The end of the fall semester is quickly approaching. Learn about the three options instructors have for submitting final grades to MAUI and tips to make entering graders easier whether they're using the MAUI in ICON function, manually entering grades, or uploading a file to MAUI.

You may have heard of the ICON accessible course template, developed by OTLT. What you may not know is that it’s available for use as you begin to prep for winter and spring courses. You can even start using it from within your new ICON course site.

PDFs are one of the largest and most consistent accessibility issues in ICON courses. Here are a few tips to resolve the most common concerns. Have more questions? The University of Iowa has multiple resources available to help you.

Drop by 2523 University Capitol Centre from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Fridays through Nov. 21 for in-person accessibility support. No appointment required. OTLT staff will be available to help instructors make ICON course sites and digital documents, including PDFs, more accessible. They'll also assist instructors in taking advantage of tools like TidyUP and Ally to simplify the process.

The Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards (ITTA) provide funding for innovative projects that have the potential to impact student success and retention. If you are preparing a proposal for this award, consider these tips and suggestions from previous award recipients. The deadline for proposals is Monday, Oct. 13.

Here’s a roundup of new features that have become available in ICON over the last few months, including an accessible ICON template, Discussion Checkpoints, modernized Speedgrader, Note Depot, and more.

ICON Direct hit a new achievement with a total of over $15 million in student savings as of the end of the academic year 2024-2025. Student savings for fall 2025 is currently at $1.75 million. The textbook adoption period for winter 2025 and spring 2026 runs until Dec. 22, 2025.

Maggie Jesse, a longtime contributor to instructional technology at the University of Iowa and executive director of the ITS Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology (OTLT), has announced her plans to retire Dec. 5. Dave Long, director of Instructional Services, will serve as interim leader of OTLT from December 2025 to December 2026. When the new chief information officer is in place, they will determine the next steps for identifying permanent leadership of OTLT.

The University of Iowa is excited to introduce Note Depot, a centralized platform in ICON designed to simplify access to note-taking resources for students and instructors. It has two distinct features. LectureAI leverages artificial intelligence to generate notes from recorded UICapture (Panopto) lectures. The Note Taking Exchange facilitates note sharing by allowing designated individuals to contribute class notes.

Course Activity Insights (CAI) combines academic data into a single platform, giving instructors timely, actionable insights into how students interact with their courses. Instructors need to complete training that is available as a self-paced asynchronous ICON course. Or they may register for a virtual training session set for Tuesday, Sept. 23, Thursday, Oct. 23, or Wednesday, Nov. 19.