UTSA Academic Innovation recognized for commitment to excellence in digital learning

MARCH 22, 2022 — The UTSA Academic Innovation team has received the Award for Outstanding Commitment to Excellence and Innovation in Digital Learning from the Texas Digital Learning Association (TxDLA) in recognition of the office’s comprehensive approach to advancing digital learning and responding to the needs of faculty and students during the pandemic.

TxDLA is a nonprofit organization that promotes virtual learning and innovative educational practices. It honors Texas’ top leaders in digital learning each spring. TxDLA presented the award, which acknowledges achievements in online education, at its annual conference on March 21.

“UTSA’s Academic Innovation team has redefined how to deliver a high-quality education to students across modalities,” said Marcela Ramirez, associate vice provost for teaching, learning and digital transformation. “Whether it’s classroom renovations, dynamic instructional design or faculty development, Academic Innovation has worked hard to help our partners transform the UTSA academic experience so Roadrunners receive first-rate instruction online, in-person or via a hybrid model.”

Formed in 2018 as an academic support unit within the UTSA Division of Academic Affairs, Academic Innovation brings together experts in teaching, technology and virtual learning to develop educational practices that enrich the academic experience of students and faculty.

“UTSA’s Academic Innovation team has redefined how to deliver a high-quality education to students across modalities.”

Jonathan Gutierrez (second from left), Mayra Collins (third), and Joe Tobares (fourth) of the UTSA Academic Innovation team accepted the Award for Outstanding Commitment to Excellence and Innovation in Digital Learning from the Texas Digital Learning Association.

The Academic Innovation team includes multiple units, including Teaching, Learning & Digital Transformation; Learning Technologies; Video Production and Technology; UTSA Online; and Continuing and Professional Education (PaCE). These units share the same goal of helping faculty effectively tailor their teaching strategies and course design for different modalities by offering a multitude of resources, training and support.

Academic Innovation continues to experiment with new digital tools and learning environments for UTSA students through its many initiatives, including:

• investing $200,000 in the Teaching and Learning Reimagined grant program, which funded 26 projects that helped faculty experiment with technology and pioneer new teaching methods that increase student engagement in online and hybrid courses
  
  
• supporting faculty with the development of more than 8,000 courses through pedagogical consultations, design practices, professional development and technical support
  
  
• developing the online B.A. in Communication, the Data Science Graduate Certificate, the Graduate Certificate in Facility Management and an M.S. in Facility Management
  
  
• offering mentorship, teaching enrichment opportunities and intensive digital learning boot camps to help over 650 faculty members and graduate assistants modify and develop their classroom experiences across modalities
  
  
• expanding the availability of online tools—including Adobe Creative Cloud and Panopto—to promote digital literacy and ease the transition between in-person and virtual learning
  
  
• increasing course accessibility for all students by piloting Ally during course design and development, and professionally captioning over 600 course content videos
  
  
• designing and upgrading classrooms with collaborative technology that promotes a HyFlex learning environment and providing technical training and support for faculty

“We are always mindful of UTSA’s foundational mission of access and excellence, and we help support this by designing adaptive and accessible learning environments for all modes of course delivery,” said Melissa Vito, vice provost for academic innovation. "As the demand for flexible educational opportunities continues to grow, we will keep working alongside our faculty to produce engaging digital learning experiences for our students.”

The TxDLA award comes on the heels of UTSA Online being ranked in the top 38% for best online programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for 2022, as well as ranking in the top 10 institutions for best online degree programs in Texas this year. In 2021, Academic Innovation’s online teaching faculty champions were recognized by the WICHE Cooperative for Education Technologies (WCET) with the Outstanding Work (WOW) Award for offering creative solutions and academic support during the transition to online learning at the start of the pandemic.  

The Academic Innovation team works with colleges and departments on campus to implement new solutions and processes that drive student engagement, promote innovative and inclusive pedagogy and support faculty development.

— Chloe Johnson