Technology Tools

The TLX develops strategies and support systems for technology tools that encourage a sound pedagogical approach to learning and teaching, such as:

  • Identifying hardware and software needs related to learning and teaching
  • Developing policies regarding the acquisition, piloting and use of such resources, and supporting colleagues to ensure effective use of the tools
  • Exploring and promoting innovative uses of technology
  • Advising on the use of the tools available within the college’s LMS, the timing of upgrades and key dates for servicing the system
  • Determining the supports needed for students and faculty to promote the effective use of technology tools

The following are the apps that faculty use. Support and Training or Contact for more information are provided for those apps marked with an *.

Apps list

Animation

Powtoon

Online tool to create animation-based videos and presentations. Powtoon offers a free version that allows you to do basic animations and to publish with the Powtoon branding. The paid version offers more assets, and storage space and branding is removed. If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Powtoon

VideoScribe

Tool to create white-board style animations. The seven days trial includes a basic set of assets and videos include a logo watermark. To get a license, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Videoscribe

Vyond*

Tool to create animated videos using a pre-defined package of assets and effects. This tool can be used to create engaging videos to capture attention and present information in an easy way to consume. To request a license, please contact your departmental chair. If you only request help with developing animation, please contact Evelyn Chan from TLX.

Visit VYOND

Contact for ELearning object request

Tutorials & Support Resources

Bitmoji

Avatar creator tool. It is available as a mobile app, as a chrome extension, and it is also integrated in Snapchat.

Visit bitmoji

Assessment

Kahoot!

A web-based platform that allows users to build interactive activities such as trivia games, surveys and quizzes. This tool can be useful to make online and face-to-face lessons more engaging by creating a competitive element for assessment.

There are three types of plans: basic, pro and premium. The basic plan (free) allows you to use a limited number of activities. Basic Host kahoots in-person or via video for up to 10 players

The Pro (paid) and Premiums (paid) plans offer additional activities and reports.

Note: If required a Pro or Premium license, please reach your Associate Deans.

Visit Kahoot!​​​​​​

H5P*

H5P is a web-based platform designed to create interactive content such as interactive videos, quizzes and mini-games, and to improve online learning experiences. A licensed version of H5P integrates with BrightSpace and in the grade center. H5P objects can be created and archived for future courses.

Visit H5P

Support and training

Contact for elearning objects request

Socrative

A formative assessment tool to provide and analyze real-time feedback in the classroom through surveys and quizzes. Socrative provides an alternative to the use of "clickers" technology. If you are looking to start getting your tests online, this is a good tool to use. Questions and answers can be randomized and presented in real-time.

There are two types of plans:

  • Free: limited number of activities, number of rooms and students per room.
  • Pro: Among other features, it allows up to 20 rooms with unlimited students and activities.

If required a Pro license, please reach your Associate Deans. You can find more information in:

Visit Socrative

Contact for more information

Poll Everywhere*

Tool used to gather live responses and provide real-time feedback. This is an alternative to the use of "clickers". This tool is effective for wider surveys and polls. It can be easily accessed on mobile devices through chat messages, Twitter and web urls. Effective for faculty and students who do not have a George Brown email or for a wider public.

There are different types of licenses; the free version allows an unlimited number of questions and up to 25 students. If a license is required, please reach your departmental chair. You can find more information in:

Visit POLLEVERYWHERE

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

Quizlet

Web-based service to build interactive learning activities such as flashcards and quizzes. Quizlet offers three types of accounts. The free account allows activity creation and online access; however, it includes advertisements. The Plus and Go accounts (paid), do not include advertisement and can be used online.

If a license is required, please reach your Associate Deans. You can find more information in:

Visit Quizlet

Tutorial

MS Form*

Tool to create online surveys, questionnaires, pools and quizzes. It allows you to collect responses and visualize data. MS Forms can be accessed through Microsoft 365. Forms is an Microsoft 365 product so there is no additional sign-up required, and it can be easily integrated into other Microsoft 365 products like PowerPoint, Teams and Sway.

Visit MS FORM

Contact for more information

Assistive Technology

Read Speaker

Text-to-speech set of tools that read websites and other applications aloud. It is also possible to use this software to create voiceovers. The website offers a free demonstration of the software. If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Read Speaker

Tutorials & Support Resources

Window 7 Magnifier (PC)

Tool that allows you to select a specific area on the screen and magnify it. This tool is integrated with Windows 7 and above.

