New Academic Technology Tools for 2024

Faculty and staff have a lot to look forward to in 2024.  The Office of eCampus has secured several new academic technology tools, and noteworthy functionality additions are planned for Canvas.  Below are examples of coming additions.

UDOIT module from Cidi Labs is an accessibility checker.  This tool will be integrated and available in all Canvas courses.  UDOIT scans all course content, identifies issues, and assists faculty in resolving issues.  A second module from Cidi Labs called DesignPLUS is also coming soon.  This is a robust instructional design tool to help faculty build and style more engaging course content.  Watch for more information and availability. 

Simple Syllabus is an application that school administrators, faculty, and staff will all appreciate.  This provides a centralized platform for syllabus creation and maintenance.  Template designs ensure required content and policies are included in all syllabi while allowing faculty to make course-specific content edits.  As a bonus, version histories are available to track changes.

Canvas is also bringing new functionality to our learning management system.  Human captioning integration is coming to Studio. This will remove the requirement for a third-party tool to add captioning.  Also, Canvas mobile app users will enjoy accessing and using the core functionality of the app without requiring a continuous Wi-Fi connection.  These and other Canvas improvements are detailed in the Canvas Product Roadmap. 

Here’s to another year of academic success at UMMC!