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Academic Technology Tools

Academic Technology Tools

 

This page describes tools designed to enhance both online and in-person teaching. Some of these tools will require software installation, but many can be used through the web without anything needing to be installed. To see a list of software that can be installed on university-owned computers (some of which aren't listed on this page), see our software catalog.

Contact an Instructional Designer for assistance with the tools listed on this page.

Online Discussion Forums

Yellowdig

Yellowdig is a discussion platform designed to mimic social media (vs a traditional Canvas discussion forum). This design is meant to foster a more student-driven discussion, driven by topic rather than time-bound assignments. 

Yellowdig is available as an external tool through the Bookstore. Similar to an e-textbook fee, if faculty opt to use Yellowdig, students pay a nominal course fee, which is applicable per course per term. Contact the Bookstore for more information.

Additional Information & Support 

Visual and Graphic Design

Canva

With Canva for Education, you can create the most engaging lessons and run activities for students in class or online. Access thousands of templates for any subject or topic, and enjoy all of Canva's premium features for free.

Additional Information and Support

Video Production

Kaltura

Kaltura is a screen-/lecture-capture and streaming tool both faculty and students can use to record, edit, and stream videos in their Canvas courses. It includes an option to embed hotspots as well as quizzes that integrate with the course gradebook in Canvas for enhanced student engagement. 

Additional Information & Support 
Google Meet

Google Meet is a conferencing application integrated within the Google Suite of products. It can be used for conducting remote meetings (up to 300 people), online classes, holding online office hours, and student meetings/group work. 

Additional Information & Support 
Zoom

Zoom is a communications platform that allows users to connect using video, audio, and chat. It can be used for conducting remote meetings (up to 300 people), online classes, holding online office hours, and student meetings/group work. It allows for breakout sessions, polling, and whiteboard collaboration, so it is ideal for larger remote workshops.

Additional Information & Support 

Student Support and Academic Integrity

Grammarly

Grammarly is a tool used to correct grammar errors and enhance writing. It features a variety of tools to help students improve their drafts before submitting them to be graded.

Additional Information & Support 
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor

Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor are academic integrity tools for quizzes/exams. They are integrated with Canvas and can be used on a test-by-test basis in any course. Students can use LockDown Browser on both Windows and Mac as well as on Chromebook and iPad devices.

Respondus Lockdown Browser

The Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment when a student takes an exam in Canvas. It is a feature that helps reduce cheating by preventing the student from copying, pasting, printing, or opening another document or website until the exam is submitted. It also blocks keyboard functions and shortcuts and right-click menu options, restricts communication apps on the device, and removes browser menu features. It is impossible to copy, print, or screenshot while LockDown Browser is engaged. When it is engaged, the assessment is displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized. 

Respondus Monitor

Respondus Monitor is an add-on recording feature that can be used in support of LockDown Browser. Monitor records video and audio of the student through the student’s own device’s webcam and microphone. Monitor is especially helpful with unproctored online exams.

After the exam is complete, the instructor can view details of the student’s behavior during the assessment. Monitor raises flags at points in the recording when unusual actions were taken, such as when a student steps away from the quiz for a length of time. The instructor can view those flagged sections of the audio/video recording and determine whether there may be concerns about cheating. 

Additional Information & Support
Turnitin

Turnitin Feedback Studio (TFS) is a tool for checking the originality of written assignments and thus helping students prevent plagiarism. It compares submitted material to its online database that includes the web content, digital books, journals and other published material, as well as written material previously submitted to Turnitin. It then generates a similarity report for the instructor to review (which is helpful in identifying possible cases of plagiarism), but it is also a tool students can use to learn how to properly utilize outside resources within their assignments. Assignments in Canvas can be configured to require Turnitin submissions.

Additional Information & Support

Social Annotation

Perusall

If you have difficulty getting students to complete assigned readings and videos, Perusall is a great tool to consider. Perusall is an annotation software that works on material uploaded to Perusall (which is integrated into Canvas). It allows for students to comment and ask questions within the assigned materials and works with PDFs, documents, and videos (including YouTube). Perusall's built-in tools help with analytics, such as quality assessment, tracking engagement with the assigned material, and peer engagement.

Additional Information & Support
Hypothes.is

Hypothes.is is a free web-based annotation tool that operates using a browser extension or bookmarklet; it requires a Chrome extension. It layers annotations directly onto webpages or PDFs (note: PDFs must be downloaded or can be accessed on shared drive, such as Google Drive or Box, or through Canvas). It is recommended over Perusall for annotation of web-based content. 

Additional Information & Support

Digital Whiteboards and Collaboration

Lucid Spark

Lucidspark is an online collaborative whiteboard platform integrated into Canvas enabling teams to work together effectively. This includes brainstorming sessions, project planning, workshops, and more. 

Additional Information & Support
Padlet

Padlet is a collaborative web platform where users can upload, organize, and share content to virtual bulletin boards called "padlets." Note that Padlet is not a fully accessible tool, so it may not be appropriate for all users. 

Support & Integration
myViewBoard

MyViewboard is a St. Kate's-supported digital whiteboard web-based application. The software provides online digital whiteboard capabilities for instructors and allows students to view online displays in real-time. 

Additional Information:

Synchronous Engagement

Kahoot!

Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that makes it easy to create, share, and play learning games or trivia quizzes in minutes. 

Support & Integration
Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is a polling tool that allows users to create a variety of poll questions and receive real-time poll results from audience members. The user can display live results from a browser or embed the live chart in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote decks.

Additional Information & Support
ViewSonic and myViewBoard

ViewSonic’s ViewBoard is an interactive display available in select classrooms throughout campus. The ViewBoard is a touchscreen designed for interactive lessons and whiteboard use. The ViewBoard in the classroom is used in conjunction with the myViewBoard software (web or installed versions) launched from the instructor station.

Additional Information & Support