The UM3D Podcast

UM3D

UM3D’s new podcast series spotlights innovation and excellence in teaching and learning at the University of Memphis. By interviewing faculty and staff who are implementing transformative practices, the podcast provides an ongoing, accessible, and permanent platform for sharing success stories across our campus. This series extends the spirit of UM3D’s faculty professional development opportunities by offering a more sustainable and far-reaching format that highlights practical strategies and creative approaches to course design, technology integration, and student engagement.

  1. Raising the Bar on Accessibility: Sensus Access in Action

    Mar 30

    Raising the Bar on Accessibility: Sensus Access in Action

    Sensus Access takes center stage in this episode as UM3D’s Sarah Catherine Marshall and Dr. Lavonnie Perry Claybon unpack how this powerful self‑service tool is transforming digital accessibility at the University of Memphis. From converting scanned PDFs into searchable text to generating audiobooks, braille, e‑books, large‑print files, and even translated versions, the conversation highlights how Sensus Access removes barriers for students with disabilities andsupports diverse learning preferences across campus. With practical insights on how it works in Canvas, real‑world use cases, and a deeper look at its role in universal design for learning, this episode offers a compelling look at how one tool can make course materials more inclusive, flexible, and student‑centered. Resource Links: SensusAccess Web Form (University of Memphis) https://sensusaccess.com/web3/memphis Upload course files and instantly convert them into accessible alternative formats.UM3D: Instructional Design & Accessibility Support https://www.memphis.edu/um3d Consultations, workshops, and resources for creating accessible, high‑quality learning materials.SensusAccess Main Website https://www.sensusaccess.com Learn more about the tool’s capabilities, supported formats, and documentation.CAST: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines https://udlguidelines.cast.orgExplore the UDL framework that supports flexible, inclusive learning design.University of Memphis Accessibility Resources https://www.memphis.edu/accessibilityCampus-wide guidance on digital accessibility, compliance, and best practices.

    13 min
  2. Elevating Student Engagement: The Power of Perusall's Interactive Annotations

    Mar 2

    Elevating Student Engagement: The Power of Perusall's Interactive Annotations

    In "Elevating Student Engagement: The Power of Perusall's Interactive Annotations," we dive into the innovative world of social learning platforms with Dr. Steve Zanskas, Associate Dean and counseling professor at the University of Memphis. Tired of unopened textbooks and lifeless discussion boards? This episode reveals how Perusall revolutionizes student engagement through interactive annotation features that connect students with course content, peers, and instructors simultaneously. Dr. Zanskas shares his journey from Perusall novice to advocate, offering candid insights about implementation challenges, effective assignment design, and leveraging automated grading. Whether you're teaching asynchronous online courses or looking to enhance in-person instruction, you'll discover practical strategies for using Perusall's commenting, highlighting, and analytics tools to create meaningful learning experiences. This 20-minute conversation provides both the inspiration and practical know-how faculty need to transform passive reading into dynamic collaborative learning. Resource Links: UM3D - https://memphis.edu/um3dPerusall Official Website - https://www.perusall.com/Perusall Knowledge Base - https://support.perusall.com/hc/en-usPerusall Support - https://app.perusall.com/supportPerusall Community - https://www.perusall.com/perushall-communityPerusall Academy – Webinar Training - https://www.perusall.com/academyPerusall YouTube Playlists - https://www.youtube.com/@perusallapp/playlists

    22 min
  3. Countdown to Compliance: What Faculty Need to Know Before April 2026

    Feb 2

    Countdown to Compliance: What Faculty Need to Know Before April 2026

    "Countdown to Compliance: What Faculty Need to Know Before April 2026" In this essential episode of the UM3D podcast, host Lavonnie Perry Claybon and guest Amanda Rodino break down the upcoming digital accessibility requirements for higher education faculty before the April 2026 deadline. The conversation centers on practical implementation of the POUR principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—that guide digital accessibility standards. Faculty will learn actionable solutions including using built-in accessibility checkers in Canvas, creating proper alternative text for images, utilizing sans serif fonts, structuring documents with appropriate headings, and ensuring descriptive hyperlinks. The episode highlights three immediate action steps: running videos through Canvas Studio for captioning, using the Canvas accessibility checker, and reaching out to campus resources like DRS and UM3D for support. With tools like Sensus Access for PDF remediation and expert campus assistance available, faculty have everything they need to create accessible courses that benefit all students while meeting compliance requirements. Resource Links: University of Memphis UM3D: https://memphis.edu/um3d University of Memphis DRS: https://www.memphis.edu/drs University of Memphis Office of Civil Rights Compliance: https://www.memphis.edu/ocrctix University of Memphis Libraries Accessibility: https://www.memphis.edu/libraries/accessibility CAST - UDL: https://www.cast.org University of Wasington DO-IT: https://doit.uw.edu National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg/students-with-disabilities

    12 min

About

UM3D’s new podcast series spotlights innovation and excellence in teaching and learning at the University of Memphis. By interviewing faculty and staff who are implementing transformative practices, the podcast provides an ongoing, accessible, and permanent platform for sharing success stories across our campus. This series extends the spirit of UM3D’s faculty professional development opportunities by offering a more sustainable and far-reaching format that highlights practical strategies and creative approaches to course design, technology integration, and student engagement.