DLAI Professional Development Calendar

January 15^th| "Canvas Boot Camp" Faculty Training | Face-to-face from 9 to 11 AM (OCNR 241) Session repeated virtually (via Zoom) from 2 PM to 4 PM. 

Kick off the semester with a hands-on Canvas refresher! We will cover course setup, content creation, quizzes, and grading tools like SpeedGrader. Perfect for new and returning faculty.

Outcomes: 

• Discuss Canvas course management and navigation.  
• Demonstrate best practices for creating content, assignments, and quizzes in Canvas.  
• Explore and demonstrate SpeedGrader and grading capabilities in Canvas. 

February 5^th | "Integrating Grammarly Into Writing Assignments" | 10 AM to 11 AM | Virtual via Zoom.

Explore how Grammarly can support student writing and academic integrity. We’ll look at feedback tools, the Authorship Report, and ways to guide students in self-reflection using Grammarly’s Performance Report.

Outcomes: 

• Integrate Grammarly’s feedback features.
• Reflect on how instructors can utilize the Authorship Report.
• Examine your expectations around authorship and academic integrity. 
• Explore ways to guide students in self-reflection, using Grammarly Performance Report as a tool.

February 9^th through 27^th | "Digital Course Design and Instruction" (DCDI) Faculty Workshop (Spring Cohort)| Fully online, asynchronous via Canvas. 

February 13^th | "Hybrid Synchronous Teaching Strategies - Watch Party" | 2 PM to 3 PM | Hybrid meeting via zoom and in-person. Light snacks provided for in-person attendees. Room TBA, Registration TBA. 

Join us for a watch party as we explore strategies for engaging both in-person and remote students in hybrid synchronous courses. We’ll discuss tech tips, teaching approaches, and ways to create inclusive learning experiences, no matter where students are joining from!

• Describe the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching in a hybrid synchronous format, including student engagement and technology integration.
• Compare instructional strategies that support universal learning experiences for both in-person and remote students.

March 5^th | Quality Assurance with QM | 10 AM to 11 AM | Virtual via Zoom. Registration TBA. 

Curious about how to strengthen your online course design? This session introduces the key principles of the Quality Matters (QM) framework and how faculty across disciplines are using it to boost course quality and student engagement. You’ll also reflect on your own course and explore ways to align with QM standards.

Outcomes:

• Describe the key principles and standards of the Quality Matters (QM) framework and their role in online course design.
• Compare faculty-led strategies for implementing QM standards across disciplines to improve course quality and student engagement.
• Reflect on personal course development practices and identify potential areas for alignment with QM principles.

March 26^th | Create Your Personalized AI Tutor For Your Canvas Course | 2 PM to 3 PM | Virtual via Zoom. Registration TBA. 

Explore how AI tutoring agents can support student learning in your course. In this hands-on session, you’ll build a personalized AI tutor using the AI-BOT platform and consider both the instructional benefits and ethical implications of AI integration.

Outcomes:

• Explain the instructional potential and ethical considerations of integrating AI tutoring agents into course design.
• Build a personalized AI tutor using the AI-BOT platform to address specific content areas or learner needs in your course.

April 17^th | Authentic Assessments with AI (Half-day Faculty Workshop) | 8 AM to Noon | Face-to-face | Room and Registration TBA. 

Join TAMU-CC faculty, instructional designers, and R&I Colleagues for a collaborative workshop focused on designing meaningful, real-world assessments. Explore how AI can support authentic learning tasks, student engagement, and deeper reflection.

Outcomes: 

• Identify key features of authentic assessments, such as real-world relevance, student choice, higher-order thinking, and performance-based tasks.
• Analyze sample authentic assessments across disciplines to evaluate alignment with course learning objectives and student engagement.
• Design an authentic assessment task that mirrors real-world challenges and includes clear evaluation criteria.
• Revise an existing course assessment to enhance its authenticity and support deeper learning through student application and reflection.

April 30^th | Quality Matter's Impact on Course Evaluations | 2 PM to 3 PM | Hybrid meeting via zoom and in-person. Light snacks provided for in-person attendees. LIB 208, Registration TBA. 

Join us for a conversation with a Quality Matters expert (speaker TBA) on how QM standards are shaping course evaluations and online teaching practices. Learn practical strategies for enhancing course quality and aligning with current trends in online learning.

Outcomes: 

• Summarize current trends and research-informed practices from Quality Matters that impact online course design and delivery.
• Discuss practical strategies shared by the speaker for implementing or enhancing QM-aligned course components.

May 5^th | "Ed Tech Demos - Watch Party" | 10 AM to 11 AM | Hybrid meeting via zoom and in-person. Light morning snacks provided for in-person attendees. LIB 208, Registration TBA. 

Celebrate Reading Day with a fun and informative watch party! We’ll explore emerging educational technologies and discuss their potential to boost student engagement, accessibility, and learning outcomes. Come for the tech, stay for the snacks!

