Launched in 2025, Note Depot, a centralized note-taking platform in ICON, has helped meet hundreds of student accommodations. We're continuing to improve the experience for instructors and students as well as increasing the quality and accuracy of AI notes.

As part of the university’s commitment to digital accessibility, the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology now offers Equatio to faculty, staff, and students to support accessible math learning wherever they are. Equatio is a digital math tool that offers multiple input methods, making it easier for users to engage with math equations in multiple formats.

The Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards (ITTA) provide funding for innovative, results-oriented instructional technology projects that raise the level of teaching and learning at Iowa and have the potential to impact student success and retention. The University of Iowa Academic Technologies Advisory Council (ATAC) will accept proposals for ITTA from Wednesday Sept. 9, through Monday, Oct. 12.

Top Hat continues to develop its platform with new features designed to support active learning, simplify course management, improve accessibility, and expand AI-powered teaching features.

Discover practical ways to spark participation and deepen learning at ICON Day 2026. Join OTLT Friday, Nov. 13, for a keynote by Claire Howell Major, ICON All Star awards, lightning talks from UI faculty, and hands-on workshops. Explore active learning strategies, student engagement, AI, Top Hat, and more. Register by Monday, Nov. 2.

Learn about the latest updates happening in ICON and how they might impact your courses this fall, including updates to the Speedgrader user interface, the Canvas dashboard changes, and information about archived ICON courses.

At InstructureCon, Iowa’s ICON Course Wizard was featured by the keynote, and more than 300 individuals from higher education institutions across the country attended a live demonstration of the tool. The response to the wizard and template highlights Iowa’s efforts to support teaching and learning and the growing interest in accessible tools that help instructors streamline course setup and enhance student learning.

OTLT spent the summer updating and improving technology in many university learning spaces. Here’s a quick look at what happened during the summer

If you use ICON Direct for eTexts, here are some important updates for fall 2026 that will help you navigate questions from students.

The AI in Teaching Roundtable featured four Provost AI Fellows who discussed their upcoming courses designed for the interdisciplinary undergraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence. Panelists addressed the nature of AI as a crucial disciplinary subject matter and a challenge to traditional course design and assessment.