Tools for Teaching Online
The transition to online teaching means instructors need the appropriate software and programs to teach their courses. Below, you’ll find technical guides on programs like BlueJeans and eLearning to help you transition to online teaching as well as guides for online lectures, assessments, discussion forums, and assignments.
Lecture: One of the most frequently used teaching techniques is the class lecture. Lecturing allows the instructor to expand on assigned readings and focus on what they consider the most important content for students to learn. Also, a lecture can often lead to class discussions. Luckily, you can transform your in-class lecture to be delivered synchronously or asynchronously online.
Note: Synchronous teaching means the instructor is teaching in real time with students present. Asynchronous teaching means the instructor is posting lectures, Powerpoints, and other course content that students later access by a specific due date.
Present your lecture using Zoom and send students the link to join in.
Contact IT to request a Zoom account: IT Form
Link: Zoom
Contact IT to Link (free version available): Screencast-o-matic
Contact IT to Link (free version available): Screencast-o-matic
Link: PowerPoint Audio Narration
Google Meet - Another program similar to BlueJeans used for online synchronous teaching.
- View this video to learn how to add Google Meet to your Google Drive
- View this video to learn how to schedule a regularly occurring Google Meet
- Note: You must have a Google Suite account – all members of the Albertus Community do through their G-Mail account
Zoom Web Conferencing: Used for online synchronous teaching as well.
- Explore this article about securing your classroom
Assessing students’ acquired knowledge is a crucial part of teaching. Students can take online tests, quizzes, and final exams, right on their computer, tablet, or smartphone. They can be set up to grade automatically and populate in the grade book.
You can use our Learning Management System, eLearning, to administer your student assessments. Below, you’ll find links to help you create different types of assessments and your grade book.
Moving online means that class discussions may be more difficult compared to an in-person class. However, with distant learning, it is important to keep students engaged with the material and each other.
You can use eLearning’s Discussion Forum feature to ask your students to participate in a class or small group discussion on a topic, reflections of a lecture, or readings.
Another teaching strategy that can be difficult with online teaching are students’ presentations. However, student presentations are important as they can show mastery of the content and enhance communication skills.
There are several ways students can present virtually. Students can use a smartphone to record and upload to YouTube and share the link with their instructors, they can create a PowerPoint with audio narration, or use a free screen capture tool like Screencast-o-matic and upload or link to these items in the discussion forum or assignment submission area.
There are many ways to take activities that are traditionally for face-to-face class and transition them to online. Here, we’ve provided several ways you can add your course content to online platforms. For further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Information Technology (its-help@albertus.edu) or the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (jabreu1@albertus.edu).