Research Guides: Faculty Resources for Transitioning Online: Virtual Tools

Video Recorders for Lectures or Presentations

All of these tools will produce videos that can be uploaded directly into to Canvas course pages. However, Canvas automatically lowers the quality of videos to a more manageable size. If this is a concern, you can upload the videos directly to your YouTube channel and then share the links on your Canvas shell. If you are concerned about privacy or discoverability within the YouTube platform, you can set videos to "Private" or "Unlisted" to limit who has access to them. There is additional information available on YouTube privacy settings.

The following tools all have varying degrees of difficulty and features. Selecting one really depends on what works best for you. The library can help you decide or troubleshoot any of these tools.

Zoom
○ Mercer's primary tool for hosting online meetings with students.
○ Recording capabilities for either synchronous and asynchronous class sessions
○ Allows you so share screen for presentations and use your webcam
○ Recorded meetings can be downloaded from the cloud or saved locally to your machine
○ Basic tutorials - Look for "Record a Meeting"
Screencastify
○ Free chrome plugin with simple interface
○ Records both screen and webcam
○ Free version limits videos to 5 minutes
○ Exports videos directly into YouTube or Google Drive
○ Allows basic trimming
○ User Guide
Screencast-O-Matic
○ Free to download and offers flexibility to select screen size
○ Records both screen and webcam
○ Free version allows for unlimited videos of up to 15 minutes
○ Free version allows for editing at beginning and end of video ONLY
○ Save locally or upload directly to YouTube
○ Basic tutorial
YouTube
○ Ubiquitous platform with a lot of tools for sharing
○ Allows you to upload videos directly to a channel and create playlists
○ Control over privacy settings
○ Allows video editing within platform
○ Automatically captions videos and lets you upload your own subtitles
○ Livestream videos
○ Google tutorial pages
Powerpoint
○ Allows you to narrate slide shows
○ Slides can be exported as an mp4 video
○ Microsoft tutorial
Presentious
○ Used to narrate Powerpoint slides or lectures
○ Simple interface that makes exporting easy
○ Interface all done in your web browser
○ Can be used to create a variety of video types including video critiques and homework assignments
○ Presentious tutorials

There are many other video production or narration programs out there. Before deciding on one, think about what your needs and your students' need will be in addition to the learning curve for any of the software. If you have questions or need help, you can always contact a librarian.

Online Discussion Tools

Dr. Thomas Bullington offers this about online discussions: "Asynchronous discussions would involve mechanisms such as the discussion boards on Canvas. While this format is easily implemented, it tends to produce clunky and formulaic responses. A well-crafted discussion prompt is key for this approach. [...] Synchronous discussions [could] rely on external programs such as Slack or Zoom. Barring technical difficulties, this format would allow for instructors to appoint a class time for everyone to log on."

Zoom
- Pro: There is a chat function during Zoom meetings that works well during lectures, and saves when you exit.
- Con: This chat function requires an active meeting to use.
Slack
- Pro: You can easily create chat 'channels' for groups or assignments, and it has a free app for Apple and Android users.
- Con: The free version only gives you access to 10,000 of your team’s most recent messages.
Discord
- Pro: Has voice, text, and video chat options, and an app for Android and Apple users. Possible to create 'channels' for specific classes or groups.
- Con: Has a high learning curve for you as the administrator.
Canvas
Yale has a great instructor tool on creating a Canvas Discussion.
Microsoft Teams
- Pro: Software is available to all students and faculty through Office 365, can create groups to hold synchronous or asynchronous discussions
- Con: Notifications happen only if you are tagged, not as streamlined as Slack

Audio Recorders

If you are concerned with students having access to the internet during this period, one recommendation would be to record only your audio lecture and verbally direct them to posted slides. Audio files take up less bandwidth than video files.

Audacity
Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
Voice Memo App (iPhone ONLY)
Native iPhone app, simple interface, basic editing features, uses .wav format, and files can be sent through email
Voice Recorder & Audio Editor App (Android and iPhone)
iPhone link
Free version offers standard features like sharing and multiple formats. Paid version has transcription and advanced editing.

Video Editing Software

ClipChamp
Free online video editing software, exports to 480p, can edit together multiple clips, trim videos, and add audio.
iMovie (Mac ONLY)
Apple's basic movie editing software, full featured, with intuitive interface.
Microsoft Photos (Windows ONLY)
Microsoft's photo software, has video capabilities for trimming, reordering, and adding audio.

Quiz Tools

Kahoot
Synchronous, game-based quizzes. Faculty can download a spreadsheet of responses. In response to COVID-19 closures, Kahoot! is offering free access to all features to support distance learning in schools affected by the coronavirus outbreak
Poll Everywhere
Live polling for virtual meetings, events, classes, and conferences. This is only free for groups up to 25.
Socrative
Quizzes, surveys, team activities, and content from educators around the world – all in one easy-to-use assessment tool. Free for groups up to 50.

Streaming Databases

Kanopy Video Streaming
Kanopy is a video streaming solution for colleges offering a "Netflix-like" user experience and a broad selection of documentaries, feature films and training videos from thousands of producers. Touching on all topics, featured producers in Kanopy's collection include Criterion Collection, PBS, HBO, The Video Project, New Day Films, The Great Courses, California Newsreel, Kino Lorber, Media Education Foundation, First Run Features, BBC, and many more. Films can be watched from anywhere, anytime by all staff and students.
Films On Demand
Films On Demand is a streaming video collection of almost 30,000 educational titles in dozens of subject areas. Producers include Films for the Humanities and Sciences, PBS, A&E, History, ABCNews, BBC, NBC News, Shopware, Biography, National Geographic and others.
JoVE Science Education
A video database dedicated to teaching scientific fundamentals through simple, easy to understand video demonstrations. Includes videos in the areas of biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, engineering, clinical skills, and psychology.

Virtual Labs

MERLOT Virtual Labs
What you'll find here: The use of leading edge Virtual labs in the teaching and learning process.A "one-stop-shop" for a growing collection of free and fee-based virtual labs. Advice with links to a wide range of additional Science, Engineering, and Math resources and materials on Virtual Labs.
PhET Interactive Solutions
From the University of Colorado-Boulder, this free interactive resource hosts science simulations for physics, chemistry, biology, and more.
POD Network List of Remote Labs
Tagged by subject, and with specific descriptions and links, this spreadsheet links out to many virtual labs hosted by institutions.

Miscellaneous Tools

Qualtrics
This resource, provide by Mercer, allows you to create, administer, and assess surveys.

Faculty Resources for Transitioning Online

Tools Table of Contents

Mercer Librarians