Academic Technology Fall 2026 Update |
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Welcome to Fall 2026 at Duke!
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As you begin the fall semester, OIT’s new Digital Experience and Academic Technology Services (DEATS) team is here to help you make the most of technology for teaching and learning. Here are a few of the most important updates, resources, and opportunities for faculty this fall.
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New! Technology support for teaching and learning |
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OIT’s new Digital Experience and Academic Technology Services (DEATS) team helps faculty make the most of technology for teaching and learning. Whether you’re exploring AI for a course, creating instructional media, improving accessibility and digital experiences, or trying a new teaching technology, DEATS can help connect you with the right tools, expertise, and support.
Throughout the semester, DEATS will share timely updates at key points in the academic calendar: the start of the semester, around midterms, and before finals. Look for practical tips, technology updates, training opportunities, and resources to support your teaching when you need them most.
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More AI tools, training and support this fall |
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The Office of Information Technology has launched a robust lineup of AI training and support for faculty, staff and students. Whether you’re interested in a customized training for your department or a one-on-one consultation for an AI project in the works, you can get assistance through the AI Support Hub – hub.ai.duke.edu – which brings Duke’s AI learning resources together in one central destination.
View upcoming training opportunities on the AI Support Hub.
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Bring a course-specific AI Assistant to your students with ACE |
ACE is a chatbot built by OIT in partnership with Duke faculty and grounded in the course materials you choose to provide. Students get a familiar, ChatGPT-like experience where they can ask questions about readings, notes, slides, problem sets, and other course content. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, ACE prioritizes your content when answering questions and does not access the open web. If you are interested in piloting ACE in your course, email colab-ops@duke.edu.
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Planning advanced or agentic AI activities? |
If your course involves students building AI agents, developing agentic workflows, or using AI beyond the limits of Duke’s no-cost options, OIT can help. The AI Gateway provides options for provisioning access and managing AI usage and costs for courses and groups. Contact colab-ops@duke.edu to discuss your course needs.
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New proctored exam options with Respondus |
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Duke faculty can use Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor with Canvas when an exam calls for a more controlled testing environment. View upcoming Respondus webinars about these tools.
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LockDown Browser limits students’ access to other websites, applications, and common browser functions during a Canvas quiz or exam.
- For assessments that require remote monitoring, Respondus Monitor can also record exam sessions for later review.
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Respondus is designed for specific assessment needs rather than as a one-size-fits-all approach. Faculty considering Respondus should think about their course goals as well as accessibility, privacy, and student experience.
If you plan to use Respondus this semester, request pilot access and an OIT Academic Technology team member will contact you.
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Panopto: Better Automatic Captions and Accessibility
Panopto upgraded the technology behind its automatic captions and transcripts this summer, improving accuracy for newly created recordings, including content with technical terminology, accents, and less widely spoken languages. Captions should also process faster for recordings and live streams. Panopto has also made keyboard-navigation improvements in Panopto Capture and updated several behind-the-scenes tools used to schedule classroom recordings.
- PlayPosit is Moving to WeVideo Interactivity
PlayPosit, Duke’s tool for adding questions and other interactions to course videos, is becoming part of WeVideo Interactivity. Faculty can continue using interactive video with Canvas, but should expect the PlayPosit name and parts of the interface to shift to WeVideo as the transition progresses. The underlying interactive-video features will not change. WeVideo has also added several features this year, including due dates for interactive assignments, full Safari support, and direct access to Panopto videos.
- Microsoft Education Brings Microsoft 365 Tools Together in Canvas
Microsoft is consolidating several of its Canvas integrations into a single Microsoft Education experience. The newer integration brings Microsoft 365 tools such as OneDrive files, Teams, OneNote Class Notebooks, assignments, and related teaching tools into one place in Canvas, replacing several older Microsoft integrations that Microsoft will begin migrating by the end of 2026. Faculty who have used older Microsoft integrations in previous courses may notice changes in where these tools appear and how Microsoft content is added to a course, though no changes to existing workflows are necessary at this time.
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Create, learn and experiment |
Bryan Center Studios offers reservable, self-service recording spaces for professional-quality audio and video production at no cost to Duke faculty, staff, and students. The studios are available 24/7 with DukeCard access, with training and consulting available during business hours.
Learn how to make a reservation at the Bryan Center Studios. (video)
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| Innovation Co-Lab Training Opportunities |
This semester, the Innovation Co-Lab will once again offer a full lineup of free, hands-on workshops open to all Duke faculty and staff, covering everything from AI fundamentals to basic programming to fabrication projects. Whether you're exploring tech for the first time or looking to integrate it into your course, there's a session for you or your students. Details and dates will be announced soon and available at colab.duke.edu.
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This is the first of regular Academic Technology Services newsletter updates for faculty throughout the semester. Look for our next edition mid-semester, with timely teaching technology updates, tips, resources, and opportunities to explore what’s new. Have a question or an idea in the meantime? We can help connect you with the right tools, expertise, and support. Contact us at oit-academictech@duke.edu.
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Compiled by Academic Technology Services
To verify the authenticity of this newsletter, visit the DEATS web page.
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