At UVic, we are committed to fostering a learning environment that is both innovative and inclusive, which isn’t simply about embracing the new but also ensuring that advancements serve our community holistically through our technology adoption.
While we look to integrate new learning technology tools for their potential to enhance learning, it is important that they undergo rigorous testing to ensure alignment with UVic’s pedagogical and security standards, as well as a privacy impact assessment. We ensure this balance through our technology adoption process.
The technology adoption process includes the following components
Initial review
assessed by the LTSI division
Functionality check
user-friendliness
support availability
user capacity
Accessibility assessment
compliance check W3C
WCAG 2.0 standards and
potential costs to learners
technical compatibility
common equipment, browsers, UVic platforms addressed
Privacy safeguards
review of data handling
account requirements
student material ownership
Learner-centred evaluation
learning-centred teaching
potential and classroom alignment
LTSI offers adoption recommendations and, if needed, deeper security reviews.
Technology Adoption Requests
If you would like to recommend a technology for wider institutional adoption into UVic’s Learning Technology Environment, contact us to request a meeting or suggest a tool for future consideration.
Some key considerations for adoption, integration and support of new learning technologies include:
Impact
- This includes the numbers of users that will benefit from the tool and the uniqueness of functionality.
- A pilot may be conducted with instructors and students to evidence value before consideration of institutional adoption.
Alignment with principles for learning technology
- This includes whether the tool is easy to use, accessible, flexible, reliable and secure.
- It also has to support learner-centered instructional practices and strategic prorities.
Privacy and security standards
- It must undergo and privacy impact assessment and be able to integrate into the Learning Technology Environment in a FIPPA-compliant way*.
- All technology must also comply with UVic security standards.
Resources and central support
- Each new tool requires resources and central support be available to sustain its use.
- In exceptional cases, technologies may be integrated with only best effort support provided.
Plagiarism tools
UVic has chosen not to use plagiarism detection tools due to concerns about how they collect and store student information and intellectual property. We prioritize protecting student privacy and education students on how to maintain academic integrity and educational tools.
Our latest integrations
We integrated three new tools this year. Revel by Pearson was integrated into Brightspace: which reimagines the traditional textbook, offering students an interactive and immersive experience. Leganto course reserves system was also integrated with Brightspace, to streamline course materials and readings into one virtual space. Lastly, PrairieLearn was piloted and adopted as a tool to deliver adaptive in-the-moment feedback and enabling students to master learning concepts.
As we continue to incorporate new ways of learning and teaching, we invite instructors to recommend new tools for exploration. Learn more about our learning technologies.
