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Whether in person or online, discussions are one of the most important and potentially memorable aspects of any course. Seeing students working together to build foundational knowledge and extend their learning–all while creating connections with each other–is rewarding and uplifting.
In this month’s COLRS Catch Up, meet our new eLearning Specialist, explore October’s focus on journaling, and catch up on key Canvas updates and upcoming events.
Journaling is a powerful way to help students connect course material to their personal experiences. Learn how journals can foster reflection, critical thinking, and meaningful instructor–student relationships.
Welcome to the second COLRS Catch Up! We'd like to start by introducing our COLRS GA, Lyba Mehdi.
The rapid emergence of generative AI tools has added new pressure to the challenges already facing higher education faculty. While these technologies can be used responsibly, many instructors are alarmed by the growing tendency of students to rely on AI as a shortcut. This practice not only raises serious questions about academic honesty but also threatens to erode the very skills higher education is meant to cultivate—critical thinking, clear writing, and independent problem-solving.
Welcome to the first COLRS Catch Up of the year! Periodically, we will send out these emails to provide reminders or updates, share materials you may have missed, and highlight some of the amazing work our faculty is doing in their online classes.
In case you missed it
In August, our focus was getting your semester started right, and we offered three resources to help you get started:
Google Assignments
Google Assignments allows UIS instructors and students to use their Google accounts to create and submit assignments. This tool is built right into Canvas assignments but provides users with all the benefits of Google Docs, Google Sides, and other documents created in Google Drive.
Welcome to the Fall 2025 semester! We're excited to work with you this school year. In this article, you will find some important reminders and information to help you start the term strong. As always, if you have any questions or would like to meet with a member of the COLRS staff, please contact us. We're happy to help anytime!
-Emily, Carrie, Scott, & Taylor
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is a word that is used a lot in education. A great deal of scholarship focuses on the importance of assessment in higher education. But what do we mean by assessment? Instructors sometimes conflate grading with assessment. It is more than grading. Assessment is the strategic measurement of the extent of student learning in a course. Assessments should link student performance to specific learning objectives and provide feedback to both the instructor and the student on the performance of the student and areas for improvement.
AI Detection
Copyleaks AI Detector Update
On July 8, Copyleaks upgraded its AI detector from v8.1 to v9. Our Copyleaks representative has indicated that "you may notice some differentiation in results on scans that are completed before versus after this change." As you are navigating these changes, if you have any questions or concerns about the results, COLRS staff is happy to work with you.