Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning applies to tools that change instruction based on the reported skills or 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.
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 Students
How to Submit an Assignment (video)
Auto Access
Blogger
Blogger is a web tool designed to make it easy to set up your own blog. Some instructors may use it to have you create blog entries and submit them as an assignment. 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 Students
Instructions to Set Up a Blogger Blog (handout)
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 Students:
How to Navigate Canvas
How to Set Up Notification Preferences
How to Upload a Profile Picture
Uploading an Assignment
Use Canvas Student App
How Students View Feedback in Canvas SpeedGrader (in 3 steps)
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 to use your UMSL Google Apps for Education account in order to work on the shared Google Doc.
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.
Dashboard
Dashboard is a first page you see when you log into Canvas. It helps you see what is happening in the courses you are taken.
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.
Discussion Board Resources for Students:
How to Use a Discussions (video)
Download
Downloading a file means moving a file stored on the Internet to a place on your local computer.
Email (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 email service, these are usually restricted to 10MB in size. Email can be used for communicating with the instructor or your peers.
Excel
Excel is a desktop spreadsheet application designed for keeping data, completing mathematical equations, and setting up tables. Excel is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. It is installed on all UMSL computers and can be downloaded for home use.
Exam - see Quizzes
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
Global Navigation
Global Navigation menu is located on the left red side panel and provides quick access to Canvas features.
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 Students
Logging on to Google Apps at UMSL (web resource)
Google Sites
Creating a Google Site (web resource)
Sharing a Google Site (web resource)
GoReact
GoReact is an excellent way for faculty to give timestamped feedback right on videos uploaded by students or for students to give each other feedback on their uploaded videos.
How to record, upload and give feedback on a video in GoReact (Note you do NOT need to create an account as indicated in this video. We have integrated GoReact into Canvas so it pull use your Canvas login to seamlessly create your GoReact account.)
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.
Grades Resources for Students
How to View Grades in the Course (video)
How to Use Icons and Colors in Grades
The What-If Grades Feature
How to View Grades for the Concluded Course
Groups Tool
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 in the Global Navigation Menu on the left-side. Below is a video overview of the tool.
Groups Tool Resources for Students
Overview of Group Tools for Students (video)
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
Inbox
See Conversations.
Java
Java is a Plug-in from Oracle that allows web applications to temporarily run as desktop applications and/or utilize your computer resources. At UMSL, it is used to create Kaltura Screen-Recordings.
Download Java Plug-in
Journal
A journal is a digital tool 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.
Kaltura
The Kaltura tool is a video storage solution for Canvas. Kaltura has a few different purposes: it can store video files from your computer that you wish to share with students; it can be used to record instructor lecture videos; and it can be used as a tool for students to record videos of themselves. For more information about how to use Kaltura in your course, watch the videos below:
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 for 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 reader. Download Mozilla Firefox
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 courses.
Online Testing Center
The Online Testing Center was consolidated into the Testing Center in 2013. See Testing Center.
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 here: Windows | Mac
Short for Portable Document Format, a PDF is a file format used to represent documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. PDF reader software is required to view PDF 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. It is installed on all UMSL computers and can be downloaded for home use.
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.
Quizzes - also known as 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 Students
How to Take a Quiz on Canvas (video)
RegisterBlast
RegisterBlast is an advanced registration software designed specifically for college and university test centers that is integrated into Canvas. As of Fall 2020, all students will use RegisterBlast to schedule proctored exams in the Campus Testing Center. Students with approved Disability Access Services testing accommodations can attach extended time to appointments as long as they are logged in to RegisterBlast or accessing the RegisterBlast tab in Canvas (must be enabled by the professor).
RegisterBlast Resources for Students
RegisterBlast Student's Guide
Testing Center website
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.
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 Canvas Gradebook. Below are some video resources about the rubric tool and how to implement it into your online course.
Rubric Resources for Students
How to Make a Rubric in Canvas
How to Attach a Rubric to an Assignment
How to Grade an Assignment with a Rubric
StudyMate
StudyMate is a games-based learning tool. It allows instructors to easily create flashcards, crossword puzzles, and other word games using text documents.
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 students by providing secure proctoring for online course exams, makeup and accommodated exams and other departmental exams that cannot be administered in a classroom setting. Appointments are required for all testing. 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.
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
Upload
Moving a file from your local computer to a storage place on the Internet is called uploading.
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 LTI and has a gradual learning curve. The tool is used at UMSL for lecture recording, group collaboration, and student presentations.
VoiceThread Resources for Students
How to Comment on a VoiceThread in Your Online Course (pdf)
How to Create a VoiceThread for Individual Presentations (pdf)
How to Edit a Shared Group VoiceThread (pdf)
How to Change Your VoiceThread Account Profile Image
How to Add Closed Captioning to VoiceThread
How to Share a VoiceThread
If you are still having problems with VoiceThread, click the Help button on the VoiceThread homepage (as pictured below):
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 and is installed on all UMSL computers. It is installed on all UMSL computers and can be downloaded for home use.
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 Students
How to Set Up a YouTube Channel (handout)
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
Zoom Resources for Students
UMSL's Tips on Using Zoom for Online Classes
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
