Fun technology sessions, network with your peers, and free snacks!
The Educational Media Center (EMC) would like to welcome you to Tech It Out Day 2025. We hope you will join us for our fun event to explore how technology can enhance teaching and learning, whether you'll be teaching in-person, hybrid, or online. Some of the technologies are great for the workplace, too. Come "test drive" a variety of technology tools, network with your peers, and celebrate the start of a new semester!
New Tech Exhibit Time! Our Academic Services Division will have a Tech Exhibit in ED 104 featuring innovative technologies that our various service(s) utilize or that is available to faculty/staff to use involving technology.
Registration is open to our Leeward CC 'ohana, free, and required for this event. You will not need to specify which sessions you'd like to attend.
To participate in Tech It Out Day, it is strongly encouraged that you bring a laptop with internet access.
Sessions are short (30 minutes) so please plan in advanced which sessions you'd like to attend and note the required or recommended devices, apps, and/or accounts you may need to participate in the "Session Descriptions and Resources" section below.
If you are interested in attending a Lamakū session please ensure you have access via your UH Credentials. Log into Lamakū at https://lamaku.hawaii.edu/
Prior to Friday 8/15: If you do not have a Lamakū account or Sandbox you may complete the Account and Sandbox Request Form.
There are three tracks/rooms of concurrent sessions to choose from. Session descriptions and resources are below.
8:30 - 8:45 AM
(ED 104)
8:50 - 8:55 AM
Welcome
8:50 - 8:55 AM
Welcome
8:50 - 8:55 AM
Welcome
8:55 - 9:25 AM
A1: Gen AI Tool Basics
8:55 - 9:25 AM
B1: Homepages That Work: Tame the Welcome Widget
8:55 - 9:25 AM
C1: Gmail Power Hacks to Boost Productivity
9:30 - 10:00 AM
A2: A Web-Based Word Processor Supporting Writing Integrity in the AI Age
9:30 - 10:00 AM
B2: Lamakū: Automate Student Nudges with Intelligent Agents
9:30 - 10:00 AM
C2: Focus Strategies: Tools for a Distraction-Free Mind
10:30 - 11:00 AM
A3: Creating with AI: Podcasts and Study Guides Using Gemini and NotebookLM
10:30 - 11:00 AM
B3: Lamakū Rubrics That Work: Clearer Grading, Better Feedback
10:30 - 11:00 AM
C3: Canva: Digital Organizer
11:05 - 11:35 AM
A4: AI-enabled Tools for Library Research
11:05 - 11:35 AM
B4: Gradebook Organization Categories/ Final Grade
11:05 - 11:35 AM
C4: Prompting 101
11:35 - 11:45 AM
Please take our survey.
(Upon survey submission, note down the secret pass code on your Participation Card and turn into ED 104)
Select the dropdown arrow next to the track heading to expand the section and view the descriptions.
Note: More session resources will be added right before or after Tech It Out Day.
(ED 104)
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Disability Services Office:
Learn how GLEAN Audio Notetaker and Kurzweil 3000 text-to-speech software can help students and faculty.
EMC Video Production:
Check out what the Video Production Unit can do for you for instructional or campus needs!
EMC AV Services:
Come and see some of the audio/visual (AV) technologies available to borrow for your instruction, meetings, and events.
ITG:
See a live demo of the new Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) software for faculty and staff that reduces the need for multiple computer devices and allows access to campus servers in a secure fashion.
Sensory, Spaces, & Supports:
Test out and explore sensory supports for focus and calm from the new classroom carts and counselor kits.
Resources:
Sensory Carts: https://go.hawaii.edu/rbY
Sensory Kits: https://go.hawaii.edu/rbt
Sensory Spaces and Supports (Website)
A1: Gen AI Tool Basics
Presenter: Lauren Lum Ho (laurenlh@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services
Session Description: This session will introduce you to the basics of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a type of AI that creates new content like text, images, music, and videos. It does this by learning patterns from examples it’s trained on and responding to your prompts. We’ll explore how GenAI works and the UH Sponsored AI tools available to you, including Google Gemini and NotebookLM. You’ll also get a chance to review UH System Guidance and consider key ethical questions that come up when using AI in your courses or day-to-day work.
