Certificate of Tech Savvy Teaching

The Tech Savvy Teaching Certificate Program offers workshops on a variety of topics designed to strengthen your digital literacy skills. Participants will explore innovative tools and strategies to enhance teaching and learning. Topics will include generative AI for course design, as well as using data to evaluate and improve your courses. By completing the program, you will gain practical, tech-forward strategies to create engaging, effective learning experiences.

For faculty who completed these certificates last year, this year offers the opportunity to engage in a fresh set of workshops. While some workshop topics may be similar to those offered previously, each certificate program will include new content, giving returning participants the chance to expand their knowledge and refine their skills. 

Link for the Percipio Journey: https://share.percipio.com/cd/BBIrzBj9K 

 

JANUARY

Title: What is Yuja Panorama?

Facilitator(s): Dr.  JoAnn Edmond

Modality: Virtual Zoom

Description: Discover how YuJa Panorama enhances accessibility and inclusivity in your course content. This session will introduce you to Panorama’s features, including accessibility scoring, alternative formats, and real-time feedback tools that help create more accessible learning materials for all students.

Dates/time/location:

  • Virtual - Tuesday January 13, 2026 - 12pm-1pm

Registration Link: https://augusta.percipio.com/liveCourse/0ed17d9f-6fed-4e87-a24d-f315a4f92f9e 

 

FEBRUARY

Title: Microsoft 365 Docs without Barriers

Facilitator(s): Artemas Jones and Dr. JoAnn Edmond

Modality: Virtual Zoom

Description: Learn how to create Docs Without Barriers using Microsoft 365 tools to ensure ADA accessibility and inclusivity. This session will guide you through accessibility features in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, helping you design documents that meet compliance standards and support all learners.

Dates/time/location:

  • Virtual - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 12pm-1pm

Registration Link: https://augusta.percipio.com/liveCourse/735d67c9-b440-40fd-bd5b-d3164a87959c 

 

March

Title: PDFS and Beyond

Facilitator(s): Sienna Sewell and Dr. JoAnn Edmond

Modality: Virtual Zoom

Description: Explore how to make your PDFs and digital documents ADA accessible using Adobe Acrobat and other tools. This session will cover tagging, reading order, and accessibility checks to ensure your materials are compliant and usable by all learners.

Dates/time/location:

  • Virtual - Tuesday March 10, 2026 - 12pm-1pm 

Registration Link: https://augusta.percipio.com/liveCourse/4b9272fd-1dba-4968-bfbb-57889f25c0fe 

 

Title: Think Outside the Box: Accessibility in Box Drive 

Facilitator(s): Dr. Porsha Stephens and Jake Tuten

Modality: Virtual Zoom

Description: Ready to think outside the box? Join us to discover how Box Drive can make your digital spaces more accessible for all users. We’ll share easy ways to organize files, collaborate effectively, and ensure your content works for everyone.

Dates/time/location:

  • Virtual - Tuesday March 24, 2026 - 10am-11am 

Registration Link: https://augusta.percipio.com/liveCourse/9cd60159-d39c-49bf-8e37-dd7d5587a59e 

 

APRIL

Title: Media Goals: Echo360/D2L Media Library

Facilitator(s): Artemas Jones and Dr.  JoAnn Edmond

Modality: Virtual Zoom

Description: Learn how to ensure ADA accessibility in Echo360 and D2L Media Library recordings and videos. This session will demonstrate how to add captions, transcripts, and accessible descriptions so all learners can fully engage with your course media.

Dates/time/location:

  • Virtual - Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 12pm-1pm 

Registration Link: https://augusta.percipio.com/liveCourse/836ef685-9742-4421-98f8-1b5ea84fa98b 

