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When AI gets lost in its own reality

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Chat GPT declared that an Australian mayor served time in prison for bribery, but do you believe it? One of the considerations that comes with the use of generative AI platforms such as Copilot is the need to verify all output for accuracy in case of what is known as hallucinations. But what are these hallucinations, and why do they happen?

OTLT seeking instructors for ICON pilot programs

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
We’re facilitating two pilots: Microsoft Teams and ICON integration and ICON Discussion Tool redesign. We're seeking instructors who may be interested in participating as their insights are invaluable in shaping the success of new technologies and ensuring that instructional technology enhances student learning outcomes.

Don’t forget Digital Desk is moving to Gradescope Bubble Sheets

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Digital Desk, the current solution for Scantron bubble sheets, will be decommissioned, and the Exam Scoring service will be replaced with Gradescope Bubble Sheets for fall 2024.

OTLT debuts new website

Wednesday, April 3, 2024
We're excited to announce that the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology (OTLT) recently launched a new website. Our redesigned site brings several enhancements that make the browsing experience smoother and more efficient, including consolidating multiple web properties into a single, cohesive platform.

Lower Price for Top Hat Classroom Pro in Fall 2024

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
We’re happy to announce that a Top Hat Classroom Pro license will cost only $10 per student per semester for the 2024–25 academic year—a savings of $23 compared to the retail price. Top Hat can make classes more interactive, facilitate class discussions, guide lectures, and allow for polling.

AI-Assisted Literature Reviews

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
ChatGPT has a reputation for generating hallucinations, or false information. So can an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform be trusted to assist in a literature review? Yes, if the tool you are using is the right one for the job. Try these five AI platforms to assist you in your literature reviews and academic research.

ICON Direct Saves University of Iowa Students $10 Million

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
ICON Direct is the University of Iowa's initiative for ordering digital content from specific publishers and delivering it to students to address rising textbook costs. During the 2023–2024 academic year, 1,030 course sections with 20,507 students used ICON Direct to deliver course content, with the average amount saved being $200. The order period for summer 2024 ends Monday, April 15, and fall 2024 orders are due by Monday, July 29.

Moving from Digital Desk to Gradescope Bubble Sheets

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Digital Desk, the current solution for Scantron bubble sheets, will be decommissioned, and the Exam Scoring service will be replaced with Gradescope Bubble Sheets for fall 2024. This change is part of the ITS Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology’s ongoing commitment to enhance the educational tools offered by the University of Iowa and was made after interviewing instructors, speaking with governance committees, and performing a service review.

ITTA Provides $53,623 for AI Project

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
This year's Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards (ITTA) recipient is building an AI-enabled teaching assistant. Ibrahim Demir, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, was awarded $53,623 for the third phase of the AI Enabled Intelligent Assistant (AIIA) for Personalized and Adaptive Learning and Advising project.

Inclusive by Design 9 Tools to Make Your ICON Courses More Accessible

Friday, February 16, 2024
Building ICON courses with accessibility in mind from the ground up means accessibility options can be available to everyone, and students will have an easier time accessing content and completing assignments. The University of Iowa already provides many tools that can help with this.