Tools Index

For suggestions on best practices for how to use tools in your classroom, please see A Guide to Course Delivery.

Box

AWWApp

AWWApp is an example of a more advanced whiteboard that can replace the standard classroom whiteboard. This whiteboard allows multiple users to annotate. Files can be uploaded to a board for annotation, plus there is infinite board space. Users with paid accounts have boards with permanent URLs, while boards on the free version of the tool can only be saved as PDFs. There are templates such as a brainstorming board. For more on AWWApp and other whiteboard options, please see How can I use whiteboards online?

Resources
> Exploring Online Whiteboards (video, workshop slides)
> AWWApp Demo

Box

Box

Box is a cloud-based storage and collaboration service at Duke. Both Duke and non-Duke users can access, store and share content. You can use Box to collect students’ writing and add feedback either by editing or adding Word documents or Box notes. It is a more secure alternative to Google Drive. For more information on student assessment, please see What assessment tools are available?

Camtasia

Camtasia

Camtasia is a screen recorder and video editor that is an option for advanced editing such as changing your video layout or adding annotations or transitions to your edits. For the most part, it is not required to take this extra step when producing videos.

Importantly, unlike Panopto, Camtasia is not centrally funded by Duke, so you will either need to purchase your own license and/or have one purchased for you through your departmental or school IT if they approve. Also, the interactivity features in Camtasia are not supported by Duke and will not work once you post your videos to Warpwire/Sakai. To add interactive features content to your videos, please use Playposit.

If you have questions regarding production techniques for your course after reviewing the Camtasia tutorials on LinkedIn Learning, please feel free to email help@duke.edu and request a consultation with an academic media producer.

For more on making your lectures accessible, please see How do I create effective slide presentations? and How do I address accessibility concerns?

Camtasia Resources
> Camtasia: Recording and Editing (video)
> LinkedIn Learning (Camtasia Training)

Coursera

Coursera

Coursera is an open online course platform. When designing your courses, you can take advantage of Coursera for Duke. Duke faculty and students have access to a library of courses on a wide range of subjects developed by Duke faculty. You can direct students to specific videos in courses that contain in-depth explanations of material in your course or that can be used by students wanting more information on related topics. For more on curating course content, please see Where can I find reliable content?

Coursera Resources
> Using Coursera for Campus In Your Teaching

Gradescope

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GoBoard

GoBoard is a digital whiteboard tool that can replace the traditional classroom whiteboard. This board is particularly useful for those in STEM. It offers a large array of mathematical expressions and graphing, plus the ability to upload photos of hand-written drawings. For collaboration outside of a Zoom session, there is live chat and video. Boards have a permanent URL and can be saved. The number of collaborators is limited to five total. There is a free version that can be accessed immediately. Contact Learning Innovation for information about an account upgrade for departments. For more on GoBoard and other whiteboard options, please see How can I use whiteboards online?

Box

Box

Gradescope

Gradescope is a tool designed to speed up your grading workflow and to provide better feedback to students. For more on how to use Gradescope and other assessment tools, please see What assessment tools are available?

Kits

Kits

Kits provides students a single entry point to your course. When you log into Kits, you will see a kit for each of the courses you are teaching. If you’ve decided to use learning apps other than Sakai to teach your course, Kits makes it easy to set up and share those apps with your students. Kits also provides a single place for students to find and access all the tools being used in your course. For more information on course site building and how to use Kits to organize your course, please see How can I create my course site?

Kits Resources
> What is Kits?
> Kits Quick Start Guide
> How do I create a kit?
> How do I add people to my kit?
> How do I add apps to my kit?
> How do I edit apps in my kit?
> How do I remove apps in my kit?
> How do I combine kits for my multi-section course?
> How do I view my kit with the student role?

MS Teams

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Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams supports rapid communication like chat or instant messaging. It is available for every student, staff and faculty member. Teams includes direct messaging between two or more people and group messaging that can be structured around topics. Teams can easily be added to your course using Kits. For more information, please see What communication tools are available?