Past Programming

  • Turnitin Essentials: What You Need to Know About AI Detection -  This workshop provides an overview of Turnitin’s core features, with a special focus on its AI writing detection tool. Participants will learn how to interpret similarity reports, understand the strengths and limitations of AI-generated content flags, and navigate ethical considerations when reviewing flagged assignments. The session will also offer guidance on how to communicate AI-related policies to students and incorporate academic integrity best practices into your course design. Whether you're new to Turnitin or looking to update your knowledge, this session equips you with practical insights to support fair and informed evaluation.
  • AI in the Classroom: Policy, Practice, and Digital Literacy -  This workshop introduces faculty to the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Red/Yellow/Green Light Framework for generative AI use in the classroom. Participants will examine official guidance on acceptable, cautious, and prohibited uses of AI tools and explore how to develop clear, enforceable course policies based on this framework. The session will also emphasize the importance of digital literacy, including how to teach students to ethically engage with AI and properly cite its use in academic work. By the end of the workshop, instructors will be equipped to confidently address AI in their syllabi, foster responsible digital citizenship, and align their course practices with USG expectations.
  • Boosting Productivity with Generative Tools -  Discover how generative AI can streamline your everyday administrative tasks and elevate your productivity. In this practical workshop, we will explore how tools like ChatGPT can assist with writing polished emails, drafting meeting agendas, creating office documentation, and even helping faculty build or revise syllabi. Learn tips for crafting effective prompts, explore real-life use cases, and discuss the do’s and don’ts of using AI responsibly in higher education settings. Whether you support one department or an entire college, this session will show you how to make AI your new productivity partner.
  • Smarter Assignments: Using TiLT and Generative AI to Design with Clarity and Impact -  This workshop introduces how the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TiLT) framework, combined with generative AI tools, can help faculty create or improve assignments that are clear, purposeful, and inclusive. Participants will explore how to use AI to brainstorm assignment ideas, clarify instructions, align tasks with learning outcomes, and ensure criteria are transparent for all students.
  • Smarter Assignments: Animate Your Teaching: Adobe Express Meets TiLT in Brightspaceon: Do you want to make your online discussions more engaging? Join us for a Tech-Savvy Teaching workshop led by CII’s Dr. Porsha Stephens, Jake Tuten, and Jenn Rose on how Adobe Express can help you create eye-catching visuals, accessible videos, and graphics that bring your lessons to life — no design skills needed! If you lack an AU-issued license for Adobe Express, please request one from IT. For Adobe Express access-related questions, please contact AU’s IT team: 706-721-4000 or online at https://www.augusta.edu/it/help.php for support. NOTE: We used ChatGPT as a design aid to help create this workshop and its materials.
  • From Prompts to Insights: Using Generative AI to Work Smarter with Excel Data -  This workshop shows how generative AI tools can help you make sense of data using Excel. Participants will learn how to download data from D2L Brightspace and use that data to create visualizations, summarize findings, and even suggest charts or trends. Whether you are new to data work or want to save time on routine Excel tasks, this session will demonstrate how AI can be your helpful assistant in turning raw data into meaningful insights.
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Course Glow-Up - This workshop will go over the D2L Brightspace quiz and survey tool. You can create a quiz or survey using various question types. We will also cover the Respondus Lockdown Browser and monitor tool for secure testing. 
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Unleashing Your Creative Side with AI Generative Tools - This workshop offers a practical introduction to generative AI tools, combining foundational knowledge with hands-on application. Participants will explore the definition of AI, discover examples of popular AI tools, review ethical considerations and best practices, and gain insight into the art of prompt engineering to maximize effectiveness.
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Assess Differently  - This workshop will explore a variety of assessment types and the digital tools that support them. Participants will learn to use D2L’s self-assessment tool to foster student reflection and growth. We will also dive into formative assessment tools like EchoPoll, EchoVideo, and Quizizz to enhance engagement and track progress. Additionally, we will cover how students can prepare for assessments using Respondus StudyMate, making study sessions more interactive and effective.   
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Prompt Power Crafting Dynamic Discussions and Assignments with Generative AI - This workshop offers hands-on guidance in using generative AI tools to craft engaging discussion post prompts and assignments. Participants will start with a versatile, ready-to-use prompt and receive step-by-step support to transform it into creative and interactive discussion topics and assignments.
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: All Things Echo360 - This workshop you will explore essential Echo360 skills, including setting up Echo360 LTI, editing videos, sharing content through public links or within Echo360 classes, and organizing your Echo360 classroom. These tools will help streamline your video content and enhance accessibility for your students.
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Quiz Quest Designing Questions and Exams with Generative AI - This workshop provides hands-on guidance in leveraging generative AI tools to design a variety of quiz and exam questions. Participants will begin with a versatile, ready-to-use prompt and receive step-by-step support to create multiple-choice, multiple-select, short-answer, and long-answer questions, tailored to their needs.
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: Turnt Up Turnitin - This workshop will explore the functionality of the Turnitin LTI Available with Brightspace’s Content tool and possible use cases. This session will cover setting up Turnitin through D2L's assignment tool, understanding originality reports, and exploring best practices for evaluating student work directly within D2L. Perfect for educators looking to save time while maintaining high standards for originality and feedback. 
  • Tech-Savvy Teaching: AI vs. Academic Integrity: Tools and Strategies to Detect and Prevent Misuse - This workshop explores the evolving landscape of AI detection tools and provides actionable strategies to uphold academic integrity. Participants will discover popular AI detection tools and their capabilities. Learn practical techniques to reduce the likelihood of AI misuse in assignments and assessments. Understand how to design assignments that emphasize originality and critical thinking. Discuss ethical approaches to addressing AI-related challenges in education.

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