Preparing for and Participating in the 1/15/26 UTA Technology Test Kitchen Where Innovation is the main ingredient

Topic: Level-Up Your Career Portfolio with Adobe Express

We are thrilled that you will be joining us on January 15, 2026 for a new, collaborative adventure--the UTA Technology Test Kitchen in the lobby of Trinity Hall/Trinity 112, or Trinity 105, at your designated time between 1:00-2:30 pm. *If you cannot participate in the Technology Test Kitchen you can still participate on your own by reading through these tasks and completing them on your own! Please take a close look at these preparation instructions. And please complete these steps no later than January 15, 2026 if you are attending the test kitchen event in person. Doing so by January 15, 2026. will help make everyone's experience super fabulous. These steps will also help you appreciate what your students and colleagues will experience as they innovate with the Adobe integrations you will design at the Test Kitchen event. What's the deadline? It's January 15, 2026.

STEP 1: Hardware and Software Prep (5-15 minutes)

  • Prepare and bring a laptop computer with a power charger and WiFi connectivity. The UTA Technology Test Kitchen will have essential hands-on moments throughout. A laptop is highly preferable to a tablet.
  • Triple-check to ensure you have rock-solid access to Adobe Express through your campus log-in protocol. In other words, use your campus SSO to confirm that you can access Adobe Express. You can click this URL to test: http://express.adobe.com
  • If you would like you can also re‑enable your Adobe Creative Cloud license (recommended) through: 🔗 go.uta.edu/adobe-opt-in

STEP 2: Customize Your Digital Name Tag Before the Session (5-15 minutes)

  • Open the Remixable Template at: https://tinyurl.com/Adobe2025ASU
  • Click the blue Remix button in the top-right corner.
  • Replace the placeholder text with your first name, last name, and institution's name.
  • Click the text-to-image icon in the middle of the empty image pane until you see the Generate Image menu pop-up on the left.
  • In the box beneath Describe what you'd like to see, type in a generative AI prompt to create an image that represents the kind of academic innovation that you aspire to create on your campus.
  • A resource for prompting is here (highly recommend. Give it a skim/read): Adobe Firefly Prompt Guide
  • Click Generate.
  • Iterate the prompt and (re)Generate until you like it.
  • When you are finished iterating, click the grey Download button in the top-right (next to the Share button) and use the default PNG format to download.
  • Optional--Post the downloaded file to Nakesha Brown (nakesha.brown@uta.edu) and Peggy Semingson (peggys@uta.edu) by January 14 or sooner and post it in the Teams channel.
  • A tutorial video on how to do the name tag, featuring Dr. Beth Fleener from CRTLE is here: Name Tag Adobe

STEP 3: The Portfolio Task for the 1/15 Test Kitchen

If you are attending the Test Kitchen event in person on 1/15, you can preview this. If you are participating on your own (asynchronously) follow the directions below to learn and participate. You can use this to participate in the The Chef's Challenge for recognition!

  1. Open the Remixable Template for the Portfolio Task here: https://adobe.ly/HED-Port
  2. Click the blue Remix This button in the top right corner.
  3. Type your Name and a short headline or tagline that introduces your portfolio.
  4. Write an introduction. Add a brief statement about who you are and what the portfolio will highlight. Add your photo.
  5. Add Sections (using the "+" button to insert.
  6. Highlight Skills and Projects. Add evidence of your work, projects, experiences, achievements, etc.
  7. Customize the Design. Choose a Theme, change the pictures (click on the picture you want to change and click replace).
  8. Preview then Publish your Portfolio. Select share -> Publish to Web -> Create link, then copy your shareable link.

STEP 4 (Optional): Preview the Recipe Cards and the Adobe Firefly Prompting Tips

If you cannot attend the live session, review the prompting tips for Adobe Firefly (Generative AI) and the recipe cards to try on your own! Be sure to join the Chef's Challenge Teams area to earn recognition and prizes! Click here to join the Chef's Challenge Team! General | The Chef's Challenge Team | Microsoft Teams About the Chef's Challenge: Chef’s Challenge and Faculty Recognition - CRTLE - The University of Texas at Arlington

Resources:

Link to Recipe Cards and Prompting Tips
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Links