Tools for Continuity of Learning
The thoughtful incorporation of technologies into the learning experience can create more inclusive and accessible classrooms. As a reminder, here are a few useful digital tools that you can use to enhance learning in your courses:
Extending the Classroom Space
Zoom: the familiar web conferencing tool is also an effective live-close captioning/transcribing lecture capture tool. Installed on all classroom computers and connected to the classroom cameras and microphones, Zoom can produce a live transcription of your class or meeting. When you project the Zoom session in the classroom, students will be able to read captioning /subtitling. It is not a perfect transcription, but the copy is fairly accurate.
Classroom Technology
Many classrooms have microphones or omnidirectional speakerphone “pucks” that will capture much of the discussion in the room. Recording a session is just a click away if that fits your plans. Zoom allows you to extend the physical classroom space, from hosting class visits of off-campus guests to keeping students on track when they are unable to attend class. In addition, Faculty Senate, committee meetings, and community events with Zoom links can leverage our technology investments to offer greater access to important discussions.
Office Hours & Calendars
Zoom will also continue to allow students greater access to faculty during office hours. Calendly is an efficient way to schedule meetings with students and colleagues, offering a single location to schedule meetings and reserve time on your Outlook calendar.
Portal to your Course
Our Learning Management System (LMS) eLearn should be the primary point of contact for your courses, the place where students can go to see updates for your course and download materials.
Flexible Delivery
Given the potential that some students might be unable to attend class, we strongly recommend that you record portions of your class through Zoom or Panopto, our lecture capture and editing tool integrated into eLearn, for easy hosting and distribution of videos. Stored videos can be easily made available to students within eLearn.
The Office 365 productivity toolset offers many options for teaching and learning, from Forms to collect feedback to “live” Word documents that serve as in-class backchannels where students can pose questions or solve problems.
Where to Get Help
These are just a few of the many universally available tools that will help us navigate the ongoing complexities presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
IT staff are available to meet you at the start of your class to help you with any of the technology in the room. Sign-up for a specific date, time, and classroom by clicking “Request Support” in the upper right of this page. IT is also always available when you contact the Service Desk (service-desk@stonehill.edu 508-565-1111).