Tools for Distant Learning

You can conduct lectures and seminars in an online format using various web tools. Most of them also allow you to record lectures and work in groups.

To avoid problems with how material is displayed by different devices, make sure that text and graphic information you broadcast is displayed correctly on your phone.

Students may have difficulties connecting to the internet during a video conference, so you should record the broadcast and make it available to everyone: you can upload the materials on YouTube (upload instructions) and on LMS (instructions for uploading videos, text and pdf files on LMS).

Zoom is a service for video conferencing with real-time messaging and content. Please see the instructions.  

Webinar is a tool for video conferencing with real-time messaging and content. The service is available both on the site and as an app for iOS and Android. Please see the instructions.  

Microsoft Teams provides audio and video calls over the Internet, screensharing capabilities, group chats (up to 300 users in the free version of the programme), and file sharing; it provides web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Please see the instructions.

Skype is a tool for video and audio calls. Group calls allow between 3 and 50 participants. There are also some restrictions: no more than 100 hours of group video calls per month, no more than 10 hours per day, and no more than 4 hours per single group video call. Calls can be recorded.

Cisco WebEx is a multi-platform online service that allows students, faculty, and staff to meet via conferencing and screen sharing. The service allows for meetings of up to 1,000 participants, the ability to save session recordings in the cloud or on a local device. The Cisco WebEx Teams app for iOS and Android is suitable for group work and complements the Cisco WebEx web conferencing system.

You can record lecture materials using your computer or smartphone's webcam. Ready-made videos can be uploaded on YouTube by configuring different types of access. Follow the link to find instructions for posting videos on YouTube. You can also add comments to your presentations so that students can navigate through the materials. Programs that you can use to record comments are listed below.

Microsoft PowerPoint

How to record comments:

1. Open the Slideshow tab in PowerPoint and select the ‘Play comments’ checkbox.

2. Click the ‘Record slideshow’ button to enter the slideshow mode, where recording will start automatically.

3. When finished, click the ‘Finish slideshow’ button in the upper-left corner of the screen. To export a recording as a movie file, select File> Export and select MP4 from the file format menu.

4. Make sure that the ‘Use recorded timings and comments’ checkbox is selected.

Keynote  

How to record comments:

1. In the Play menu in Keynote select ‘Record slideshow’. It will open slideshow mode with the recording controls visible at the bottom of the screen.

2. Before you start recording, check the audiometer during a conversation to make sure that your microphone is working.

3. Use the red record button at the bottom of the slide show to start and end the recording session.

4. To export a recording as a movie file, select File> Export to> Movie and select ‘Record Slideshow’ from the Play menu.

macOS. Recording video with a camera

1. Open the QuickTime app and select File> New video recording .

2. Click the arrow next to the red record button and make sure that the correct camera and microphone inputs are selected.

3. Click the ‘Record’ button to start, and the ‘Stop’ button in the same place to finish recording.

4. Select File> Save and choose where to save the file.

Windows. Recording video with a camera

1. In the lower-right corner of the Windows taskbar, right-click the Volume icon and select ‘Recording Devices’, selecting the desired microphone input.

2. Open the Camera app and click the Video button on the right side of the app window, located directly above the large Photo button.

3. Click the Video button again to start recording, and the red ‘Stop’ button to finish recording. Recordings are saved in the ‘Images’ > ‘Film’ folder.

To record video and online conferences against the background of a whiteboard, presentation screen, and so on, you may need:

1. Smartphone/tablet on a tripod/selfie stick

2. Wireless Bluetooth headset

3. Laptop/tablet for monitoring and/or moderating the process

4. Stable high-speed Internet

5. Program (service) for video calls/conferences

6. Board/flipchart/screen

Screen capture

To record the screen, you can use the built-in screen and sound capture tool (for MacOS) or the following programs (for Windows):

1. Bandicam

2. UVScreenCamera

3. Movavi Video Suite

4. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio (PDF, 205 Kb)

Illustrations

If you used a blackboard in the classroom, you can create illustrations and use scanner apps to improve the quality of your photos during distance learning.

Microsoft OfficeLens (iOS or Android) works with HSE University subscription to Microsoft Office 365 (Word and OneDrive required)

ScanBot (free version) for Android and iOS

Scanner Pro for iOS

You can create test tasks yourself and collect responses to them using various sites. Here you will find a list of such services along with a brief description and instructions.

Google Classroom

Instruction

Google Forms

Instruction

Quizizz 

Instruction

Surveymonkey

Instruction

Formative 

Instruction 

GitHub Classroom

Instruction

Dropbox 

Instruction

Polleverywhere

Instruction

Socrative

Instruction

Edpuzzle

Instruction

Wooclap

Instruction

Flippity

Instruction 

Online Test Pad

Instruction

Acadly

Instruction

Kahoot!

Instruction

H5P

Instruction

Email is better to be used for the most important information, which will feature important dates/schedule.

Cloud services: Google Drive (15 GB free), OneDrive (up to 5GB free), Dropbox (2 GB free), Yandex Disk, HSE Disk

E-resources of HSE Library

Since you can't meet students in person when you they are studying remotely, it is very important to ensure that you can communicate quickly. The following services will help you:

1. Video conferences

2. Messenger

3. Email

4. Google platform tools: students can join Google groups, communicate via Hangouts and chats.

Working together with students is the most effective approach to learning. Tools that will help you to organize this work remotely are listed below.

As part of distance learning, we offer you to use various resources with sets of simulations and interactive models.

1. LabXchange is a set of laboratory simulations with assessments that focus on basic molecular biology techniques, a wide range of interactive content, and discussion forums.
2. Merlot Collection provides free access to curated online educational and support materials and content creation tools for various disciplines.
3. PhET: Interactive Simulations for Science and Math represents simulations in various disciplines, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, natural science, and biology.
4. Physics Simulations is a collection of physical simulations with variable parameters and real-time animation.
5. ACS: Virtual Chemistry and Simulations is a collection of chemical simulations and virtual laboratories compiled by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
6. Virtual Labs Project at Stanford is interactive media created and distributed by Stanford; it primarily focuses on human biology.
7. HHMI BioInteractive offers videos and interactive events on biology from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
8. Molecular Expressions: Virtual Microscopy is a collection of virtual microscopes with controls similar to those used on physical microscopes.
9. Oscilloscope and Speed Gun are applications that allow students to interact with tools or laboratory installations.