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Recommended Online Teaching Technology

For remote instruction, Northwestern encourages using Zoom, Canvas, and the attendant software integrated into Canvas, such as Course Reserves, GradeSync, and Panopto. This website and the Canvas Learning Center provide many resources for learning about online teaching techniques and the tools Northwestern supports.

Canvas

Canvas is a cloud-hosted learning management system (LMS), powered by Instructure, that allows Northwestern instructors and students to deliver course materials, submit assignments and tests, view grades, and create learning activities. Additional Canvas features include full-featured mobile apps for both iOS and Android, a global calendar, and tools that enable two-way communications between instructor and students, including text, video, audio, and attachments.

Get Started with Canvas

• Review the Teaching Remotely Readiness Checklist to gather the materials necessary to begin teaching remotely in Canvas.
• Follow the guidelines on the Course Design page to design your course.
• Refer to the Canvas Learning Center for detailed information on building a course, giving assessments, grading, communicating with your students, self-paced online training, and support links.

Zoom

Use Zoom to conduct your class synchronously. Zoom integrates with Canvas, the University's learning management system, allowing instructors to conduct audio, video, and content-sharing conferencing within their Canvas courses. This cloud-based audio/video/content-sharing conferencing service works through your web browser (Chrome only) or an app that can be downloaded for most desktop and mobile operating systems. It supports HD videoconferencing, screen sharing, breakout rooms, and real-time video sharing. Live chat is available during meetings, and meetings can be recorded. Zoom encrypts all presentation content and telephone audio.

Get Started with Zoom

• Learn more about the features of Zoom and pay particular attention to guidelines regarding privacy and security.
• Take the Zoom instructor self-paced training.
• Find more information on specific topics, like the integration between Zoom, Canvas, and Panopto, on the Zoom Learning Center page.

Panopto

Instructors can use Panopto to record and edit video lectures, including narrated slide shows and screencasts.

Get Started with Panopto

• Learn more about Panopto and Canvas.
• Take the Panopto instructor self-paced training.
• These are some useful features for instructors:
  • Use Panopto to record a video presentation.
  •  Add questions to a Panopto video.