University of South Florida

Innovative Education

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faculty member stands in front of computer screen and is being taught how to use the camera by digital learning training and support member

Innovative Education provides state-of-the-art learning and production facilities for USF faculty across all three campuses

Innovative Education offers an expansive suite of resources across the Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota–Manatee campuses, providing faculty with tools to transform their digital course content. From cutting-edge production rooms to interactive learning labs, these resources not only enhance teaching but also elevate the student learning experience. 


Tampa

a production inside ined studios on the vu wall

In Tampa, Innovative Education offers faculty a wealth of resources to enhance their teaching through multimedia content creation. The TVB Building serves as a hub for faculty actively developing courses with InEd, providing access to cutting-edge facilities and technology. 

Faculty can utilize two state-of-the-art video production studios along with a dedicated podcast studio, all equipped with the latest audiovisual technology. Studio A stands out with its impressive LED volume, a collaboration with Vū Technologies, spanning 65 feet in length and 14 feet in height. This innovative technology enables faculty to leverage the newest virtual production technology, enhancing the student learning experience with immersive and engaging content. 

Studio B offers a spacious green screen, allowing faculty to expand their virtual production options even further with live compositing and virtual sets. Through a partnership with tech company, Zero Density, USF is the first university in the United States to integrate its technology. The technology enables faculty to engage students in unprecedented ways. Both studios provide opportunities for faculty to collaborate with an expert production team to seamlessly incorporate realistic virtual environments and animations into their course videos, ultimately increasing student engagement and learning outcomes. 

Instructors may also use the Faculty Production Room in the library , a “do it yourself” space for any faculty, regardless of technical expertise, to produce professional digital content for their classes. 

girl sits at lightboard while writing a math equation

The Faculty Production Room includes everything needed to turn ideas into reality, and is outfitted with both PC and Mac solutions for user-friendly video production, audio recording, and narrated presentation development. The space also includes a “Lightboard,” which consists of a glass screen with an integrated camera that records both the faculty and what they write to help students visualize materials.

“The tools and technology available in the studio are easy to use, and the results are quick to see,” said Chris Maltezos, academic advisor and adjunct instructor of film and business classes. “My experience there has helped me reach my goals of providing the most professional online class experience for my students.”

InEd’s Digital Learning Training and Support (DLTS) team is available to help faculty with the technology, whether they’re brand new to online pedagogy or have years of experience with digital tools.

a door hangs on the front of the faculty production room saying HUSH recording in process

“Faculty can go from not having any experience with video editing to being completely self-sufficient within two to four hours,” said Arleen Janz, Digital Learning Training and Support consultant.

St. Pete

In St. Pete, faculty can find several resources in the library on campus. The newest addition to the list is the Learning Lab, located on the second floor of the building, which primarily serves as a faculty training space.     

The lab is equipped with six monitors around the room, all connected to a single computer. Once the final touches of the lab’s renovation are complete, touchscreens will be connected to the computer to allow for seamless presentations.    

Sound is crystal clear in the lab, with two microphones mounted from the ceiling and a sound processor that mixes the mics and speakers to prevent background noise in virtual meetings. 

The space can seat around 15-20 people comfortably. With flexible seating options and a huddle space with booth seating, collaboration comes naturally in the lab.

a group of faculty sit in the learning lab

“The Learning Lab is a gorgeous space where I’ve been able to explore innovative teaching methods, collaborate with peers on best practices, and access professional development resources,” said Nicole Stowell, professor of instruction of business law on the St. Pete campus. “I see it as an essential resource for my continuous growth as an educator, enhancing not just my teaching strategies but also the learning outcomes of my students.” 

St. Pete faculty also have access to a recording studio in the library. The studio includes another large glass screen that can be used for writing notes during video lessons, a green screen for recording course content, and a podcast area. 


Sarasota–Manatee 

On the Sarasota–Manatee campus, faculty will soon be able to use two spaces provided by InEd:

The first space is the Faculty Production Room, where instructors will be able to record lectures and other digital content for their courses. The room includes a green screen, professional video cameras, and computer equipment with the latest editing software. 

The second space is the Digital Learning Studio, which will feature a curved “cove” backdrop, allowing endless opportunities for visuals, animations, and graphics in video content for courses.

two workstations set up in the new sarasota faculty production room

The Digital Learning Studio is currently under construction and is expected to be complete by early this summer. With a large portion of classes being taught online at the Sarasota–Manatee campus, these resources will be invaluable to faculty. 

Get Started

Innovative Education provides everything faculty need to provide the highest quality courses, digital content, and learning experiences they can to USF students. To learn more, book a faculty production room, or get more details about the content development tools available, visit InEd’s Digital Learning Resources

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About Department News

USF Innovative Education is a powerhouse of creativity and collaboration, offering a range of faculty-related services including learning design, multimedia development, technology integration, and support for teaching and learning. We help faculty transform courses into dynamic learning experiences, providing training and support for various programs. We work with both experienced and new faculty, assisting them in integrating technology and staying up to date with educational trends.