Salisbury University |  Instructional Design & Delivery Newsletter | April 21, 2026

Karen Silverstrim Presents at MDLA

Karen Silverstrim presented "Sense-Sational Design: A Full Spectrum Approach to Accessible, Inclusive, and Interactive Learning for Online Courses" on Friday, April 17 at the Maryland Distance Learning Association spring conference. This session was a repeat of her webinar hosted at SU on April 15. The session description stated:

You know you need to make your course materials accessible, but then you’re also supposed to be conscious of being inclusive, and somehow you need to make your course more interactive to get and keep your students’ attention as well. It can all feel so overwhelming. Have you heard of the curb cut effect? It’s when making a change for one group actually helps many other groups as well. Did you know in the process of making your courses more accessible, you’re also making them more inclusive, and the way you design and layout your course content can also tie into accessibility, inclusivity, and interactivity? Come see what small changes you can make that overlap these areas. Discover what is possible for your courses and leave excited to implement changes.

Interested in hearing this session, see ID&D's Professional Development Session playlist.

AI Lunch & Learn: Research in the Age of AI

AI is rapidly reshaping the research landscape, changing how scholars search for literature, generate ideas, and support parts of the research process. As these tools become more widely available, they are also prompting important questions about responsible use, academic integrity, and emerging expectations from journals and publishers.

The GenAI FLC invites you to join colleagues for an engaging Lunch & Learn exploring the evolving role of AI in academic research. Together, we will discuss how AI is intersecting with the research process, consider how to guide students in using these tools responsibly, and share examples of AI-supported tools that can assist with literature discovery and research development.

Date & Time: April 23, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Dudley-Eshbach Faculty Center AC230

Whether you are already experimenting with AI or simply want to better understand its implications, this session offers a timely opportunity to explore, reflect, and exchange ideas with colleagues across campus.

On behalf of the FLC on generative AI in the Classroom, we look forward to your participation. Please let us know if you are planning to attend!

Practice & Play: AI Tools for Academic Research

Instructional Design & Delivery (ID&D) will be hosting a series of hands-on workshops that give you the opportunity to explore AI tools for specific purposes. Designed to help you integrate emerging tools into your teaching practice, each session focuses on practical, adaptable strategies for enhancing activities you already use - making your courses more engaging, efficient, and future-ready. No prior experience with AI is required - just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

Date & Time: April 29, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Location: In-person at AC 221 (ID&D Faculty Studio), Maximum 15 participants

Facilitator: Dr. Janice Orcutt

How might AI tools help students learn the research process more effectively? Bring a research topic or question and explore how existing AI tools can support both academic research and the teaching of research-based skills. In this interactive session, faculty will experiment with tools for source discovery, literature mapping, synthesis, and writing while considering how these tools might also be incorporated into course activities to help students practice key stages of the research process, from developing questions and locating sources to evaluating, connecting, and communicating findings.

Creation of Fall and Summer 2026 Courses in MyClasses

Fall and Summer 2026 courses were created in MyClasses on April 1, and instructors were enrolled at the same time. Daily reports update course, section and instructor enrollments between GullNet and MyClasses.

Student enrollments will be added on May 1 for summer session and August 3 for fall.

If you have multiple sections that need to be combined, please use our MyClasses Combine Sections request located under the MyClasses requests section of the ID&D Support Center. Faculty participating in the Inclusive Access textbook program should request sections be combined at least four weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Faculty Travel Grant - Call for Applications

Faculty Learning Community - Call for Proposals

Faculty Learning Community (FLC) proposals are now being accepted for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. FLCs are active, yearlong faculty development experiences that bring together multidisciplinary groups of 8-12 members for structured, collaborative learning and scholarship. 

Eligibility and Participation

Expected Outcomes 

Each FLC will produce a group outcome such as a conference presentation, journal article, or curriculum development, and submit a final report at the conclusion of the funding period. 

Proposal Submission

Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026. For more information on FLCs and the application process, please visit the Faculty Learning Communities webpage.

USM Kirwan Center Call for Fellowships and Grants

The University System of Maryland is currently seeking nominations and proposals for the following opportunities:

For more information regarding any of these opportunities, please reach out to Melissa Thomas, ID&D or Dr. Chrys Egan, Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence.

Thank A Teacher Week - May 4-8!

Each May, the University System of Maryland Council for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning joins the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation in planning faculty and instructor recognition activities as part of Thank A Teacher Week. This event coincides with the National Teacher Appreciation Week, which is May 4-8, 2026!

Students are invited to share their gratitude by writing a note on a physical postcard or by sending a note virtually between April 27 and May 8. Students are asked to look for tables in the Guerrieri Student Union by the Dining Commons (April 27-May 1) and the Guerrieri Academic Commons (May 4-8) where students can sign postcards. Last year, faculty and staff took advantage of this opportunity as well to share gratitude to colleagues.

Students will receive communication via email and a MyClasses announcement regarding this event. More information is available at: www.salisbury.edu/thanks.

SU is an Equal Opportunity/AA/Title IX university and provides reasonable accommodation given sufficient notice to the University office or staff sponsoring the event or program. For more information regarding SU's policies and procedures, please visit salisbury.edu/equity.

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