A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning applies to changing one's instruction based on the knowledge of the student. Most often, it is seen in web applications that guide students through learning a concept by giving each student an individualized path. If a student is immediately proficient, his/her path may be shorter than a student who does not immediately grasp the concept. The latter student would then be directed to further questions to build knowledge before progressing forward. Examples of adaptive learning software are McGraw-Hill Connect, Pearson MyLab, or Cerego.
Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate is an elearning software application used to create interactive educational presentations. Captivate allows instructors to add comprehension questions to a slideshow and guide students through adaptive learning. Captivate does have a steep learning curve compared to most technology tools. An academic license for an UMSL faculty member is $79.
Assignment Tool
The Assignment Tool is a feature of Canvas that allows students to upload a file from their computer to fulfill a course assignment. The Assignment Tool automatically generates a corresponding column in Gradebook.
Assignment Tool Resources for Faculty
How to Create an Assignment (video)
Auto Access
Canvas Resource Site - Access additional resources about publishers. In particular learn how to connect the Vitalsource to your Canvas course.
B
Blogger
Blogger is a web tool designed to make it easy to set up your own blog. Some instructors use it to create a blog for themselves or as part of an assignment for students to create a blog. Blogger is part of the Google tool suite of applications so you can log into Blogger with your UMSL SSO ID and password as part of UMSL's integration with Google Apps for Education.
Blogger Resources for Faculty
Instructions to Set Up a Blogger Blog (handout)
C
Canvas - Canvas is a graphic-design tool website. It uses a drag-and-drop format and provides access to over a million photographs, graphics, and fonts. It is used by non-designers as well as professionals. The tools can be used for both web and print media design and graphics.
Canvas - Canvas is a Learning Management System that hosts the online courses taught at UMSL as well as electronic grade information. MyGateway is sometimes used synonymously with Canvas as it is the name for UMSL's online academic services.
Canvas Resources for Faculty:
How to Navigate Canvas
How to Set Up Notification Preferences
How to Upload a Profile Picture
How to Use Gradebook
Use Canvas Teacher App
Chat - Chat is a course tool that is available to all students in the course.
Collaborations - Collaborate on the projects using Google Docs. Note: remember collaborations do not copy over from one Canvas course to another and need to be set up each time.
Commons - Commons is a repository to search for and import content into your Canvas courses. You can also share resources to Commons from your Canvas courses. How to use Commons
Concept Mapping - Concept Mapping is a process of graphical representation of ideas and concepts. Concept maps are tools designed to help build structure and connect information.
Mindomo
Mindomo is a web tool for building concept maps to explain complex ideas and relational topics in a visual diagram. Students can sign into Mindomo using their Google Apps for Education login credentials. The tool is free for creating one concept map.
How to Create and Share a Mindomo Concept Map (pdf document)
Popplet
Popplet - Learn more about Popplet
MindMeister
MindMeister - Learn more about MindMeister
Conversations/Inbox - Conversations is the messaging tool that allows instructors and students to communicate with a course, a group, an individual student, or a group of students.
Course Analytics/Statistics - is a monitoring tool that allows instructors to check on students progress and assignments completion. To see individual students analytics go to People, select student name and then Analytics.
Course Analytics/Statistics Resources for Faculty
How to View Course and Student Analytics in Canvas (video)
D
Discussions
A Canvas discussion is an asynchronous, text-based tool for conversing in an online environment. In a discussion, an original participant makes a post to the discussion forum (based on the selected topic) for other participants to read. Other participants can then leave a reply on that original posting, leaving both the original post and the reply visible for future participants. This series of posts and replies is called a discussion thread. For more information about how to use a Discussion in your course, use the resources below
Discussion Board Resources for Faculty:
How to Create a Discussion (video)
How to Create a Discussion
Download
Downloading a file means moving a file stored on the Internet to a place on your local computer.
E
E-mail (short for electronic mail) is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet. It is also possible to send digital files as attachments via email but depending on the restrictions of the e-mail service, these are usually restricted to 10MB in size. E-mail should not be used to receive student assignments as it is an insecure technology and doing so violates FERPA.
Excel
Excel is a desktop spreadsheet application designed for keeping data, completing mathematical equations, and setting up tables. Excel is available as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package available to all faculty, staff and students at UMSL.
Exam - see Quizzes
F
Flipped Classroom (or Flip Teaching)
Flipping the classroom refers to modifying the traditional lecture format of many courses into a format where lectures are recorded and assigned to be viewed before each class period as homework. The class period, then, is used for active learning exercises, application of the material, or assignment feedback and assistance. The success of this model relies heavily on the expectation that students use the materials provided before each class so that class time can be used for effective application. More Information
G
Google Chrome
Chrome is a web browser available for Windows, Mac, or Linux. It is supported by Canvas. It also has numerous extensions to add to its functionality.
