Innovation Corner
What you'll find on this page are the reviews, insights, and practical findings that come out of those conversations. Not endorsements — starting points. We share what we learned, what worked, and what didn't, so you don't have to start from scratch every time something new arrives.
These tools sit outside the UVA ecosystem and haven't gone through ITS review. Some are free, others require a subscription. We share them in the spirit of responsible exploration and we'll always tell you what we found, good and bad.
Avatar Video Generation
AI avatar tools can turn a script into a polished video — no camera or studio required. We tested several in real educational contexts. Here's what impressed us, and what gave us pause.
NotebookLM
Google's NotebookLM lets you interact with your own documents through AI — generating summaries, audio overviews, and more from your sources. We found real value here for faculty and students — and some limitations worth knowing about before you build it into your course.
Image Generation
AI image generation tools can turn a text prompt into a compelling visual — from course illustrations and infographics to website imagery and presentation graphics. The results require a thoughtful prompt and sometimes a bit of refinement. Read our honest take on what works and what to watch out for.
Multi-Model Tool Platforms
One platform, multiple AI models — Claude, GPT, Gemini and others — in a single workspace designed with education in mind. We explored how these platforms support teaching, research, and custom bot creation. Here's what we found.
This page evolves alongside the tools we explore. New reviews and insights are added as our community puts emerging technologies to the test.
Join the Innovation Corner
The Innovation Corner is open to anyone curious about where technology and learning intersect. If you're experimenting with new tools, exploring AI in your practice, or just want to follow along — we'd love to connect.