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CITL Newsletter - Issue 6 for 2025
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Welcome to the CITL Newsletter, your go-to resource for professional learning, teaching strategies, and innovative practices in education. Stay informed, get inspired, and explore new ways to enhance student learning and engagement.
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How Are Students Using GenAI? Find Out in Student's Voice!
In this episode of Student's Voice, we dive into a fascinating conversation with three U. of I. students who are using Gen AI to assist with their studies, research, and career preparations. But these students do encounter several roadblocks!
Meet Ivan Akonya (Engineering + Transportation), Delancy Xiao (Liberal Arts Science + Communications), and Rashmika Kolleri (Gies College of Business + Tech Management) to learn more about their Gen AI strategies to help them prepare for success and overcome the roadblocks. Watch the full discussion and discover how GenAI is shaping student learning!
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Illinois Chat: Your 24/7 AI Teaching Assistant by Kastan Day (NCSA)
Illinois Chat transforms your teaching materials into an intelligent, always-available teaching assistant that students can interact with 24/7. By simply uploading your syllabi, PDFs, and course documents, or connecting directly to Canvas, you create a personalized AI tutor that provides source-cited answers that encourage students to think critically and read the primary sources (lecture slides or textbooks).
📌 Fun fact: The heaviest usage is between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. the night before homework and exams are due. These are hours when human TAs are unavailable – Illinois Chat is a complementary addition to your existing course to help students learn on their schedule.
💡 Read our docs & quickstart videos, checkout our blog, and get started at chat.illinois.edu.
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Engaging the Disengaged: UDL Strategies for Motivation and Persistence by Marc Thompson (CITL)
Student disengagement is a common challenge in higher education, often caused by external responsibilities, lack of confidence, or feeling disconnected from coursework. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers a framework to re-engage students by providing multiple ways to motivate, present information, and assess learning.
This article explores practical "Quick Win" strategies to foster motivation and persistence, including:
✅ Connecting course content to students' lives and goals
✅ Offering choices in assignments and participation
✅ Building a sense of community in the classroom
✅ Using frequent, low-stakes assessments to boost confidence
✅ Reducing unnecessary barriers to learning
By incorporating UDL principles, educators can create learning environments that foster motivation, enhance persistence, and support all students in staying engaged.Read the full article to learn more.
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CITL Teaching Certificate Deadline is Tuesday, April 15, 2025
If you are pursuing one of CITL's teaching certificates, the deadline for finishing the requirements this year is Tuesday, April 15. If you don't submit your application by Tuesday, April 15, all of your progress still counts, and you have until April 2026 to finish the remainder of the requirements. Check out the FAQs for information that may answer some questions you currently have.
Federal Updates Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe To Stay Informed
The Federal Updates Steering Group has launched a weekly newsletter to provide updated news and information regarding the impact of federal changes on the university. In addition, the federal updates website houses information, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions related to new federal directives. For additional questions, please contact federalupdates@illinois.edu.
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