Digital Pedagogy Librarian
Tools and Technologies
This page provides a list of tools and technologies that are commonly used for digital assignments. Many tools are flexible and can be suited to assignments of multiple formats, and some are available free of cost or through the University of Dayton.
It is important to consider technical aptitude, tool affordability and accessibility, student privacy, and impact to course schedule and learning outcomes when selecting a tool for digital assignments. Librarians can assist with the selection of tools to support teaching and learning and work with you to identify low-tech options when appropriate.
- Classroom ConsiderationsInformation and resources related to resources, learning needs, privacy, and related considerations for students engaged in learning with digital assignments.
Audio & Video
- Adobe SuiteAdobe products are excellent for editing audio and video. These are not free tools, but are available on some campus computers.
- AudacityAudacity is a free software for recording and editing audio. It can be downloaded as a desktop app on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
- CamtasiaCamtasia is a screen recorder and video-editing tool that can be used on Windows and Mac. You can use it to record and edit new audio and videos or to edit existing ones
- CanvaCanva is an online tool which allows you to create all manner of digital products - including presentations and video - and has tools for recording your narration over a presentation with or without the camera on. Canva accounts are free, though some design tools may be unavailable without a paid account.
- iMovieiMovie allows you to create videos by editing media together, and also allows you to edit existing videos. It is a free application on Mac OS computers.
- Roesch Library Recording and Editing ToolsRecording studio, podcasting and vlogging kits, and editing software available at Roesch Library
Web Publications
- ArcGIS Story Maps
Storytelling with maps and media. The free version is great, but UD has a license to ArcGIS Online which will give you a fuller set of features to explore - Google SitesBasic website builder with support for text and multimedia elements.
- Pressbooks
Open source content management system designed for creating digital books. - Scalar
Digital scholarly publishing platform that incorporates media, text, and interactive visualizations. UD Libraries hosts an instance of Scalar. - StorymapJS
Visual storytelling platform that emphasizes locations in a series of events. - Wordpress
Website builder and blogging tool with built-in templates and editing capabilities.
Data Visualization, Graphics, and Visual Projects
- Canva Graph Maker
Canva is a free tool for creating graphics of many kinds. It provides tools and templates for creating static charts and graphs as well as infographics. - ConnectTheDotsFree tool for visualizing data as a network.
- DatawrapperFree tool for creating charts, maps, and tables with data.
- EdWordleA word cloud generator for creating custom visualizations from text.
- Flourish
Data visualization tool that can be used to create interactive charts, maps, and stories. - PreziAn alternative to Powerpoint or Google slides. Freemium versions -- free and premium.
- RAWGraphs
Upload data from a spreadsheet or csv file to explore and customize unique options for charts and graphs with this open source data visualization tool - Tableau Public
Robust data visualization program for creating and publishing interactive visualizations. A free version is available, but UD also has licenses available by request for a fuller set of features.
Maps and Timelines
- ArcGIS Online
Geographic information system (GIS) for mapping and analysis. A free version is available, but UD also has licenses available by request for a fuller set of features. - ClioFree web-based tool for creating visual tours
- Google My Maps
Custom maps and tours built on the Google Maps platform - QGIS
Open source geographic information system (GIS) for map building and spatial analysis - StorylineJSOpen-source tool for building annotated, interactive line charts.
- Tiki-TokiAn interactive timeline tool. With a free account, users can create one timeline and share the link to that timeline published online.
- TimelineJSOpen-source tool for building visually rich, interactive timelines.
- Twine
Interactive, non-linear storytelling
Annotation
- Google DocsGoogle Docs features can be used for social annotation.
- Hypothes.isA tool for annotating web sources. Educator accounts can build classroom spaces for collaborative annotation.
- MediathreadPlatform for annotating video, audio, and images; enables integration of multimedia into text.
- PerusallSocial annotation tool for documents, webpages, audio, and video content. Integrates with Canvas.
- VideoAntWeb-based video annotation tool
Text Analysis
- Constellate
Textual analysis platform with an emphasis on tools that foster learning about textual analytics - Voyant
Web-based text analysis tool offering a wide variety of methods and visualizations for analyzing a corpus
Digital Exhibits and Collections
- ArcGIS Story MapsStorytelling with maps and media. The free version is great, but UD has a license to ArcGIS Online which will give you a fuller set of features to explore
- Google SitesBasic website builder with support for text and multimedia elements.
- Omeka S
Digital exhibit and collection builder. UD Libraries hosts an instance of Omeka S - ZoteroZotero is a powerful, easy-to-use research tool that helps you gather, organize, and analyze sources and then share the results of your research.
