IDEAS EdTech Digest Special Edition Spotlights Online Learning Best Practices

The UMass Amherst Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS) Group has released a Fall 2025 special edition of its publication, EdTech IDEAS Digest, focusing on online learning best practices for faculty, instructional designers and higher education leaders.

The special edition covers a range of topics, including student preferences for classroom technology, using AI to develop learning objectives, design tips for accessible course syllabi, an accessibility starter kit, and a Canvas course checklist for online course preparation.

"Our goal was to create a well-structured publication that enables learning leaders, faculty, and instructional designers to quickly and easily find recommendations for innovative uses of learning platforms, teaching approaches, and educational technologies," explains Slava Yurchenkov, manager of instructional design in the IDEAS group.

The IDEAS group has been publishing a monthly online digest since February 2025, providing educators with updates on educational technology trends and challenges. This special edition expands on previous content with more in-depth guidance.

The Special Edition Digest is available in both PDF and print formats. Printed copies are available in the IDEAS office on the 6th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library and digital copies can be downloaded from the IDEAS website.