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Welcome to the Weekly UTLC Newsletter:
Week of September 15

Teaching Tips: WISE Feedback

Providing feedback is one of the most important parts of teaching, but also one of the most difficult parts of what we do. Splitting the difference between completely critical feedback and "great job, keep it up!" is a skill that even experienced practitioners struggle with. WISE feedback is an evidence-based framework that can help structure your comments to students and provide you with scaffolding to prepare stronger feedback faster.

WISE feedback conveys to students that there are high expectations for their learning in a class, and that they can meet those expectations. WISE feedback communicates our faith in our students that they can learn and perform at high levels.
WISE feedback conveys specific, actionable comments. You can redirect to the assignment rubric and/or make comments on what specifically needs to be corrected, but students need actionable feedback aligned with the assignment, course goals, and course outcomes to be able to improve.
We should also convey what those goals and outcomes are; the more transparent we are with students about why they are completing specific assignments and how those assignment tie into their learning outcomes, the more buy-in from students we will have (and often, the better the work will be).

Providing feedback that expresses confidence in students and provides specific, actionable items for them to improve on allows us to build trust and relationships with students which ultimately leads to stronger learning and growth for students. Also, developing a framework for feedback allows you to deliver stronger feedback more quickly.

Midterm Grades

This is a brief reminder that midterm grades are due soon. The window for submission opens September 28 with grades due by October 9. Midterm grades are an essential tool for feedback to students while there is still time to improve their performance. We thank you for providing this essential feedback to our students. You can find information on how to submit grades on the Registrar's website.

Course Evaluations Pilot

We are pleased to continue the pilot of the Anthology Course Evaluation System. Users report that that the system is easier to use for both faculty and students; that it's more mobile friendly; that the reporting is more robust; and that evaluations are easier to complete in class (for those teaching in-person), raising response rates.

If you would like to participate in the pilot for Fall 2026, please fill out this form by Monday, October 26 for full term and POT2 classes. Please send any questions to Joyce Clapp, jfclapp@uncg.edu.

VOISES Panel: Using AI

Join the UTLC and the Office of Intercultural Engagement for a conversation about student experiences in the classroom and beyond. Back by popular demand, this student panel is scheduled for October 1st at 2 pm and focuses on AI use. VOISES panels provide a venue for faculty to hear the perspective of students about their experiences on campus. These moderated panels give faculty the chance to ask questions while reflecting on ways they can support student success and learning.

Please register to receive full event details and location.

Mark Your Calendars

We're pleased to partner with the University Libraries for our fall coffeehouse on Thursday, October 29, from 9am to 11am! Formal announcement to follow.

Also, mark your calendars for our Fall Biergarten, 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 2, at the Weatherspoon Art Museum! More details to follow.

Now Recruiting: Become a Faculty Fellow for Accessibility

ITS Learning Technology has two openings for the Faculty Fellows for Accessibility program for the 2026-2027 academic year. This opportunity allows faculty to collaborate on campus accessibility initiatives, work with colleagues to promote accessible teaching practices, and support inclusive learning experiences for all students. Each position includes a $4000 stipend per semester. Interested faculty can learn more by viewing the 2026-2027 Accessibility Faculty Fellows announcement.

UTLC Social Media

The UTLC is now active on social media. Follow us on Instagram (@utlc.uncg), Facebook (UNCG UTLC), and LinkedIn (University Teaching & Learning Commons) to stay informed about weekly teaching tips, upcoming events, and resources that support teaching and learning at UNCG.

Resources for You: Faculty Engagement & Development Opportunities

The UTLC has many online resources available for you, including self-paced training options, resources for Generative AI, and teaching guides. We also have new syllabus resources, including an updated syllabus template.

Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additionally, the university workshop calendar has opportunities.

Ongoing Opportunities

Self-Paced Training Options| Online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics.
UNCG Libraries Webinars | Research and Application Webinar Series (Spring 2024 recordings) | Zotero Webinar Series (recordings)
New to Teaching | Access this Canvas site to learn about how students learn, preparing for class, grading, office hours, engagement, active learning, and more.
Safe and Trans Zone Training on Canvas | Enroll in this self-paced online course to complete Safe Zone 1.0, 2.0, and Trans Zone if you cannot attend an in-person workshop.
Web Accessibility 101 | This asynchronous, self-paced course focuses on the fundamentals of making online content accessible.

Tech Tip: AV Assignment Comments

Are you looking for a way to make feedback feel more personal while saving time? Canvas SpeedGrader allows instructors to leave audio or video comments directly on student submissions. A short recording can often communicate tone, encouragement, and suggestions more effectively than a lengthy written comment. Here’s a quick step-by-step to get started! Check out this guide from Instructure for more detail.

Open an assignment in SpeedGrader.
Navigate to the student's submission.
In the Assignment Comments area, click the media icon.
Choose whether to record audio or video.
Record your feedback and save it.
Submit the comment so students can access it alongside their grade.

Open Office Hours & Training with ITS

Open Office Hours with ITS: Learning Technology’s Instructional Design Team: Tuesdays 10am–12pm

Drop in for a conversation with an instructional designer! We can assist with course and assessment design, discuss teaching questions, and help with Canvas, Teams, and other learning technology.

No registration is needed; you can just join online.

Information Technology Services has a robust training schedule for the fall. In particular, we'd like to draw your attention to Refresh Your Rubrics, Wednesday 9/16 at 1pm.