Hands-On Activity: Explore either NotebookLM or Google Gemini and identify one way you might use it in your role, with an eye on ethics and practicality.
Resources: Presentation Slides
A2: A Web-Based Word Processor Supporting Writing Integrity in the AI Age
Presenter: Wayde Oshiro, Interim Learning Commons & Library Coordinator & Junie Hayashi, OER and Public Services Librarian
Session Description: The use of GenAI in student writing is increasing, but available AI detection tools are often unreliable, leading to concerns about false positives and missed detections. Tracking document version history can help deter AI use but requires close instructor oversight.
The Forge is a new (free) web-based word processor and learning platform from LibreTexts that tracks student writing and analyzes effort and revision using EssayMaps (editing history), WordChange (word count tracker), and Heat Maps (active time). Designed by writing instructors, The Forge supports collaboration between teachers and students in developing writing skills in the age of AI.
Hands-On Activity: Submit a request for an instructor account; view analytics of sample writing.
Resources: Presentation Slides
A3: Creating with AI: Podcasts and Study Guides Using Gemini and NotebookLM
Presenter: Natalie Kahn, Instruction Librarian
Session Description: This hands-on session will guide you through using Google Gemini and NotebookLM to create engaging and informative content. You will learn how to gather and organize research from Leeward Library databases, then use AI to help synthesize that information into either a podcast script or a structured study guide. Along the way, we’ll highlight how Gemini and NotebookLM can support learning, creativity, and productivity in both academic and personal projects. We'll also touch on ethical considerations and best practices for using AI responsibly.
Hands-On Activity: Use articles from the Leeward Library databases and experiment with Gemini or NotebookLM to create either a podcast outline/script or a study guide based on your chosen topic.
Resources: Activity go.hawaii.edu/9Mr
A4: AI-enabled Tools for Library Research
Presenter: Ralph Toyama, Systems Librarian; Wayde Oshiro, Interim Learning Commons & Library Coordinator
Session Description: AI-enabled tools such as Primo Research Assistant, EBSCOhost AI Insights, and the JSTOR AI Research assist researchers in finding and summarizing relevant sources. Custom GPTs such as Search Query Optimizer guide beginning researchers in developing more effective database searches. Learn how these tools can encourage good research practices and familiarize students with library databases. Some fun non-research, book-related AI tools will also be thrown into the mix.
Hands-On Activity: Explore AI-enabled research tools by searching for a topic of interest. Compare and contrast a custom GPT-derived boolean search with a general keyword search using the library’s discovery search tool or research database.
Resources: Using AI for Research LibGuide
B1: Homepages That Work: Tame the Welcome Widget
Presenter: Brent Hirata (bhirata@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services & Michael Cawdery, Ph.D, Professor & Coordinator - Associate in Science in Teaching
Session Description: We’ll walk you through a Lamakū course site that's welcoming, useful, and student friendly. You’ll learn how to edit the Welcome message, select a homepage layout template, and add helpful elements like contact info to your Course Overview.
Hands-On Activity: Whether you're starting fresh or improving what you already have, you’ll have time to build or update your course site welcome widget or homepage.
Resources:
Lamakū Instructor Essentials (Course Homepage)
University of Hawaiʻi Quality Online Standards (Rationale for providing a welcome, course introduction, overview and strong getting started module)
B2: Lamakū: Automate Student Nudges with Intelligent Agents
Presenter: Brent Hirata (bhirata@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services
Session Description: In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to set up simple automated messages that trigger when students miss deadlines, achieve milestones, or need a little encouragement. Example scenarios will be shared and you will have time to build your own custom agent. By the end, you’ll leave with at least one agent ready to activate in your course. No programming required.
Hands-On Activity: I’ll show you how to set up your first agent in under 10 minutes, then turn you loose to build your own.
