Online Instructional Tools and Resources
Note - I am using Windows 10 and cannot say if these will all work on other operating systems or even set-ups with the same operating system as I am using. This is not meant to be an instructional area of how to use the following resources, rather a place to find resources to explore or get ideas.
Droid Cam
I use this as an online virtual replacement for a document cam that I used for in person synchronous classes. It is great for doing online, real time demos in class. It is a way of turning an Android or Apple cell phone into a web cam. For a couple of dollars, I suggest splurging for the full version from the Play Store/App Store, it will unlock some VERY useful functionality.
I took an old desk lamp with an articulating arm, removed the lamp and wiring, and mounted a selfie stick end to it so that I had a lot of versatility of positioning. You can connect via SOME wi-fi networks, or use the USB cable for your phone to connect it to the computer.
During ZOOM classes, I started switching the camera to show the students what I wanted them to see from the Droid Camera, but this meant that the students needed to switch which camera was pinned, and if I was recording the class, the Droid Camera did not record full screen. Now I use the preview option on the screen I'm sharing, and find this much better.
You will need to install the app on your phone as well as the program on your computer.
Turning Point
Yes, clickers can be used online. In fact, students tell me that using their phones, devices, or laptops is much better than the actual handheld clicker devices.
With a paid subscription to Turning Point I can enable students to participate and engage in online classes. Students do not have to set up an account, yet they can for free if they wish.
Windows Ink Space Sketch Pad & Screen Sketch (Whiteboard & Snip and Sketch)
Update - in newer versions of Windows, the look ahs changed slightly, the names have changed slightly, but the process is the same
Note - This is really geared for instructors with a touch screen Windows 10 machine, such as a Surface
Virtual whiteboard or annotate over a screen capture. Extremely useful for Zoom classes.
Probably the easiest way to bring this tool is is pressing the Windows Key and W key at the same time.
ZOOM - Built in features - Annotate, Polls, & Breakout Rooms
Not only can the instructor annotate on the screen, students can as well.
Polls, while not extremely easy to use on the fly or while in other applications such as PowerPoint, this is a great feature in ZOOM. It can work on the fly, or while in another presentation, especially with a little prep up front.
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/213756303-Polling-for-meetings
Breakout Rooms, great way to get students to work in smaller groups, instructor can jump from room to room. I use this when doing practice online tests with Google forms for students to discuss questions and problems and work together to answer and solve them.
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206476313-Managing-Breakout-Rooms
Google Tools
Calendar - Organize a class calendar of (for example) what is being covered from day to day, due dates, test times & outlines. Can be embedded into websites or LMS pages (such as Moodle).
Drive - Save videos, etcetera to here and share links with your classes. Students do not have to log into a Google account to view, BUT if google sees that they have a Google account, it may want them to sign in to view the file/media. The work around is to use Incognito mode (or whatever your browser calls it), or download a local copy to view.
Forms - Create practice quizzes, etcetera, for students to work on. Variety of question types, incorporate feedback, pictures, informative sections, etcetera.
Meet - Online classroom, similar to ZOOM, or create an open study space for students to go outside of a ZOOM room, kind of like a virtual study lounge.
Photos - Keep photos and images organized to show during online classes. Can organize into folders so they are easy to access.
PowerPoint to Produce Videos
Simple and easy way to produce videos of PowerPoints
Libre Office Draw
A really handy drawing tool, part of the Libre Office Productivity Suite.
Download Libre Office here - https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/
Camtasia Studio
Very good and powerful video editing software.
Here is a link to TechSmith's YouTube Channel. Keep in mind that TechSmith makes software other than Camtasia, so be careful...
https://www.youtube.com/c/techsmith/videos
Some great features, such as adding questions that students must answer when watching a produced video using something called a SCORM package and upload to some LMS formats (such as Moodle).
https://youtu.be/iIVovCAI-5A - Add a quiz to a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z8Po9NOfXg - Produce Video as SCORM
Kahoot!
Online quiz that are engaging and easy to use.
https://kahoot.com/blog/2018/06/14/how-to-create-quizzes-in-kahoot-app/
LinkdIn Learning
Many educational institutions, such as ACC, offers Single Sign On access (tied to your ACC account). They cover many topics, types of software, and is a great place to go get an idea of useful methods and software.
Epic Pen
Allows drawing over anything on the screen. PDFs, desktop, webpages, etc, etc, etc...
https://epic-pen.com/?ref=sf#download
