The Provost's Office of Academic Technology (OAT) uses a Learning Technology Adoption Process (LTAP) to systematically evaluate teaching technologies on up to 56 criteria that fall into three categories: pedagogical efficacy, user experience, and administrative viability. These analyses support data-driven technology adoption decisions. The College of Natural Sciences and the OAT collaborated on two recent projects to systematically evaluate proctoring and online discussion technologies.
Proctoring with Respondus and Honorlock
How do Respondus and Honorlock work?
Honorlock uses a combination of a lockdown browser with webcam recording to increase exam security. Respondus does not record students and is not appropriate for remote testing. Instead, it locks down the student’s computer during an in-classroom test, which is administered through Canvas. Importantly, this still requires in-classroom proctoring. This is useful for instructors who like the ease of grading computer-submitted response.
When can I use Respondus and Honorlock?
Honorlock is available for use in CNS only in fully online classes. If you need a proctoring solution for an online course, contact Associate Dean Michael Drew.
Respondus is useful for locking students' browsers when they are completing a Canvas Quiz in the classroom. To add Respondus to your Canvas course, go to Navigation in Canvas Settings and look for Lockdown Browser.
Online discussions with Ed Discussion
Move to Ed Discussion
Online discussion tools are critical for running high-quality courses with large enrollments. During the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters, the Office of Academic Technology (OAT), UT ITS, the CNS Dean’s Office and Academic Technology Council collaborated to conduct an evaluation of learning technologies called the Learning Technology Adoption Process to aid in the strategic review and implementation of learning technologies on campus. The comprehensive, nine-month evaluation looked at discussion tools, with a specific focus on Piazza and Ed Discussion and endorsed Ed Discussion as the tool with the highest vendor affinity, active learning technology standards and pedagogical efficacy.
Ed Discussion at a Glance
Ed Discussion is a Q&A platform designed to help students and staff communicate efficiently and effectively with:
- All your course communication in one place.
- No more emails — questions and answers posted on Ed benefit the whole class.
- Keep questions and posts organized under different categories.
- Supports equations, figures, multimedia sources, and code.