Teaching Tools
Academic Software
Ally is a tool that can be used to make digital content more accessible. Ally automatically checks LMS course materials against WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards and delivers step-by-step guidance to instructors to improve the accessibility of their course content. In addition to providing instructors with feedback on the accessibility of content, Ally automatically creates alternative versions of course files. This allows students to view course documents in a variety of formats and choose the type of file that best suits their learning needs.
Ally seamlessly integrates with the Blackboard LMS and can be made available in any Blackboard course.
Watch Videos About Ally
Ally for Instructors
Ally measures the accessibility of each file attached to your course and shows you at-a-glance how it scores. Scores range from Low to Perfect. The higher the score the fewer the issues.
For files with Low to High scores, Ally shows you the issues and gives a step-by-step guide on how to fix them. For each file, you’d select the Accessibility score to open the instructor feedback. Follow the steps in front of you to go step-by-step. Select All issues to see every issue in the file and decide what issues to fix first.
* Students are not able to view the Ally gauges on course files. These gauges are only visible to course instructors.
Ally Instructor Resources and Support
Overview Video for Instructors
Alternative Formats
Accessibility Scores
Course Accessibility Report
View File Accessibility
Instructor Feedback Panel
Improve Content Accessibility
Ally Accessibility Checklist
Instructor FAQs
Visit learn.ncat.edu to register for Ally training or contact ITTD (336-285-4499) for more information.
Ally for Students
Ally creates alternative files for the different pieces of content that are used in a course. Alternative files include readable text for screen readers, pictures with captions, and easy-to-navigate content. Students can then download the alternative formats anywhere the Alternative Formats icon appears. Students can choose the version of the original that best suits their learning needs!
Ally Student Resources
Overview Video for Students
Quick Start
Alternative Formats
Student FAQs
As we continue to research new products and technology tools to enhance teaching, learning, and research, we must make difficult decisions to discontinue products and tools that no longer meet our needs. As such, access to Collaborate will end on June 30, 2024.
Why did we end our Collaborate contract?
Collaborate was recently purchased by Class Technologies and is no longer included as part of our Blackboard LMS contract. Class Technologies will eventually end support for Collaborate and is no longer adding new features to Collaborate. (New features and advancements will be added to the signature product for Class Technologies, Class for Zoom.) In addition, Collaborate usage at A&T has decreased over the years as more enhanced tools have become available. (Currently, only 24 fall courses are using Collaborate. In the spring, 100 courses used Collaborate.)
Can I still use Collaborate?
Although our contract ended on June 30, 2024, you will be able to use Collaborate until December 20, 2024. You will not be able to use Collaborate beyond the Fall 2024 semester. After December 20th, Collaborate links to meetings and recordings as well as Collaborate course menu items (i.e. Collaborate, Collaborate Sessions, Collaborate Ultra, etc.) will no longer work. Course menu items should be removed from future courses.
Collaborate Recordings
After December 20, 2024, Collaborate recordings will no longer be available to you or to your students via the LMS or any other Collaborate dashboard. We strongly recommend that you begin downloading the videos that you would like to save. If desired, the videos that you download from Collaborate can be uploaded to Mediasite and shared with others. For guidance on downloading videos and using Mediasite, follow this Downloading Collaborate Recordings guide.
What other collaboration tools can be used for course related meetings and lectures?
Two collaboration tools are available: Zoom and Class for Zoom
Zoom can be used for meetings, lectures, one-to-one sessions, and other collaborative activities. The Zoom Meetings tool is also available via Blackboard. To request a university-issued Zoom account, contact Client Technology Services at 336-334-7195.
Class for Zoom is a new collaborative tool that can be used for virtual synchronous classroom meetings. A university-issued Zoom account is required to create sessions using Class for Zoom. Class for Zoom can be accessed via Blackboard or at ncat.class.com.
Who should I contact if I need assistance or have additional questions?
Contact the ITTD team (336-295-4499) if you need assistance with downloading your Collaborate recordings, uploading your recordings into Mediasite, or sharing Mediasite videos with your students.
Helpful Resources
Downloading Collaborate Recordings
Blackboard is the official learning management system used by the university to host course shells and organization sites at A&T. All faculty are required to use Blackboard and all online materials must be housed in the LMS. Faculty must be assigned to at least one course in Banner for access to Blackboard. Faculty should use their OneID usename and password to log into the system.
For Blackboard training, visit https://ncat.neolms.com/.
Microsoft Bookings is an online app designed to allow customers the ability to schedule appointments with Colleges/Division/Units/Programs.
All NC A&T employees have access to their own personal Bookings page where they can create meeting types and publish links to give students and colleagues the ability to schedule appointments on the spot without the hassle of back-and-forth emails. Click on this link for instructions on setting up your personal booking page.
Personal Bookings Page: Quick Reference Guide for Employees
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For training, visit http://learn.ncat.edu.
