A comprehensive resource by Instructional Design, Engagement and Support team designed to inspire, inform, and elevate your educational practices. Updated monthly, the EdTech IDEAS Digest brings together the latest in technology, strategy, and thought leadership to help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of education.
The Digest features three core categories: Trends, Best Practices & Tools, and Point of View.
Special Edition
EdTech IDEAS Digest: What Students Want from Classroom Technology
The classroom is evolving, and so are student expectations for technology. This special Fall 2025 edition of the Digest features practical strategies and expert insights to help you stay ahead.
Featured article
Teaching with AI: Integrity & Engagement
AI’s influence touches every part of life, and more students are turning to it, leading to concerns over plagiarism and weaker critical thinking. This piece discusses ways to curb AI use in completing assignments and approaches that may work in your course.
Trends
Stay informed with data-driven insights into global trends in education and skills development. Dive into charts, graphs, and key findings to gain a broader perspective and shape your own strategies with confidence.
What Faculty Should Do: Encourage AI Dialogue and Accessibility in the Classroom
In our second article on the EDUCAUSE 2025 Students and Technology Report, we analyze the trends in Gen AI use in Higher Education and issues with Accessibility.
May 30, 2025
Tech-Savvy, Flex-Hungry: What Today’s Students Really Want
The first of two articles analyzing the EDUCAUSE 2025 Students and Technology Report summarizing current sentiments and experiences related to the current student experience with a focus on technology use and how institutions can adapt to meet students needs and enhance learning experiences.
May 29, 2025
The AI Wake-Up Call for Universities: Key Insights from the 2025 EDUCAUSE Survey
An EDUCAUSE survey summarizes current sentiments and experiences related to strategy and leadership, policies and guidelines, use cases, the higher education workforce, and the institutional digital divide.
April 28, 2025
Best Practices and Tools
Explore in-depth reviews of advanced educational technologies and real-world applications of EdTech solutions. Gain practical advice through checklists, frameworks, and actionable recommendations to make learning more engaging and effective.
Teaching with AI: Integrity & Engagement
This piece discusses ways to curb AI use in completing assignments and approaches that may work in your course.
October 24, 2025
Quickly Spot and Fix Accessibility Issues in Canvas with Pope Tech
We share how to get started using the Pope Tech Accessibility Guide in the Canvas Rich Text Editor, track and save your changes, and how to get more help if you need it.
September 18, 2025
Planning with Precision: Developing Learning Objectives with AI
Find practical tips on creating effective prompts and maximizing the strengths of AI, all while recognizing that instructor expertise is essential for evaluating and shaping the final learning goals.
June 26, 2025
Point of View
Gain fresh perspectives from thought leaders in the educational industry, including voices from UMass and beyond.
Fine Art + Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Fine Arts Education
The role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education classrooms has been the subject of debate and research in the past five years. AI sparks conversations about, but not limited to, plagiarism, workforce competencies, ethics, and course chatbots. Bo Kim, an instructor and graduate student in Studio Arts with the Department of Art, shares her thoughts.
September 18, 2025
Engaging Minds: The Power of Active Learning in the Classroom
Student engagement can be tricky whether you're in a traditional face-to-face class or teaching online. It is one of the most pressing challenges in online learning. Even with physical presence, many instructors struggle to create meaningful interactions and encourage active participation. So, how can learners stay engaged?
April 28, 2025
How Choosing the Right Learning Technologies Enhances Educational Effectiveness
Gamification, AI tutors, microlearning — these and other educational technologies are widely discussed today. However, integrating them into teaching effectively — and determining whether they should be used at all — can be challenging. Slava Yurchenkov, Manager of Instructional Design at UMass Amherst, explains what educational technologies are and how to apply them in course design.
February 24, 2025
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