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Welcome! What's happening in the world of FASE EdTech this month? Conference season is officially underway, and the Education Technology Office (ETO) is excited to be part of the action, both as attendees and as presenters! On May 6, 2026, Anna and Inga will be presenting at TechKnowFile to share the ETO’s six-step module development process for a multi-module project. And then on May 14, 2026, they will be facilitating the closing session for TLS2026. We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces, learning from our colleagues, and sharing some highlights in a future blog, much like we did for the recent CTL Showcase (see Tip 01). What's happening over the next few months? We'll be turning our attention to new online module projects currently in the early planning stages. These projects will incorporate rich media assets such as video and interactive elements that will be developed in partnership with our office. If you've been curious about the thinking behind multimedia in learning, the latest MADE episode is a great place to start (see Tip 02). If you do one thing after reading this newsletter, review the latest updates to the Academic Toolbox (see Tip 03). |
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1. Read what we learned from the Celebration of Teaching Showcase 2026 |
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In the blog, Lessons learned from the CTL Celebration of Teaching Showcase 2026, each ETO member shares their key takeaway from the showcase, noting a common theme among the speakers: exploring learner-centered approaches that support more sustainable teaching and learning practices while integrating critical, inclusive, and innovative perspectives. |
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Attend: If you’re looking for workshops and sessions that are coming up, check out the ETO’s EdTech Related Events Calendar which collects EdTech related events from around the Faculty and the University. |
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2. Listen to the new MADE podcast, Multimedia learning today |
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In the 15th episode of MADE for U of T, Inga interviews Richard Mayer, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Santa Barbara and a leading scholar in the science of learning and the design of educational multimedia. His research has helped shape how educators design learning experiences that support meaningful learning and transfer. Richard talks about multimedia learning in the context of higher education today, with a focus on how research can help us make thoughtful design decisions, with special attention to a few principles from Multimedia Learning (3rd edition). |
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Collaborate: If you’re curious about integrating multimedia in your course, you can book a consultation with us to discuss how to prepare for a recording, whether it’s at home, in a lab or lecture room, or in the ETO studio. |
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3. Review the latest updates to the Academic Toolbox |
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This month’s update introduces the key features in the new Enhanced Rubrics, a partial points option for multiple-choice questions in Crowdmark, and the retirement of Quercus ePortfolios (Legacy). |
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Quick tech tipIs your PowerPoint video export failing? Exporting a PowerPoint presentation to video can sometimes fail after a long processing time, especially when slides include embedded video (e.g., Cameo). If your export stalls or fails near completion, the issue may be related to your local system or export process, not the presentation itself (particularly if the same file works on another computer). |
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| Try these quick fixes:Update PowerPoint: Ensure your PowerPoint application is up to date. Close background applications: Free up memory before starting the export. Export locally: Save the file to a local drive (e.g., C:) and ensure you have sufficient free disk space. Test on another device: If possible, try exporting it on another computer - this can help identify system-specific issues. Disable hardware graphics acceleration: Go to File → Options → Advanced, enable Disable hardware graphics acceleration, restart PowerPoint, and try again. Run Optimize Media Compatibility: Go to File → Info and select Optimize Media Compatibility to check for media-related issues
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| Still not working?As a reliable workaround, record your slideshow while presenting using tools like Clipchamp or Snagit. You can explore and compare recording options in our guide: Compare video and recording software options. You can also review Microsoft’s guidance on media playback and compatibility: |
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Faculty questions of the weekEach week we answer a real question that we've received about Quercus and other Academic Toolbox and media tools, keeping the questions timely and relevant to you. Select a question to read the full inquiry and response, or browse all previous faculty questions of the week. Read the faculty question of the week |
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Worthwhile clicks from the web |
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| Looking for something to read/watch/listen to? Each month we round up things that we've interacted with that we think are worth sharing: There Are Three Ways to Learn With AI. Most People Use None of Them | Slow AI From the blog: “Struggle is where learning happens. Robert Bjork calls these ‘desirable difficulties’: obstacles that slow performance but deepen retention. When AI removes the friction, it removes the mechanism by which understanding forms.” This blog introduces a new study that tested developers learning a new skill with and without AI, and then discusses practical ways we can use AI tools without losing our ability to think critically. Same Prompt, Different AI Image Models | Experience Elearning From the blog: “Different AI image models can give you widely varying results, even with identical prompts. I did some testing using the same prompt across several AI image tools: Nano Banana, ChatGPT, Midjourney, and others.” In this blog, Christy Tucker compares different AI image models and shares the prompts she used. What I Learned from Giving 71 Oral Exams in 12 Days | Faculty Focus From the blog: “Oral exams are more personal. The individualized goodbyes pleasantly end a class. Pencil-and-paper exams end with grade uncertainty for students and more work for teachers. Oral exams end with feeling completed. ” In this blog, a lecturer in the History Department at Cal Poly shares his experience in using oral exams for his final assessment. New Books Network (NBN) | Access thousands of author-interview podcasts dedicated to public education and covering over 100 different subjects, disciplines, and genres.
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| A picture is worth a thousand words, or at least whatever we can fit in the description! Here are a few photos taken by the ETO team during the past month: |
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| Cherry blossoms at Robarts Library (Anna Limanni) |
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| Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (Yun Wu) |
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| First time visiting UTSC (Inga Breede) |
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| A spring morning (James Zhan) |
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| ESP Design Day Capture (Marisa Curmi) |
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