Camtasia is a screen-recording and video editing software that allows you to record anything on your computer screen, including websites, software, video calls, or PowerPoint presentations. This easy-to-use software allows you to add animations and other effects, music and audio, titles, quizzes, transitions and more! Camtasia is one of the best screen-recording software products for creating pre-recorded video tutorials, how-to-videos, training videos, introductions to weekly course content, and other instructional videos.
ITTD manages a limited number of Camtasia licenses for faculty. To request a license, contact a member of the ITTD team or call 285-4499.
Camtasia Tutorials
Help Library
Contact Support
User Community
Class for Zoom (also known as Class) is a new collaboration tool built on top of Zoom's existing functionality that also combines a host of new features for a unique virtual synchronous classroom experience. With Class for Zoom, instructors can deliver engaging learning experiences for all students, no matter where they are. Class for Zoom provides an active and engaging virtual classroom setting with features like sharing web pages, collaborating on documents, launching content to breakout rooms, monitoring activity across rooms, deploying pools and quizzes, using a Class A.I. Teaching Assistant, improved analytics, and much more. In addition, Class integrates with Blackboard to provide a seamless experience for students and instructors.
Class can be accessed via Blackboard or via the web application, Class for Web. Access via the computer application is recommended for advanced features.
Access to Class for Zoom
Blackboard
Class is available in all Blackboard courses. Click “Tools” or “Advanced Tools” on the course menu. Select Class for Zoom from the list of tools.
Class for Web
Visit ncat.class.com and select Sign In. Sign in using your university-issues Zoom account credentials.
Training and Resources (for employees)
ITTD Product Training (for employees)
Visit learn.ncat.edu for ITTD facilitated Class for Zoom sessions.
Product Training (Short Video Tutorials)
Short video tutorials are provided on the following topics:
- Getting Started
- Navigating the Classroom
- Instructional Delivery
- Engagement Tools
- Additional Practice
*Use this Independent Practice handout while completing the short video tutorials.
On-Going Live Training (Provided by Class Technologies) – Click each link to register.
Class for Zoom 101: Instructor Essentials
Class for Zoom 102: Creating Engagement
Class for Zoom 103: Advanced Functionality
Class for Zoom 104: Best Practices
Resources (for students)
Class Participation Basics
Class Troubleshooting Guide
Participant Guide to Web App
GoReact is a video assessment tool that enables students to practice skills and demonstrate competence, while giving faculty the platform to provide personalized, time-coded feedback.
It’s simple:
- Instructor creates a video assessment in Blackboard to assess a variety of skills.
- Student practices and records a presentation, performance, or skill demonstration on video.
- Student uploads their video submission to the GoReact Assignment in Blackboard.
- Instructor and/or peers provide time-coded text, video, or audio feedback at precise moments in the video submission.
- Student receives an interactive and personalized evaluation experience, leading to better learning outcomes and career success.
GoReact integrates seamlessly into Blackboard, is FERPA and WCAG compliant, and requires no special equipment to use.
Instructor Resources
Overview Video
Getting Started with Blackboard
Creating GoReact Assignments in Blackboard
Standard Activities
Activity Settings
Group Recording Activities
Comment Only Activities
Screen Share
Additional Instructor Resources
Student Resources
Student Training Video
Using GoReact in Blackboard
Enabling Your Camera and Microphone
Recording a Video
Upload Guide
Video Recording Checklist
Help Center
Submit a Ticket
For more information, contact ITTD at 285-4499.
Mediasite is the university's enterprise video solution providing resources for the capture, management and sharing of video. MyMediasite is an online portal, where users manage recordings created using Mediasite hardware and the Mediasite Desktop Recorder (MDR). Additionally, faculty, students, and staff can also use MyMediasite to upload and share existing videos. Mediasite can be used to record lectures, screencasts, PowerPoint presentations with audio/video enhancements, learning activities, and more.
Mediasite is available to faculty, staff, and students and can be accessed at http://mediasite.ncat.edu/mediasite/mymediasite using OneID or Blackboard credentials.
For assistance with using Mediasite, contact ITTD at 285-4499. For technical assistance, contact the Classroom Technology team at 334-7195.
User Guides:
Mediasite Faculty User Guide
Mediasite Student User Guide
Mediasite Staff User Guide
Video Tutorials:
Mediasite for Faculty
Mediasite for Students
Mediasite for Staff
Other Helpful Links:
Using Mediasite with Blackboard
What’s New in Mediasite
Qualtrics is a web-based tool used to create, manage, and conduct online surveys in support of teaching and research. Qualtrics provides a comprehensive suite of tools to create web surveys and analyze collected data. Qualtrics supports over 100 question types and the survey data ca be viewed real-time via the dashboard. Qualtrics is available to all faculty, staff, and students at North Carolina A&T.
To access Qualtrics, visit: http://ncat.qualtrics.com. Log in using your OneID or Blackboard credentials.
For assistance with survey creation, survey management, and survey data analysis, contact OSPIE. For assistance with access, contact 285-4491.
Qwickly is a productivity tool for Blackboard Learn that allows faculty to interact with multiple classes at once. Instructors can post the same announcement to multiple courses, send an email to all students they teach in just a couple of clicks, or view which classes have items that need grading. These actions are done from the Blackboard Learn home screen. Qwickly can also be used by students to send emails to one or multiple instructors at one time.
