Faculty Technology Workshops 2026

9:30 a.m.

Let’s make sure your course (and you!) are ready to start the spring semester in Canvas. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Import course content
• Update imported announcements
• Review the syllabus, assignment settings, and gradebook for alignment
• Set up proctoring tools and adjust navigation links; and
• Check for broken links

11:00 a.m.

Simple Syllabus makes it easy to communicate to your students exactly what will be required of them throughout the course. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Use the Simple Syllabus template tool to add your course information
• Import previous semester’s content
• Create syllabus visibility

1:30 p.m.

An introduction to the purpose and process of assessing the Common Curriculum—SMU’s general education program. This session will cover federal and accreditation requirements, SMU’s three-year assessment cycle, and best practices for designing assignments that align with Common Curriculum rubrics. Participants will explore:

• the types of assessment assignments (objective vs. non-objective)
• methods for collecting evidence using Canvas and Box
• how to ensure alignment with component-specific rubrics.

3 p.m.

Canvas Assignments are a great way to assess student learning. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Create different assignment types;
• Set availability and due dates;
• Access Speedgrader for grading; and
• Add Enhanced Rubrics for assignments, quizzes, and discussions

9:30 a.m.

Quizzes are a way of assessing student learning. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Understand Classic Quizzes versus New Quizzes
• Use Question Banks/Item Banks

11 a.m.

SMU Libraries incorporated Readings & Resources as a tool in Canvas that organizes your course materials in one place and tracks and encourages student engagement. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Add any type of course materials or reserves to a single list in Canvas
• Use analytics and student engagement features to track and encourage students in reading course materials

1:30 p.m.

The Canvas Gradebook helps instructors easily view and enter grades for students.

In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Manage your late policy grades
• Organize your gradebook
• Weight assignment groups
• Give extra credit

3 p.m.

Looking for a faster way to grade paper-based multiple-choice exams? Gradescope Bubble Sheets combines the familiarity of paper assessments with the efficiency of automated grading. In this session, participants will see the end-to-end workflow for creating bubble sheets, processing completed exams, and reviewing results within Gradescope. In this workshop, participants will learn:

• Create and configure a bubble sheet assignment in Gradescope.
• Upload and grade completed bubble sheets using automated scoring tools.
• Review student responses and item-level analytics.

9:30 a.m.

This workshop highlights Respondus tools in Canvas to increase the academic integrity of online exams. In this workshop, you will learn:

• How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments and Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity
• The student perspective using each application  
• Best practices and tips for success with both applications

11 a.m.

This workshop highlights Respondus tools in Canvas to increase the academic integrity of online exams. (Note: this workshop does NOT address AI detection). In this workshop, you will learn:

• How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments and Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity
• The student perspective using each application  
• Best practices and tips for success with both applications

9:30 a.m.

Poll Everywhere provides a safe platform for every student to ask questions, participate in group activities, and share thoughts and insights, right from their phone or computer. In this workshop, you will:

• See a demonstration of the multiple ways you can utilize Poll Everywhere in your course
• Learn how to create graded activities that directly integrate with the Canvas gradebook

1:30 p.m.

Beginning Fall 2026, all SMU courses must align with the new Credit Hour Policy and include estimated instructional and student work hours in the syllabus. This workshop will provide an overview of the policy, introduce available tools and resources, and help faculty prepare their courses and syllabi for implementation. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Interpret the expectations outlined in SMU's Credit Hour Policy.
• Calculate and document instructional and student work hours for a course.
• Evaluate course activities and assignments for alignment with the assigned credit hours.

3 p.m.

Meaningful connections can be difficult to establish in online learning environments. This session explores practical approaches for creating opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and belonging throughout a course. Participants will examine examples of community-building activities and discover how digital collaboration tools like Lucid and Microsoft Whiteboard can support these efforts. In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Design activities that encourage meaningful student-to-student interaction.
• Incorporate collaborative technologies to support participation and engagement.
• Apply strategies that foster a sense of belonging in Canvas courses.