Recent updates
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How can I verify that I'm using an UofT-licensed Zoom account?
Updated onArticleThe U of T Community (e.g faculty, staff, students, teaching assistants) can create licensed University of Toronto Zoom accounts. This guide is for those who have already activated their U of T Zoom account but want to verify that they are using their U of T Zoom account (many have more than one account, e.g. a personal account, an alternate business account).
If you do not have a U of T Zoom account, you can activate your U of T-provisioned Zoom account via the U of T Zoom Portal (using your UTORid and password).
"How to" Technical Guides (UofT's Academic Toolbox) Zoom Before you Begin
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Compare and select your virtual meeting tool
Updated onArticleThis guides provides an overview and comparison of the different types of MS Teams meetings and Zoom.
Synchronous activities (from courses to meetings to research groups) are when people participate in the activity in real time (though the session is often recorded). They usually entail some interaction between attendees and vary in size from 1:1 to 1:+10, 000. If you want to run something in real time, chances are you're going to want to pick from one of the below online tools to support it. You'll want to keep in mind that the different tools have different strengths, and you might actually use a combination of the tools in order to achieve your goals.
This page provides an overview and feature comparison of four virtual meeting tools currently available at U of T that support synchronous online activities in your Quercus course:
- Microsoft Teams (MS)
- Zoom Meetings
For more information on institutionally-supported tools at U of T, see Enterprise Video-conferencing & Video Meeting Resources.
Teaching with Technology Resources Synchronous Online Activities (Webinars, livestreaming, etc.) Overview of Tools
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Compare and select your backchannelling tool
Updated onArticleThis guide presents a comprehensive comparison table for the Microsoft Forms, MS Teams Q&A, iClicker, Kahoot!, Mentimeter, Piazza, Padlet, Poll Everywhere and Top Hat.
Many instructors and teaching team members already make adjustments to class activities in real time based on student response, whether it’s by watching faces/body language to get a sense of what they’re understanding, using clickers, or using some of the “backchanneling” apps available to get students actively involved in lectures (e.g., Mentimeter, PollEverywhere, Kahoot!).
This guide provides an overview of some popular backchanneling tools (both included in the U of T Academic Toolbox and un-vetted) that you could implement in your courses (and not all are typical classroom response tools). There are several features for you to consider, in addition to pedagogical value, including the support model, the cost, and if the tool has passed U of T's security audit. You will also want to consider how much time and energy you have to build and implement these tools.
It is highly recommended that if you would like to implement a new tool, that you leave yourself a few months prior to the beginning of the class to fully test. You are also encouraged to talk to the Education Technology Office.
Teaching with Technology Resources TEAL (Technology Enhanced Active Learning) Resources Back channeling Tools and Techniques
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Select your camera
Updated onArticleThis guide covers the hardware that you will need (some required and some optional) to create high quality videos by yourself! It includes video camera options at various price points and some gear that will help improve your video quality. While this guide does make recommendations, you should test out any hardware you have first - you do not necessarily need to purchase new items for good video quality.
Teaching with Technology Resources Hardware Recommendations Selecting your hardware
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Is there a Quercus course template that I can download?
Updated onArticleDeveloping your course shell can be an exciting opportunity to organize and share information and engage with your students, but often times it can be a challenge to know where to start.
Using a predefined course shell template can help ensure that you've included recommended course components (especially for an online/remote course) and will also help build consistency among courses (which will help students more easily navigate course content).
"How to" Technical Guides (UofT's Academic Toolbox) Quercus Quercus Templates
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How can I copy the share link for my video?
Updated onArticleWhen uploading video content to Quercus, the direct video URL is needed to link the video to your course content. Depending on where your video is hosted, either on Microsoft Stream or MyMedia, the direct video URL can be copied from the hosting platform.
"How to" Technical Guides (UofT's Academic Toolbox) Quercus
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Compare and select your asynchronous discussions tool
Updated onArticleThis guides provides an overview and comparison of Quercus Discussions, Piazza, PeppeR, and Ed Discussion.
Discussions can be a great way to engage students in the online environment. They can be flexibly integrated into your course, offering real time (synchronous) or self-directed (asynchronous) opportunities for students to interact with the instructor and with each other, and to explore and reflect on course content.
Asynchronous discussions let students reflect on and plan their responses before posting them. Students across different time zones may also find it easier to participate in asynchronous discussions.
This page provides an overview and feature comparison of four tools currently available in U of T's Academic Toolbox that support asynchronous discussions in your Quercus course:
- Quercus Discussions
- Piazza,
- PeppeR, and
- Ed Discussion (Note: Ed Discussion has recently been discontinued at U of T; we've left the comparison here to help you migrate from that tool to another.)
Teaching with Technology Resources Online/Remote Course Design How to engage students
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How to upload videos to Stream (on SharePoint)
Updated onArticleAs of August 29, 2023, Stream (on SharePoint) will replace Microsoft Stream (Classic). The newer version of Stream leverages SharePoint and OneDrive to improve video management and is better integrated with the rest of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools. For complete details about this change, please review the following documentation:
- U of T Stream (Classic) retirement timeline page on the EASI (Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration) website.
- Moving from Stream (Classic) to Stream (on SharePoint) blog post on the EdTech Office website.
This guide will provide you with the steps to upload a video to Stream (on SharePoint). For guidance on downloading videos from Stream (Classic), see our guide: How to download videos from Microsoft Stream (Classic).
"How to" Technical Guides (UofT's Academic Toolbox) Microsoft Office 365 Microsoft Stream
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Compare and select your teleprompter app
Updated onArticleThis guides provides an overview and comparison of CuePrompter, Teleprompter Mirror, PromptDog, BIGVU Teleprompter, and Teleprompter Premium.
This guide helps you evaluate which teleprompter application is the most suited for you to self-capture videos. For each app, this guide provide information on platform availability, teleprompting features, and cost.
If you are looking for help on self-capturing, we have multiple guides available.
Teaching with Technology Resources Self-Capturing (Video/Screen Captures, Filming-at-home videos, etc.)
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Compare and select your videohosting/streaming service
Updated onArticleThis guide presents a comprehensive comparison table for MyMedia, MS Stream, and YouTube.
Uploading your recordings to a hosting/streaming service will allow you to archive your recordings for re-use, and create links that can be easily shared with your students. If you are looking to upload and share video content to students, the three major options available to U of T faculty members are:
- MyMedia - U of T Developed Solution (see our MyMedia guides)
- Stream (on SharePoint) - part of Uof T's Microsoft 365 suite (see Microsoft Stream FAQ).
- YouTube (Google) - not an institutionally supported tool at U of T (see Tips to safely implement un-vetted tools in your course)
While the tools can be used in a variety of ways, this guide provides an overview and feature comparison of these three services, focusing on their functionality in terms of video hosting (not live broadcast/streaming).
Teaching with Technology Resources Self-Capturing (Video/Screen Captures, Filming-at-home videos, etc.) Sharing your content with your students