Resources:
Instructor Essentials - Module on Intelligent Agents
Intelligent Agent (by Georgia Southwestern State University)
B3: Lamakū Rubrics That Work: Clearer Grading, Better Feedback
Presenter: Brent Hirata (bhirata@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services
Session Description: Rubrics are powerful tools for setting expectations, providing consistent feedback, and making grading more transparent. In this session, you'll learn how to build, customize, and attach rubrics within Lamakū to streamline your assessment process. We’ll cover key features and best practices for designing effective Lamakū rubrics.
Hands-On Activity: Bring a simple rubric of your own and build it in Lamakū
Resources:
About Rubrics (Brightspace Article)
Create a rubric using the Rubrics tool (Brightspace Article)
B4: Gradebook Organization Categories/ Final Grade
Presenter: Chelby Onaga (chelbyo@hawaii.edu), Media Specialist, Academic Services
Session Description: Keeping an updated gradebook is essential to providing a high-quality online learning experience. Are your students able to see their most up to date overall grade? Can students see their final grade? In this session, we will walk through the gradebook settings in Lamakū. You’ll learn how to create grade categories and learn how to release final grades to students.
Hands-On Activity: Using a sandbox, previous, or current course site, create categories in your gradebook and use the set-up wizard to help organize your gradebook for both you and your students.
Resources: B3: Lamakū Grade Book Organization
C1: Gmail Power Hacks to Boost Productivity
Presenter: Rachael Inake (rinake@hawaii.edu), EMC Coordinator & Instructional Designer, Academic Services
Session Description: Let’s explore several features in Gmail that will help you to create a workflow to boost your productivity in handling your everyday email. We’ll explore features such as labels, creating a label system, archiving, searching, templates, and task lists. See how you can be more efficient with handling email, keeping organized, and reducing email clutter and stress.
Hands-On Activity: Using your UH Gmail, we’ll experiment with labeling, archiving, searching, templates, and task lists.
Resources: Presentation Slides
C2: Focus Strategies: Tools for a Distraction-Free Mind
Presenter: Lauren Lum Ho (laurenlh@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services; Chair of the Sensory Supports & Spaces (S3) Committee
Session Description: In our increasingly connected world, maintaining focus can feel like an impossible task. This session offers practical and engaging resources and strategies to help you regain some control over your attention and boost productivity. We’ll explore how to leverage technology intentionally, using tools that support rather than sabotage your focus.
Hands-On Activity: Test out different tools to see what resonates with you, and discover how even small changes can have a big impact on your day-to-day productivity.
Resources: Focus Strategies: Tools for a Distraction-Free Mind (Slides)
C3: Canva: Digital Organizer
Presenter: Chelby Onaga (chelbyo@hawaii.edu), Media Specialist, Academic Services
Session Description: Looking for a new way to stay organized for the week or for the month? In this session, you'll learn how to create digital organizers using Canva. Choose from various templates and customize designs to fit your needs. In addition, learn how to turn your monthly organizer into a desktop wallpaper, so that it is easily viewable.
Hands-On Activity: Using Canva (free or licensed account), choose a Desktop Wallpaper template and create your own wallpaper.
Resources: C3: Canva: Digital Organizer
C4: Prompting 101
Presenter: Lauren Lum Ho (laurenlh@hawaii.edu), Instructional Designer, Academic Services
Session Description: This session will help you get the most out of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools by teaching you how to write more effective and intentional prompts. You’ll explore four practical prompting strategies that can be applied to teaching, content creation, student support, and more: (1) Chain of Thought Prompting, (2) Prompt Chaining, (3) Persona-Based Prompting, and (4) Few-Shot Prompting. You’ll leave with simple techniques you can try right away in your own work.
Hands-On Activity: Using Google Gemini, start with a basic task (e.g., summarize a topic). Start a new thread and revise your prompt using Chain of Thought Prompting or Prompt Chaining. Try again using Persona-Based Prompting and/or Few-Shot Prompting. Compare how the GenAI response changes based on your prompt design.
Resources: Prompting 101 (Slides)
You will receive a participation card at sign-in. Please participate in all four sessions at Tech It Out Day, including visiting the exhibitors and completing our survey. Be sure to drop your completed participation card in our drawing box located in ED 104.
We hope to see you at next year's Tech It Out Day! Have a great semester!