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IT Service Status
IT Service Status

Learning and Technology Advisory Committee

The Learning and Technology Advisory Committee (LTAC) is an IT Governance committee that is advisory to the Office of the Provost and Northwestern Information Technology (IT).

The mission of LTAC is to support pedagogical innovation through enhancements to learning spaces and advancements in instructional practices through the use of learning analytics and related educational technologies that intersect broadly to support the learning experience. The committee makes recommendations regarding priorities for investment and experimentation while assessing the overall benefits and impact on the student learning experience.

Structure

A steering committee, comprised of representatives from Northwestern IT, Office of the Provost, and a member of a University school guides the work of LTAC.

Committee members are invited to serve a two-year term through the appointment of a dean or vice president. The chair steering committee may appoint ad hoc committees as appropriate.

LTAC includes two subcommittees—one focusing on the Learning Management System and Learning Apps and another on Guidelines and Policies.

Each year, LTAC and its sponsors agree on a set of priorities for the committee and form working groups to focus on those priorities.

Operating Principles

Meetings are held quarterly, or as determined by the committee.

Subcommittee and Working Group meetings are held with sufficient frequency to accomplish their charge and report back to LTAC as necessary.

Committee Members

  • Casey Ankeny, Associate Professor of Instruction in Biomedical Engineering, Director of the Master’s Program, Faculty Senate
  • Danielle Bell, Assistant Professor and Director of IMC Professional Program, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Justin Brown, Associate Professor of Instruction, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
  • Wes Burghardt, Associate Dean, McCormick School of Engineering
  • Jennifer Cole, Associate Professor of Instruction, Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering
  • Scott Curtis, Associate Professor, Northwestern University Qatar
  • Denise Drane, Senior Director, Research & Evaluation, Searle Center
  • Michael Dice, Senior Learning Engineer, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology
  • Michelle Falkoff, Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Communication and Legal Reasoning Program, Pritzker School of Law
  • Mary Finn, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
  • Leslie Fischer, Lecturer, The Cook Family Writing Program, School of Professional Studies
  • Victoria Getis, Senior Director, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology (Steering Committee)
  • Rachel Goc, Learning Engineer, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology
  • Richelle Gordon, Professor and Director of Digital Innovation, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Isa Hernandez, Special Events Engineer, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology
  • D.J. Hoek, Associate University Librarian, Northwestern Libraries
  • Joe Horne, Director of Educational Technology, Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Jennifer Keys, Director, Searle Center (Steering Committee)
  • Ana Kuzmanic, Professor, School of Communication (Steering Committee)
  • Reba-Anna Lee, Assistant Dean, Distance Learning, School of Professional Studies
  • Bryan Libbin, Director of Curricular and Academic Technology, School of Communication
  • Sarit Markovich, Clinical Professor of Strategy, Kellogg School of Management
  • Ray Mathew, Principal Technology Officer, Bienen School of Music
  • Julia Moore, Director, English Language Programs, The Graduate School
  • Trevor Musolf, Manager, AV Support, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology
  • Ken Panko, Director, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology (Steering Committee)
  • Susan Piagentini, Senior Lecturer, Bienen School of Music
  • David Saltzman, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education, Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Jim Stachowiak, Accessible Technology Strategy and Operations Lead, Accessible NU/Northwestern Information Technology
  • Charlotte Stowe, Business Systems Analyst Associate, Office of the Registrar
  • Brian Whetsell, Representative, Association of Student Government
  • Marcelo Worsley, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Assistant Professor of Education and Social Policy, School of Education and Social Policy 

Subcommittees

  • Learning Management System and Learning Apps
    The group guides decisions around the University's Learning Management System (Canvas) and the Learning Apps supported by Northwestern Information Technology.
  • Guidelines and Policies regarding Education and Technology
    The group recommends guidelines and policies for educational technologies, focusing on questions of student learning, engagement, and well-being, as well as instructor well-being, efficiency, and innovation.

Working Groups (2022-2023)

  • Academic Innovation
    The working group is focusing on ways to support instructors building on their recent experience using technology and to incentivize experimental approaches to engaging their students.
  • Learning Analytics
    Identify opportunities to advance student learning and academic success leveraging analytics. Identify the question faculty, staff, and students are asking about learning.
  • Learning Spaces
    Identify opportunities to improve the teaching and learning capabilities, infrastructure, and support of campus learning spaces.