Category: Education & Outreach

Intern with UFIT–15 Paid Summer Positions

Posted on

UFIT has a year-round paid internship program for students to gain experience in a variety of IT fields. Internships are now posted online for Summer 2023: https://it.ufl.edu/internships/. Students do not have to be majoring in computer science or other technology-focused program to intern with UFIT.

Computer science junior Lauren Bartyczak (pictured), hopes her experience as an enterprise resource planning intern helps to launch a career in software engineering.

“This position has given me experience navigating and understanding a system much larger and more complex than anything I have encountered in school. Having to learn the system, and my role within it, in a short period of time is something I think will prove to be valuable anytime I need to learn a new skill for future jobs.”

Shaina Desroches, a digital arts and sciences in engineering freshman, interns with UFIT’s communications group. Her career goal is to work in user experience design and software development.

“This opportunity has furthered my understanding of how information about technology can spread. By creating information to target users, I increased the likeliness that users would interact with technology based off their response to media I created.”

Developing Courses for Fall 2023

Posted on

Instructors: it’s that time of semester! Faculty who would like to work with UFIT’s Center for Instructional Technology & Training (CITT) to develop or revise a course for Fall 2023 should contact the CITT by Friday, April 28. The instructional design staff would love to work with you to develop or revise a traditional, flipped, hybrid, or online course, or a flipped advising site.

If you are teaching this fall but cannot commit to a full course development, you can work with an instructional designer to develop or revise some aspects of your course. The CITT will help you to create a custom plan for just the items you want to focus on. Customization will enable you to work with an instructional designer for a week or two, or a few months–whatever time you have to commit, our staff can commit to you! Let the CITT experts help you develop assessments, course content, videos, or any combination of services offered.

To start working with the CITT, just complete the assistance form and a staff member will follow up ASAP to schedule an appointment.

ChatGPT: Adapting Assessments with AI in Mind

Posted on

ChatGPT is the “water cooler” technology buzz of Spring 2023. What is it? And how will ChatGPT impact teaching and learning? Learn more by attending UFIT’s Tech Byte event, Adapting Assessments with AI in Mind:

Tuesday, April 11
2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom – Registration Link

ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have led to questions about academic integrity and how AI can transform teaching, learning, and assessment. The goal of this Tech Byte event is to lay the foundation of knowledge about ChatGPT (and its competitors) and enlarge the conversation about the technology in UF’s teaching community. Tech Byte attendees will receive a brief overview of ChatGPT’s capabilities, consider course design strategies, learn how to modify assessments to be less susceptible to AI generated content, and discuss new types of assessments made possible with AI. A conversational focus will be on continuing to weigh the value of assessments and their relationship to measuring student learning outcomes. Participants will have the opportunity to share existing assessments from courses they teach or work with to see how they could be improved considering the capabilities of AI.

Register today! Anyone with questions about this Tech Byte event is welcome to contact UFIT’s Center for Instructional Technology and Training.

iClicker Cloud Training Offered March 23

Posted on

UFIT is coordinating an iClicker Cloud training, open to both novice and seasoned users. Taught by an iClicker company representative, this FREE training is open to all UF faculty:

iClicker Cloud Training
Thursday, March 23
10:00-11:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
Registration Link

iClicker Cloud is a learning platform that improves student engagement in a variety of ways. The learning tool includes both synchronous and asynchronous options such as polling, quizzing, and assignments, and seamlessly integrates with Canvas. Regardless of class size or delivery method, iClicker can help instructors increase attendance and participation, provide instant feedback, and identify knowledge gaps in real-time.

Please email ufit-training@ufl.edu for more information about the iClicker Cloud training or about any other offering on the UFIT training schedule.

New Workshop: Applying Learning Analytics

Posted on

As part of the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance student success, UFIT created a new unit whose sole focus is on learning analytics and assessment. One of the first outputs of this unit is a new workshop highlighting how learning analytics tools can be utilized to enhance student outcomes.

Registration is now open for the Applying Learning Analytics workshop. The online workshop was developed with fellow Unizin member institutions as a cross-institutional effort to prepare faculty to use learning analytics data ethically, effectively, and equitably. It has been added to Canvas Commons as an open educational resource and is being piloted at several institutions, including UF. The workshop introduces instructors to course-level learning analytics data in Canvas and other educational tools. Participants will learn how analytics can inform changes in their course design and provide customized student guidance during the learning process. Over a three-week period (March 30-April 13), participants are required to attend two 90-minute synchronous sessions (Zoom available). There is an option for an additional 90-minute synchronous or asynchronous session. All synchronous sessions are held on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Instructors with questions about the new learning analytics and assessment unit or the workshop are welcome to email Dr. Heather Maness, assistant director of the Center for Instructional Technology and Training.

