Fall 2025 student edition
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Dear students,
Learning Technology Solutions hopes you are settling into your weekly routines for the fall semester. In our first student newsletter of the year, we cover some important topics that you should be aware of.
First, Canvas is on its way, and there are a few things you need to know about when you will have access to it and how to navigate the platform. We will also share information about useful tools such as Grammarly, Zotero and Panopto’s Access AI. These resources can help streamline your studying, writing and viewing video content for your courses, among many other benefits. Additionally, there is an article about UIC freebies that students often forget to take advantage of.
Finally, we have included a survey about how students are currently using AI, and we would love to hear your feedback.
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Canvas is coming to UIC: What students need to know
UIC is transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas as its new learning management system. Some courses will move as early as spring, with most shifting by fall 2026 and Blackboard retiring in early 2027. During the transition, some courses will appear on Blackboard while others are in Canvas, but support, training and resources will be available to help students get comfortable with the new platform. Read more about UIC’s transition to canvas.
From Ally to YuJa Panorama: UIC’s new tool for more accessible learning
Starting this fall, UIC is introducing YuJa Panorama, a new accessibility tool built into Blackboard and Canvas. Panorama scans course files and offers instant alternative formats — like audio, ePub or PDFs optimized for screen readers — so you can choose what works best for your learning. Learn more about UIC’s new accessibility tool.
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Take the fall AI survey
Generative AI is here to stay, and you’re already seeing it in tools featured in this newsletter, such as Grammarly, Panopto Access AI and Zotero. We’d love your input in our student survey to help shape how UIC supports AI in learning. Take the fall AI usage survey.
Grammarly announcement
Grammarly is no longer a pilot program! UIC has officially adopted Grammarly for the 2025-26 academic year. If you are new to UIC or to Grammarly, check out the Grammarly webpage. Set up your university-sponsored license to access additional writing support 24/7.
Unlock New York Times (and more) with your free academic pass!
Good news, UIC students! Enjoy free access to The New York Times, the Art Institute of Chicago, Microsoft 365, LinkedIn Learning and more. Learn about academic perks available to UIC students.
Want to teach your course in Canvas sooner? Become an early adopter!
Graduate students with teaching assignments in spring or summer 2026 are invited to join UIC’s Canvas early adopter program. If you’d like your course set up in Canvas ahead of the full transition, email Learning Technology Solutions to get started.
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New tools for students in Panopto
Panopto has introduced Access AI, a set of new features that make learning through video easier and more inclusive. Students can now benefit from automatic captions, multi-language transcripts, searchable and clickable transcripts, and speaker identification. These tools help you quickly review lectures, study more efficiently and ensure content is accessible to everyone. Learn more about Panopto AI tools.
Cost-Benefit: Zotero vs. Generative AI bibliographies
When it comes to managing citations, Zotero is built for the job — letting you capture sources with one click, organize them and generate accurate bibliographies instantly. Generative AI tools can attempt the same, but they often produce errors or even fake sources. Zotero offers a more reliable, time-saving option for building citations without the guesswork. Read about Zotero.
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© Copyright 2025The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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