Instructional Software & Resources

Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is a free plug-in that allows users to view pdf files.

Audacity

Audacity is a full-featured audio editor for creating podcasts and/or other audio-based projects. The program is free and allows the user to record, edit, and playback multiple audio tracks. You can import sound files and combine them with other files or new recordings via microphone or line input.  Features include: easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete; unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps; very fast editing of large files; edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks; use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points; fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.  Note:  To export files in an .MP3 format, you must download and install LAME.  LAME is a companion program for Audacity. To export Audacity files in MP3 format for podcasting you must also download the LAME MP3 encoder. The first time you use the “Export as MP3” command, Audacity will ask you where the “lame_enc.dll” file is saved.

Camtasia

Camtasia is a great program for recording computer presentations. Camtasia includes a wide-variety of editing features to help the user develop a highly polished video that could be used more than one semester. Although Pensacola State College does not have a site license for Camtasia, the program is installed on the computers in the Faculty Media Center. There are also isolated installations on computers in some academic departments. The link below provides specific details about Camtasia.

Curriculum Builder

Curriculum Builder is an LTI integration to the PSC Library in Canvas that allows you to create lists of linked scholarly articles, ebooks, and other digital resources directly in your Canvas course shell. Curriculum Builder also tells you which students have read their assigned library materials and which students haven’t.  The video linked below will demonstrate how to use Curriculum Builder/

Digital Images and Educational Resources in the Public Domain

Panopto

Panopto records your lecture and everything presented on your computer screen. The program is easy to use, incorporates a variety of features including the ability to embed quizzes in your recording that feed directly to the Canvas grade book. Panopto is an excellent tool for recording, indexing, and delivering online PowerPoint presentations. For general information about using Panopto in Canvas click the link below:

Proctorio Remote Proctoring

Proctorio is a remote test proctoring software and is installed as an LTI in Canvas.  It runs through an extension that is added to the Chrome browser.  This means instructors will need to use Chrome to set up exams to use Proctorio and to see student exam submissions.  It also means students will need to use the Chrome browser to take a Proctorio enabled exam. Students will also need a webcam, a microphone, and will need to use a computer (not a mobile device) to take an exam.

For more information please submit an eLearning Support Request ticket and ask to be added to the Proctorio Training Course.

Quality Matters

The goal of Quality Matters is to help instructors improve the quality of their online courses. See the Quality Matters website for more information.

To conduct a self review of your course, see the Quality Matters Course Self Review (pdf) help file.

Respondus

Respondus is a powerful tool for creating and managing quizzes and surveys that can be published directly to your eLearning course. And because Pensacola State College has a site license, Respondus is freely available for you to download to your campus computer. As a companion to eLearning, Respondus can be used to build quizzes, create surveys, and expand question databases. Respondus can also import questions from a text file, such as a quiz created in Microsoft Word. After downloading, please contact the eLearning Department via email elearning@pensacolastate.edu or phone (850-484-1238) for licensing information. Click here for the Respondus User Guide.

Respondus LockDown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Canvas. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications and/or files. Instructors do not need to download the browser to set up an exam. However, your students will need to download the program. Be sure to provide instructions and the link below to students well in advance of your scheduled test date. (Note, the program is free to students.) The LockDown Browser is already installed in most PSC computer labs, testing centers.

 

StudyMate

StudyMate is an authoring tool that makes it easy to create learning activities and games in Canvas. Formats include Fact Cards, Pick-A-Letter, Fill in the Blank, Matching, Crosswords, and Glossaries. You can import items from MS Word and some publisher test banks, making it easy to create interesting, interactive activities from existing content. For more information please contact the eLearning Department: elearning@pensacolastate.edu.

Turnitin Feedback Studio

All PSC instructors have access to Turnitin (aka Turnitin Feedback Studio). This online service is designed to assist in the detection of plagiarism and provide a convenient and efficient venue for delivering feedback and grading narrative assignments. The videos listed below were prepared by the folks at Turnitin specifically for PSC.

Additional help information can be found at the Using Turnitin with Canvas page.

Turnitin also has a collection of helpful videos called Turnitin VidBits.

Turnitin PeerMark

All PSC instructors have access to PeerMark. This online service is a peer review tool used in conjunction with Turnitin Feedback Studio that allows students to read, review, and evaluate one or many papers submitted by their classmates. The tutorials listed below were prepared by the folks at Turnitin specifically for PSC.

Zoom

Zoom is a popular videoconferencing tool and is fully integrated with Canvas. To activate Zoom in your Canvas course(s) please click on the link below and follow the instructions.