November 2025 Academic Technology Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope your semester is going well and that this month’s issue sparks new ideas.

This month highlights Dr. Wayne Smith’s appointment as the first faculty to serve on the NSF ACCESS Researcher Advisory Committee, how Canvas Insights is gaining national recognition, and how to help your students benefit from the 41st CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. We also have a recap of our Harvesting Innovation Fall Open House, where AT, Faculty Development, Office of the Faculty Senate, Office of Undergraduate Research, University Library, and Office of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) connected with faculty across disciplines. 

We have a full schedule of workshops this month including Saving Time with Generative AI, how Google Notebook LM transforms readings into interactive study tools, and exploring hands-on strategies for using ChatGPT to design simulations, craft study materials, and support research workflows. Faculty Development offers Tuesday Teaching Tips on planning meaningful class discussions and wrapping up courses.

Enjoy the break, and thanks for all you do to support innovation at CSUN!

Dr. Wayne Smith is now the first faculty member appointed to the NSF ACCESS Researcher Advisory Committee, a national body that helps guide how high-performance computing resources support researchers across the country. Learn how this role expands opportunities for research and innovation.

CSUN's Canvas Insights is turning heads nationwide! This tool, developed by Academic Technology's award-winning Sirish Malisetty, lets you filter student engagement data and send personalized emails in one streamlined platform, saving hours while boosting student success. See why universities across the country are asking how we did it.

Where can your students meet technology industry leaders, expand their equity lens, and learn marketable skills — possibly all for free? At the 41st CSUN Assistive Technology Conference! The deadline to apply is December 2.

This year’s Fall open house theme, “Harvesting Innovation,” reflected Academic Technology and its partners' shared commitment to cultivating growth through collaboration. During the event, visitors met with representatives from AT, Faculty Development, University Library, Office of Faculty Senate, Office of NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), and Office of Undergraduate Research. 

Find more professional development opportunities on the Academic Technology workshop calendar. Can't make it to a workshop? Book an appointment with one of our team members.

Class discussions in online and in-person classes can be an effective active learning opportunity for your students. Join us to learn tips for developing a strategy for planning discussions that can help you as you wrap up this semester and plan for the spring.

Google Notebook LM turns readings and notes into interactive AI workspaces. This workshop shows how to create instant summaries, outlines, flashcards, and mind maps to support learning and simplify prep. We’ll also look at audio/video overviews and collaborative notebooks to enhance study and research. Faculty will leave with practical strategies for building dynamic materials and speeding up workflows.

ChatGPT is a flexible AI assistant for teaching, research, and productivity. This session shows how to design interactive assignments, create simulations, and generate study materials, plus support literature reviews and drafting. You’ll also see agent mode, multimodal inputs, and custom personas for automating tasks and tailoring instruction. Participants will learn to integrate ChatGPT responsibly and effectively into teaching and scholarship.

Wrapping up your course is an important yet often overlooked aspect of course design. Create a few simple activities to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their learning and give closure to wrap up the course.

ChatGPT is a flexible AI assistant for teaching, research, and productivity. This session shows how to design interactive assignments, create simulations, and generate study materials, plus support literature reviews and drafting. You’ll also see agent mode, multimodal inputs, and custom personas for automating tasks and tailoring instruction. Participants will learn to integrate ChatGPT responsibly and effectively into teaching and scholarship.

Google Notebook LM turns readings and notes into interactive AI workspaces. This workshop shows how to create instant summaries, outlines, flashcards, and mind maps to support learning and simplify prep. We’ll also look at audio/video overviews and collaborative notebooks to enhance study and research. Faculty will leave with practical strategies for building dynamic materials and speeding up workflows.

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.

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