Instructional Technologies Blog

We’re already approaching the halfway point of the fall semester, which makes this a perfect time to pause and reflect. How are your classes going so far? Are students engaging the way you hoped? Are assignments matching your goals? Now is the moment to make small but meaningful adjustments, whether that means refining what you’re doing in your 16-week classes or beginning to plan strategically for Term B so that the second half of the semester sets both you and your students up for success

Instructional Technologies is excited to invite you to an open house showcasing Durham Tech’s brand new Lightboard Studio on Wednesday, September 18 from 2:00-3:00 PM. What is a lightboard? A lightboard is a transparent glass writing surface. Think of it as a glowing, see-through whiteboard. You’ll stand (or sit, if you prefer) behind the glass and write with fluorescent markers, while a video camera on the other side records your lecture. The result? Students can see your face as you explain

As we start another academic year, many of us have launched our online classes and are already thinking about classes for the B term and beyond. Whether you're building a course from scratch or refining one you've taught before, setting aside time now to ensure it's well-structured, clear, and engaging can make a meaningful difference for your students and for you. One tool that can help with that process is the Online Course Review Checklist . Designed with quality standards and effective

🎉 HelpDesk Upgrade Starts Today! Big news! As of July 22, our 24/7 Canvas HelpDesk has officially been upgraded to Amazon Connect.This upgrade supports the College’s broader commitment to embracing innovative technology. By using AI-powered tools like Amazon Connect, we’re streamlining support services and gaining valuable insights — helping us better serve our students and stay ahead in a digital-first world. The NC Community College System Office provides this around-the-clock HelpDesk to

On March 31 st, the transition to New Quizzes in Canvas officially kicked off with activation of the new quizzing engine in your Practice Course. That week, Instructional Technologies also offered Canvas New Quizzes: Bootcamp sessions to help introduce New Quizzes. If you were unable to join us in-person or during the webinar, we highly encourage you to access the workshop recording below to learn more about the basics of New Quizzes including how to: access and navigate around the interface

We’re excited to provide an important update on our transition to New Quizzes in Canvas, a change that will enhance the quizzing experience for both instructors and students. Below, you’ll find key dates, training sessions, and resources to help you navigate this transition smoothly. Key Dates for the Transition The official switch to New Quizzes will begin soon, and here are the critical dates you need to know: March 31, 2025: New Quizzes will be activated in Canvas Practice Courses. May 12

If you're looking to refine your grading process and provide feedback to your students, rubrics in Canvas are one possible tool to consider. Whether you're new to rubrics or just need a refresher, this will help to guide you through some of the questions that can come with using Rubrics in Canvas. If you are not familiar with rubrics, please take some time to watch the recent presentation from Alicia Johnson “ Streamlining Assessments and Alignment Through Rubrics ” put out by ODL ( Note: You

We are excited to announce the launch of a new training opportunity – Canvas Gradebook Essentials. In this workshop, you’ll engage with instructional videos and quizzes designed to help you learn how to set up and manage your Canvas Gradebook effectively. It is offered online, allowing you to work at your own pace, whenever or wherever is convenient for you. You'll leave this workshop with the confidence, skills, and resources to make your Canvas Gradebook a reliable tool for clear and accurate

Mark your calendars! Beginning in mid-May 2025, we are transitioning from Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes as our assessment tool in Canvas. What is New Quizzes? New Quizzes is a tool instructors can use to create and administer their online quizzes in Canvas. New Quizzes offers familiar question types, such as multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, essay, and more, in addition to several new question type options. Much of what you can do with "Classic" Quizzes you will also be

Over 270 sections that began in mid-August are wrapping up next week. We know that you are very busy during this time period and need to focus on grading student work. To assist with your end of the semester tasks, we wanted to share some information about working in the Gradebook. Visibility icon on Students’ Total Grade A visibility icon may appear when an accurate Total Grade is not available for students. This does not affect the score that you see as the instructor. The score displays