Key Apps for Teaching and Learning

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What other apps are widely available to support the transition to remote teaching? Which are most appropriate for my teaching at Conestoga? Many faculty are curious about what apps are widely available to them, and we have created a simple infographic to try to organize the many apps and services you can use to support learners.

Our goal in compiling this list of suggestions was not to create a comprehensive list. Our intent was to provide an overview of what apps and services are available at the college and provincially, to support you in selecting tools relevant for you. This list will naturally grow and evolve over time, and this will be reflected in our Tech For Teaching resources.

Where ever possible, we have included free, locally or provincially provided instructional and learning tools, though some may require creating external accounts.

View or download the infographic below. Scroll down to find a text only version.

Find the text only version in the following list.

Finding Videos

Conestoga’s LibraryA variety of video databases, covering case studies, software tutorials, documentaries, and workplace safety training.
Khan Academy Science, math, engineering, and technology tutorial videos, with sample problems and solutions.
LinkedIn Learning Tutorial videos and courses on a variety of topics, well suited for Business, Creative Design, or IT courses. Covers many types of software, such as SketchUp, Blender, Adobe and Microsoft products. Sign in with your college email and password for full access.
TED Talks Inspirational talks on varied topics from industry experts and renowned scientists, researchers, educators and more.

Creating Videos

PowerPoint Create an animated video with timings, or use the Insert tab to take screen recordings of your device.
Adobe SparkEasy to use video editing, graphic design and web page building app. Works on any device, any browser.
Windows PhotosThe Photos app built into your Windows laptop also lets you create Video Projects. Use this straightforward video editor to trim or add text or narration.
iMovieOn a Mac, just use Command+Shift+5 to record your screen. Use this full feature video editor to trim or add narration or text.

Captioning and Sharing Videos

Microsoft Stream Upload videos to have them automatically captioned and to get a link to share. Stream is best when you just want to caption a video and store internally to the college. Sign in with your college email and password.
YouTube Upload videos to a Private account to have them automatically captioned and to get a link to share. YouTube is best when you’d like to build interactivity onto videos, e.g. when using eConestoga Instructor Tools or H5P Interactive Video.

Reading Online

Hypothes.is Highlight, sticky note and discuss online readings with .pdfs, digital journal articles, websites or Open Education Resources. Use groups to monitor and support learners in this social annotation tool. Hypothes.is is a free and open source app, designed and developed by communities of educators to turn the web into a space of learning.

Collaborating

D2L Brightspace PulseImprove access to and engagement with course materials, calendar items, and announcements by encouraging learners to use the LMS mobile app.
O365 OneDrive Live collaborative work in folders, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. Tracks version histories and changes, letting you see who made which changes when.
OneNote Notebooks Live digital whiteboards and collaborative note taking all saved in a digital binder.
Microsoft Teams An all in one collaboration space, like Slack or Discord. Use chat boards, team channels, collaborative docs, and numerous Microsoft and external app integrations to create a complete learning or capstone space.

Concept Mapping

PadletVirtual sticky notes to brainstorm and collect ideas.
MindMup Simple and registration-free mind and concept mapping app. Save as text files to kick start more formal writing.
MindMeisterIncorporates graphics and trackable collaboration.
LucidChart Closer to Visio in features, build diagrams, flowcharts and process maps.

Interactive Videos and Content

H5P Studio This one source hosts over 20 options for interactive content. Build interactive videos, true/false, multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank knowledge checks, self scoring short essay questions, image hotspots and slider comparisons, drag and drop activities and more.
Link or embed these in your course shell. H5P Studio is a free service supported by the province via eCampus Ontario for colleges and universities.
PheT SimulatorsFree interactive simulators suited for use in science, technology, trades, engineering and math concepts.
eConestoga Instructor ToolsBuild timelines, pie charts, accordions or videos with embedded text to add visual appeal to a course. Distribute easily across various sections of your courses.
FlipGridUse video threads to liven up discussion posts, support language learners and encourage peer-to-peer feedback.

Questioning & Quizzing

Mentimeter Live polling app, with word clouds, open ended questions and Q&A sessions.
O365 Forms
Build feedback surveys, check-ins, and self-grading mini quizzes. Sign in with your Conestoga email and password.
Quizizz Self-paced quizzes, flashcards, fill-in-the-blanks, polls and open ended questions. Positive scoring and sharing improves learner motivation. Currently completely free.
Quizlet Build and share quizzes and flash cards for review. Encourage learners to do the same.

Jess Wilkinson

Jesslyn is an Educational Technology Consultant at Conestoga. An Ontario Certified Teacher, and holding a M. Ed. and B.Ed., Jesslyn researches and promotes new technologies for faculty to enhance pedagogical practices. She brings to the role her experience as a Google and Microsoft certified technology trainer and as a classroom teacher in South Korea, Mongolia, and Ontario, focusing on special education and assistive learning technologies. She is available for workshops, consultations, and support with using technology in higher education contexts.

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