Download Google Chrome
Google Apps - Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, etc.
Originally named Google Docs, Google Drive is a completely web-based office productivity suite designed to promote sharing of documents and resources. Google Drive offers a word processor, spreadsheet database, presentation creator, and form creator. Any document created on Google Drive will be stored online, but may be downloaded to a personal computer for offline editing. You can now log in to Google Apps with your UMSL account at https://mydrive.umsl.edu. Be sure to enter your full SSO ID (name@umsystem.edu) and SSO password. Faculty/staff have unlimited storage on their Google Drive accounts.
Google Apps Resources for Faculty
Logging into Google Apps at UMSL (web resource)
Google Drive
Getting Started with Google Drive (video)
How to Unload and Share Files in Google Drive (video)
How to Share a File in a Canvas Discussion or Page (web resource)
Google Docs
Getting Started with Google Docs (video)
Basics of Google Docs (web resource)
Making a Google Docs Sign-Up Sheet (pdf document)
Google Sheets
Getting Started with Google Sheets (video)
Basics of Google Sheets (pdf document)
Google Forms
Getting Started with Google Forms (video)
Basics of Google Forms (web resource)
Google Sites
Creating a Google Site (web resource)
Sharing a Google Site (web resource)
GoReact
GoReact is an excellent way to give timestamped feedback right on videos uploaded by students or for students to give each other feedback on their uploaded videos. This solution is ideal for:
Teacher Prep
Performing Arts
Communication/Public Speaking
Psychology/Counseling
Languages
Nursing/Clinical Skills
Any course with presentations or skill development
This tool is fully integrated with Canvas and students can record or upload videos right into their Canvas assignment. The quick markers help expedite common feedback both for your markings and for the students’ review. This tool is available through CARES Act funds until the end of 2021. We do not yet know if support will be available beyond that time.
Grades
Grades is the electronic gradebook of Canvas. It is web-based and has a spreadsheet layout with column names corresponding to graded activities, and row corresponding to student names. Gradebook allows file attachments to be downloaded in bulk for electronic homework. It also automatically grades objective-based questions on exams and quizzes. At UMSL, faculty use of Gradebook to maintain student grades for both traditional and online courses is strongly recommended so students can understand their standing in a course.
Gradebook Resources for Faculty
Sorting Columns in Gradebook
Creating a New Column in Gradebook
Setting Up Weighted Final Grade Based on Assignment Groups
Using Gradebook's 'Export Scores' Feature to Keep Grades in Excel
How to Drop the Lowest Grade from a Group of Assignments in Gradebook
Submitting Midterm Grades from Canvas to MyView
Making Annotations in Canvas SpeedGrader
Groups
The Groups Tool is a feature of Canvas that allows instructors to easily divide their students into groups and then provide each group with a personal area in which to communicate and work on group assignments. The Groups Tool is accessible under People tab on the left-side navigation bar of a Canvas course by clicking People and then Groups. Below is a video overview of the tool.
Groups Tool for Faculty
How to Use the Groups Tool (video)
How to Create Groups Manually
How to Edit a Group Set
H
HTML
HTML (short for HyperText Markup Language) is a programming language used to create web pages. HTML allows text creation, table formatting, linking to other address, and much more. HTML is the backbone of the Internet. This table of commonly used HTML tags may be helpful for basic edits. More Information
I
Inbox
See Conversations.
J
Journal
A journal is used to create personal entries of one's thoughts, feelings, or learning. While similar to blogs, journals are usually not public, allowing for a different type of entry and personal learning. A single entry journal could be created through Assignment tool in Canvas. Multiple entries journal could be created using Google Docs.
K
Kaltura
Kaltura to Panopto Changeover
As of June 1, 2021 Kaltura is no longer be available for use, but don’t worry - your video content was moved for you. Since Kaltura and Panopto have developed to have very similar feature sets over the past few years, we consolidated all video streaming and lecture capabilities onto Panopto to streamline technologies, support, and budgets.
No more video content can be created or uploaded into Kaltura. The Office of eLearning team at UM-System will be copied all Kaltura videos that have been played at least once within the last two years over to the relevant campus instance of Panopto.
Where I can learn how to use Panopto?
The UM-System Teaching Tools site contains a number of help documents on using Panopto.
L
Lecture Recording
There are a few options to record your lectures at UMSL. See VoiceThread, Kaltura, and Panopto.
M
Module
Module has two definitions. In general educational terms, a module is a grouping of like-minded course content into a content area folder or calendar period. A module is also a tool in Canvas that allows faculty to group content into a designated area that adds an individual table of contents for those materials and allows the option to force sequential viewing of the materials.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is a web browser for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. It has been approved for use with Canvas and has a library of add-ons that can increase its functionality. Firefox also comes with a built-in pdf document reader.
