Learning Technologies & Innovation

May 2026

Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, October 6, 9am-4pm

Join us this fall for Loyola's 2026 Information & Technology Showcase, hosted on our scenic Lake Shore Campus in the centrally located Damen Student Center. This featured event highlights the technology and library resources already available to you. Attend keynote and breakout sessions, explore resource tables, and connect with colleagues. Open to all students, faculty, and staff—don't miss this engaging and informative experience! Registraton is now open.

Start of School Webinar Series

The Start of School Webinar Series gives you a fast, practical way to explore learning technologies that support teaching, collaboration, and productivity. Through these interactive sessions, you will discover tools such as Zoom’s AI Companion for smarter meetings and recordings, Elai for creating professional AI-powered instructional videos in minutes, and VoiceThread for building social presence and engagement in courses. The series also includes a beginner Microsoft Copilot webinar focused on how generative AI can help streamline everyday academic and administrative work. With live moderators, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways, these sessions are designed to help you begin the academic year feeling confident, connected, and ready to innovate.

Get Started with Zoom AI Companion

Thursday, August 6, 11:00-11:45am CT

Meet Microsoft Copilot: Your Everyday AI Assistant

Tuesday, August 11, 1:00-2:00pm CT

Introducing Elai: Using AI for Video Production

Wednesday, August 12, 2:00-2:45pm CT

Humanize Your Online Course with VoiceThread

Thursday, August 13, 1:00-2:00pm CT

Microsoft Copilot Self-Help Resources

If you missed the live beginner or intermediate-level Microsoft Copilot trainings earlier this semester or just want a refresher, self-help resources are readily available. Understand the differences between Copilot versions, including the benefits of enterprise data protection and privacy in Loyola's licensed offering. You'll also find guidance on effective prompting strategies, building a web-based agent, reasoning over uploaded files, answers to common questions, and practical higher education use cases. This resource library will continue to expand, so be sure to check it regularly.

A New LMS Isn’t Just a Tech Change—It’s a Teaching Opportunity

Loyola’s recently announced transition from Sakai to D2L Brightspace represents more than a technical migration. It is an opportunity to rethink and strengthen your teaching practices. While adapting to a new platform may feel challenging at first, the move emphasizes improved accessibility, streamlined navigation, and intentional course design. By focusing on teaching goals rather than technical tools, you can simplify course structures, reduce student cognitive load, and create more inclusive learning environments. Rather than starting from scratch, this transition invites you to revisit instructional habits with a fresh perspective. With the support of institutional resources, you'll be well-positioned to use Brightspace to create more meaningful, student-centered learning experiences grounded in clarity and purpose. Read the full article.

In Next Month's Issue

The Learning Curve blog's latest article
D2L Brightspace training opportunities
2026 Information & Technology Showcase updates