Interaction and Engagement Tools Available for Courses

Information about the different kinds of interaction and engagement tools that STELAR can assist with and support at University of St. Thomas for use in Canvas or online courses.

Technology tools can help increase interaction and engagement both synchronously and asynchronously. STELAR can help you determine if there is a tech tool to support that learning.

VoiceThread:

VoiceThread is a multimedia discussion tool.

• Using VoiceThread
• Uploading Files to VoiceThread
• Quick and Easy VoiceThread Tutorials
• VoiceThread YouTube Channel
• Browsers VoiceThread Supports (and which they do not)
• For help, click the blue Help button on the bottom-right corner of any VoiceThread screen.

Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is an audience response system you can use in classes or meetings. Participants need a device to respond (phone, tablet, laptop). To get started with Poll Everywhere, you'll first need to request an account.

• Poll Everywhere
• Get Started with Poll Everywhere (Vendor Tutorial)
• Tutorials

TurningPoint

TurningPoint is an audience response system that uses "clickers". To get started, you'll need to have TurningPoint software installed on your St. Thomas computer (and classroom computer).

Canvas Chat and Discussions

Canvas has two tools expressly used for interaction. Chat is used synchronously, and discussions are used for asynchronous interaction.

• Canvas Chat Tutorials
• Canvas Discussion Tutorials

Zoom: Polling and Breakout Rooms

Zoom is a web conferencing system that allows for individual meetings, group sessions, and breakout rooms.

• Breakout rooms allow for small-group discussion.
• Polling allows for real-time polling during class or meetings.