Download Mozilla Firefox
N
NetTutor
NetTutor is a web-based tutoring tool that allows students to get real-time, personal tutoring via video conference. It is available for the following disciplines: Biology and Life Sciences, Business and Economics, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Writing Center, and World Languages - Spanish. NetTutor is accessible through the Tools link in UMSL online courses.
Nearpod
Nearpod makes your PowerPoint and Google Slides dynamic and interactive. This can be used synchronously (during a live in person or Zoom class) or asynchronously for students to work through on their own time. This is similar to an audience response tool but with many more features for engagement. If using live online, it will be best if students have two screens or devices (one for Zoom and one for NearPod).
This tool can be used with limited capability for free. The CTL has a limited number of licenses for the Pro version with advanced features available for the 2021 year. Reach out to mckanryj@umsl.edu if interested in obtaining a Pro account.
O
Online Testing Center
The Online Testing Center was consolidated into the Testing Center in 2013. See Testing Center.
P
Panopto
Panopto is a lecture- and screen-recording tool licensed by UMSL to assist in the creation of educational videos. It is most often used for asynchronous online courses.
Silverlight, a browser plug-in, is required to view Panopto recordings. To record a lecture or screencast, users must download and install the Panopto Recorder from his/her course in Canvas.
Panopto Resources for Faculty
Panopto Instructions: Download and Install; Record with Panopto(pdf documents)
How to Record a Video in Panopto | Windows
How to Record a Video in Panopto | Mac
How to Upload a Video in Panopto
How to Add Your Panopto Video to Your Course (pdf)
How to Change Permissions to Share with Students (video)
How to Add Closed Captions to Panopto
How to Use Panopto to Edit and Post Zoom Recordings (pdf)
How to Add a Quiz to a Panopto Video
How to Make a Panopto Quiz a Canvas Assignment
PDF Document
Short for Portable Document Format, a pdf document is a file format used to represent documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. pdf document reader software is required to view pdf document documents but comes with some browsers such as Google Chrome.
Download Adobe Reader
PowerPoint
PowerPoint is a desktop application, created by Microsoft, that allows users to create slideshow presentation from text, images, video, graphics, or a combination of these. PowerPoint presentations are often used as a supplement to lectures. PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft Office Suite and is available to all faculty, staff and students as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package.
PowerPoint Resources for Faculty
Quick Ways to Improve Slides in PowerPoint (video; requires Microsoft Silverlight plug-in)
Proctorio
Proctorio is an advanced solution for online test security and remote, automated test proctoring. It is integrated into Canvas so there is no software to install. Please note that in order to use Proctorio for exams, you must include the Proctorio Syllabus Statement in your course syllabus.
Proctorio Resources for Faculty
UM-System Teaching Tools: Proctorio (web resource)
Q
QuickTime
QuickTime is an Apple video-playing software that plays MPEG4 and MP4 videos locally and on the web. It can be downloaded here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Quizzes - also known as an Exam
A Quiz is an assessment tool used in Canvas to test student retention of material. It is shorter than an exam and may be composed of a variety of question types including: multiple choice, multiple answer, short answer, fill in the blank, true/false, and others. Below is a video overview of how to make a quiz in Canvas.
Quiz Resources for Faculty
How to Create a Quiz in Canvas (video)
R
RegisterBlast
RegisterBlast is an advanced registration software designed specifically for college and university test centers that is integrated into Canvas. As of Fall 2020, faculty can submit exams, edit parameters, and view the status of student Testing Center appointments electronically.
RegisterBlast: Professor's Guide (pdf)
Research
Tools that may assist you with your research include Diigo, Mendelay and Zotero.
Diigo
Diigo is a free web-based bookmarking application that can be used to save, highlight, or annotate web pages. When saved pages are revisited, the highlights remain, making Diigo a great app for collecting educational resources and writing research papers. Diigo also offer special educator accounts.
Mendeley
Mendeley is a free reference manager and an academic social network. Manage your research, showcase your work, connect and collaborate with over six million researchers worldwide.
Zotero
Zotero is an Internet bookmarking and citation application that gathers referential information from an article, website, ebook, or other document for later review. The tool is very helpful in creating works cited or bibliography pages as it can easily output MLA, APA, Chicago, or other reference styles from saved materials.
Respondus
Respondus is a desktop software tool used to more easily create exams and surveys in Canvas. It is a Windows-only program so Mac users will need to run it in a Windows environment or faculty may use the UMSL computer labs where Respondus is also installed. Respondus (Windows) can be downloaded to UMSL faculty computers by visiting the Respondus section of the "Canvas Resources Site" Canvas course that faculty are enrolled in.