• Evaluate the effectiveness and instructional relevance of emerging educational technologies showcased during the watch party, considering their potential impact on student engagement, accessibility, and learning outcomes.
• Compare different educational technology tools in terms of usability, scalability, and alignment with course objectives.
• Discuss opportunities and challenges of integrating at least one featured technology into your own teaching practice.

October 2025

October 30^th | "Teaching Strategies for Large Online Courses - Watch Party" | 2 PM to 3 PM | Hybrid meeting via Zoom and in-person @ the Mary and Jeff Bell Library Active Learning Classroom. Light snacks are provided for in-person attendees. Register for this hybrid event.

Join us for a watch party featuring UTRGV panelists as we explore practical strategies for managing engagement and instructor presence in large online classes. Learn scalable techniques to enhance interaction, feedback, and student satisfaction, whether you're teaching 30 or 300! Speakers: Dr. Tracia Forman, Associate Professor, College of Health Professions; Dr. Jessica Sanchez, Associate Director of Research and Innovation, Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology; Americo Hinojosa Lee, Lab Supervisor Coordinator and Lecturer for Astronomy; and Dr. Francisco Garcia, Director, Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology. 

Outcomes: 

• Analyze the challenges specific to managing student engagement and instructor presence in large online courses.
• Apply scalable teaching strategies (e.g., breakout groups, automated feedback, discussion facilitation) to support meaningful learning experiences.
• Design or revise course elements to improve interaction, feedback, and learner satisfaction in large-enrollment online classes.

September 3^rd | "The RSI Edge: Driving Student Success Through Connection" | 2 PM to 3 PM | via Zoom. Register for the RSI Workshop. | Add the RSI Workshop Zoom to your calendar.

Transform your online courses into dynamic, interactive experiences that foster student engagement by implementing Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)

Outcomes:

• Define the meaning of "regular" and "substantive" interaction within online learning contexts. 
• Identify key strategies to support the implementation of RSI. 
• Create an individual plan of implementing RSI strategies in your courses. 

September 5th | "Honorlock Exam Proctoring Training" | 2 PM to 3 PM | OCNR 135 | Register for the Honorlock Training here. | 

Looking for a Smarter Way to Proctor Your Exams?
Join us for an informative and relaxed afternoon session to explore Honorlock, a powerful online exam proctoring solution.

Meet the Honorlock team, enjoy some lemonade and popcorn, and discover how their platform can support academic integrity while enhancing the testing experience. Whether you're curious or ready to implement a new solution, this training is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with colleagues.

September 15^th through October 3^rd | "Digital Course Design and Instruction" (DCDI) Faculty Workshop (Fall Cohort)| Fully online, asynchronous via Canvas. 

September 19^th | "Creating Accessible Course Documents" |1:30 PM to 2:30 PM | Face-to-face in computer lab, OCNR 242. Register for this Accessibility Workshop.

Learn how to use built-in accessibility checkers in Canvas and Microsoft Office to create documents that can be used by all students. We will also cover simple formatting tips and tools to help you design any document with accessibility in mind.

Outcomes:

• Review built-in accessibility checkers in Canvas and MS office tools. ​ 
• Apply various style and formatting tools included in the MS Office Suite. ​ 
• Create accessible documents.​ 

August 21^st | "Canvas Boot Camp" Faculty Training | Face-to-face from 9 to 11 AM (OCNR 241), then session repeated virtually (via Zoom) from 2 PM to 4 PM. Register for either session here. | Add virtual Zoom session to calendar.

Kick off the semester with a hands-on Canvas refresher! We will cover course setup, content creation, quizzes, and grading tools like SpeedGrader. Perfect for new and returning faculty.

Outcomes: 

• Discuss Canvas course management and navigation.  
• Demonstrate best practices for creating content, assignments, and quizzes in Canvas.  
• Explore and demonstrate SpeedGrader and grading capabilities in Canvas. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 3rd Open Texas conference, jointly organized by the THECB and the Texas Digital Library. This year's theme, "Global Horizons of Open Education: The View from Texas," promises to broaden your perspective and ignite your passion for open educational resources (OER).

The conference committees, led by conference co-chairs, Niki Whiteside, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Instructional Innovation and Support, and Dr. Tonja Conerly, Professor of Sociology at San Jacinto College are working together to create an engaging program. The full conference schedule and keynote speakers will be announced early fall.

Event Details:

• Dates: September 25-27, 2024
• Location: Free & Virtual
• Registration: Now open!
• Session Formats: Keynote speakers, pre-conference workshops, town hall with THECB and the Texas OER community, and innovative sessions
• Session Tracks: Global Collaboration and Partnerships, Technology and Open Education, Policy and Advocacy in Open Education, Student Voices in Open Education, and Sustainability Models for OER

Participants can register today for this no-cost professional development opportunity, and we invite you to forward this information to your campus community. Visit the Open Texas 2024 website to learn more about this year’s committees and conference.

THECB welcomes everyone in open education to connect at Open Texas 2024. We look forward to your institution’s participation in this OER community event.

