IDeas: Fresh Ideas for Fall

Office of Online & Professional Learning Resources (OPLR) Strategies and News for Fall 2026

Fresh Ideas & Deep Connections

From fresh ways to engage students to new possibilities with media, this issue explores how to build deeper connections. Preview the 2026 Virtual Faculty Symposium and its focus on human connection as AI reshapes the classroom. See how faculty are using custom media to make course content more engaging and accessible. Finally, explore OPLR resources for creating your own media, from recording in our studio to browsing our Media Showcase. Let's go!

⭐ Featured: 2026 Virtual Faculty Symposium Preview

Preview the 2026 Virtual Faculty Symposium, focused on human connection, meaningful feedback, student engagement, well-being, and learning in an AI-driven world. Explore the sessions and hear what OPLR instructional designers are looking forward to learning.


A Classic Topic Meets Modern Media: HWM 770 Case Study

See how one course uses short video scenarios and motion infographics to bring a classic topic—leadership styles—to life in today’s remote workplace. This media-rich approach keeps the theory intact while giving students more engaging, relevant ways to apply what they’re learning.

Faculty Spotlight Podcast: Creating Custom Media for a Jazz History Course with Associate Professor Jeff Suarez

Learn how an interactive resource made music more accessible to students new to the subject. Jeff Suarez shares how partnering with OPLR’s media team to create an interactive jazz ensemble infographic—where students can listen to individual instruments—helped bridge gaps in the course textbook and inspired an additional media project.
Jeff Suarez, Associate Professor of Music in the College of Integrated Studies at the UW-Whitewater Rock County

Jeff Suarez, Associate Professor of Music in the College of Integrated Studies at UW-Whitewater at Rock County

📣Upcoming Seminar: "AI-Proofing” a Course: Does It Work?

Wednesday, November 4, 12:00 PM (CST) | Register


Can a course ever be truly AI-proof? Probably not. In this OPLR webinar, we’ll examine what authentic assessments can and can’t accomplish, then open up a discussion on the harder questions: What clues might suggest AI use in student work? How might you respond when a submission seems more machine-produced than student-produced?

Want More?

Record in OPLR's In-House

Media Studio

Check out Lights, Camera, Success: Elevate Your Course with OPLR Media for FAQs about recording in our Madison studio. A unique benefit of working with OPLR is the opportunity to collaborate with our media team to create custom media tailored to your course. This article gives you a glimpse into what it's like to record, including tips for conquering stage fright and making the most impact.

Get Inspired by the
Media Showcase

Looking for ideas to bring your course content to life? Explore the OPLR Media Showcase for examples of animations, interviews, virtual tours, graphics, “Meet the Instructor” videos, and more. Browse the collection to spark ideas for customized media that can make your course content more engaging and meaningful for your students.

About the Course Design Showcase

Developed by the ID team, the Instructional Strategies & Course Design Showcase highlights examples from online courses created by Universities of Wisconsin faculty and instructors that demonstrate best practices in online teaching and learning.
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