December 2025 and January 2026 happenings

Gen Z reports often feeling lonely or left out in record numbers(around 40% in 2022). Simultaneously, instructors may face silent, seemingly disengaged faces when they try to lead discussion or do group activities. What gives?

In this webinar you'll learn how Dr. Meghan Porter, senior Lecturer in chemistry and winner of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Technology, addressed this issue in her large, undergraduate chemistry courses. By creating a reinforcing structure of in-class and out-of-class communication and activities, Dr. Porter balances giving students guidance and space to form academic communities, support systems, and sometimes friends, even in sections of 200+ students.

Register for this Teaching Gen Z webinar.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) starts with choosing course materials that are accessible to all students. In this session, we'll explore how IU's library tools—like EBSCO and ProQuest—can help you efficiently source content that supports learning and aligns with accessibility best practices.

Led by campus librarians, this session will demonstrate how to leverage existing integrations in Canvas to find accessible readings, multimedia, and research materials. You'll learn how these tools save time while supporting student success through inclusive course design.

This session will cover:

• How EBSCO and ProQuest support accessible content sourcing
• Canvas integrations that streamline access to library materials
• Tips for curating course content that aligns with UDL principles
• How librarians can support your accessibility goals

Participants will leave with practical strategies for finding and integrating accessible materials that support flexible, inclusive learning environments.

Register for the Sourcing Accessible Course Content webinar.

As we wrap up fall semester and prepare for spring, let's consider how to design writing assignments that both you and your students will find engaging and meaningful. We've all been there: trudging through reading virtually indistinguishable papers, fighting our way through the tedium. But we think there's another way: we can guide our students to create work that sparks audience interest, including yours.

In this workshop, we'll investigate what features make assignments fun to write and read, drawing from research in writing studies. We'll consider samples of assignments that capitalize on student choice, personal connection, public audiences, alternative grading methods, critical AI literacy, and other "outside-the-box" elements, and we'll provide structured time to begin reworking an assignment or building one from scratch.

Register for Designing Writing Assignments You Actually Want to Read.

The Extended Reality Initiative (XRI) Faculty Fellows Grant provides faculty with technical and instructional support and funds to implement Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) assignments/projects/activities into their course(s) that are designed to improve student learning and success at IU.

The purpose of the XRI Faculty Fellows Grant is to introduce extended reality technologies to faculty and inspire the development and implementation of these innovative technologies into their courses. This may be done through the development of a particular AR/VR assignment, project, or activity during the semester that students will participate in and that will help fulfill a specific learning outcome(s) for the course.

A total of 10 grants will be awarded.Learn more and apply to be a fellow here.

Accessibility starts with the documents you use every day. In this session, we'll show you how to use built-in accessibility checkers in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to improve your course materials quickly and effectively. You'll also learn best practices for creating accessible PDFs and how to tailor your approach based on your discipline.

Led by experts from IU's Assistive Technology and Accessibility Centers (ATAC), this session will include guidance for a range of content types—from STEM and LaTeX-based materials to arts and language-markup documents. You'll leave with practical strategies and resources to help you create more inclusive documents for your students.

This session will cover:

• Accessibility checkers in Word and PowerPoint
• Best practices for creating accessible PDFs
• Discipline-specific guidance for STEM/LaTeX, arts, and language-markup
• Resources with tips tailored to your teaching context

Register for Creating Accessible Documents with Everyday Tools.

Feeling curious about Generative AI but a little unsure where to begin? This session is designed just for you! GenAI Jumpstart introduces the basics in a friendly, approachable way—perfect for beginners and anyone who feels nervous about diving in. Learn what GenAI is, explore simple tools you can use right away, and discover how these technologies can make your work easier. No jargon, no pressure—just a supportive space to start your GenAI journey.

This speed-dating-style event will include four short rounds. For each round, you can choose which IU-approved GenAI tool you would like to explore. In the next round, select a different tool. You're welcome to join the event at any time.

Learn more and register for GenAI Jumpstart here.