Delivering Course Content
For cost and user experience reasons, please refrain from uploading video and other large files (e.g. videos, PDFs, PPTs, etc.) directly to Canvas. Visit Minimizing Digital Content Stored in your Canvas Course Space for more details.
To learn more about Canvas and getting started with a course space, begin with the Canvas Learning Path.
Synchronous or Asynchronous: Which Should I Use?
Two important questions
- How big is your class?
- What happens during “class time” in the classroom?
Synchronous sessions with Zoom
Zoom is WSU’s web-conference solution. This will allow you to meet with your students synchronously.
Lecture-Style
“Lecturing” via Zoom is simple and efficient. In addition, this is the modality students are most familiar with and will keep students on schedule, working through the class.
Interactive Sessions
There are several tools to utilize such as:
- Nonverbal feedback (raise hand, yes, no, etc.)
- Breakout rooms
- Chat
- Polling
Asynchronous Recordings with Panopto
Panopto will allow you to record content (video, screen share, PowerPoint, etc.) for your students to view. Panopto also offers an editor allowing you to add a table of contents, YouTube videos, and simple quizzes.
- Pre-recording lectures is a good strategy for large classes. Coupled with a Canvas discussion space for conversation and questions, the course can be very engaging.
- Within Canvas students can be divided into smaller groups to facilitate more robust conversation and each group can bring their “findings” back to the group.
It does not need to be all or none. You can record some, or all of your lectures, and still hold class, just less often (like a flipped class). Some examples:
- Meet synchronously Monday or Tuesday to talk about what students need to accomplish that week and provide one day’s course content. Post the rest of what students need during the week in the Canvas course space.
- Post all lecture content via Panopto and meet with a subset of the class each day the course would usually meet. For example, for a MWF class, meet with a third of the class each day to answer questions, and help keep the students moving forward and on task.
- Provide a brief (less than 20 minutes) video via Panopto for students to view before attending class.
Features Comparison
Zoom (Synchronous) | Panopto (Asynchronous) | |
---|---|---|
Synchronous Discussion | Yes | No |
Attendance Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Recording | Yes | Yes |
Recording view data | No | Yes |
Edit recording | No | Yes |
Editable Table of Contents in recording | No | Yes |
Audio/Video for Participants | Yes | No |
Audio/Video for Host | Yes | No |
Collaboration/Communication tools | Yes | No |
Polling/Quizzing | Yes | Yes |
Screen Sharing for Participants | Yes | No |
Screen Sharing for Host | Yes | Yes |
Annotation tools | Yes | Yes |
Ability to use recording in subsequent semesters | No (possible FERPA violation) | Yes |
Access through Blackboard | Yes | Yes |
Automatic captioning of recording | Yes | Yes |
Stores in cloud | Yes | Yes |
Breakout Rooms | Yes | No |
Presenting Learning Material
You can engage learners via Zoom or in your classroom. Some key features for delivery via Zoom:
Asynchronous Delivery via Panopto Lecture Capture can be used to record an audio lecture as well as to screen capture whatever is on your desktop that you might want to display.
- Create a Panopto recording (Windows)
- Create a Panopto recording (Mac)
- Find a full suite of Panopto instructor guides here
- Quizzes can be built into Panopto recordings to ensure students are understanding what they are viewing. How to add a quiz to a video. Note: You will need to create a user name and password on the Panopto help site.
- You can also narrate a PowerPoint Presentation, upload the slides to Panopto and narrate to create your lecture. Refer to tutorials for creating a Panopto recording, above.
For any student with an approved captioning or transcription accommodation, recordings must be closed captioned and synchronous online sessions must be lived captioned. You do not need to manually caption your recordings. For assistance, contact access.aoi@wsu.edu.
Visit Options for Virtual Labs and Simulations for Laboratory-Based Courses for more information.
Panopto Lecture Capture can be used to screen capture anything on your computer desktop. Refer to tutorials for creating a Panopto recording, above.
- For drawing or equations use a Wacom, tablet, or stylus and upload the recording to Bb.
- There is also a white board feature in Zoom which can be “shared” during a synchronous session and recorded for later use.
- Panopto can be used with PowerPoint’s annotation tool for asynchronous access. How to Annotate in Powerpoint
Upload a file or create a hyperlink to a reading or video assignment. Learn more about Tips for Creating Accessible Course Materials.
For any student with an alternative text accommodation, please contact your WSU Campus Access Center for assistance.
In the classroom, instructors often use a document camera as an alternative to the whiteboard or to project and annotate a document. Document cameras have many benefits: they allow the instructor to use their natural handwriting position, make writing easier-to-read for students, and simulate “looking over the shoulder” of the instructor to give insight to the processes involved in solving a calculation, analyzing a manuscript or creating a drawing or diagram.
You do not have to be in a classroom, with a full-sized document camera, to enjoy the same benefits. There are many simple, low-cost solutions you can use with Panopto or Zoom from your home or office. Here are a few ideas:
- Use your mouse to make rough drawings and annotate using OneNote or PowerPoint
- Use a stylus and a device with touch capabilities to annotate using OneNote or PowerPoint. There are two annotation monitors with styluses available in the Spark recording rooms or you can purchase your own.
- Setup a webcam using a flexible tripod and position the camera to record what you are writing or drawing on a sheet of paper
- Use a USB document camera
If you need more information on getting started or how to incorporate into your course, please contact AOI at aoi.li@wsu.edu.