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Photo by Andrew Neel |
Tutors can communicate with students and provide access to many types of learning materials via Canvas and other integrated tools.
Communicating with students
Online conference tools
Virtual Classroom (Collaborate Ultra)

‘Virtual Classroom’ is the name used at GSA for Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. This tool allows you to share your screen, poll students, live-chat, and open breakout rooms for smaller discussions. These sessions can also be recorded for those that cannot attend a class in real time.
Chat: Canvas Real-time Chat tool
To do this Click on Settings, then click on the Navigation tab at the top and drag Chat into the upper area. Here is the guide for managing course navigation links in Canvas.
Planet eStream – Create a ScreenCast or Webcam recording
Discussions
Engage students by setting up discussions. Discussions can be for a class or group, with students sharing their posts with the other students, or discussions can be set up as private journals visible to the teachers and student only. Here is a Canvas guide to creating discussions as an instructor.
Padlet
You can also use Padlet as a discussion tool – it embeds nicely into Canvas and is more engaging than an ordinary Canvas discussion. It’s free to set up. Here is information on using Padlet as a teaching tool.
Canvas Survey
Course Download
Students can download whole courses if required, due to travel or limited internet connections. All content will be available but the student cannot interact or submit assignments, or access embedded content. Here is a guide to downloading courses.
Need Help? Contact Us!
GSAs Learning Technology office is available to assist you in developing your Canvas course. Please contact us at LTHelp@gsa.ac.uk or for 24/7 Canvas specific support you can click on ‘Help & Links’ within the Canvas navigation menu.