Conferencing Tools
At KPU we are excited to offer three options available for faculty and students to use for virtual classes, office hours, and group interactions. Each of these provides unique features listed below, allowing you to select the best tool for you, your students and your learning outcomes. The tools available for video conferencing are BigBlueButton, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
All 3 conferencing platforms offer the following core features:
- Video and/or Audio conferencing by computer
- Chat
- Session recording
- Screen sharing
Big Blue Button
Big Blue Button is a video conferencing tool integrated with Moodle to provide instructors with tools for teaching online.
Unique Features include:
- Breakout rooms
- Shared note-taking
- Polling
- Virtual whiteboard
- Emoji's, including raised hand
- Recorded sessions accessible in Moodle
- Integrated with Moodle
Limitations:
- Mobile experience is limited
Who can use?
- Faculty/Instructor
- Students (must be setup by instructor)
Recommended Activities:
- Case studies
- Collaborative brainstorming
- Small group discussions
- Office hours
Learn more about Big Blue Button
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a video conferencing platform offered by IT Services. Since launch, it has now moved to Canadian data residency, allowing increased use of this space with students.
Unique Features include:
- Video and/or Audio meetings by mobile device
- File sharing
- Recorded sessions on Microsoft Stream
- Integration with Microsoft Outlook
- Ability to invite external users
Limitations:
- Making a "team" with your students for ongoing connection
- Attendance
- Breakout rooms
- Ability to mute all participants
- Shared note-taking
- Polling
- Not integrated with Moodle
Who can use?
- Faculty/Instructor
- Staff
- Students (must be setup by instructor)
- External users can be invited
Recommended Activities:
- Debates
- Student presentations
- Socratic Dialogue using chat
- Office hours
Zoom
Zoom is a standalone video conferencing platform to provide instructors with tools to teach online. KPU's installation of Zoom is hosted on their secured Canadian servers. (Zoom has advised that this may result in decreased user experiences for learners who are outside Canada, please consider your student population when selecting this platform.)
Unique Features include:
- Video and/or Audio meetings by mobile device
- Setup breakout rooms
- Setup polls
- Virtual whiteboard
- Recorded sessions in Zoom's cloud
Limitations:
- Not integrated with Moodle
- Shared note-taking
- Users outside Canada will experience decreased user experience
- Connect by phone is not enabled
Who can use?
- Faculty/Instructor (upon request for pro accounts)
- Students
Recommended for:
- Concept mapping
- Digital scavenger hunt
- Think-pair-share
- Office hours