Implementation Tips for New Tools

When introducing a new educational tool to your course, be sure to provide support to your students so they can know

  1. how to use the tool
  2. how you want them to engage with it specifically for your course

Don’t assume that they’ve already used the tool in another course or will figure it out on their own!

Use the student instructions provided in the purple boxes for each tool or create your own.

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

For this assignment, you will be using <this tool> to complete your work. Use the blue navigation menu to enter the site and begin. For more information about this tool, please visit the <student guide online>.

Here are additional ways to help your students use the new tool successfully:

  • Post student-facing support documentation in your Canvas course (if possible, provide Canvas-specific instructions for how to get started in the tool). Google "[TOOL NAME] student support" to locate the tool's published support documentation.
  • If possible, post a link to a walk-through video of the tool. You don't need to make your own - many tool companies publish "getting started" videos for students on YouTube.
  • Create a page in your Canvas course with instructions on how to access and use the tool
  • Arrange for a demonstration from a member of the Teaching & Learning Technologies team in your class - we’ll come to you!
  • Check in with students after they have started using the tool to see if they have questions
  • Review the list of Equally Effective Alternate Access Plans (EEAAPs) to have a plan in place for any students with accessibility issues 

Contact Teaching & Learning Technologies if you need help getting your students set up with a new tool.