Pilots that drive innovation in teaching and learning.
Our instructional technology pilot process is designed to find the best tools to meet the needs of our instructors. These focused pilots gather feedback and data that allow us to make informed decisions about adoption.
Current Pilots
TurnItIn Draft Coach
Turnitin Draft Coach is a writing support tool designed to help higher education students improve their work before submitting assignments. Integrated with platforms like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, it provides real-time feedback through three main features: a Similarity Check that highlights text matching other sources to help prevent plagiarism, a Citation Check that identifies missing or incorrect citations, and a Grammar Guide that detects grammar, spelling, and writing mechanics issues. Together, these tools help students strengthen academic writing, practice proper citation, and ensure originality before submitting their final drafts.
Harmonize
Harmonize is an interactive discussion and engagement platform designed to integrate with learning management systems used in higher education. It enhances traditional online discussion boards by allowing instructors and students to communicate through text, video, and audio posts in a more conversational, social-media–like environment. Instructors can organize discussions with prompts, deadlines, and grading tools while encouraging deeper participation through features like threaded replies, polls, and multimedia responses. For students, Harmonize makes it easier to engage with classmates, share ideas in multiple formats, and participate in more dynamic and inclusive online discussions.
Padlet
Padlet is a web-based collaborative platform that allows users to create interactive digital boards where participants can post text, images, videos, links, audio, and files in real time. In higher education, instructors use Padlet to support active and collaborative learning through activities such as brainstorming, multimedia discussions, resource curation, group projects, reflections, and quick formative assessments like exit tickets. Its simple interface, flexible board layouts, and ability to embed or link within learning management systems make it an accessible tool for both in-person and online courses, helping increase student engagement, participation, and knowledge sharing.
Get Involved
We would love to hear about instructional technologies that interest you. If you know about, or are using a tool in your course that could be useful for others, please consider completing an application to have the tool evaluated and potentially be selected for a pilot. Our pilot application process is designed to be thorough, allowing us to carefully evaluate technologies and ensure they deliver meaningful value to teaching, learning, and student success.
Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance or approval for the tool to become a pilot. Pilots may not be conducted every year and may depend on funding.
Apply for an instructional technology pilot
In the event your application is approved, your participation in a pilot will be contingent upon reading and signing a pilot participation agreement document. (Participation agreement example.)
Pilot Process
Request and Approval
- Submit a pilot request.
- The Instructional Technology team processes the request.
- The Pilot Evaluation Committee reviews, evaluates, and approves or denies the application.
- Applicant receives email communication about approval or denial of their application.
Integration and Pilot
- Individuals (instructors) participating in the pilot read and sign the Pilot Participation Agreement document.
- The Instructional Technology team:
- negotiates a trial subscription with the vendor.
- integrates the piloted tool into the learning management system.
- launches the pilot during the Fall semester, however, this timeline can move depending on institutional resource capabilities.
- provides support and guides pilot participants to use the tool regularly and effectively.
Data Collection and Analysis
- Evaluate the tool using a rubric on the functional, technical, and pedagogical aspects.
- Collect and analyze the quantitative and qualitative user and institutional data.
- UCATT creates a presentation and report of the data findings.
Decision
- Present pilot report to Student Advisory Board members.
- Pilot Report sent to Associate Vice Provost of Digital Learning Initiatives and Online Education for final decision on whether or not to pursue wider adoption.
Technology Pilot Consultation
If you would like to meet with an instructional technologist to discuss your pilot needs or previously piloted technology, please contact our InTech team at intech@arizona.edu to schedule a consultation.
2024-2025 Pilots
ThingLink allows instructors to create interactive and immersive 360-degree media content. By embedding clickable hotspots into images and videos, it transforms static visuals into engaging learning experiences, encouraging deeper interaction with course materials through multimedia, quizzes, and additional resources.
FormaVision employs volumetric video technology to create highly immersive learning experiences. This tool enhances remote and hybrid learning by delivering high-resolution, interactive broadcasts that help simulate the experience of in-person teaching for remote learners.
ChatGPT is an AI-driven tool designed to offer real-time contextual assistance for students, whether for writing, research, or programming tasks. By integrating AI support into classroom activities, it encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
2023-2024 Pilots
This tool has been adopted at the enterprise level.
FeedbackFruits is designed to promote interactive and constructive peer review among students. Whether you use this tool for peer reviews, group member evaluations, interactive documents, or online quizzes, FeedbackFruits provides streamlined activities to enhance feedback, learner-content interaction, and classroom participation.
Cerego uses principles from neuro- and cognitive science to build adaptive learning objects for students. Cerego uses distributed practice as the basis of user memory retention; once the content is built, it does the work for you. This pilot is a collaborative effort between UCATT and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
2022-2023 Pilots
OpenClass is focused on student mastery of content and skills through review assignments. This tool is built upon the idea of spaced repetition in that learners continue to take the review activity until they earn the desired mastery level indicated by the instructor for that particular assignment. OpenClass also allows for quiz types of assignments to be created on their platform that allow students to retake quizzes until the learners hit a mastery level.
2021-2022 Pilots
Pressbooks is software that facilitates the creation of open educational resources. Users are able to create textbooks and course materials, remix the creations of other users, and add interactive elements like videos and quizzes. This pilot was a collaborative effort between Digital Learning and the University Libraries.
GoReact is an interactive, cloud-based platform for feedback, grading, and critiquing student video assignments. It allows instructors to give time-stamped feedback on student videos, grade student video submissions using rubrics, and view reports on student progress. This pilot was a collaborative effort between Digital Learning and the College of Education.
Perusall is a tool that encourages social reading, collaborative annotation, and discussion within a class reading. Perusall is integrated within Brightspace, offers machine grading based on student engagement, and a robust set of analytical tools. Our pilot focused on applications of social annotation in various disciplines, best practices, and student perceptions.