This page is here to answer any general questions that you may be looking for the answer to. For more specific concerns, be sure to check out our Technical Help Guides or email us at fase.edtech@utoronto.ca.
What does the EdTech Office do?
We're here to help professors and instructors with anything as long as its related to technology and education. Whether its integrating tools for your online lectures, coming up with ways to assess your students' progress, assisting with remote-editing, or general course planning and more - we got you covered! Feel free to take a look at the site to see if anything catches your eye.
I need to move my courses online for the fall, but I don't know where to start!
Don't fret, we're all struggling with the transition process. We have a guide on Online/Remote Course Design, which will walk you through the key steps of planning your course for the fall. You can also check out our new webinar series, which features faculty members sharing their online experience, and be sure to familiarize yourself with Online Learning Etiquette. We also have guides on:
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How to self-capture and share course content
- The EdTech Office can do the editing so all you have to do is record! How to participate in the remote-editing process.
- Be sure to check out our Overview of Different Formats for Video Production (and their strengths/weakness) as well!
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What webinar tool should I use and when?
- We are pleased to provide a variety of tools for instructors to use, including BB Collaborate, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and MS Live!
- Be sure to take a look at our Quercus Course Building Guide
- Check out some Examples from Colleagues!
- Curious about how to conduct virtual labs? Check out our newest blog post: Labs - Lessons Learned from Shifting Online
If you are still confused or have any questions, don't hesistate to shoot us an email at edtech@ecf.utoronto.ca. We are also happy to offer 1-1 consultations focusing on helping you map your learning outcomes to available instutional technologies.
I want to start recording my lectures for the fall. What do I need?
Not much! Chances are, you already have everything you need. The most important items are the camera and microphone, and they're already built into most laptops. For desktops however, you may need buy a webcam, mic, or headset. Some people also like using a tablet or iPad for the stylus support. There are many options available on the market, and if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, come check out our hardware recommendations!
On the software side, we recommend using Snagit (institutionally licensed) and Quicktime (macOS only) for screen capture. Camstasia, which unfortunately requires purchase, is also great for both screen recording and video editing. If you're unfamiliar with video editing, don't fret! The EdTech Office can help with the remote editing process, which means we can edit your videos for you! For the entire step-by-step process, be sure to check out our guide on Self-Recording.
I'm worried about online assessments. How can I avoid academic dishonesty?
Acedmic integrity is a very important topic that the EdTech Office is currently working on. We know that many instructors are facing this problem as you plan your courses. While we are investigating more sustainable solutions, you can visit our guide on Increasing Academic Integrity.
The Academic Integrity Office can also help with your efforts. For example, if you notice work posted to online services such as Chegg, they can facilitate a request to have those materials removed and then investigate the use of those materials.
My Teams/BB Collaborate/Quercus/etc. is experiencing issues!
Be sure to check out the ITS System Status to see if anyone else has reported the same problem. The invisible technology gurus are always working hard to keep our servers up and running, but sometimes we still experience hiccups. If you're still worried, feel free to contact the EdTech Office and we can explore some backup plans with you.
Where can I find the latest updates for Quercus?
See our Weekly Quercus Updates blog series! Here, we go over new technology changes made by our invisible tech gurus. We also go over Canvas updates, BB Collaborate updates, and other information. Be sure to check it out regularly - new tools and features are always being introduced!
