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Online Teaching Resources

Resources for Teaching Online During School Closings

Occasionally Downstate's colleges may need to temporarily suspend on-site activities. This can be due to extreme weather events or infection prevention, such as the current COVID-19 virus pandemic.

Below is a list of resources available to teachers and students so that you may continue your curricular activities.

I want to host an online lecture

PANOPTO

Prerecorded lecture capture and playback

Record lectures, makes them automatically available to students via integration inside Blackboard Learn
Can be used to prerecord lectures or stream them live
Full control over user access
Tracks lecture usage

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ZOOM

Host live classes

Uses a webcam or your laptop's internal camera/microphone to stream your video/audio
Call in to meetings via phone — no microphone needed!
Share your desktop — show PowerPoints, demonstrate software, etc.
Video sessions can be recorded at uploaded into Panopto
Guest link: email a link to non-Downstate users.

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BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE

Host live web classes directly in Blackboard Learn

Watch a video demo

Uses a webcam or your laptop's internal camera/microphone to stream your video/audio
Call in to meetings via phone — no microphone needed!
Share your desktop — show PowerPoints, demonstrate software, etc.
Integrated with Blackboard Learn — every course already has it available to teachers/students.
Guest link: email a link to non-Downstate users.

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I want to give an exam online

RESPONDUS LOCKDOWN BROWSER WITH MONITOR

Exam security desktop software

Works with tests in Blackboard Learn LMS
Students install LDB software on their own computer
"Locks" the computer during a test so students cannot access other browser pages or applications
Video monitor proctoring:
- Records a movie of the student during the test
- Uses artificial intelligence to flag possible suspicious activity
- Instructor can review the recording after the exam

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RESPONDUS 4 TEST PUBLISHER

Test import/export desktop software

Imports preexisting tests from a Word file or from a textbook publisher question bank and pushes them into a course inside Blackboard Learn.

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I want to stay in touch with my co-workers

MICROSOFT TEAMS

Free chat, video and audio calling

instantly chat with colleagues
make audio calls
host video meetings*
share your desktop
schedule a meeting
store files and collaborate on them live

* video is currently only available upon request

I need to share class materials

BLACKBOARD LEARN

Learning management system (LMS)

Post content files — PowerPoints, PDFs, downloadable forms
Computerized exams (works with Respondus LDB/Monitor for assessment security — see below)
Assignment drop boxes — accept and grade submitted student papers
Interactive activities — discussion forums, blogs, journals, wikis

MICROSOFT ONEDRIVE

Sync files, work collaboratively

All Downstate faculty, staff, students have a OneDrive account, with 1 terabyte of storage
Can synchronize, access files across multiple computers/devices
Collaborate with others on editing a single shared document.

MICROSOFT OFFICE 365

Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Annual license included with your Downstate email account
Download and install on up to 5 devices

I want to access my work computer remotely

DOWNSTATE VPN

Connect to campus applications or your office PC

Secure encrypted enterprise-level virtual private network
Connect to Downstate-hosted applications from home
Connect to your Downstate office PC from home

I want to change my NetID Password

DOWNSTATE NETID

Go to the Office 365 Login Page:

https://portal.office.com

Your NetID account authenticates your login to a variety of other systems.
If you have forgotten your NetID password, or if it has expired, use Password Self Service to reset it
NOTE: you must set up your Password Self-Service in advance