Top Hat representatives visit campus to strengthen engagement and partnership

As part of its ongoing commitment to cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with educational technology partners, the University Center for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology (UCATT) welcomed representatives from Top Hat for a three-day campus visit focused on connecting with instructors, sharing ideas, and supporting effective teaching practices.

Top Hat is an interactive teaching platform used by instructors to support attendance, real-time polling, and in-class knowledge checks. It allows students to engage with course content directly from their devices, whether through live participation during lectures or through interactive materials that extend learning beyond the classroom. For UCATT, supporting tools like Top Hat requires ongoing collaboration and communication across campus and with partners.

“We see ourselves as a bridge between instructors, institutional goals, and our technology partners,” said Lady Amor Moran, director of instructional technologies. “It’s our responsibility to make sure those perspectives are aligned, and that we’re actively sharing feedback to improve the tools we rely on. That kind of work depends on strong relationships.”

Engaging faculty, expanding practice, strengthening partnerships

The visit began at the Teaching Exchange Symposium (TES) on March 24, where Top Hat partnered with UCATT’s Instructional Technology team to host a shared table. The space served as a hub for conversation, highlighting InTech’s role in bridging communication between instructors and educational technology providers. Faculty engaged with both teams to explore tools available for enhancing teaching and learning, with particular emphasis on how Top Hat supports real-time engagement and formative assessment in the classroom.

The next day, the team hosted a series of hands-on workshops and office hours designed to deepen faculty use of the platform. During open office hours, instructors had the opportunity to meet directly with Top Hat representatives to troubleshoot specific use cases and explore new features. Instructors expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to connect with the Top Hat team.

“I truly appreciate how Top Hat has embraced the shift toward asynchronous learning,” said Dianne Patterson, staff scientist in neuroimaging. “Their ability to pair cutting-edge innovation with reliable support ensures that we, as educators, can provide the best possible experience for our students.” 

Two featured sessions expanded on this work. Reclaiming Connection: Engaging Distracted Learners in the Age of AI focused on strategies to capture and sustain student attention through intentional course design, while Extending Engagement with Top Hat Pages introduced new approaches to integrating interactive content and metacognitive activities beyond the classroom. 

The visit concluded with strategic partnership meetings involving UCATT leadership, the Instructional Technology team, and campus partners, including Dawn Hunziker, associate director for digital and physical access from the Disability Resource Center. These conversations centered on current usage, future scaling opportunities, and alignment with institutional goals for student success. The inclusion of accessibility experts ensured that discussions addressed both innovation and equity, reinforcing a shared commitment to inclusive teaching practices.

Across all three days, the visit underscored the importance of collaboration, communication, and shared investment in teaching excellence. By creating space for instructors, technology partners, and campus leaders to connect directly, UCATT continues to strengthen the ecosystem that supports innovative, engaging, and student-centered learning experiences.
 

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