CAEN supports a number of teaching and learning tools for Michigan Engineering. We offer consulting and training for many areas of instructional technology, including campus-wide applications and tools. Services like U-M Canvas, lecture recording, video conferencing, student response systems, and digital media solutions are all supported by CAEN. We also work closely with experts in CRLT-E and Nexus to connect Engineering faculty and instructors to the right technology for their needs.
For assistance using instructional tools in your course, or if you currently use technology that you believe would be beneficial to other Michigan Engineering instructors, let us know at caen@umich.edu.
Further information on different types of tools, and various options, are available below:
Accessibility Tools
Accessibility tools assist in making course material equally available for all students.
- Lecture Rewind (CAEN) – Real time classroom recording replay
- UDOIT – Canvas add-in, which can be used to scan your individual courses for accessibility
- Accessibility Checker (Canvas RCE) – Tool that detects common accessibility errors within the rich context editor in Canvas
- Captioning in Zoom – Captions for Zoom recordings
Assessment
Assessment tools are used to measure a student’s academic abilities, fluency in skills in a specific subject, and progress toward academic proficiency in a specific subject area.
- Gradescope – Online Assignment Grading
- MiQuizMaker (CAEN) – Canvas Quiz Tool
- Problem Roulette – Practice Exams
- PrairieLearn – Online Dynamic Quizzing
- Included in the Pilot Software Program (Fall 2023 term)
- Canvas Quizzes – LMS Assignments and Tools
Communication
Communication tools are used to facilitate asynchronous discussion around ideas, the completion of learning activities, building of relationships, or networking.
- Jamboard – Digital Whiteboard Application
- Lettersmith – Writing Support Tool
- Perusall – Collaborative Peer Annotation
- Piazza – Online Q&A Forums
- Remote Office Hours Queue – Group Meeting Software
- Slack – Group Chat Tool
Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning management systems are designed to identify training and learning gaps, using analytical data and reporting. LMSs are focused on online learning delivery but support a range of uses, acting as a platform for online content, including courses, both asynchronous based and synchronous based.
- Canvas – Learning Management System
- Gradecraft – Learning Management System
Pilot Software Program
The CAEN Pilot Software Program offers faculty the opportunity to try out instructional software to support their teaching. Titles available may vary from term to term (check the current software list). Some titles featured during the pilot have included:
- Prairie Learn – Online Dynamic Quizzing
- Poll Everywhere- Student Polling & Response System
- Peerceptiv – Peer Assessment and Team Member Evaluation tool
Student Response Systems (SRS)
A student response system (SRS) is a systematic way of assessing student learning in real time. There are a variety of ways that a student response system can help during class time. Some examples that you may find helpful in figuring out how an SRS can help you achieve your teaching and learning goals are formative assessment, assessing attitudes, biases and misconceptions, in-class quizzing, assessing prior knowledge, and taking attendance.
- iClicker Cloud – Online Student Polling & Response System
- iClicker – Student Polling & Response System
- Learning Catalytics – Polling & Response App
Team Development
Team development software can assist instructors who have courses with student group work where they want to create the most effective groups, have their groups evaluate their peers, and have them produce quality assignments.
Video Recording
Video recording software is any tool that lets you record your screen, your webcam, or both.
- Camtasia – Screen Recording
- Kaltura Capture – Webcam & Screen Recording
- Lecture Recording (CAEN) – Classroom recording
- M-Cam – Mobile App for CAEN Lecture Capture