Inquiries about Open Texas 2024 can be directed to open.ed.texas@gmail.com or Carrie Gits, Director, Digital Learning, at carrie.gits@highered.texas.gov.

"Quality Matters at TAMU-CC Kickoff" Faculty Professional and Course Development Program. 

• Explore the Quality Matters initiative at TAMU-CC.  

For full details including registration please visit our Quality Matters at TAMU-CC page.

October 9^th , 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM via Zoom - "Prompt Engineering in AI" Faculty Workshop

Outcomes:

• Explore prompt engineering and its role in AI.  
• Identify challenges and opportunities in prompt design and optimization. 
• Explore innovative techniques and strategies for crafting effective prompts.  
• Discuss the ethical considerations and implications of prompt engineering.  

Learn more and add the "Prompt Engineering In AI" session to your calendar.

 October 24^th , 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM via Zoom - "Course Library" Faculty Workshop

Outcomes:

• Explore methods for adding citations to your Course Library
• Effectively organize materials in your course library to enhance course support.
• Identify the location of the Course Library help guide on the library's website. 

Learn more and add the "Course Library" workshop to your calendar.

November 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th - "Ethics, Professionalism, Innovation, Compliance (EPIC) Day" (Open to Faculty and Staff)

DLAI will have multiple sessions during this year's Employee Development event including: 

• “Harnessing Zoom for Effective Online Meetings” by Cynthia Farias

• “Creating Engaging Presentations” by Lauran Guerra, MS IDET

• “YOU and I with AI” by Rinki Suryavanshi, Phd

See the full schedule for EPIC here. 

January 14^th through 17^th - "Canvas Advanced" Faculty Training Series - Registration now open! 

For full details including registration and training outcomes please visit our Faculty Canvas Training page. 

Topic: "Course Management Advanced"

Outcomes: 

• Discuss helpful course management features in Canvas. 
• Explore and demonstrate how to utilize collaborations, peer-reviews and groups in Canvas.

Topic: "Assessments, Reports, and Analytics"

Outcomes: 

• Discuss the advanced analytics and reporting features in Canvas. 
• Explore and demonstrate how to generate and interpret various analytics and reports available in Canvas. 

Each session is approximately 1 hour long and will be offered both virtually and face-to-face (seating limited). 

January 15^th - Honorlock Online Proctoring Campus Visit - In Person ONLY

The Honorlock Customer Service Manager will be visiting the TAMU-CC campus! Join us to enhance your understanding of Honorlock and improve your proctoring workflows. During their visit, they will host two informative sessions:

9 AM Session: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, O’Connor Building, Room 240

• Effective Strategies for Proctoring Success: Learn practical tips for successfully implementing Honorlock’s proctoring services.
• Communicating Academic Integrity: Discover best practices for fostering students understanding of academic integrity.
• Add 9 AM session to calendar

10 AM Session: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, O’Connor Building, Room 240

• Interpret Proctoring Flags: Learn how to analyze and address the proctoring flags to enhance the integrity of your assessments. 
• Explore Honorlock’s Features: Discover how to use the “Search and Destroy” feature in Honorlock to refine and secure your test content.
• Add 10 AM session to calendar

Harnessing Microlearning and Microcredentialing Faculty Panel - in person

February 12, Noon - 1 PM, University Center, Oso Room 221

Bring your own lunch and join us for a faculty and student led panel discussion on the application of Micro-learning and Micro-credentialing as potential vehicles for students' upskilling for the 21st-century workforce!

Featuring:

• Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of the Conrad Blucher Institute
• Dr. Matthew Starliper, Associate Professor of Accounting at the TAMU-CC College of Business
• Nicholas Hinojosa, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at South Texas College
• Aurelia O’Neil, Doctoral Candidate from College of Education and Human Development

Discover these concepts and discuss the innovative strategies utilized by TAMU-CC faculty, students, and your South Texas peers! Add this panel event to your calendar.

Outcomes:

• Define Micro-learning and Micro-credentialing.  
• Explore strategies being utilized by faculty to implement micro-credentialing in their courses.  
• Discuss impact on student success. 

Open the drop downs for each month to see upcoming professional development and training information and registration details. 

July 16th, 2pm- "AI's Impact on Assessment Culture: Driving Exam Innovation and Integrity"

AI is rapidly changing how assessments are created, delivered, and safeguarded in higher education. The key isn’t resisting the change—it’s leading it.

In this 30-minute Ed Talk, Heather Medley, an instructional designer at South Plains College, will share how her team leverages AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance assessments, boost student engagement, and uphold exam integrity. You’ll gain strategies you can use right away to improve outcomes while staying ahead of evolving AI trends.

You’ll learn how to:

• Design AI-enhanced assessments that foster critical thinking
• Stay on top of emerging AI capabilities and faculty training
• Identify and block AI chat tools used inappropriately during exams
• Build a healthy, ethical assessment culture that supports student success

This is your opportunity to get ahead of the curve with clear, practical insights.