VOL 3.0: What's wrong with my links?, New Office of Digital Accessibility, Teaching with AI

1. What's wrong with my links? 

Validate Links in Content, as found in the Settings Menu of Canvas,
Validate Links in Content - Menu Items Found in Canvas Course Settings.

As an instructor, you can verify links are valid or not by running the Course Link Validator on your Canvas Courses

With the validator, you can identify which links are broken for both published and unpublished content.

The validator displays broken links as:

  • Broken content identified as either a link or an image 
  • Non-existent content: meaning that the object is invalid and should be replaced
  • Unreachable objects: meaning the image could not be displayed

You can fix the link by clicking the link on display. Once you are done, run the Course Link Validator again, and you will see the fruits of your link fixing efforts.

2. New Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA)

Accessibility at UMN menu, includes menu items about the new Office for Digital Accessibility

In response to recent Department of Justice clarifications on Title II of the ADA specifying that disabled people have the right to participation in not only built spaces but also in digital spaces, the Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) have partnered to establish the Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA).

The ODA is charged with organizing and coordinating the University’s efforts to support accessible and inclusive digital experiences for all who engage with the University’s services, programs, and activities.

As a result, the ODA has been updating Accessible U to reflect these changes. You can now view news and up-to-date guidance on understanding disability, accessibility, legal obligations, and university policy, as well as familiar resources such as the 7 skills of accessibility and the Digital Accessibility Badging Program.

Questions on implementing the latest university accessibility policies in your Canvas course and digital materials? Book an appointment with an academic technologist.

3. Teaching with AI Bookclub

"Teaching with AI: a practical guide to a new era of human learning" by Bowen and Watson

It is the job of educators to help students become better thinkers. Our new job is to help them become even better thinkers with AI.   -  Bowen and Watson, Teaching with AI: A Practical guide to a New Era of Human Learning, pg. 77

The Center for Educational Innovation is hosting a book Club on Bowen and Watsons “Teaching with AI: Practical Guide to New Era of Human Learning.”  Join the discussion and enjoy a free digital copy of the title from UMN Libraries

About #ThingsWorthSharing

#ThingsWorthSharing is curated and created through many conversations with many instructors and support staff from the UMD Teaching and Learning community. This edition is written by  Adam Brisk, UMD ITSS Academic Technologist, and Karen Jeannette, UMD ITSS Instructional Designer.