As we head toward the close of the semester and begin planning for Spring 2026, I’m excited to share this latest edition of our ILC / IT Newsletter. We’ve assembled a strong lineup of resources, workshops and opportunities to help you start the new term with momentum — from Canvas Pre-Flight and the December Course Design Clinic, to new hybrid offerings in the (W.A.V.E.) AI-Visionary Educators Series. Whether you’re refining a syllabus, exploring AI-enabled teaching practices or preparing fresh content for Spring, we’re here to support your work.
This issue also includes a thoughtful reflection from Blaine Fisher and William Brumfield, “William Brumfield’s Time Machine: Nous, Tekhne, and the Human Eye.” It’s a timely reminder that as we navigate new technologies, our foundation remains rooted in human judgment, humanistic values, and the craft of scholarly practice.
And finally, as we wrap up the year, congratulations to our December graduates! 🎓
If you’re completing your time at Tulane, please remember that your Canvas access ends upon graduation — so download anything you want to keep.
|
Mike Griffith, PhD
Executive Director - Strategic Digital Innovation | Information Technology
Director - Innovative Learning Center
|
Spring 2026 Highlights
"Preflight to Canvas" Workshop: Master Canvas LMS!
Get ready to soar into "Preflight to Canvas," a comprehensive 2-day workshop designed to equip incoming Tulane faculty with everything they need to know about building and managing courses in the Canvas learning management system (LMS).
Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6 | 9am - 12pm
Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure your courses are ready for takeoff! Enroll in "Preflight to Canvas" and start the semester with the tools and confidence to succeed.
|
|
|
| Course Design Clinic
Wednesday | December 3, 10 , and 17 | 1pm - 3pm
Are you planning a new course or refreshing one you've taught before?
Join us for the hands-on Course Design Clinic in December. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, refining learning outcomes, reworking assessments, developing new content, or prepping for the spring term, join CELT & ILC teams for hands-on instructional support. Stay as little or as long as you like—bring your questions, goals, and in-progress plans.
|
|
|
| Teach Anywhere Office Hours
Monday and Thursday | 12pm to 1pm
No appointments necessary, both online via zoom and in the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Suite 300 for all pedagogy and academic technology needs.
|
|
|
(W.A.V.E.) AI-Assisted Decision-Making: Tools for Making Confident Choices
Tuesday, December 2 | 1pm - 2:30pm | Hybrid
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the fundamentals of Decision Intelligence, blending human intuition with AI's analytical capabilities to navigate complex choices confidently. Attendees will learn how to leverage AI tools effectively, mitigate cognitive biases, and maintain a human-centered approach in decision-making.
|
| Part of the (W.A.V.E) Series -
Workshops for AI Visionary Educators
Presenter: Blaine Fisher, Instructional Technology Guru
|
|
|
(W.A.V.E.) TopHat Ace: AI for Class Interactivity and Socratic Learning
Tuesday, December 16 | 1pm - 2:30pm | Hybrid
A hands‑on showcase of Top Hat’s new ACE features: adaptive question authoring, auto‑graded short answers, sentiment analytics, and generative slide enrichment—plus tips to integrate ACE with Canvas and Tulane’s learning‑data policies.
|
| Part of the (W.A.V.E) Series -
Workshops for AI Visionary Educators
Presenter: Blaine Fisher, Instructional Technology Guru
|
|
|
Intro to Cypress High Performance Computing
Thursday, January 8 | 10am - 12pm | Downtown
Friday, January 9 | 12pm - 2pm | Uptown
Introduction to Cypress, Tulane's High Performance computing solution. Participants must complete the preliminary setup and instructional videos prior to the workshop.
Pre-Workshop Requirements:
-
Must have a computer with Linux; Mac; or Windows 10 or 11 operating system (OS). Windows 8 or earlier is not compatible.
- All registered participants will be provided with a personal Cypress account as needed.
- Links to be provided to content on wiki.hpc.tulane.edu
Need assistance? Request consultation, Cypress HPC Consultation.
|
| Advancing research often requires computational resources that exceed the capabilities of personal laptops or desktop computers.
|
|
| William Brumfield’s Time Machine: Nous, Tekhne, and the Human Eye |
By Blaine Fisher, Ph.D., MS, MA, NRP, PG-Cert
|
| |
|
I wrote this piece because Bill is not only a towering scholar, he is my friend. He has been a steady mentor to me here at Tulane, the kind who answers a quick question with a story that opens three new doors. I have kept up with his many books for years.
