The Innovation Academy invites faculty members to identify the connections between leveraging technology for effective teaching, incorporating experiential learning, and designing student-centered classrooms. A key focus of this learning experience is the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER), freely accessible and openly licensed materials that enhance teaching and learning. This initiative will guide faculty in effectively integrating OER into their teaching practices, enhancing student engagement, and fostering a collaborative learning environment.  

The academy aims to provide educators with moments for reflection and opportunities to connect with their peers, exploring new ways to engage and empower their students using OER. By incorporating OER, educators can provide high-quality, customizable content that reduces students' financial burden and promotes an accessible learning experience. 

The course structure includes both live interactive sessions and self-paced asynchronous activities, ensuring accessibility for all without any prerequisites. Recordings of the live sessions will be available for those unable to attend in real-time.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:  

• CLO 1 Recognize the relationship between utilizing technology, implementing open education resources, and creating student-centered classrooms. 

• CLO 2 Apply universal teaching practices and design for learning that leverage technology to enhance student engagement. 

• CLO 3 Incorporate open education resources to build connections between the classroom and careers.  

• CLO 4 Develop a sustainable teaching approach to create an enriched educational experience for students. 

Join the Innovation Academy to create welcoming, engaging, and student-centered learning experiences by leveraging the power of Open Educational Resources. 

For more information, please watch the video below and visit the Innovation Academy page.

The course is offered in a hybrid format. Participants are: 

• invited to engage in four live synchronous sessions facilitated by a faculty member and the Teaching, Learning, and Digital Transformation team.  
• expected to work autonomously on the asynchronous course components focused on activities that will help them create content and activities for their own courses. 

Live sessions will be determined based upon participation feedback to maximize attendance. 

Academy Schedule (June 9, 2025-July 9, 2025): 

Week of June 9: Hybrid Live Session 1 and Start Module 1: Building a Sense for Belonging 

Week of June 16: Hybrid Live Session 2 and Start Module 2: Teaching with Technology  

Week of June 23: Hybrid Live Session 3 and Start Module 3: Experiential learning and Building Classroom to Career Opportunities 

Week of June 30: Hybrid Live Session 4 and Start Module 4: Student-Centered Design 

July 11: Innovation Project due 

The time commitment for this course is estimated to be 10 - 15 hours. (4 hours for live sessions, 8 hours for modules, and 1 hour for consultation). 

To successfully complete the Innovation Academy and be eligible for the course certificate and the one-time incentive, there are two requirements:  

• Complete the four self-paced modules on Canvas.
• Submit Innovation Project (there are two options for submitting, select one) due Wednesday, July 11, 2025.
  • Option 1: In groups (2-4) or individually, design an innovation project relevant to the subject matter. Each group or individual will present their project plan, emphasizing how it promotes critical thinking and experiential learning.  
  • Option 2: Create a 10 – 15-minute video sharing your innovation project, describing the plan for integrating two new instructional elements/practices in your work. 

Upon completion of all requirements, participants will receive a certificate of completion and a one-time incentive of $500.

Contact Jess Gonzales, Learning Experience Designer in the office of Teaching, Learning & Digital Transformation, if you have any questions.  

Login and Enroll Expect a follow-up survey to confirm participation.