Interaction and Engagement Tools

Whether teaching online or face-to-face, these tools can help foster interaction and active learning in any course.

The tools used most often for learner interaction online are discussion boards. Below is a comparison table for popular discussion tools.

Flip is being integrated into Teams for Education and will no longer be accessible via web, mobile, app, or Canvas integration. See details below.

Starting July 1st, 2024:

• Flip will not be available for download in mobile app stores.
• Flip’s Canvas integration will be removed.
• Flip’s website will be view only, so you will not be able to create new videos.

On September 30th, 2024:

• You have until this date to retrieve recorded videos to save them elsewhere. The website and apps will be retired by this date.

To best prepare for this transition, we recommend saving your Flip videos to Kaltura. You can read more about downloading videos from Flip. You can also watch a demonstration of these steps.

What is Flip?

Flip is a Canvas integrated tool that lets you create a video-based assignment where you and your students can have an asynchronous conversation through recordings. Think of it as turning a text-based discussion board into an interactive and engaging video discussion board.

Flip has integrated tools such as a whiteboard, image upload, inserting text or sticky notes, and more.

Which course modalities are best for Flip?

This tool is best for instructors who are teaching in any of the following modalities and course structures:

• An asynchronous online course
• A synchronous online course with asynchronous course activities
• An in-person flipped model course

How could I Use Flip?

Flip is best used as a means of starting and continuing relatively informal conversations on a specific topic. For example, if your course is designed to promote learners verbally communicating ideas, analysis, course content explanation, or sharing their reflection, then you might kick start the conversation with a brief video on a specific topic. Learners then can reply to your prompt, and to each other, with their own videos.

Note: If you build discussion boards that require more formal responses, source citations, or sharing resources, then consider using Canvas’ Discussion boards feature, where students can embed a recording through Kaltura along with their writing. 

See the table below to learn more about using Flip for student engagement.

Flip Resources

What is iClicker?

iClicker is an interaction tool to poll or quiz students and display results in real time. It integrates with the Canvas Gradebook, provides analytics for insights, and is easier than ever to use with its web-based iClicker Cloud modality. Students can access the poll or quiz from a mobile, web, or iClicker device.

Which Course Modalities are Best for iClicker?

This tool is best for instructors who are teaching in any of the following modalities and course structures:

• An in-person course set in a classroom with a projector
• An in-person course using a flipped model
• A synchronous online course with or without asynchronous activities
• A Hyflex course
• An asynchronous online course

How Could I use iClicker?

Instructors at Clemson use iClicker for in-person courses for polling, attendance monitoring, and knowledge checks. iClicker’s features are best used for synchronous course activities, that is any activity, no matter what modality your course is structured as, where students need to meet with others at the same time.

See the table below to learn more about using iClicker for student engagement.

iClicker Resources