Brief Description
Course technologies support learners’ achievement of course objectives or competencies. The technologies enabling the various tools used in the course facilitate, rather than impede, the learning process.
Supporting Resources
Reinforce Learning Objectives
Tools used in the course should support the learning objectives or competencies. Examples of tools include, but are not limited to, discussion boards, gradebooks, social media, games, blogs, virtual classrooms, web conferencing, announcements, assignment and quiz tools, plagiarism detection tools, video repositories, online proctoring tools, and collaboration tools.
- Rubric for eLearning Tool Evaluation: A rubric has been designed for instructors and staff as a formative tool to evaluate eLearning tools in higher education.
- Course Assessment Plan: Ensure selection of an assessment tool(s) in which each learning objective will be demonstrated. (From the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence)
- Synthesis Worksheet: New instructor orientation resource. (From the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence)
- Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence: Additional tools and resources for faculty and staff who design higher education courses.
Promote Learner Engagement
Ensure that course tools promote learner engagement and active learning. Examples of tools that support engagement and active learning can include collaborative tools; webinars; software that facilitates asynchronous interaction, such as shared documents, discussion tools; and automated self-check exercises.
- Canvas Instructor Guide: View tutorials on how to utilize Canvas tools such as assignments, quizzes, discussions, and collaborative tools.
- Penn State Information Technology – Faculty: Teaching Tools and Resources
Employ a Variety of Technologies
Quality online courses use a variety of technologies. Technology tools can include videos, discussions, social media, mobile technologies, games, simulations, wikis, blogs, podcasts, and virtual worlds.
- Learning Tool Integrations at Penn State: While most learning tools are available for all courses University-wide, some are only available to select schools or departments, such as Penn State World Campus. Please check the availability listed under each tool’s description.
- Teaching and Learning with Technology – Faculty: Identify the right technologies to meet your pedagogical needs.
Share Data & Privacy Information
Quality online courses provide learners with information on protecting their data and privacy.
Sample language that can be used in your course:
The university takes issues related to student privacy very seriously. As such, all approved third party tools used in our courses are vetted by the university to assure that student data will be protected and secure. For more information on privacy or accessibility please visit the following web sites.
The following links to privacy statements for third party tools may also be added to your syllabus technology section:
Due to ever changing websites, you are encouraged to check each semester that the links to the privacy policies are correct.
This resource was created by Penn Ralston-Berg, Amy Kuntz, Donna Bayer, Danielle Harris, Brett Bixler, and Renee Ford. For more information about our quality standards, see Penn State Quality Assurance e-Learning Design Standards.
Page Contact: Penny Ralston-Berg