Visit Window 7 Magnifier (PC)

Winzoom (PC)

Tool to enhance the visibility of the desktop. Among others, it enlarges text and icons. There is a 30-day trial. If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Winzoom (PC)

Zoomit (PC)

Free tool for zooming the screen. It is often used for presentations.

Visit Zoomit (PC)

Read & Write*

The friendly literacy software that's used daily by over 8 million people worldwide.

Read & Write (Offline Activation)
To Activate Read&Write:
Log in with your Microsoft account using their student#@georgebrown.ca and GBC password.

Note: it is in Appsanywhere

Visit Appsanywhere

Jaws*

One of the most used screen-readers in the market. It presents a diverse set of features to help visually impaired users to read the screen in a text-to-speech output or by a Braille display. If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Jaws

Accommodations

Kurzweil 3000 Read the Web*

Kurzweil 3000 is an Assistive Technology platform that aligns with learning strategies and your school’s processes. Inquire about Professional Development or get a free trial to discover your breakthrough moment.

Kurzweil 3000

Support and training

Audio

Audacity*

Free, open-source tool available for downloading and in AppsAnywhere to record, convert, and edit audio. It is a multiplatform tool. Audacity is an excellent tool for creating quick audio files for sharing. It is particularly useful for providing audio feedback.

Visit Audacity

Contact for more information

Tutorials & Support Resources

SoundCloud*

Music sharing platform. Members can upload and share their music with the Internet community. Faculty often use this to broadcast podcasts or extended audio content.

Visit SoundCloud

Contact for more information

Tutorial

Voice Pro

Free Mobile application with in-app purchases to edit and mix audio. Available in the App and Google Store. Please reach out to your departmental chair if a full version of the app is required.

Visit Voice Pro

Download Voice Pro

Classroom Delivery

MS White Board*

App for Windows and mobile devices that functions as a digital whiteboard. Among other features, users can draw and add text, share and work collaboratively, and save to the cloud.

Visit MS White Board

Contact for more information

Zoom*

Zoom is a communication tool to meet with students and deliver synchronous, online sessions. Learn how to use Zoom with the interactive lecture, a how-to section, and frequently asked questions below.

Visit Zoom

Support and Training

Tutorials

Mentimeter

Tool to create presentations with interactive features such as voting to engage students in the lecture. The free version provides a two-questions limit. If a license for the paid version is required, please contact Rocio or Gian for more information.

Visit Mentimeter

Contact for more information

NearPod

Online tool to build interactive presentations with elements such as quizzes, polls and web content. The free account allows sessions for up to 40 students, provides the basic features, and has limited storage access.

If a paid license is required, please reach your Associate Deans. You can find more information in:

Visit NearPod

Contact for more information

Collaboration

Microsoft Teams*

Microsoft 365 collaboration tool to communicate with team members through online services such as video conferences, messaging and file storage. Among others, key features include:

  • Live-chat
  • Class discussions
  • Videoconferencing
  • File sharing and collaboration

Teams is a good option for classroom collaboration, group work and file sharing. Many faculty are using Teams for both departmental work and student group activities.

Visit Microsoft Teams

Support Contact

Tutorials and Support Resources

Padlet*

Online bulletin board where students and teachers can collaborate and share ideas on any topic. Padlet is particularly useful when embedded to Blackboard as it allows students to post right in the LMS. The free version is limited to five Padlets.

Visit Padlet

Contact for more information

Tutorials and Support Resources

eLearning Development

Articulate 360*

ELearning authoring suite to create online courses and interactive learning activities in different formats such as websites, interactive objects or a quiz. Key tools are:

  • Storyline. Tool used to create interactive content.
  • Rise. Tool to create web-based elements.
  • Quizmaker. Tool to create interactive quizzes.

At the moment there are no licenses available. If required, please request it from your departmental chair.

If you need help to develop in Articulate 360, please contact TLX.

Visit Articulate 360

Contact for Elearning Object Request

Samples

Tutorials and Support Resources

RISE 360*

Easily create online training that is interactive and fun to take with our pre-made courses. A secure, all-in-one training system for small-to-midsize businesses. Get started today. Free Trial. Samples & Templates. Award-Winning Platform. Online Interface. Simple to Manage.

