IT News for Faculty & Staff (August 2024)
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Creating a Student-First Canvas Site
One of the most powerful tools for shaping the academic experience for your students is Canvas LMS. A Canvas site can enhance engagement and learning outcomes, as well as avoid misunderstandings. Here are some best practices recommended by instructional design pros and endorsed by a focus group of Pitt students.
- Follow an organized, modular structure with consistent formatting.
- Integrate the calendar and syllabus at the beginning of the term.
- Communicate frequently (e.g., weekly updates, message boards).
- Incorporate multimedia/video resources and interactive elements.
- Maintain digital accessibility, such as video transcripts and accessible formats.
- Gather student feedback and maintain flexibility for course adjustments.
A well-structured, accessible, and engaging course design can make a significant difference in students' academic success. If you need further assistance or resources, don't hesitate to reach out to the Center for Teaching and Learning at Pitt. They are here to support your goal of creating the best possible learning experience for your students.
Automating Invoicing
With $1.2 billion in research funding, the Office of Sponsored Project Accounting sends ~1,200 invoices monthly for research expenses. What happens when you automate that process? You free up hundreds of hours of effort while improving the collection rate. See how Pitt IT and SPA joined forces to transform research accounting.
Nationality Room Wi-Fi Upgrade
Pitt IT is excited to collaborate with the Nationality Rooms and Facilities Management to upgrade Wi-Fi coverage in the most frequented of these one-of-a-kind classrooms. Boosting connectivity will enrich the learning experience in these unique cultural spaces.
Electronic & IT (EIT) Accessibility
Pitt IT supports tech services used across the University. We recently submitted the 2024-27 EIT Accessibility Plan to OEDI, outlining our ongoing commitment to ensuring our websites and digital resources are accessible to all. Our FY24 accessibility rating stands at 93.3%, surpassing the national average of 87.4%.
Boost Your Knowledge Base with Pitt's Knowledge Base
Pitt IT's Technology Help Desk is here to help you with any technical issues. Sometimes, you want to take care of it yourself if you have the right information to guide you. Pitt IT is here to help you help yourself! The Pitt IT Knowledge Base has 100s of articles about the services/systems we offer. Search by keyword or category. Then rate the article to let us know if it was helpful or how we could enhance it to answer all your questions.
Panther Bytes to Nibble On
Check out these bite-sized blogs about tech topics you should know.
LinkedIn Learning: Bite-Sized Courses with a Big Impact
Every Pitt staff and faculty member has access to the full range of LinkedIn Learning courses at no cost. Here are some of the newest and most popular courses on the platform.
- Learning Excel Desktop (Microsoft 365)
- Social Media Stories: Creative Strategies and Tips
- Getting Things Done
- Leading with a Growth Mindset
Nano Tips to Increase Productivity and Focus with Lillian Daniels
Create Inclusive Content: Identifying and Preventing Racism in Your Marketing