This article grew out of our commute chats after work, the kind of rolling conversation you only get in a car with the same route and too many ideas. Bill talks about churches and towns the way some people talk about family.
Since this runs in my Hooked on AI newsletter, I had to connect the dots to today’s tools. The connection is not a gimmick because it sits at the heart of the work. Photography, done the way Bill does it, is dated, placed, and accountable. It lets you test a claim against time. AI, done responsibly, can help us sort, compare, and surface patterns in that record. The tools can be useful, but they do not decide where to stand or when to return. That judgment is human.
|
|
A lot of creative people feel insulted or pushed aside by the pace of AI. I get it. Fear of irrelevance is honest and history gives us some grounding on how world changing new and emergent technology is on society. Painters worried when cameras arrived, but ainting did not die. It changed. Photography did not steal its soul. Instead discovered its own and become it's own seperate and distinct artform. We are in another of those hinge moments. The answer is not and can not be retreat (considering that retreat isn't an option provided to us anyway). Instead, the answer is clearer authorship and better craft.
Bill’s work shows what that looks like in practice. He dates the frame, records the vantage, and returns to the same ground years later. That discipline carries both mind and craft. If you like old terms, call it nous and tekhne (Bill's personal analogy of what he does). The first chooses and judges and the second executes with care. AI may help our tekhne scale, but it will not give us nous.
So this essay is a thank you to my friend, and a small field guide for anyone trying to make peace with new machines without losing the human center. If you finish it with a plan to stand somewhere specific, at a specific time, and look hard enough to write an honest caption, then we are on the right road.
Enjoy the article, and say a quiet thanks to the man who kept going back.
|
|
|
Do you foresee that one of your students will need more time to complete a course this semester?
|
If you said yes, you can make that change yourself BEFORE the semester closes. If you realize this after the semester closes, it must be done by a Canvas admin. In your course,
- Go to Settings
- Scroll to Participation: choose the drop down menu to change Term to Course
-
Notice the End date, and use the calendar to choose a new date.
- Scroll down to choose Update Course Details
The course will remain open and accessible to all students in that course until the new course end date expires.
|
Zoom AI Education Summit at Tulane University | January 2026!
Unlock the Future of Education with Zoom AI
Join us at the Zoom Education Summit at Tulane University for an exclusive in-person experience designed to help higher education institutions maximize the power of Zoom in their learning environments. This summit brings together educators, IT professionals, AV specialists, and industry experts to explore the latest tools and strategies for transforming education.
This year’s event features:
- Targeted Tracks for Faculty, IT Staff, and Room Technologists
- CTS Certification for AV professionals
- In-depth Sessions on Zoom AI and its impact on teaching and collaboration
-
Networking Opportunities to share best practices with peers
Whether you're looking to enhance your hybrid learning environments, streamline communication, or dive into the future of AI in education, the Zoom Education Summit is your opportunity to stay ahead of the curve.
Don’t miss out – Register today and take the first step towards transforming your campus experience with Zoom.
Registration closes January 14th. Don’t miss your chance to join us!
|
|
|
Tulane Research, Innovation, & Creativity Summit (TRICS) 2026
The Tulane Research, Innovation, and Creativity Summit (TRICS) is Tulane’s premier annual, university-wide showcase for research and innovation. Established in 2022 and building on the foundation of earlier discipline-specific events, TRICS showcases Tulane’s innovative research internally and externally through poster sessions, Lightning Talks, and distinguished keynotes.
|
|
We are thrilled to have you join us for an engaging exploration of the latest innovations, techniques, and best practices. This gathering brings together experts, thought leaders, and passionate participants to share insights and experiences.
Prepare to dive into a variety of sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to broaden your knowledge and create meaningful connections. Let’s collaborate and grow together!
|
|
|
We’re excited to expand Tulane's Adobe Student Ambassador team—and we’d love your help! If you know students who are enthusiastic, dependable, and eager to support teaching and learning initiatives on campus, please consider referring them. Your recommendations help us connect with strong student leaders who make a real impact.
|
|
|
Contact the IT Service Desk
support.tulane.edu | help@tulane.edu | 504-988-8888
Hours | Mon - Fri 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM | Sat - Sun 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Use your Tulane email and password to access the support portal.
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
1555 Poydras Street None | New Orleans, LA 70112 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to amcfarl3@tulane.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
| |
|
|