Respondus Resources for Faculty
How to Format Questions for Respondus (Word document)
Sample Test Document Formatted for Respondus Import (Word document)
Rubrics
A rubric is a document, usually in a grid-style, that conveys the expectations of an assignment to a student. The grid is made up of the components of the activity on one axis and the levels of achievement on the other axis. Canvas has a rubric-building tool that helps make it easier to grade online activities with the Gradebook. Below are some video resources about the rubric tool and how to implement it into your online course.
Rubric Resources for Faculty
How to Make a Rubric in Canvas
How to Attach a Rubric to an Assignment
How to Grade an Assignment with a Rubric
S
StudyMate
StudyMate is a games-based tool that is part of the Respondus software package. It allows instructors to easily create flashcards, crossword puzzles, and other word games using text documents.
T
Teams
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool designed to allow groups of people to work together on an initiative. All the team's content, people, tools and conversations are available in the Teams workspace. Teams integrates with Microsoft Office applications and is accessible through the cloud. More information
Testing Center
The Testing Center, commonly referred to as the Campus Testing Center or CTC, is an on-campus location that supports faculty by providing secure proctoring for online course exams, makeup and accommodated exams, and other departmental exams that cannot be administered in a classroom setting. Advance faculty notice and student appointments are required. More information
TurnItIn
Turnitin is a plagiarism verification service that helps educators and students ensure that content in written documents is cited properly. Papers submitted to Turnitin may be compared against billions of Internet documents, archived Internet data that is no longer available on the live web, a local repository of previously submitted papers, and subscription repository of periodicals, journals, and publications. TurnItIn is available for student use through the UMSL Writing Center or for faculty use through the Canvas learning management system.
Turnitin Resources for Faculty
Protocol for Use (pdf document)
Creating a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas (pdf document)
Managing a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas (pdf document)
Interpreting a Turnitin Similarity Report (pdf document)
Marking Up and Scoring a Turnitin Student Paper (pdf document)
Managing Turnitin QuickMarks (pdf document)
Managing Turnitin Rubrics (pdf document)
New Turnitin Integration Resources
Creating a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas
Turnitin Assignment Settings
The Similarity Report
TritonApps
TritonApps is a remote service technology that enables us to provide some of our applications and software to students and faculty anytime, anywhere. Applications available through the TritonApps remote delivery include: AMOS, GARS, SPSS, Mathcad, MATLAB, STATA, and Microsoft Office 2010. Search Triton Apps
U
Upload
Moving a file from your local computer to a storage place on the Internet is called uploading.
V
VoiceThread
VoiceThread is a collaborative slideshow web application where faculty or students can upload media content (images, videos, or documents) and leave a voice comment on them. Others can then leave follow-up comments. The tool uses a Canvas integration and has a gradual learning curve. The tool is used at UMSL for lecture recording, group collaboration, and student presentations.
VoiceThread Resources for Faculty
How to Set Up, Create, and Share a VoiceThread in Your Online Course (pdf document)
How to Add Comments to An Existing VoiceThread (pdf document)
How to Give Editing Rights of a VoiceThread to a Group of Students (pdf document)
How to Change Your Profile Image on VoiceThread
How to Add Closed Captioning to VoiceThread
How to Edit a VoiceThread for Individual Assignment
If you are still having issues with VoiceThread, contact the Learning Resource Lab, the Center for Teaching and Learning, or use the Help button on VoiceThread.
W
Wiki
A Wiki is a web document which allows people to add, modify, or delete its content via a web browser. Wikis often include images or other multimedia and can also include external links to other websites or files. Because a Wiki has multiple authors, there is less chance of incorrect information remaining in the document (multiple proof-readers). Wikis are often used at UMSL for group projects within a course where a group of students is assigned to create a wiki explaining a concept or idea. Google Docs is one of the ways students can create a Wiki.
Windows Media plug-in
Windows Media is a plug-in used to play web-based Windows Media videos (.wmv). The plug-in is included when installing QuickTime for Windows users, but Mac users may need to install the Flip4Mac plug-in (free version)
Word
Microsoft Word is a word processing desktop application for creating and saving documents. It is part of the Microsoft Office productivity suite, is installed on all UMSL computers, and is available to all UMSL faculty, staff and students as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package.
X
Y
YouTube
YouTube is a video-hosting website, owned by Google, that allows users to upload recorded video for public viewing. YouTube is a resource for educational videos, lectures, and how-to explanations. Users that upload video have the option of sharing it publicly, sharing to only those to whom a link is distributed, or sharing to other specific YouTube accounts.
YouTube Resources for Faculty
How to Set Up a YouTube Channel (handout)
Z
Zoom (Web Conferencing)
Zoom is a web conferencing tool used to meet virtually with others using video, audio, and chat. Participants can make use of screen sharing, a whiteboard tool, breakout rooms, and text chat. Zoom sessions can be recorded and automatically added to Panopto in Canvas. More information
This site is maintained by CTL. If you find any mistakes or would like to request additional videos or documents, please contact ctl@umsl.edu