At the moment there are no licenses available. If required, please request it from your departmental chair.

If you need help to develop in RISE 360, please contact TLX.

Visit RISE 360

Contact for Elearning Object Request

Samples:

MS Sway*

Tool to build, share and manage online presentations. Microsoft Sway is included in the Microsoft 365 suite available for the George Brown community.

Visit Sway

Contact for more information

H5P*

H5P is web-based platform designed to create interactive content such as interactive videos, quizzes and mini-games, and improve online learning experiences. A licensed version of H5P integrates in Blackboard and in the grade center. H5P objects can be created and archived for future courses.

Visit H5P

Support and Training

Contact for Elearning Object Request

Imagery

Adobe Photoshop*

Create anything you can imagine. Anywhere you are. The world’s best imaging and design app is at the core of almost every creative project. Work across desktop and mobile devices to create and enhance your photographs, web and mobile app designs, 3D artwork, videos, and more.

Contact for more information

Adobe Lightroom*

Photo editing online software. It also allows sharing and organizing content.

Visit Lightroom

Contact for more information

Canva*

Canva is an Australian graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The app includes templates for users to use.

At the moment there are no licenses available. If required, please request it from your Associate Deans.

If you need help to develop in Canva, please contact TLX.

Visit Canva

Contact for Elearning Object Request

Google Earth

3D visual representation of the earth. Models are built using satellite-based information. It also provides images, maps and related information of specific locations in the globe.

Visit Google Earth

WebPaint

Google chrome extension that allows you to add elements such as lines, shapes, and text to live-webpages.

Visit WebPaint

Language

Actively Learn

Reading online platform where students can read their texts, take notes, and build discussions with other users. The free version includes access to a vast variety of free texts. Users can also upload a limit of three articles. In addition to an unlimited number of articles that can be uploaded, it also provides class data reports, assignment creation collaboration and a number of research tools.

If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans. For more information, please visit:

Visit Actively Learn

MS Translate

Free translation and transcription tool. It is also available for mobile devices.

Visit MS Translate

Grammarly

Grammar and spelling tool used to improve writing.

Visit Grammarly

Productivity

Adobe Acrobat

Tool to read, edit or create (professional edition), and print documents in a Portable Document Format (PDF). George Brown community members have access to both versions, free and professional, via the Adobe Creative Cloud.

Contact for more information

Microsoft 365*

George Brown College provides students and staff with free access to Microsoft 365—a tool that allows you to create, edit and share documents and projects in real time and on the go.

Visit Microsoft 365

Video

Screencast-O-Matic

Screen recorder and video editing tool. It is possible to use the free version for recording; the paid version provides extra features such as effects. If a license is required, please contact your Associate Deans.

Visit Screencas

Contact for more information

Loom

Video and screen recording tool. The free version allows basic recording, editing and sharing. If a paid license is required, please reach your Associate Deans.

Visit Loom

Contact for more information

Camtasia*

Tool to create and edit video. It also allows video screen capture and the addition of interactive elements. Elements created in Camtasia can be integrated in Blackboard when exporting them using the SCORM standard.

Visit Camtasia

Software Technical Support

Tutorials and Support Resources

GoReact

Video recording and feedback tool. In this tool, students can submit a video assignment and the instructor can provide feedback on specific time stamps of the video. This tool is also embedded in Blackboard and connects to the Grade center.

A trial version is available; If a license is required, please reach your Associate Deans.

Visit GoReact

Flipgrid

Free tool that allows teachers to create message boards (grids) with questions; students post video answers that are displayed in a grid format. Grids can be shared in different courses and with different users. A mobile app is available too.

Visit Flipgrid

Login information

  • Continue with Microsoft and insert your GBC Credentials
MS Stream*

It can be used to host and share video. Service hosted in GBC as part of the Microsoft 365 suite.

Comparing Stream to YouTube, Stream is more oriented toward business while YouTube is more oriented to public videos. Videos available in Stream are protected by George Brown College and, if desired, available across the institution.

In addition, Stream does not contain a video editing tool; its main goal is hosting and sharing videos.

Please log in to Microsoft 365 to access Stream.

Contact for more information

Stream Admin

To request captioning

Land acknowledgement

George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.


Learn more about our land acknowledgment