About Unizin
In 2015 UNL joined UNIZIN, a member-based, non-profit 501(c)3 consortium of research universities created to manage and maximize the digital learning ecosystem through technology and partnership solutions. UNIZIN provides solutions in three key areas: data, analytics, and digital content. As a member institution, UNL provides opportunities for faculty and staff to use UNIZIN solutions and engage in research about teaching and learning.
Data Platform
The Unizin Data Platform (UDP) is comprised of digital footprints generated across the entire consortium, enabling research on learning behaviors across member institutions. The UDP enables UNL members to access, own, and use its learning data and analytics to serve advising, institutional research, business intelligence, and research. Examples of how UNL members are using the UDP include:
- Many Classes
- Research on Top Hat
- Basis of a metric in the budget model encouraging early formative feedback to students
- UNL Analytics menu item in development for Canvas
To learn more, contact Chad Brassil at cbrassil@unl.edu or Casey Nugent at casey.nugent@nebraska.edu.
Learning Analytics
UNIZIN provides opportunities for member institutions to participate in a variety of committees focused on learning analytics initiatives such as understanding student learning processes, improving learner performance, and reflecting on teaching methods and instructional design.
The annual Unizin Summit facilitates the sharing of ideas on these topics.
UNL’s Information Technology Services also regularly meets with individuals interested in learning analytics, exploring topics such as developing customized reports and dashboards, creating course or student-level metrics, and establishing early warning systems for at-promise students.
To learn more, contact Casey Nugent at casey.nugent@nebraska.edu.
Content
Digital course materials are an essential part of UNL’s learning technology ecosystem. UNIZIN tools and services provide a common infrastructure based on open standards, which advance the adoption of data interoperability standards across the higher education market. And because UNIZIN negotiates with publishers for lower-cost materials, UNL instructors are able to provide accessible, high-quality course materials at lower costs.
Since the summer of 2019, UNL students have saved more than $5 million through instructor use of digital content.
Check out UNL’s STAR (Successful Teaching with Affordable Resources) initiative to learn more or contact Brad Severa at bsevera@nebraska.unl.edu.