Day coming this April 25th and stay tuned for more details!

The new EDUCAUSE Teaching with AI Course kicks off on February 3rd. From ethical considerations to hands-on activities, this course is perfect for faculty at all levels of AI expertise. Visit the EDUCAUSE course site to learn more and reserve your spot. And the CSU continues to offer online AI-related courses, with Introduction to AI for Teaching and Learning starting on February 24th. Sign up now!

Have you received an assignment that came back with a high AI detection score and wondered what to do next? Check out the AI Guidance video below from the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Technology for step-by-step instructions on how to strategically and carefully approach the situation.

Join our workshop on sustainable alternatives and resources to ensure a smooth transition from software originally funded by Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF), which will be sunset this summer.

Starting this semester, MATLAB Grader is now integrated into Canvas! This tool makes it easier than ever to create interactive coding assignments, automate grading, and provide feedback directly in Canvas.

With the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) set to incorporate the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in April 2026, it’s never too early to start preparing. Learn the steps you should take this semester in anticipation of the deadline.

Have you met the Academic Technology InnovATe Media Services team? Learn how to integrate professional audio-video resources into your curriculum. From media tools to the Faculty Media Studio, we’ve got you covered.

For our Featured Workshops this month, learn how to craft an AI Syllabus statement for your courses, reimagine student engagement with Poll Everywhere, lead meaningful discussions about AI with your students, and leverage early alerts and personalized communication to support student success with Canvas Insights. You can also learn about accessible course design, and crafting inclusive and accessible emails.

Are you working on innovative projects or research related to technology? We’d love to feature your work in one of our newsletters! Reach out to highlight your achievements and inspire your colleagues!

Want to connect? Join our Zoom Drop-in Hours, make an appointment, or send us an email. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Academic Technology updates.

In a world where AI is increasingly part of the academic landscape, it’s important to know what to do if a student’s assignment gets flagged with a high AI detection score. Watch this video collaboratively created by CSUN's Office of Student Conduct in partnership with Academic Technology to discover practical tips from identifying key red flags to navigating conversations with students, all while fostering academic integrity. Watch the AI Guidance video.

As previously announced, campus-wide licenses for software previously supported by federal pandemic funds (HEERF) will be discontinued at the end of Spring 2025. This includes Canvas Studio, Hypothesis, Pronto, and H5P. Academic Technology has created comprehensive resources and training to aid in this transition. Learn about the transition resources and support options on the HEERF Software Tools Transition page.

Starting this Spring, MATLAB Grader is integrated into Canvas, providing a seamless environment for creating and sharing MATLAB coding problems and assessments. This powerful tool allows instructors to build interactive assignments, automate grading, and provide feedback directly within the Canvas interface. Learn more about MATLAB Grading in Canvas.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has applied to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) since its enactment, and to digital content since 1996. However, until last year, it did not provide specific requirements to measure digital content compliance. Learn more about these upcoming changes and how to take steps now to prepare.

Ready to meet our Academic Technology’s Media Services team? The InnovATe Media Services team is dedicated to enhancing your teaching experience. Discover how to effectively integrate media into your curriculum and learn about the Faculty Media Studio’s professional audio-video resources. Sign up for InnovATe with Media Services + Q&A.

It's not too late to access the CSUN Spring 2025 Packet, featuring curated resources and tools tailored to streamline your preparation. From HEERF tool transitions and AI innovations to accessibility insights and upcoming workshops, this is your go-to guide for effortless spring semester readiness! 

Help prepare your students to navigate the evolving world of AI in academia and join us to learn more about crafting AI syllabus statements that empower learning while addressing ethical challenges.

Transform your lectures into dynamic conversations with Poll Everywhere, the ultimate tool for student engagement and real-time interaction. Don’t miss the chance to reimagine how you connect with your students—one live result at a time!

This workshop aims to equip faculty with the tools to lead the conversation with students on AI. Dive into ethical considerations, practical strategies, and insights on how students can responsibly use AI in their academic work. Plus, leave with ready-to-use slides designed to spark meaningful discussions in your classroom.

Elevate your Canvas analytics skills by attending our Canvas Insights workshop on February 18th. A recent research study from Oklahoma State University found that  the use of academic alerts with students is associated with lower course withdrawal rates, and also higher average course grades.

Imagine scrambling to make your course content accessible when a student needs accommodations. What if you could avoid the stress by learning how to design accessible courses from the start? This workshop will help faculty with the tools and insights to create inclusive learning experiences and make life easier for everyone—students and instructors alike.

Crafting accessible emails utilizing accessibility guidelines doesn’t have to be a mystery. Join the Universal Design Center for a practical workshop that will give you the skills, tools, and resources to ensure your emails are inclusive. Discover how small changes in your communication can make a big difference for every student and colleague you reach.

Share topics you would like to see covered in a future newsletter, give us feedback on your experience with instructional technology, or let us know of workshop resources you are interested in with the Academic Technology Feedback Form.