Locate the Qwickly module on the MyNCAT page in Blackboard to use the tool.
Qwickly Attendance is a robust course tool that enables faculty to take attendance that is automatically stored and graded in Blackboard. Faculty can take attendance using an attendance list in Blackboard or allow students to “check-in” using their personal devices. Qwickly Attendance also allows faculty to send absence emails add private comments for students.
Qwickly Attendance is available in each Blackboard course shell. For training, visit http://learn.ncat.edu.
Respondus is a software that can be used to create and manage exams that can be published directly to Blackboard. With Respondus, faculty can add multiple test questions to Blackboard at one time making it easier to create test pools. Test questions can be prepared on one or more Word files (using an approved format), imported into Respondus, and then published to Blackboard.
*The Respondus software is only available for Windows devices.
*Administrative access is required to download the software on a university computer.
Respondus Software Package (for faculty)
Click the Respondus Software Package (for faculty) link above to download the software. If you are using a university computer (or any other computer), you must have administrative rights to the computer to download the software.
Contact ITTD (285-4499) for the installation password or visit the Faculty Commons in Blackboard. (Click “Technology Integration” on the left navigation menu.)
Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard Learn to help prevent online test-takers from accessing applications and websites on their computers. The LockDown Browser, which is designed for proctored settings, also prevents printing and copying the while the test is running.
With LockDown Browser, students no longer have access to normal browser features which can potentially crash a test (e.g. resizing a window, refreshing the page, switching to another application). Students are locked into the test until the test is submitted for grading.
To use LockDown Browser, students must download and install the NCAT-specific version of the LocKDown Browser on their personal computer. Chromebook users must add the extension to the Chrome browser. The software cannot be used on mobile phones. Faculty can setup the LockDown Browser by accessing the dashboard from within a Blackboard course. If you are planning to administer online tests in Blackboard, you should consider using the Respondus LockDown Browser.
Software Download for Students
Installation Instructions for Chromebook Users
Resources for Faculty and Students
**ALEKS requires a custom version of LockDown Browser. Students will be prompted to install this version upon assignment initiation OR download the software ahead of time following this link: Respondus in ALEKS
**Respondus in ALEKS is not available for Chromebooks nor is it currently available in campus labs.
Respondus Monitor is a companion tool to Respondus LockDown Browser that allows instructors to monitor students taking tests via webcam recordings. When Respondus Monitor is required, students use their own computer and webcam to record exam sessions. Instructors use the same Blackboard test options as usual with the added benefit of having access to full video and audio recording of test attempts for review.
Instructors use Respondus Monitor and Respondus LockDown Browser to address issues of student identity and cheating during non-proctored assessments. To take a test using Respondus Monitor, students must use a microphone and webcam, and they must have Respondus LockDown Browser installed on their computer. Chromebook users should have the LockDown Browser for Chromebook extension added to the Chrome Browser. The Respondus LockDown Browser software cannot be downloaded onto mobile phones.
Software Download for Students
Installation Instructions for Chromebook Users
Resources for Faculty and Students
Understanding Respondus Monitor Proctoring Results
Respondus Technical Support
SafeAssign is a plagiarism prevention service, offered by Blackboard. This service helps educators prevent plagiarism by detecting unoriginal content in student papers. SafeAssign generates and “originality report” that provides detailed information about the matches found between a student’s submitted work and existing sources. In addition to acting as a plagiarism deterrent, SafeAssign also has features designed to aid in educating students about plagiarism and the importance of proper attribution of any borrowed content.
SafeAssign Help for Instructors
SafeAssign Help for Students
North Carolina A&T State University has a campus-wide license for SoftChalk Cloud. SoftChalk is a lesson creation tool that allows educators to transform existing course materials into interactive and engaging e-learning content with minimal time, effort and resources. Lessons can be exported as web pages for posting on the Internet or exported for use in Blackboard.
To create an account, contact ITTD (285-4499) for an activation key or visit the Faculty Commons in Blackboard. (Click “Technology Integration” on the left navigation menu.) Then visit www.softchalkcloud.com to create your account.
Documentation, FAQs and Technical Support
Video Tutorials, Content Examples, and More
Questions: Phone 877.638.2425 or Email learnmore@softchalk.com
For more information about creating an account or for assistance, contact David Whitehead at 285-4488 or dfwhitehead@ncat.edu.
Zoom is a web-based collaboration tool that facilitates video conferencing, online meetings, screen sharing, chat, and mobile collaboration. All employees currently have Zoom accounts. Student accounts will be provisioned once A&T finalizes the Zoom license agreement.
For access to Zoom, contact the help desk (336-334-7195) or create a ticket at aggiehelp.ncat.edu. For training, visit http://learn.ncat.edu.
Zoom Integration with Blackboard
Import Zoom Cloud Recordings into Mediasite
A&T Zoom Support Page
Zoom Video Tutorials
An Educator's Guide to Using Zoom in the Classroom