Microsoft Teams Resources
> Teams for Education Quick Start Guide
> Interactive Demo for Teams
> How-to Video Library for Teams
> How to Use Video Meetings in Teams
> Microsoft Teams: Remote Collaboration

Panopto

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Panopto

Panopto (formerly DukeCapture) allows you to record, publish and stream video. Faculty can gain access to the desktop version of Panopto through their department’s IT office. If you use Panopto to record a video, then editing is easy, as Panopto has a built-in editor. Because Panopto records your slides and your camera at the same time, students will be able to view both simultaneously. Panopto is not appropriate for recording live online sessions. Use Zoom to host and record online synchronous meetings. For more information on this, please see How do I create course videos? For more on making your lectures with slides accessible, please see How do I create effective slide presentations? and How do I address accessibility concerns? For more on how to use this tool in relation to student presentations, please see How can I manage student presentations?

Panopto Resources
> Publishing Panopto (formally DukeCapture) Recordings
> The Difference Between Panopto and Warpwire
> How to Record, Edit and Publish with Panopto

Playposit

Playposit

Playposit allows you to add interactive content to your videos. Using PlayPosit, you can create and share interactive video lessons in your Sakai course site, Sites@Duke or any online location of your choice via an embed code. There are several different types of interactions and question types available, including multiple choice, free response, polling and a reflective pause. You can also see students’ answers and access valuable analytics for how often students view each PlayPosit video. For more information on student assessment, please see What assessment tools are available? For more on how to use this tool in relation to student presentations, please see How can I manage student presentations? For more information on delivering multimedia course content, please see What multimedia tools are available?

Playposit Resources
> Playposit Quickstart Guide
> Getting started with PlayPosit
> Frequently Asked Questions
> PlayPost Basics
> Add a PlayPosit bulb to Lessons in Sakai
> Three Useful PlayPosit Features for Interactive Course Videos

Qualtrics

Qualtrics

Qualtrics is a survey tool that you can use to poll students throughout the semester. Common goals for these surveys include assessing students’ previous knowledge, evaluating the course at midterms and learning about students’ skills for group formation. 

Qualtrics Resources
> Using Qualtrics for Peer Evaluation
> How Am I Doing? Collect Mid-Term Feedback to Measure Teaching Effectiveness

Sakai

Sakai

Sites

Using Sites@Duke (powered by WordPress), instructors can create a website with a multimedia-rich experience incorporating many different tools. There are options to embed items such as YouTube or Warpwire videos, add RSS feeds and allow students to add their own blogs with audio, video and photos. Students can also use this tool to collaborate on group projects. For more information on course site building, please see How can I create my course site? For more information on designing team work for your students, please see How can I organize group and team work? For more information on delivering multimedia course content, please see What multimedia tools are available?

Sites@Duke Resources
> How to create a course site on Sites@Duke
> Customize the look and feel of your site
> Create pages for your course content
> Arrange the site navigation

VoiceThread

VoiceThread

The VoiceThread tool in Sakai allows for text, audio and video commenting on uploaded multimedia. You can use VoiceThread to create a discussion that is linked to a multimedia item such as a PowerPoint, short video or song. Students can comment on the item and talk to each other by voice, video or text. Students can create their own VoiceThreads as well. For more on how to use this tool in relation to student presentations, please see How can I manage student presentations? For more information on delivering multimedia course content, please see What multimedia tools are available?

VoiceThread Resources
> How to create a VoiceThread
> Adding the VoiceThread tool to your Sakai course
> Commenting on videos using Voicethread
> Teaching with VoiceThread in the Hindi Classroom

Warpwire

Warpwire

Warpwire is a tool dedicated to streaming media. If your course has not only video content, but also audio and still-images, Warpwire is the best solution. Warpwire can also be used to create short videos and screen captures by you and your students. It is possible to create a library associated with a course, but also make it open to anyone with a NetID, which makes it easy to share media across courses and store video content. For more on using Warpwire to share content, please see How do I share videos with students? For more on how to use this tool in relation to student presentations, please see How can I manage student presentations? For more information on delivering multimedia course content, please see What multimedia tools are available?

Warpwire Resources
> Getting Started with Warpwire in Sakai
> Screen Capture in Warpwire
> Uploading Videos to Warpwire Media Gallery
> How to Share Content via Warpwire
> Warpwire FAQs and Tutorials

Zoom

Zoom

Zoom is the recommended video-conferencing tool at Duke for holding live class sessions and online office hours. Zoom supports a variety of pedagogies including active learning, lectures, discussion and group work.

When using Zoom for meetings, keep in mind the following three things: make sure basic requirements are met for presenters and attendees, schedule around time zone differences when scheduling synchronous session; and include presentation guidelines for students in your course syllabus. For more information on this, see How will I hold course meetings?