Into Practice, a biweekly communication distributed from the Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning to active instructors during the academic year was inspired by a successful 2012 HILT grant project. The e-letter highlights the pedagogical practices of individual faculty members from across Schools and delivers timely, evidence-based teaching advice, contributing to and strengthening a University-wide community of practice around teaching.

Below is a catalog of all the Into Practice issues sorted by the publication date. To subscribe to Into Practice, please sign-up via our Mailing List page.

• Interdisciplinary learning through accessible, intentional technology

  Hong Qu, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, taught Data Visualization virtually last spring to over 70 students from different Harvard Schools, levels of experience, and corners of the world. To foster a close-knit community among students from diverse backgrounds, Qu intentionally curated a set of online tools and learning exercises to generate an “ambient telepresence.” For instance, he assigned group data visualization projects to promote peer learning and used VoiceThread for assigned peer critiques. During synchronous class time, students were invited to sketch with Qu using Jamboard on the shared screen—a novel form of participation to draw out the inner artist/designer in every student. “I wanted to give them a sense that we’re spending time with each other in this very challenging period to learn as a community, to work together on group projects, and to achieve organic connections and authentic relationships between all our unique places during this pandemic.”

• Canvas APIs, LTIs, Data and more!

  We are excited to welcome Gabe Abrams, Senior Software Engineer at DCE who will discuss Canvas APIs, LTIs, Data and more! Following his 20 minute presentation, we will have 10 minutes for Q&A, 10 minutes for networking in breakout rooms, followed by a wrap-up and any announcements.

• Holographic Electricity Toolkit and Curriculum

  Awardee will use augmented reality (AR) technology to design tools that allow students to visualize invisible phenomena and support digitally mediated scientific inquiry and knowledge exchanges in makerspaces.

• Supporting Virtual Reality Pedagogical Initiatives across Harvard

  Awardees will provide virtual reality (VR) equipment, software, and staff training for initiating and supporting innovative VR pedagogical initiatives at the Cabot Science Library VR studio.

• Making “Inclass” into a campus-wide educational technology app store

  Awardee will scale the availability of the SEAS educational technology (edtech) app store across the University.

• How digital education transforms residential teaching: Systematic analysis of faculty attitudes and experiences creating MOOCs

  Awardees will synthesize instructors’ pedagogically relevant experiences and lessons learned making Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and create a set of best practices.

• Extending active classroom activities to online students

  Awardees developed methods for online students to participate in active learning exercises designed for the traditional classroom.

• Graduate multimedia fellows program

  Awardees plan to organize a graduate multimedia fellows program that trains teaching fellows to evaluate and advise students’ on multimedia projects.

• Sound studies

  Awardee plans to create a computer lab for sound analysis that could support a number of existing courses across several departments.

• Innovative studio space

  Awardees plan to design and teach a studio class in a technology-enhanced, active-learning classroom.

• HSPH Department of Information Technology

  ITS supports for the HSPH computing environment.

• HLS Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Solutions

  Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Solutions provides consultations, trainings, tutorials, and technological resources for HLS faculty and teaching staff.

• HLS Information Technology Services

  ITS supports the multi-platform computing environment at HLS.

• HKS Office of Information Technology

  ITS supports the design, development, implementation, maintenance and support of all information technology resources at HKS.

• HGSE Information Technology Office

  ITS office supports the multi-platform computing environment at the HGSE.

• GSD Computer Resources Group

  The Computer Resources Group (CRG) supports multi-platform computing environment at GSD.

• HDS Office of Information Technology & Media Services

  Office of Information Technology & Media Services support teaching, learning, research, and administration at HDS.

• SEAS Office of Computing

  Provides information technology support and academic assistance to faculty, students, and staff.

• DCE Instructional Technology Group: integrated learning technologies

  Provides ITS support to the Extension and Summer School, the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, and the Professional Development Programs.

• Office of Digital Teaching and Learning

  Supports pedagogical and technical aspects of course design, development and implementation, for instructors in Extension and Summer School.