Software Applications

Want to use a tool in your class, consult with developers, or propose an initiative for DIG? Contact us here. If you are a student, find paid fellowships here.

The University of Michigan is a rich ecosystem of educational innovation, however not all initiatives have the opportunity to mature or are widely adopted. Digital enterprises too often lack the resources to fully grow from early innovation to widespread adoption.  The Center for Academic Innovation’s Software Application team exists as both a response and solution to this challenge. CAI works with user communities to grow tools to maturity, and establishes a pathway to scale through collaboration across U-M’s digital ecosystem. With a team of developers, designers, behavioral scientists, data scientists and student fellows, CAI helps translate digital engagement tools from innovation to infrastructure.

In 2015 the Personalizing at Scale project was funded through the Third Century Initiative Intensifying Student Learning grant.  In the summer of 2015 the CAI [agreed to incubate the Digital Innovation Greenhouse ] DIG then hired a team of software developers to begin refining and growing ART 2.0, Student Explorer, and ECoach.  This team of developers established a Student Fellows Program to provide additional expertise with educational tool development around programming, user experience design and community of practice management.   In the fall of 2015 students arrived back on campus and were able to benefit from the revamped tools in the DIG portfolio.  

DIG is developing personalized educational technology that will have a massive positive impact on the U-M residential experience for both undergraduate and graduate students across campus.  These tools will be used by U-M students, faculty, and staff and will provide unique pathways for success not previously possible at the University.

In 2020 DIG is helping the University scale and adopt a wide variety of educational software innovations from the University’s research community, working with their user communities to grow them to maturity, and establishing a pathway to scale through collaboration across U-M’s digital ecosystem.  These innovations are improving learning outcomes for wide cross-section of University students, faculty and staff and have helped U-M lead the way in redefining residential education in the 21st Century.

Timothy McKay, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics, ECoach Team Lead

August Evrard, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics, ART 2.0 Team Lead, Problem Roulette Team Lead

Barry Fishman, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Information and Professor of Education, GradeCraft Team Lead

Anne Gere, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Education, Professor of English Language and Literature, Director of Sweetland Writing Center, M-Write Team Co-Lead

Ginger Shultz, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, M-Write Team Co-Lead

Elisabeth Gerber, John L. Walker, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Public Policy and Research Associate, Center for Political Studies, ISR, Policymaker Team Lead

Perry Samson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, Entrepreneurial Opportunities Lead, WILD Learning Systems Team Lead

Holly Derry, Lead Behavioral Scientist

Carly Thanhouser, Behavioral Scientist

Ben Hayward, Lead Developer

Cait Holman, Lead Developer, Doctoral Candidate, School of Information

Kris Steinhoff, Lead Developer

Chris Teplovs, Lead Developer

Dave Harlan, Developer

Kushank Raghav, Developer

Oliver Saunders, Developer

Marie Hooper, User Interface Developer/Designer

Kristen Miller, User Experience Designer

Mike Wojan, User Experience Designer

Kyle Schulz, Data Scientist

Tim McKay, DIG Faculty Director

Mike Daniel, DIG Operational Director

Amy Homkes-Hayes, DIG Lead Innovation Advocate

Camille Ulrich, DIG Operational Coordinator

User Experience and Design Interns

Nathan Magyar, School of Information

Abhraneel Sarma, School of Information

Jie-Wei Wu,  School of Information

Hsin-Ju Yen, School of Information

Personalization Interns

Ann Carroll Burke, LSA and School of Education

George Perrett, School of Public Health

Marisa Xheka, School of Information

Software Development Interns

Samantha Silviera, College of Engineering

Yuan Tian, College of Engineering