As you prepare for a new academic year, we are excited to share a few updates to Top Hat that will improve your teaching experience and bolster student engagement.
Ace: AI-Powered Assistance
Top Hat Ace is a lecture enhancer and study assistant that is powered by Open AI’s large language model, GPT. Ace helps instructors by generating questions, hints, and explanations, which can be added to course materials, saving time and supporting a more interactive learning environment. Ace helps provide students with personalized study support through reviewing course material and preparing more effectively, all within the Top Hat platform.
Guest Mode: Easy Access for All Learners
Guest Mode allows individuals to participate in presentations as students without logging in or creating an account. Designed for use in settings outside of traditional courses with enrolled students, it’s ideal for scenarios such as guest lectures, workshops, or public presentations where ease of access is essential. With Guest Mode, participants can view slides and respond to questions seamlessly, making it a flexible tool for engaging broader audiences.
Anonymous Access for Asynchronous Use
Anonymous Access Courses allow individuals to engage in a Top Hat course without requiring them to create a full account. This feature offers a streamlined way for participants to interact with content in an asynchronous setting to let individuals participate in low-barrier information or feedback-driven sessions.
Multi-Section Courses
Managing multiple sections of the same course is now easier with Multi-Section Management. This feature simplifies content sharing, grading, student engagement, and maintains consistency across sections.
Top Hat LTI Update in ICON
Over the summer, we removed a prior version of Top Hat LTI from ICON. Faculty will now see only one Top Hat option in their course navigation settings, simplifying setup and reducing confusion
If you have questions or need help integrating these features into your course, contact the ITS Help Desk. Let us know how we can help you make the most out of Top Hat this fall.