AI Resources for Students Spotlighted at 2023 Tech Fair

Posted on

More than 2,030 student interactions were one outcome of the 2023 Tech Fair. Another outcome is that many students learned about some of the technology resources and services available to them at UFIT’s largest outreach event. Veronica Rams is a student who stopped by the event.

“GitHub Web Flow is so cool and useful when it comes to learning how to make a good website, since learning HTML was a bit hard,” Rams said.

This year’s Tech Fair focused on helping students utilize AI and online tools while completing their undergraduate degrees to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Students learned how to use LinkedIn Learning’s Learning Paths, tried out new AI drawing software with the help of UFIT’s instructional designers, and got their tech issues solved from the expert staff in the UFIT Help Desk tent. Students also also learned how AI evaluates their resumes, courtesy of the Career Connections Center. Marston Science Library brought out 3D printers and rentable technologies available. Victoria Garcia, an Innovation Academy student, appreciated the display.

“I learned about 3D printing and where they have printers which are helpful for my classes.”

For any questions about Tech Fair, email UFIT Communications at it-comm@ufl.edu!

Discounted Software for Purchase at UF

Posted on

Did you know students, faculty, and staff can get discounted pricing on a variety of software titles? UFIT manages campus-wide software licenses and distribution for more than 40 applications. There is an an extensive selection of popular software programs for instructional use or professional development. Here’s a chart showing what is available for departmental or individual (faculty/staff and student) purchase: https://software.ufl.edu/software-listings/.

Students can purchase more than 20 different software packages at substantially lower cost than from big box or online superstores. Popular options for students include Adobe, Grammarly Premium, and Endnote Basic. Students with questions about purchasing a discounted software license can talk with Help Desk staff at the 2023 Tech Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Faculty, students, and staff who are interested in purchasing software at UF discounted rates can visit the UFIT Help Desk, located on the first floor of the Hub between the Starbucks and the UF International Center.

Focusing on Your Future

Posted on

The 2023 Tech Fair is focused on AI and your future, and the university’s, too: https://youtu.be/ncY9tYlpq9s.

Ever wish you had a crystal ball that would display what your future career looked like? There are no fortune tellers at the Tech Fair, but AI art generators will be. UFIT staff will help you use mage.space to create works of art that show the future of UF and your career. Stop by to participate in the AI art contest and you might just win a Roku Streaming Stick!

For all undergrads, regardless of major, one thing you need to understand before applying for jobs or internships is how AI is used to review applications. The Career Connections Center (C3) staff will meet with you to address items related to AI in your career search. Staff will provide resume examples and discuss the importance of keywords for applicant tracking systems or ATS. The C3 will also discuss using the LinkedIn platform to students’ advantage. They’ll also have some really helpful handouts at their tent, so be sure to stop by. Visit the Tech Fair website for more information. See you on Feb. 22, Gators!

Course Design Assistance for Summer 2023

Posted on

It’s that time of semester again! Instructors: please contact UFIT as soon as possible if you’d like to work with an instructional designer (ID) at the Center for Instructional Technology & Training to develop or revise a course for Summer 2023. Our IDs would love to work with you to develop or revise a traditional, flipped, hybrid, or online course or flipped advising site.

If you would like to develop some aspects of your course but can’t commit to a full development, UFIT will work with you to create a custom development plan for just the items you want to focus on. The CITT staff can work with an instructor for a week or a few months–we’ll maximize the time you have available–to develop assessments, course content, videos, or any combination of our services.

Visit UFIT’s instructional design page to learn about the CITT services, or complete the “request assistance form” if you’d like an ID to contact you.

Enhance UF Academics With Tech Fee Grant

Posted on

Your technology-related idea to enhance UF’s academic environment could become a reality: Consider submitting a proposal to the Tech Fee grants for funding. All faculty, students, and staff are encouraged to submit ideas fitting the submission guidelines. The process for submitting a proposal is outlined in the 2023 Tech Fee template.

Among many tech options initially paid for by Tech Free grants are: express digital scanning, LinkedIn Learning, MADE@UF for Infinity Hall, and iPads for borrowing at Smathers.

The submission deadline for review by a UFIT director (all of whom are listed on the template) is Friday, March 10, 2023. After the Technology Fee Advisory Committee reviews the proposals, those they recommend will be forwarded to the vice president and chief information officer for funding consideration. Program information, guidelines, and templates may all be found on the Tech Fee website. Anyone with questions about submitting a proposal is welcome to contact Anne Allen, support administrator for the Technology Fee Advisory Committee.