v.11 i.3

Feb 27 at 1:00 PM

Whether you're looking to introduce students to Generative AI (GenAI), design assignments that integrate its use, or address misuse with confidence, these sessions offer practical tools, innovative strategies, and collaborative discussions tailored to your needs.

Join Dr. Antonio Byrd for a dynamic series of workshops designed to help faculty navigate the opportunities and challenges of incorporating GenAI into writing classrooms.

In the first workshop, Preparing Students to Work with GenAI for Writing Assignments, you will discover how to introduce students to GenAI as a collaborative tool in writing classrooms. Learn about its ethical challenges, implications for workforce training, and practical ways to frame its use through a human-in-the-loop approach.

Other workshops in this series include Where Does GenAI Fit in the Writing Process? on March 20 and Managing Awkward Conversations about AI Misuse on April 24.

Google may be making some changes to how they charge for Google for Education. UMKC Information Services would like to have an idea of what our usage levels are to guide an appropriate financial arrangement.

Please take a moment to respond to this one-question survey.

How to Pitch Healthcare Ideas to the Sandbox

Tuesday, 11 Feb from 4-5 PM | UMKC School of Medicine Theater B

Jeff Blackwood, the UMKC Commercialization Ecosystem Program Director, will give a talk about a $20,000 proof of concept funding for digital health innovations through Digital Sandbox.

This is a free event but please register prior to attending.

Friday, 14 February | All-day Virtual Event

Hosted by the Library of Congress 'By the People' Program

On February 14, join the Library of Congress By the People program to help transcribe rare manuscripts on African American history, making historical records more accessible for future generations. Last year’s volunteers set a record with 16,000 transcription actions—be part of this year’s effort to honor Frederick Douglass’ legacy.

Hosted by UMKC Libraries in the Digital Collaboration Studio | Miller Nichols Library Room 312

Introduction to Text Data Mining

Friday, 14 February | 2:00-3:00 PM

Text data mining (TDM) is the computational and statistical analysis of large corpora of texts. In this introduction to the general principles of TDM, participants will learn about a few of the many tools and methods for quantitative analysis of text data.

No prior experience in TDM is necessary.

Infographics for Anything

Tuesday, 18 February | 10:00-11:00 AM

Learn how to create exciting and engaging infographics for virtually anything with little to no design experience using Canva.

All skill levels welcome, but this workshop will be tailored to beginners. 

With student attention spans averaging around ten minutes, lengthy, uninterrupted lectures often struggle to maintain engagement.

Small-group discussions can help by giving students a chance to process and apply concepts, especially when guided by structured prompts on slides. Interactive polling tools offer real-time feedback while breaking up the monotony of lecture-driven content. Cold-calling, when used thoughtfully, fosters accountability and attentiveness, encouraging students to reflect rather than simply absorb information passively.

Integrating these strategies into a structured, chunked lecture format creates a more dynamic and effective learning environment. READ MORE

A recent study highlighted by the Online Learning Consortium reveals that nearly 98% of pharmacy students found AI-generated practice questions enhanced their understanding of course material. This innovative approach involved professors using AI to create practice questions, which were then reviewed and transformed into interactive quizzes, resulting in overwhelmingly positive feedback from students. The study underscores the potential of AI tools to significantly improve learning experiences in higher education. READ MORE

CAFE is accepting applications for three UMKC faculty to participate in ncfdd Faculty Success Program. This 10-week online mentoring program, offered through ncfdd helps faculty increase scholarly productivity, manage time effectively, and improve work-life balance. Sponsored participants are expected to engage in weekly online training, group accountability calls, and guided tasks, while also being self-directed and open to feedback. Following the program, participants will submit a brief reflection to CAFE and may share insights with peers at UMKC. LEARN MORE.

Applications will be accepted through February 24, 2025. 

Early Career Faculty Award – Apply by April 15!

The UMKC Emeritus College sponsors the Early Career Faculty Award (ECFA), offering $1,000 grants to support collaborations, travel, meetings, and networking for tenure-track faculty. Funds will be available by Summer 2025 for use through 2026, making this a great opportunity to strengthen your research and connections.

Learn more and apply early at UMKC Emeritus College, and check out the impact of past awardees through their recorded reports.

UMKC faculty are invited to a one-day unconference on the theme of AI in scholarly works to be hosted April 4, 2025 by UMKC Libraries. As an unconference is intended to be highly interactive, 100 attendees will be selected by application. The brief application is due February 21, 2025.

Multitasking is a myth—neither computers nor human brains can truly do multiple tasks simultaneously. Computers rapidly switch between tasks, causing inefficiencies, and the human brain struggles even more, leading to reduced focus and poor performance.

Studies show that multitaskers are worse at filtering distractions, retaining information, and switching between tasks. Digital distractions, especially in critical fields like medicine, can lead to serious errors. The brain’s energy limitations further reinforce why attention must be selective. Despite evidence against it, many persist in multitasking, undermining their ability to learn, think, and engage meaningfully.

Despite rising concerns over student debt, a new report from Lumina Foundation and The Pell Institute shows that Black, Hispanic, Latino, and Native American students continue to see higher education as a vital investment. Beyond career opportunities and financial security, they emphasize the importance of mentorship, community, and representation.

The findings highlight the need for stronger support systems to ensure college remains a pathway to opportunity and social progress.

myVITA Victory is a friendly competition designed to recognize faculty who effectively showcase their teaching, research, and service in myVITA.

Department chairs, associate deans, deans, or faculty themselves can nominate outstanding Vitas for the chance to win prizes, including $100 gift cards for unit winners and $500 stipends with trophies for grand prize winners.

Nomination submissions are due by 5:00 PM on February 28, 2025.

As of January 9, 2025, UM System discontinued use of the free and premium versions of Grammarly due to privacy and security concerns. Employees who wish to continue using Grammarly should contact their respective Information Technology office or fiscal officer to purchase an approved version of Grammarly for Education, which includes enhanced protections for data privacy, security and compliance. Read more from UM System.

Explore the following opportunities to support your students' success!

Reach out to Carrie Paulette with questions.

Newcomb Hall is a secure building with select access granted, primarily to faculty and the Information Services team. Access the building by tapping your UMKC Faculty ID at the door. Please do not allow others to follow you inside unless you are certain they belong in the building. Thank you for helping to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

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