Distance Education & Instructional Technology Committee (DEITC) Newsletter March 2024

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Course Development Process

The DEITC Committee voted unanimously to table the Course Development Process & Related Compensation for discussion at the next DEITC meeting after the topic has been addressed in more detail at the next VP Meeting.

CATIE AI Conference Proposals

The 2024 Chancellor’s Summit on Academic Technology (CATIE) will take place on June 24 - 25 at RELLIS in Bryan Texas. The theme for this year’s conference is AI & U: Agency, Innovation, & Understanding for Future-focused Learning. The CATIE call for proposal deadline was extended to March 29, 2024. Acceptance of proposals will be sent out April 10th and final date to modify any session content or schedule will be June 1, 2024. If you are interested in presenting, please submit proposals via this link: CATIE Proposal Submissions

AI Detection Tools & Guidelines Update

Dr. Hayley Kazen mentioned that the AI detection tools and guidelines were discussed in the Executive Council meeting and Dr. Pablo Arenaz mentioned he would like the university to start educating students on how to responsibly use AI. Additional information on this topic will be forthcoming.

Dr. Ariadne Gonzalez informed the committee that Dr. Claudia San Miguel is currently reviewing AI guidelines that can possibly be implemented here at TAMIU. There is no current timeline on when this might take effect.

Blackboard Ultra Updates

The Blackboard Ultra transition continues! Ultra full deployment launches Summer & Fall 2024. The eLearning Team will be visiting faculty the week of April 8th to share the Blackboard Learn Faculty Ultra Features Guide and to answer any questions they may have about the new Ultra experience.

The eLearning team will be having a student information table with activities/games and will be giving away popsicles and prizes for students to de-stress before finals. The event will take place on April 29th from 10-2pm, during Reading Day, in the Pellegrino Breezeway. The team will also be distributing the Blackboard Learn Ultra Student Features Guide and answering any questions students may have about Ultra.

Faculty are encouraged to sign up for the OIT Blackboard Ultra trainings being offered by the eLearning team. There are four main sessions:

• Bb Ultra: Communication with Students
• Bb Ultra: Creating and Organizing Content
• Bb Ultra: Creating and Organizing Content
• Bb Ultra: Creating and Organizing Content

Register for a session at the OIT training website.

AI Workshops

eLearning is hosting two Artificial Intelligence Tools Workshops for faculty in CWT 112. You may self-enroll at the OIT trainings website.

• AI Empowerment: Transforming Teaching with Blackboard's Design Assistant- April 3rd at 3pm CST
• Maximizing Course Development Efficiency: Harnessing AI Tools- April 10th at 3pm CST

Instructional Technology Excellence Award.

The Distance Education and Instructional Technology Committee (DEITC) has begun accepting nominations for the 2024 Instructional Technology Excellence Award. DEITC is committed to recognizing faculty who have excelled in integrating technology within their courses. This first Excellence Award was presented in 2004. For a list of past recipients, go to: Distance Education Faculty Awards and Recognition website.

Faculty being nominated for this award should be contacted by the nominator to be given the opportunity to submit any additional supporting artifacts on their own behalf. Self-nominations are also welcomed.

The Instructional Technology Excellence Award will be presented with a plaque during Fall 2024. Reserved parking and a stipend ($500.00) will also be included in the award.

Instructional Technology Excellence Award Nomination Form

Please submit the nomination form as well as supporting documents to Dr. Pat Abrego, Director of Academic Technology, via email at pabrego@tamiu.edu or in person to the Office of Instructional Technology & Distance Education Services located in Killam Library, Room 259. Deadline for nominations is May 31, 2024.

To facilitate the nomination process, a copy of the rubric that will be used to score is linked below:

Instructional Technology Excellence Award Scoring Rubric

Library Announcements

Dr. Joan Wakasa Murumba mentioned that the library has information on AI ethics for both faculty and students on the library page under Artificial Intelligence: A primer for Faculty and Students. You can access this information by clicking on the following link: AI Library Guides

Follett Updates

The fall semester textbook adoption deadline for faculty is on April 15, 2024. For virtual book adoption assistance, please watch the following video from Follett's virtual session: Virtual Books Adoption

Registrar's Office Announcements 

• The 2024-2025 Academic Calendar is available online
• Summer & Fall 2024 Schedules are available online
• The new TAMIU Catalog is being updated and should be available online soon

Next Meeting

The next DEITC meeting will be held on April 29, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in KL420.

Past DEITC Newsletters

You may view past DEITC newsletters here.