Instructor Support
You don’t have to be a tech whiz to design and implement successful and effective digital assignments!
What is DesignLab Instructor Support?
DesignLab can help instructors create and incorporate media assignments into courses. We can work with you to develop assignments that target outcomes in digital literacies and integrative learning. We can visit your class(es) to teach your students how to create digital media assignments, and we can also connect instructors with our campus partners to provide software training and equipment support.
We look forward to working with you to develop and deliver instructional services that meet your course needs.
Instructor Support FAQs
A: Our goal in the initial consultation is to discuss your assignment and make sure that DesignLab services/instruction is a good fit for your course. It also allows us to discuss expectations and make sure we’re all on the same page about what DesignLab can offer. It is also easier to schedule workshops in a meeting than to go back and forth via email.
A: Since DesignLab is an outside service that is not directly related to your course, our policy is that an instructor or substitute instructor from the department must be present for all DesignLab instruction, whether in person or virtual. Having the DesignLab TA alone with your class can create a weird dynamic between them and the students since our staff are not their instructors and do not have control of any grading/attendance. This policy is also in place to protect our staff in case of an emergency.
A: Absolutely! Whether or not we provide in-class instruction to your students, they are always welcome to consult with DesignLab for their assignments. If you’d like to give credit or extra credit to students, we ask that you provide them with our Consultation Worksheet, which they can complete and submit to you as proof of their appointment. Please also let us know that you will be offering credit to the students, so our staff can know to ask for their worksheet.
Note: For classes larger than 40 students, we ask that instructors offer extra credit rather than require that all students make an appointment.
A: While we do not have a strict limit to the number of workshops we can offer to an individual course, we want to make sure our staff’s time and your students’ class time are respected. Some courses will need scaffolded workshops spread out throughout the semester, while others may need only a single class session or less. We will work with you during the initial consultation to discuss options and schedule workshops that fit your class needs based on what our staff is available to offer.
A: Any digital media project! The list of possible assignments is too extensive to type out here.
Need ideas for assignments? Check out our Project-Specific Resources page for some options/ideas.
A: Either is possible! We have classroom spaces in College Library where we can schedule workshops if space allows, or we can come to your classroom. We can also run workshops via Zoom if requested. We’ll discuss these options in the instructor support consultation.
Don’t see your question answered here? Send us an email at designlab@wisc.edu.
DesignLab is committed to enhancing the Wisconsin Idea in the 21st century. One of our major contributions is co-coordinating the annual Digital Salon exhibit of University of Wisconsin–Madison student-made digital projects, hosted online, with an annual showcase in College Library. Please encourage your students to submit class assignments and personal projects to the Digital Salon!