With a dozen colleges and universities in attendance, the annual Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning was held on March 31 at the Indiana University South Bend campus. Three members of Notre Dame’s own Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) Team, Steve Varela, Crystal DeJaegher, and Nick Srmek were not only in attendance, but presented at the all-day conference. With a conference theme of “Refocusing our Attention,” the three OITers gave a 30-minute presentation showcasing the capabilities of two of the University’s recently implemented learning tools. These tools, YuJa Panorama and Namecoach, were added by the TLT team to Notre Dame’s new learning management system, Canvas, in order to increase access for all students and faculty. After presenting, the day was filled with poster presentations and networking with other local colleges about the importance of ensuring an inclusive learning environment.
When asked to reflect on the experience, Nick stated it was encouraging to see how many other universities were interested in ensuring accessibility in teaching and learning. We are continuously proud of the strides the TLT department takes to make Notre Dame a more inclusive campus and want to congratulate Steve, Crystal, and Nick on the success of their presentation in this important conversation of equity.