Instructional Technology Training
OIT's Instructional Design and Technology team provides training and support for faculty, staff, and students in Canvas and other instructional technologies. Previous training topics include Canvas, Anthology Ally, Zoom, Echo360, video creation, and strategies for active learning and technology-supported instruction. Current training options are listed on this page.
Faculty/Staff Canvas Basic Training (Online and Hybrid Video-Based) - All faculty and staff who intend to use UHCL's Canvas system and have not used Canvas as an instructor at another institution must complete UHCL's basic Canvas training. Three training options are available:
- 100% Asynchronous Self-Paced Online (Growing with Canvas) Training - All instructors should already have access to the Growing with Canvas training shell and an empty "sandbox" shell in which to practice and complete assignments during the online course. If you don't see tiles for these on your Canvas dashboard, please notify the team via email (IDT@uhcl.edu), and we'll get those set up for you ASAP. IMPORTANT! If you take the online version, please email our team upon completion.
- Hybrid Video-Based Training - (1) Attend a 30-minute Orientation Session (in-person or virtually), (2) Watch two videos [~45 minutes each] and answer the embedded questions, and (3) Attend the 60-minute Capstone Session (in-person or virtually).
- Virtual Synchronous Training - The vendor-hosted offering, Canvas Basics, is available via the Canvas Training Portal. IMPORTANT! If you take the virtual synchronous version, please email our team upon completion. To learn more about how to access the portal and enroll in these sessions, please review our short video, Crash Course - Canvas Training Portal [3:02].
All delivery modes have rolling enrollments, permitting us to enroll participants continuously, upon request. To request access to either the 100% online asynchronous or hybrid video-based Canvas basic training, please contact the Support Center. A help ticket will be generated and assigned to the appropriate member of our team, who will then enroll you and provide access instructions. For the virtual synchronous training, users may self register via the Canvas Training Portal.
Faculty/Staff Canvas Intermediate/Advanced Training - Numerous training options are available to all UHCL faculty/staff via the Canvas Training Portal. To learn more about how to access the portal and enroll in these sessions, please review our short video, Crash Course - Canvas Training Portal [3:02].
Other Technology Training Sessions - The IDT team welcomes faculty/staff requests for training on Echo360, supporting teaching with Zoom/Teams, Respondus Exam 4.0, video creation, and other related topics. Please contact your designated instructional designer (ID) or the OIT Support Center to submit a request/suggestion.
Anthology Ally Training - A fully online, self-paced session on Anthology's Ally tool, and online accessibility in general, is scheduled for release in March 2025. Ally is a tool integrated into Canvas to assist faculty and students with improved content accessibility. For more information about this upcoming training opportunity, please email our team at IDT@uhcl.edu.
Canvas Student Training (Online) - The IDT team maintains a fully online course for students that introduces them to Canvas. Students may self-enroll in the course at any time.
OIT's Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) team has planned a robust 2025 training schedule with 20+ hybrid sessions through the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. You may attend in person (B3608) or virtually (via Teams). Please reserve your seat (so we can plan each session more effectively) via email to IDT@uhcl.edu.
February 2025
- Getting Started with Quality Matters (QM) at UHCL, Wednesday, 2/29/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Boosting Learning Engagement with Articulate Storyline, Thursday, 3/20/25, 3:00-4:00 PM
- Student Online Technology Readiness, Friday, 2/28/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
March 2025
- UH Online Digital Accessibility Training Course - Overview and Introduction, Friday, 3/4/25, 2:00-3:00 PM
- Accessibility Checkers in Microsoft Apps, Friday, 3/7/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Ally: The Accessibility Tool in Canvas, Thursday, 3/13/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Using Canvas Portfolios for Assignments , Thursday, 3/27/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
April 2025
- Utilizing Canvas' Native Accessibility Features, Wednesday, 4/2/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI, Monday, 4/7/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Digital Accessibility and QM Accessibility Standards, Thursday, 4/24/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- ID-Assisted New Course Development, Tuesday, 4/29/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
May 2025
- Microsoft Teams Integration with Echo360, Thursday, 5/8/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- EchoVideos: Embedded Interactive Questions, Thursday, 5/15/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- QM-Based Course Design - Writing Objectives, Thursday, 5/22/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Developing a Course to Demystify and Befriend AI, Thursday, 5/29/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
June 2025
- Creating Accessible Learning Materials, Monday, 6/9/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Accommodations in an Active-Learning Classroom, Tuesday, 6/24/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
July 2025
- Micro-Learning: Articulate and Interactive Video, Wednesday, 7/2/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Microsoft Teams Integration with Echo360, Thursday, 7/10/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Working Together to Design Quality Courses, Thursday, 7/17/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Creating Active Learning Activities with Generative AI, Wednesday, 7/23/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
August 2025
- Engagement Through Authenticity, Wednesday, 8/6/25, 1:00-2:00 PM
- Understanding the Quality Matters (QM) Standards, Monday, 8/11/25, 11:00 AM-Noon
- Using Texts in an Active-Learning Classroom, Tuesday, 8/19/25, 1:00-2:00 PM