Trending Tech
Trending Tech includes platforms and software that can be used to enhance your online courses. The Office of Distance Learning provides training on these tools, however, support is provided through the vendor.
Trending Tech Categories
- Communication & Messaging
- Discussions
- Interactive lessons
- Multimedia & Video
- Polling, Games, Quizzes
- Virtual Reality
Communication & Messaging
GroupMe
GroupMe is a messaging app that can be used with any device. You can start group messaging without sharing your phone number. Instead, students join the group message using a code. Through GroupMe, you can share polls, calendar events, and images, as well as messages.
Cost: Free
Support: GroupMe Help & Learning
Discussions
Flip 
Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is a video discussion app from Microsoft that can allow you to create lessons through groups or topics. After joining with a code, students can create discussion videos and comment on other videos. Flip also provides onboarding and on-demand training specifically for educators.
Cost: Free
Support: Flip Help Center.
Interactive Content & Presentations
Genially 
Genially is an intuitive tool that can be used to create interactive and animated digital content. Create interactive presentations, infographics, gamification, interactive images, and more. Sign-up for an Educator account with your University email. Once you've created a piece of content, you can share by placing the link in your course.
Cost: Free option for educators with paid plans from $5 to $20 per month
Support: Genially Support Center.
Multimedia & Video
Canva
Canva is a web-based graphic design tool that can allow you to create dynamic presentations, posters, videos, logos, and more with an extensive template library. Share content with a URL, or download content as an image, PDF, or video.
Cost: Free for educators; pro plans available for $10 per month.
Support: Canva Help Center.
Loom 
Using Loom, you can easily record your screen and camera simultaneously and then share your content with a URL.
Cost: Free for up to 25 videos, 5 min length; $10/month ($96/year) for unlimited videos and length.
Support: Loom Help Center.
OpenShot 
OpenShot is a cross-platform video editing app. Once you've downloaded OpenShot, you can add unlimited tracks, titles, video effects, animations, and audio to your projects. Edited videos can be uploaded to Panopto.
Cost: Free
Support: OpenShot User Guide
Polling, Games, Quizzes
Mentimeter 
Audience engagement platform Mentimeter allows you to create presentations with word clouds, live polling, quizzes, and Q&As. Students join and participate by using a code.
Cost: Free option, or up to $24/month for more features.
Support: Mentimeter Help Center
Kahoot
Kahoot is a popular game-based platform used to create multiple-choice quizzes that can be accessed via desktop or mobile device. Students participate with a code.
Cost: Free to create quiz questions with up to 50 players per game; $3/month to add polls, multiselect answer, and up to 100 players; $6/month to add type answer/audio and up to 200 players.
Support: Kahoot! Help & Support Center
MS Forms
Using Microsoft Forms, you can easily create quizzes or surveys to collect feedback. Forms allows you to create a form or quiz from scratch or by importing a Word or PDF document and then share your content with a secure URL.
Cost: Free
Support: Forms Help & Learning
Virtual Reality
Frame
FrameVR is an immersive online meeting space users can access from a desktop or mobile device without needing to download or install additional software. Up to 15 people can join and explore the environment you create at a time. Add videos, web, images, polls, PDFs, 360-degree assets. Invite students with a URL.
Cost: Free for up to 15 people/3 frames; $50/month for up to 50 people.
Support: Learn Frame for Education