There are a variety of tools that can be integrated into student learning experiences to enhance comprehension and promote practice.
The following tools (in addition to Moodle) are supported by the LT&I team. Please reach out to us at learningtech@tru.ca if you have any questions!
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a virtual classroom software for synchronous discussions or lectures between students and instructors. It is integrated directly into Moodle, or can be accessed outside of Moodle for guest lecturers!
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
H5P
H5P is a free, open-source content creator that allows you to easily create, share, and reuse interactive HTML5 content and applications. H5P activities can be created and embedded directly in Moodle or WordPress, making it easy to add rich, interactive learning content to your courses.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Kaltura
Kaltura is a media platform used for creating, storing, editing, and sharing primarily asynchronous multimedia content. You can think of it like YouTube – you can upload or record a new video and choose which course you would like to publish it in.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Lightboard
Have you ever wanted to use a whiteboard in a video? Are you frustrated that you have to keep turning away from the camera to write on the white board? A Lightboard is a teaching tool for video presentations that utilizes a clear glass board for you to create and draw lessons on, much like a whiteboard. What makes the lightboard unique is the ability to maintain eye contact with your viewers by flipping the image in post-production.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
N/A
Mattermost
Mattermost is an online communication and collaboration platform that serves as an open-source, self-hostable alternative to platforms like Slack and Teams.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
PressBooks
Pressbooks is an easy to use digital book production software used for self-publishing books in a number of formats. Pressbooks is an open-source platform based on WordPress.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Slido
Slido is an audience engagement application that can help you create more interactive presentations, meetings, or class lectures through the use of live polling, quizzes, and surveys. Consider Slido as an alternative to other polling or quizzing tools, such as Kahoot or TopHat, due to it’s accessibility, privacy compliance, and support offered directly at TRU!
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
WordPress
WordPress is one of the world’s most popular and powerful open source content management systems. LT&I works with the TRU community to support the creation of WordPress websites, blogs, portfolios and apps. Visit trubox.ca for more information.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
The following tools can be used to create engaging formative and alternative assessments.
Be sure to check out our guide on getting started with alternative assessments.
H5P
H5P is a free, open-source content creator that allows you to easily create, share, and reuse interactive HTML5 content and applications. H5P activities can be created and embedded directly in Moodle or WordPress, making it easy to add rich, interactive learning content to your courses.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
WordPress
WordPress is one of the world’s most popular and powerful open source content management systems. LT&I works with the TRU community to support the creation of WordPress websites, blogs, portfolios and apps. Visit trubox.ca for more information.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a virtual classroom software for synchronous discussions or lectures between students and instructors. It is integrated directly into Moodle, or can be accessed outside of Moodle for guest lecturers!
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Mattermost
Mattermost is an online communication and collaboration platform that serves as an open-source, self-hostable alternative to platforms like Slack and Teams.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
The following tools provide “open” alternatives to posting your content in Moodle, as well opportunities to help reduce economic barriers for your students.
PressBooks
Pressbooks is an easy to use digital book production software used for self-publishing books in a number of formats. Pressbooks is an open-source platform based on WordPress.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
WordPress
WordPress is one of the world’s most popular and powerful open source content management systems. LT&I works with the TRU community to support the creation of WordPress websites, blogs, portfolios and apps. Visit trubox.ca for more information.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
H5P
H5P is a free, open-source content creator that allows you to easily create, share, and reuse interactive HTML5 content and applications. H5P activities can be created and embedded directly in Moodle or WordPress, making it easy to add rich, interactive learning content to your courses.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
There are several tools available for creating educational videos or hosting virtual, synchronous sessions.
Be sure to also check out our guide on getting started with video creation.
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton is a virtual classroom software for synchronous discussions or lectures between students and instructors. It is integrated directly into Moodle, or can be accessed outside of Moodle for guest lecturers!
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Kaltura
Kaltura is a media platform used for creating, storing, editing, and sharing primarily asynchronous multimedia content. You can think of it like YouTube – you can upload or record a new video and choose which course you would like to publish it in.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
Lightboard
Have you ever wanted to use a whiteboard in a video? Are you frustrated that you have to keep turning away from the camera to write on the white board? A Lightboard is a teaching tool for video presentations that utilizes a clear glass board for you to create and draw lessons on, much like a whiteboard. What makes the lightboard unique is the ability to maintain eye contact with your viewers by flipping the image in post-production.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
N/A
Slido
Slido is an audience engagement application that can help you create more interactive presentations, meetings, or class lectures through the use of live polling, quizzes, and surveys. Consider Slido as an alternative to other polling or quizzing tools, such as Kahoot or TopHat, due to it’s accessibility, privacy compliance, and support offered directly at TRU!
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Compliant with FIPPA and Institutional Policies
The LT&I team does not provide support and/or license keys for the following tools, but they are useful for certain applications.
Audacity (Audio)
Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio recording and editing software. Audacity is easily accessible across various platforms, relatively easy to learn for beginners, and has a robust offering of features making it an excellent choice for your audio needs.
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
N/A; Desktop App
Camtasia (Video)
Camtasia is a video capture and editing software used to create audio and visual multimedia including recorded screencasts, webcam recordings, voice-over and audio recordings. Camtasia offers more robust editing compared to Kaltura, but may require purchasing a license key and does not integrate directly into Moodle.
Cost?
Individual license keys may be available through IT Services
Privacy?
N/A; Desktop App
Snagit (Screen-Capture)
Snagit is a screen-capture software used to create and edit screenshots and video recordings of your screen. You can choose to capture your entire screen, a window, or a specific region. Finished projects can be saved as images or video files, or shared directly to platforms such as Camtasia, PowerPoint, and YouTube.
Cost?
Individual licenses may be available through IT Services
Privacy?
N/A; Desktop app
Twine
Twine describes itself as an “open-source tool for telling interactive, non-linear stories.”
Cost?
Free
Privacy?
Privacy Impact Assessment has not been conducted