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
- Wes Burghardt, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering
- Jennifer Cole, Associate Professor of Instruction, Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering (Steering Committee)
- Scott Curtis, Associate Professor, NUQ Communication Program, Northwestern University Qatar
- Denise Drane, Senior Director, Research & Evaluation, Searle Center
- Michael Dice, Senior Learning Engineer, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology
- Lauri Dietz, Director, Pedagogy and Assessment Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Searle Center (Steering Committee)
- Michelle Falkoff, Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Communication and Legal Reasoning Program, Pritzker School of Law
- Victoria Getis, Senior Director, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology (Steering Committee)
- Rachel Goc, Learning Engineer, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Northwestern Information Technology
- Curtis Hanawalt, Senior Director, Information Technology, McCormick School of Engineering
- Isa Hernandez, Special Events Engineer, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology
- D.J. Hoek, Associate University Librarian, Northwestern Libraries
- Ben Holden, Professor, Clinical, Journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications
- Joe Horne, Director of Educational Technology, Feinberg School of Medicine
- Nelson Kurtis, Representative, Associated Student Government
- Elena Lanza, Co-Director, Language Resources Center, Weinberg College
- Reba-Anna Lee, Assistant Dean, Distant Learning, School of Professional Studies
- Sarit Markovich, Clinical Professor of Strategy, Kellogg School of Management
- Ray Mathew, Principal Technology Officer, Bienen School of Music
- Trevor Musolf, Manager, AV Support, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology
- Lily Ogburn, Representative, Associated Student Government
- Julia Oliver Rajan, Associate Professor of Instruction, Spanish and Portuguese, Weinberg College
- Ken Panko, Director, Media and Technology Innovation, Northwestern Information Technology (Steering Committee)
- Susan Piagentini, Senior Lecturer, Music Studies, Bienen School of Music
- David Saltzman, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education, Feinberg School of Medicine
- Özge Samancı, Associate Professor, Radio, Television, and Film, School of Communications
- Kate Schultz, Faculty Director and Adjunct Lecturer, School of Professional Studies
- Jose Silva, Support and Systems Manager, Information Technology, Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications
- Jim Stachowiak, Accessible Technology Strategy and Operations Lead, Accessible NU/Northwestern Information Technology
- Charlotte Stowe, Business Systems Analyst Associate, Office of the Registrar
- Liz Trubey, Associate Dean, Weinberg College
- Melinda Turnley, Director of Operations and Academic Services, School of Education and Social Policy
- Chuyan Wan, Representative, The Graduate School
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.