As part of our mission to optimize teaching and learning at the University of Iowa, the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology facilitates pilots related to instructional technology, data tools, and classroom technology. Instructors’ insights are invaluable in shaping the success of new technologies in the classroom and ensuring it enhances student learning outcomes.
Active Pilots
AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Tools
Discover how AI-powered study assistants can support student learning and engagement in your course.
This pilot offers the opportunity to explore one or two AI tools, depending on your teaching goals:
- Class Tutor: A general AI assistant, integrated into an ICON course, for answering questions and reinforcing course content.
- Scenario-Based Assistant: A customizable AI tool that guides learners through scenarios and simulations for applied assessment. Integrated into ICON, with chat logs for faculty review.
OTLT will provide support for setup, course integration, and evaluation. Ideal for courses interested in scalable student support or incorporating active learning assessments with AI.
AI-Assisted Grading and Feedback Pilot
Join this pilot to evaluate how AI-assisted grading tools can support instructors while maintaining academic integrity, data security, and human oversight. The goal of this pilot is to understand how these tools function in real instructional‑ contexts and whether they can improve feedback quality, grading efficiency, and consistency across courses.
This tool always keeps the instructor in the loop, suggesting feedback based on an instructor made rubric. It aims to help instructors provide consistent, high quality feedback with short turn around times.
Instructors will be able to use the tool for a variety of assessments, including essays, audio or video presentations, and spreadsheets. It is best suited for assignments with written, visual, or discrete components. Please reach out to learn how this tool can support your teaching and learning needs.
Past Pilots
Cogniti
During the 2025-2026 school year, OTLT led a pilot on Cogniti, a tool that helps instructors create course specific AI chatbot agents. The goals of this pilot were to better understand campus AI needs and how Cogniti could support innovative teaching and learning on campus.
Khanmigo
OTLT conducted a pilot of Khanmigo Teacher Tools, an AI-powered teaching assistant integrated into Canvas, during the spring 2025 semester. This exploratory initiative aimed to evaluate how one AI tool might support faculty in instructional planning, assignment creation, and reflective teaching practices. Read about the results of this pilot in our newsletter.
Microsoft Teams and Canvas
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool designed for video meetings, asynchronous discussions, document sharing, and various group activities. OTLT conducted a pilot of the Teams integration with ICON during the spring 2025 semester to explore how these two platforms complemented each other.
Participate in a pilot
We're seeking instructors who are interested in piloting new technology in their classrooms. Please reach out if you are interested or if you have any questions.