Welcome to the Weekly UTLC Newsletter:
Week of October 6 |
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Teaching Tips: Human Intelligence |
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A “human intelligence only” activity gives students a short stretch to think, discuss, or write without using devices or AI. It helps them practice working through ideas on their own while still leaving room for technology in other parts of the course. Bomsta writes about a few simple practices that help students understand the purpose:
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- Establish the concept early. Explain what the designation means and why you are using it. Students are more likely to understand a device-free activity when they know that the restriction serves a particular learning purpose.
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Make the boundaries clear. Tell students when devices need to be put away and when they can come back out. A defined interval makes clear that human intelligence only is not a blanket technology ban but a particular mode of learning with specific learning outcomes.
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Use it selectively. If everything in the course is human intelligence only, you have simply created a no-device policy. That makes sense in some classrooms, but the value of the designation lies partly in the contrast. Students experience both technologically assisted and unassisted thinking and begin to recognize that each has its place.
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In an educational environment increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, we can help our students become AI-literate partly by teaching them to recognize when human intelligence is enough. AI literacy also means knowing when to pause before turning to a tool and recognizing what our own thinking can accomplish.
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Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards Call for Nominations |
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The Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards offered by the University recognize and celebrate faculty members who demonstrate outstanding teaching, mentorship, and instructional innovation. Nominations are open to everyone (alumni, students, staff, and faculty alike) making this an inclusive opportunity to acknowledge educators who have made a meaningful impact. The awards include several categories (matched to faculty rank and appointment type) and provide a way to shine a light on those who elevate the learning experience through both traditional and blended/online formats. For full details on eligibility, nomination procedures, and past recipients, you can visit the official site.
Nominations must be submitted by 5 pm on Tuesday December 1, 2026 through the nomination form.
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This fall, we are pleased to continue piloting Anthology Evaluate for end of course evaluations. Feedback provided includes that the system is easier to use for faculty and students; that it's more mobile friendly; that reporting is more robust; and that evaluations are easier to completed 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.
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The UTLC and the University Libraries are happy to collaborate on our fall coffeehouse! Please join us on Thursday, October 29, from 9 to 11am in the main library lobby for fellowship and refreshments (caffeinated and decaf coffee, juice, and tea; muffins, bagels, GF muffins, vegan coffeecake, and other pastries; hard-boiled and deviled eggs; fruit; and other treats!)
In addition, visitors will have early viewing access to a special Halloween-themed exhibit in the Special Collections and University Archives, located on the second floor, in the Hodges Reading Room! We will also be creating our own Dia de los Muertos altar. We look forward to taking a break with you all at the end of October.
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Community Engagement Discussion Group |
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The University Teaching and Learning Commons, the Institute for Community and Economic Engagement, and the University Community Engagement Council are pleased to collaborate and sponsor the Fall 2026 Community Engagement discussion group. Instead of discussing a single long text, we will provide long form, short form, and multimedia resources, and look forward to discussing community engagement and teaching with you. Our next gathering is October 28th (we will also be running spring dates and will get information out about that later this fall).
This group is open to faculty, staff, and graduate students. Please register, and we'll send you a calendar invite. And, don't keep us a secret; please spread the word!
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Join the UTLC and the Office of Intercultural Engagement for a conversation about student experiences in the classroom and beyond. This student panel is scheduled for November 10 at 2 pm and focuses on first-generation student. VOISES panels provide a venue for faculty to hear students' perspectives on 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.
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| 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.
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Resources for You: Faculty Engagement & Development Opportunities |
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Faculty Engagement & Development Opportunities |
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Self-Paced Training Options| Online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics.
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UNCG Libraries Webinars | Research and Application Webinar Series (Spring 2024 recordings) | Zotero Webinar Series (recordings)
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New to Teaching | Access this Canvas site to learn about how students learn, preparing for class, grading, office hours, engagement, active learning, and more.
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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.
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Web Accessibility 101 | This asynchronous, self-paced course focuses on the fundamentals of making online content accessible.
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Are you looking for a simple way to encourage more participation in online discussions? Canvas Discussion Checkpoints allow instructors to require students to post before viewing classmates' responses. This promotes original thinking and richer engagement. Check out the step-by-step below and this guide from Instructure to learn more about setting up and using Discussion Checkpoints in your course.
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- Open your Canvas course and select Discussions.
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Create a new discussion or edit an existing one.
- Enable the option requiring students to post before viewing replies.
- Add clear instructions and participation expectations.
- Encourage students to return and engage with classmates' posts.
- Use a rubric or participation criteria to guide responses.
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Open Office Hours & Training with ITS |
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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 a preview session for Yuja Panorama, a new accessibility tool, today at 2:00.
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