Technology Demonstrators

We have exciting news to share! As of February 1, the EdTech / Technology Demonstrators team is with the new UniSQ division 'Learning and Teaching Futures' under the direction of Dean, Professor Jo-Anne Ferreira.

As always, the team is focused on digital learning innovations and initiatives that align with the Education and Strategic Plans supporting virtual campus and online learning improvements.

Communication and collaboration are key behaviours our team fosters in order to build stronger relationships across schools and disciplines for improved learning outcomes and student success.

To this affect we offer a range of professional learning opportunities and an expanding website full of artefacts and resources.

This first communication for 2023 introduces the forthcoming events and current digital initiatives.

Our first TechDem Community of Practice gathering is on Tuesday, February 28 2-3:30 pm.

The theme is AI and ChatGPT and includes guest speaker Dr Rian Roux from the Academic Integrity team at UniSQ.

This is a timely opportunity to explore AI and associated ChatGPT resources given the ongoing explosion and media coverage in education recently.

Start with this blog post by Katerina: The Turing Test v3

One outcome of the CoP will be an annotated list of resources in a range of areas for ongoing exploration and use in your learning and teaching.

Led by Katrina Cutcliffe, the Student Engagement SIG will meet on Thursday February 2.

Guest speaker, Dan Chalker shares UniSQ’s technology-enabled Student Advising efforts.

JOIN this SIG for important updates

Led by Nina Usher, the MS for Teaching SIG will meet on Thursday March 9.

This SIG is leading the MS Teams for Teaching pilot in 2023. Those who join the pilot will have Teams integrated into StudyDesk.

JOIN this SIG for important updates

Led by Julie Lindsay, the Student Portfolio SIG will meet Thursday March 16.

A focus of this SIG is the integration of WordPress portfolios into learning and teaching at UniSQ.

JOIN this SIG for important updates.

Led by Julie Lindsay, the Online Collaborative Learning SIG will meet Wednesday April 19.

A focus of this SIG is tools for collaborative learning as well as the Feedback Fruits pilot this year.

JOIN this SIG for important updates.

Led by Katrina Cutcliffe, the Pathways to Innovation SIG is a new adventure in 2023.

Participants are encouraged to bring ideas, tools, questions and an open innovative mindset to gatherings.

JOIN this SIG for important updates.

Led by Lisa Jacka, the Virtual Immersive Environments SIG is another new adventure in 2023.

Participants are encouraged to think differently about learning environments and systematically explore new horizons and best practice in this area.

JOIN this SIG for important updates.

The UniSQ Education Plan 2021-2025 includes the need to:

Establish a robust virtual learning environment and adopt relevant pedagogies to provide choice, accessibility and learning opportunities for all learners
Develop creative teaching practices through embedding existing and emerging technologies while providing opportunities for exploration and experimentation

The following pilots and initiatives led by the TechDems team support this. Get a head start and plan to join in one or more of these opportunities. Watch this space for further updates.

Engageli is an online learning environment that aims to virtually replicate the classroom collaborative experience in both small and large scale scenarios. A successful pilot was conducted in 2022 HOWEVER we are now EXTENDING this into 2023 and want more academics and schools and disciplines to be involved.

This tool is a GAME CHANGER - jump into the pilot and work with us.

READ more about Engageli.

JOIN the 2023 pilot.

FeedbackFruits LMS-integrated tool suite is an all-in-one solution to boost student engagement and collaboration in any course setting.
READ more about the all-in-one tool suite for active learning design.
Interested in joining the pilot July-December (and participate in early 2023 also)?
Complete this Feedback Fruits EOI FORM
Bookmark our developing Feedback Fruits website

MS Teams is now integrated into StudyDesk! but wait - you need to join the MS Teams for Teaching Pilot to use it.

JOIN the pilot in 2023

Don't forget the MS for Teaching SIG supports this.

Student portfolios using the WordPress platform continues in 2023 as 'business as usual'.

Learn more from the Create@USQ site
READ the 5-step TEACHER GUIDE
JOIN this initiative now

Balancing the Shift is the Technology Demonstrators new podcast!

In 2022 we recorded FIVE episodes - dip into the conversations.

We are keen to explore, converse, debate, provoke, ideate and more during 2023 under our new theme CREATING THE FUTURE.

Watch this space!

Did you miss the last two newsletters in 2022? If so here is a quick recap:

December 2022 - Special Edition: Celebrating 2022
November 2022 - Final CoP resources and more!

...and there's MORE:

Read the CONVERSATION compiled by Katrina that shares YOUR achievements in 2022
Our amazing web designer and tech guru Jo Kay created a PREZI to share what we do and feature the EdTech website. Make sure you explore it!

Technology Demonstrators (TechDems) is a UniSQ initiative designed to foster educational innovation, through active experimentation with, pilots, evaluation of and research into educational technologies and virtual platforms to continuously improve learning and teaching.

Use the QR code or link here to access the Technology Demonstrator website

Click on the image below to read more about our team.

Dr Julie Lindsay

Senior Education Technology Advisor

Learning and Teaching Futures

Email: julie.lindsay@usq.edu.au
Phone: +61 7 46312890