The following list details a variety of supported tools and technologies available at the university for different teaching and learning contexts. Depending on the technology, support may be provided by CQSD TEL or DTS, or other professional services such as the Library:

Links to University support

Virtual Learning Environment – Blackboard 

• Use Blackboard as the single point of access for students to find essential communications, learning materials, activities and links out to other resources or software.
• What tools can I use in Blackboard?
• Help guides: Blackboard

Assessment – Blackboard Assignment and Turnitin

• Help guides: Electronic Management of Assessment

Live Online Sessions – Microsoft Teams Meeting and Blackboard Collaborate

• What platform do I use for my live online sessions?
• How to make live online sessions available to students.
• How to run effective live online sessions with your students.
• Help Guides  for Teams  meetings  and  Blackboard  Collaborate

Screencasts – Microsoft PowerPoint (recommended)

• Pedagogical guidance for using screencasts to convert lecture materials into short videos.
• Why is PowerPoint the recommended tool for screencasting?
• Produce a  screencast using PowerPoint.
• Other freely available tools on Windows and Mac can be used. Choose a screencast tool.

Video hosting/sharing – YuJa

• Use YuJa to store, organise and play videos you’ve made for students.

Online Reading List – Talis Aspire

• Use  an Online Reading List to curate electronic and print resources for your module.
• Link your reading list to a Blackboard module.

Learning Activities

• Table of suggested tools for designing/running learning activities with students.

Booking tutorials – Microsoft Bookings

• Request Microsoft Bookings and use it to let students book appointments with you for one-to-one meetings.
• Help guide.

Produce learning materials – Microsoft Office 365

• Use Microsoft 365 tools to produce accessible and well-formatted documents and learning materials.
• Use Microsoft Forms to make online surveys and quizzes. These can be embedded or shared within Blackboard.

Other university tools & resources

• Library e-resources including encyclopaedias, dictionaries maps, images, sounds and video collections.
• LinkedIn learning. Comprehensive range of software, creative and business video tutorials.
• Box of Broadcasts (BoB). Record or find free-to-air UK TV programmes. Only available to watch in the UK.

Curriculum software – AppsAnywhere

• Gain access to dedicated software applications for teaching through AppsAnywhere.
• Available on PC Windows and MAC, both on and off campus.

Learning materials – Open Educational Resources (OERs)

• Search OER Commons, a large collection of free-to-use resources across all educational levels. 
• Look for materials that are free to use under Creative Commons Licencing. 

Using external technologies

Third party technologies can be used for:

• Content – Directing students to content on third party technology is acceptable. for example directing students to view a website or a YouTube clip; however it is advisable, where possible, to integrate content into Blackboard (for example – How to embed videos and other media in Blackboard).
• Formative learning activities – See the Designing Learning Activities toolkit for a list of approved technologies that are suitable for formative learning activities. Note that use of third party technology can be encouraged for formative assessment, but if personal data will be collected you must seek advice from Information Management and Policy Services (IMPS) (Email imps@reading.ac.uk ), for example, asking students to input personal details or link their personal accounts with third party technology.

Third party technologies cannot be used for:

• Formal programme and module communication: All course formal communication from staff to students must go through either UoR email addresses and/or Blackboard. Where pedagogically appropriate, third-party tools may be integrated into Blackboard to display information.
• Video conferencing with students: Only Collaborate Ultra & Microsoft Teams can be used for video conferencing with students unless a specific use case is agreed between your SDTL and DTS (speak to your DTS Business Relationship Manager).
• Summative Assessment: See EMA guidance for advice on setting up online submission, marking and feedback.

See: Guidance for using third-party technologies in teaching and learning for more information about available support and how to make a request for a third-party tool or service.

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TEL help & support

If you have a query about anything related to technology enhanced learning, have a suggestion for an addition to this site, or find a broken link, please contact the TEL team via the DTS Self Service Portal or by emailing dts@reading.ac.uk.