LEDstudio Blog

With so much current attention focused on AI and accessibility, it may seem odd to revisit hybrid course design. But high-quality hybrid teaching remains one of the most flexible and effective approaches for supporting student learning and engagement. Hybrid courses blend synchronous face-to-face instruction with asynchronous online learning experiences. At VCU, hybrid courses intentionally combine […]

We are excited to announce that the Adobe Education Institute (AEI) is back from June 8th to 11th, and all faculty and staff are invited. The Adobe Education Institute is a free, virtual professional development global conference designed to support faculty and staff in enhancing teaching, learning, and digital skills. This year’s event has more […]

When the VCU Common Book was announced for the 2025-2026 school year as a book on AI, “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Suleyman, I pitched that our department, LEDstudio, host an event for faculty to dive into that topic. I had really enjoyed participating in the book club style gatherings that Massey Cancer Center hosted […]

Why Do Stories Stick? You may remember sitting through training sessions, lectures, or presentations packed with useful information only to forget most of it by the next day. But tell us a story and something different happens. We do not just remember information, we remember experiences. Like the overwhelmed first-year teacher trying to manage a […]

When faculty think about course design, they naturally focus first on content: readings, lectures, discussions, and assignments. These are, of course, the foundation of any learning experience. However, the underlying course structure is a sometimes neglected but deeply important consideration as well. Before students can engage meaningfully with ideas, they have to understand how the […]

When integrated intentionally, technology expands possibility — supporting creativity, flexibility, access, and meaningful learning experiences across modalities. Beyond Efficiency: Technology as Possibility Technology has become such a familiar part of teaching that it’s often discussed in terms of tools, platforms, or requirements. But when we step back, technology offers something far more powerful than efficiency […]

Gamification brings game‑design principles into course design to boost student engagement, motivation, and persistence. By weaving in elements like progression and meaningful rewards, you can transform traditional course structures into experiences that feel more energizing. This post highlights a few simple strategies you can use to make your course more enjoyable for students. Gamification doesn’t […]

Imagine two students in your crowded lecture hall. One views a difficult problem as a signal that they lack the talent to succeed, quickly turning to external shortcuts to find the answer. The second student sees that same struggle as fuel for their brain, understanding that mental effort is the physical process of building new […]

The Date & The Mindset Let’s start with a reality check: VCU must meet the Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II accessibility regulations by April 24, 2026. As noted in the VCU Provost Blog Post: Resources for faculty: Federal accessibility requirements mandated by April 2026, this mandate  “applies to all digital content provided to […]

Math and STEM content can present unique accessibility challenges; from equations and symbols to PDFs, slides, and videos. Accessibility matters not just for equity, but recent Department of Justice (DOJ) accessibility updates underscore the need for accessible digital content. To help with making your course materials accessible, LEDstudio created the Math and STEM Accessibility Resource […]