Campus Technologies

Campus Technologies

CETL supports faculty in the effective integration of educational technology in teaching, including the the use of campus technologies such as Canvas (and related tools), Cengage (for SMB faculty), and Zoom.

Canvas

The Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) is an online platform where faculty can create, manage, and deliver engaging courses. 

Getting Started with Canvas

Learn more about Canvas and it's many tools for content sharing, student engagement, and assessment by consulting the following resources.

  • Canvas LMS Basics Guide - If you are new to Canvas, start here to learn about Canvas, its basic features, and to watch the Canvas Overview Video.
  • Instructor Getting Started Resources – This is the comprehensive resource for faculty with step-by-step documentation for all Canvas tools used for content delivery, assessessment, and engagement.
  • Student Getting Started Resources - This comprehensive resource is for students who may be new to using Canvas and it may be helpful to share this with students.
  • Email CETL (cetl@ndnu.edu) to access our "Introduction to Canvas for Faculty," with more guidance on:
    • Getting Started
    • Course Navigation and User Settings
    • Home Page Setup
    • Modules
    • Discussions
    • New Quizzes
    • Rubrics
    • Canvas Studio
    • Importing Existing Content
  • See our Collaborative Course Development Toolkit for guidance on course development in Canvas.

Additional tools in Canvas 

In addition to the core tools available in Canvas, at NDNU we can access the following add-on tools to enhance accessibility and student engagement

Ally (Acessibility Tool)  

We have recently added the Ally integration in Canvas: a set of tools that help students, faculty, and the institution improve accessibility of our Canvas courses. Select courses taught by our Accessibility Ambassadors are piloting use of Ally now and soon it will be available to all faculty. 

Lucid (Whiteboard Tool)

Lucid (Whiteboard) tool supports a variety of uses including interactive lectures, brainstorming, collaborative project planning, and visual assignments.  

Studio (Video Tool)

Studio is an interactive video and audio platform built into Canvas that empowers faculty to create, manage, and analyze media for teaching and learning. It is designed to enhance instruction, foster engagement, and provide actionable insights into student learning behaviors. Note that Studio supports video creation and streaming for both faculty and student use.

  • Canvas Studio Guide provides detailed tutorials on:
    • Recording videos and audio files.
    • Uploading and managing media.
    • Creating collections and sharing media.
    • Using video quizzing and analytics.
    • Integrating Zoom and other video recordings.
    • Managing captions and accessibility settings.
  • Teaching with Video is a Canvas-based resource shared by Emory University with useful guidance on finding, creating, and incorporating video in your teaching.

Cengage 

Cengage is a learning platform that SBM faculty may use for instruction.

  • Cengage Support Resources is the place to find Instructor and Student support resources, connect with a Cengage adminstrator, or schedule a training.

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing tool that allows faculty to host synchronous classes, office hours, and meetings using video, audio, screen sharing, and collaboration tools.

Getting Started with Zoom

Faculty can contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to request Zoom account credentials. Your Program Director and/or Dean may need to provide assistance with the account creation process. Follow instructions provided by OIT to log into your Zoom account.

Below are a few essential resourcees for getting started with Zoom:

Zoom Tools for Hosts

  • Screen Sharing – Share your lecture slides, documents, or applications.
  • Chat – Allow students to ask questions during class.
  • Breakout Rooms – Divide students into smaller groups for discussions or projects.
  • Polling tool - Use questions and responses to support learning.
  • Recording – Record sessions for students who cannot attend live, add captions, and share later. 
  • Whiteboard & Annotation Tools – Use interactive tools to explain concepts visually.
  • Virtual Backgrounds – Maintain privacy or add a professional look.

Tips on Teaching with Zoom

  • Enable meeting passwords or waiting rooms on setup to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Test Zoom ahead of time by using the Test Meeting feature to check your setup before class and practice screen sharing.
  • Guide students in using Zoom by sharing etiquette expectations and guidelines for engagement on Zoom. Let students know if you plan to record Zoom sessions and how you will make recordings available.
  • If you lecture, design regular pauses to actively engage students in applied learning.
  • Update Zoom regularly for security and for access to new features.