Welcome toInnovative Learning

AI Bytes sessions Oct. 21: What to share, trust, verify

AI Bytes continues this fall with Before You Ask AI: What to Share, What to Trust, and What to Verify, 2-3 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 21. Join us for a practical conversation about what information is appropriate to share with artificial intelligence agents, how to evaluate AI-generated responses, and what to verify before putting those responses to use.

Hosted by Consulting and Training, the monthly sessions focus on practical questions instructors are encountering as AI becomes increasingly integrated into teaching, learning, and everyday work. These sessions will help participants develop strategies they can apply across platforms and situations. No advanced AI experience is required, and instructors are welcome to attend individual sessions or participate throughout the series.

The AI Bytes final fall session is Thursday, Nov. 19, exploring how to find the right place for AI in teaching and learning. Register for an upcoming session or explore previous recordings on the AI Bytes webpage.

Consulting and Training is part of Purdue University Online, a member of Innovative Learning, a hub approach to connect Purdue instructors in Indianapolis and West Lafayette, to the resources they need to engage students, develop courses in any instructional modality, and enhance learning across the University. Other members include the Center for Instructional Excellence and Libraries and the School of Information Studies.

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Simple Syllabus updates, resources

As part of efforts toward continuous improvement, the Purdue Simple Syllabus implementation team serving the Indianapolis and West Lafayette locations have introduced a few updates: 

• Beginning in September, instructors and students will see the full course title in their syllabi posted via the tool in Brightspace. This change is automatic – requiring no action by the instructor-of-record — because of an update completed by Purdue Information Technology. Previously, a character limit in the system abbreviated some course titles. This change will also appear in posted public-facing syllabi viewable by anyone at the Purdue University – Simple Syllabus repository. 

• The Purdue Syllabus Guidelines webpage has been updated to include quick links to general FAQs about Simple Syllabus. Its companion Purdue Simple Syllabus template tips & examples  webpage now includes quick links and a downloadable Word version of the Fall 2026 template as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get quick reference. 

• Drop-in consultations continue to be available on Simple Syllabus as instructors and departments plan for future semesters. See technical guidance, an instructor guide, and workshop recording on the Simple Syllabus – Innovative Learning. Reach out to innovativelearningteam@purdue.edu with questions and to provide feedback. 

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Instructors invited to weekly online Pedagogy Circles: Building Fun in Education

The Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE) invites all Purdue instructors to join weekly Pedagogy Circles, informal one-hour online discussions led by Purdue’s Student Pedagogy Advocates (SPAs). The Pedagogy Circles take place every Friday, 11 a.m.-12 noon via Zoom, and run from Sept. 18 to Nov. 20.

Each session of Pedagogy Circles will feature topics for conversation from students, instructor, and staff perspectives. Discussions during Fall 2026 center around topics related to Building Fun in Education.

Please complete this short Qualtrics survey to join the conversations this semester. You will receive email updates on topics and summaries of the discussions. Questions may be emailed to Emma Calahan at ejcallah@purdue.edu. 

CIE’s SPA program matches instructors with undergraduate students interested in enhancing teaching and learning at Purdue. SPAs serve as a catalyst, helping instructors think through potential class structures and activities, observing and reporting back on the class to the instructor, and supporting communication between instructors and students enrolled in the course. Email Dan Guberman at dguberma@purdue.edu for more information. 

CIE is a member of Innovative Learning, Purdue’s hub approach to connect instructors to the resources they need to engage students, develop courses in any instructional modality and enhance learning across the University. Other members include Libraries and the School of Information Studies and Purdue University Online. To learn more, visit www.purdue.edu/innovativelearning or email InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu. 

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