Remote Recess
Take a Break with Colleagues and Learn Something Too!
Remote Recess sessions offer an opportunity for faculty to gather online and learn something new in a low-stakes, casual, and FUN way. Each session will focus on a topic (like Panopto) and a short demo, then the facilitator will open the session to Q&A. Participants are encouraged to share tips and tricks. These sessions are designed to help you decide how and when to use certain technologies and activities.
Spring 2026 Remote Recess Sessions
Sessions are offered on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. or Wednesdays at 2 p.m.
All sessions are one hour long.
Introduction to Recording and Editing with Panopto
Tuesday, March 24, from 11 a.m.–noon
Panopto is a lecture capture tool that can be used to create audio and video recordings with automatic machined captions. It is readily accessible by desktop or web browser. In this session you will discover how to create and edit recordings in Panopto.
Getting Started with NotebookLM
Wednesday, April 1, from 2–3 p.m.
Discover how NotebookLM can help you quickly organize, analyze, and synthesize course materials using AI. This hands-on session introduces the core features of NotebookLM and demonstrates how it can extract learning goals, themes, and structures from your existing documents. We’ll work together to create an infographic-style “Syllabus Insights Map” that highlights key elements of your course at a glance. Participants will learn practical ways to apply these tools for lesson planning, research organization, and strengthening student connection. Please bring a copy of one of your syllabi to use during the workshop.
Unlocking Adobe at ACC
Tuesday, April 7, from 11 a.m.–noon
Explore the creative possibilities of Adobe at ACC! In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how faculty and staff can activate their Adobe accounts, discover the suite of apps available, and tour Adobe’s rich library of tutorials and inspiration. Participants will leave prepared to incorporate Adobe tools into their academic, professional, or creative projects.
Empowering Accessible Learning with Blackboard Ally
Wednesday, April 15, from 2–3 p.m.
Blackboard Ally is more than an accessibility checker—it’s a powerful partner in building truly inclusive learning environments. This session guides faculty through Ally’s most impactful features, from real-time accessibility scoring to automated alternative formats that support diverse learners. Participants will see how Ally simplifies document remediation, aligns with Quality Matters principles, and reduces instructional risk while boosting student success. Through hands-on exploration, faculty will learn how to evaluate course accessibility, improve common file types, and integrate accessibility best practices into their everyday workflow.
Respondus LockDown Browser: Procedures & Updates for Blackboard Ultra
Tuesday, April 21, from 11 a.m.–noon
Join the Procedures & Updates workshop to learn about the LockDown Browser—a custom browser that secures assessments in the Blackboard Learning Management System. The session will cover the steps for enabling it on an assessment, plus updates and improvements to its integration with Blackboard Ultra.
Faculty Events Calendar
For the latest events and training, please visit the Faculty Events Calendar. To view only the Remote Recess sessions choose the “RemoteRecess” tag to view a list of available offerings.
Remote Recess Archive
Remote Recess sessions are available to view. New recordings are uploaded within a week after a Remote Recess session. Click the Remote Recess tab at the top of the page to view the archive list. Note: To view the archive, please log in with your ACC credentials.
Remote Recess Rewind: Self-Paced Online Courses!
Remote Recess Rewind is a series of online, self-paced courses that allow Austin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff to learn more about tools and technologies by rewatching Remote Recess sessions, taking a short quiz, and accessing resources to support continuous learning.
Professional development credit is automatically awarded in Workday after successful completion.
Contact us
For any questions about Remote Recess, please contact Sara Schulz at sara.schulz@austincc.edu.