News

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. 

X

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. 

X

New knowledge base launch for developing asynchronous online courses

You have been asked to design a hybrid or online course, but now what? The process can feel overwhelming and time consuming, especially when the path forward isn’t clear. A new online hub and asynchronous course created by Purdue University Online will bridge that gap. It offers a convenient one-stop shop for resources — including best practices, articles, step-by-step guides, and a course for those new to online teaching — to help instructors in their journey of becoming confident and effective educators.

X

AI Bytes returns with practical strategies for using AI in class

AI Bytes returns this fall with a new series of workshops designed to help Purdue instructors in Indianapolis and West Lafayette navigate the rapidly evolving world of generative artificial intelligence with greater confidence and purpose. 

Hosted by Consulting and Training, the Fall 2026 series begins Sept. 17 and will 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.

This fall’s workshops will explore how to identify opportunities where AI can be useful; approach AI as an iterative problem-solving partner; make informed, policy-focused decisions about what information to share with AI tools; evaluate and verify AI-generated content; and consider the appropriate role of AI in teaching and student learning.

Each one-hour virtual session will combine practical examples, discussion, and strategies instructors can adapt to their own teaching and work. No advanced AI experience is required, and instructors are welcome to attend individual sessions or participate throughout the series.

• Session 1: I’m Stuck! Practical Strategies for Using AI Where it Matters Most, Thurs., Sept. 17, 1–2 p.m. 
  Register

• Session 2: Before You Ask AI: What to Share, What to Trust, and What to Verify, Wed., Oct. 21, 2–3 p.m., Register
• Session 3: How Much Help Is Too Much? Finding AI’s Place in Teaching and Learning, Nov. 19, 9-10 a.m., Register

Visit the AI Bytes webpage on the Innovative Learning website to explore session descriptions and register. Resources from past semesters are also available on the webpage.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore generative AI or looking for more intentional ways to use it, AI Bytes offers a place to experiment, ask questions and build practical strategies you can take back to your work. 

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.

X

YuJa Panorama now available to all Purdue users for digital accessibility support

Purdue University has expanded access to YuJa Panorama, the university’s centrally supported digital accessibility remediation tool, making it available to Purdue instructors, staff and students at Purdue Indianapolis and West Lafayette , Purdue Northwest and Purdue Fort Wayne campuses beyond its integration within Brightspace. The expanded availability supports Purdue’s ongoing commitment to digital accessibility and helps users create remediated digital content across instructional, research and administrative environments.

While YuJa Panorama continues to support instructors directly within Brightspace, all instructors and staff can now use the platform to improve the accessibility of a broader range of digital content used throughout the university. Students at these campuses also have access to the tool, providing additional opportunities to create and share more accessible materials while building awareness of accessibility best practices.

Purdue instructors, staff, and students may log in directly to YuJa Panorama with the following steps:

1. Navigate to Purdue’s YuJa Panorama website.
2. Select SAML Single Sign-On in the drop-down menu and click the Sign In With SSO button.
3. Log in with your Purdue credentials to access your DocHub on the left-hand menu.
4. For additional information, getting started guides, and FAQs, visit the Purdue Yuja Panorama tool webpage. 

Originally selected through a Purdue system-wide evaluation process to support compliance with updated digital accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), YuJa Panorama provides tools to help identify and address common accessibility issues in digital materials. Through automated accessibility analysis and remediation support, users can receive actionable feedback related to document structure, heading organization, color contrast, alternative text and other accessibility best practices.

For more information, additional training opportunities, guidance and support resources access instructions and available resources, visit the YuJa Panorama support webpage and the Instructional Material ADA Readiness website.

Purdue Indianapolis and West Lafayette   

• For general resources, information, and support: Visit the YuJa Panorama website
• For in-depth questions, visit the Yuja Panorama Knowledge Base
• For technical support: Contact the Purdue Innovative Learning Team at InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu
• For in-time one-on-one support: Attend a Daily Virtual Drop-In Help Session with the Innovative Learning Team.

Purdue University Northwest

• For general resources, information, and support: Visit the YuJa Panorama website
• For in-depth questions about the tool: Visit the Yuja Panorama Knowledge Base
• For technical support: Contact the PNW Customer Service Center at csc@pnw.edu
• For support with the digital accessibility of instructional materials: Contact the Instructional Accessibility Specialist, Melissa Maldonado at mamaldon@pnw.edu, or the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@pnw.edu

Purdue Fort Wayne

• For general resources, information, and support: Visit the YuJa Panorama website. 
• For in-depth questions about the tool: Visit the Yuja Panorama Knowledge Base.
• For technical Brightspace support, please contact the Purdue Fort Wayne Help Desk.
• For questions about accessibility compliance and resources, please contact the Office for Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC): civilrights@pfw.edu.
• For accessibility concerns, please the Office for Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC): accessibility@pfw.edu.
• For pedagogical support related to accessible course design and instructional best practices, please contact CELT: celt@pfw.edu.

Purdue Global

• At this time, Purdue Global is not implementing a remediation tool. PG CTL and the Curriculum Team support accessibility through the Accessibility courses available at CTL Workshop Central and through our Curriculum Accessibility Team. PG Faculty should contact AskCTL with any accessibility questions.

X

Watch for Teaching & Learning Technologies survey

The week of Mon., Sept. 14, all Purdue instructors teaching at the Indianapolis and West Lafayette locations will receive an email invitation to participate in a survey regarding the portfolio of tools Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) supports for instructors and students. The goal of the survey is to evaluate current offerings to measure instructor satisfaction, portfolio health, identify gaps, and ensure that our team is providing best-in-class experiences for our instructors and students at these locations.

In 2024 a similar survey provided data that is helping TLT drive excellence at scale. Three specific examples of tools added as a result of instructor feedback include: 

• Helping instructors prepare for new compliance standards by adding Panorama and Simple Syllabus to our tool kit to save instructors time and make compliance with ADA Title II easier.
• Investing in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that easily integrate with our tool kit by expanding Charlie, an AI-powered writing assistant, in all Circuit courses, continually adding relevant AI features to our current tools, and launching the pilot of Orbit, our newest chat bot tool. 
• Launching the Spatial Computing Hub to help instructors continue to innovate in new areas of technology and make it more accessible to the wider Purdue audience. 

Watch your Purdue email for the subject line “TLT survey” and consider participating. Your input is invaluable to the portfolio of tools that support teaching and learning. Questions may be emailed to TLT@purdue.edu.

Teaching and Learning Technologies 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.

X