Remote learning toolkit

Whether you're attending completely remotely or taking hybrid courses, there are a few tools you’ll need to become familiar with this fall. ASU is committed to facilitating the best learning experience for all students, and mastering these tools will help you get the most out of your courses. 

Canvas

Canvas is the hub for your classes and includes information like your syllabuses and class schedule, offers a place to communicate with your professors, and may be where you submit assignments or participate in class discussions. You can access Canvas through My ASU by clicking on your class name in the My Classes box.

Zoom

You’ll likely become very familiar with Zoom during the fall semester. Your ASU Sync classes will take place there (you’ll access Zoom through My ASU) and it will be your go-to for virtual student group meetings, office hours with professors, and meetings with everyone from career counselors to the tutoring center, your First-Year Success coach and more. Brush up on some of the key features, like where the video, chat and mute buttons are, along with quick tips for participating in class discussions here. 

Slack

This is a tool for conversations, discussions and connections. Some classes will use Slack as a place for you to chat with classmates and your professor, or you might use it to chat with your FYS coach, or work with a student group. There are a wide variety of ways that you can use this channel, but primarily it’s a method of communication for quick chats, group-wide information and conversation. Learn more about using Slack at ASU here.  

Google for Education

The Google for Education package, or G-suite, includes your Gmail account, Google Drive, Sheets, Docs and more. Using this tool, you’ll be able to create collaborative documents, spreadsheets and presentations for group work, share files with classmates or professors, and access your work digitally from anywhere. Learn more about ASU’s Google for Education here. 

YellowDig

You’ll use YellowDig for classes that require a lot of student collaboration and discussion. When posting discussions and questions on YellowDig, you’ll be awarded points based on when you post, the discussion your post generates and your responses to other student posts. You’ll only use YellowDig if your professor for a particular course has decided to use it, but if you are, you’ll want to understand the basics. Learn how to use YellowDig here. 

iClicker

If your instructor is using this tool, you’ll be able to access it through your mobile phone, computer or by using a clicker device. It’s used primarily to facilitate class discussions by building class participation through polls and quizzes. Learn more about the iClicker and how to connect your account to your class here.

These virtual tools are available to you in your Digital Backpack or through My ASU. Set yourself up for success by downloading the tools you’ll need and familiarizing yourself with the platforms before classes start. If you have questions about any of the software or platforms you’ll need for classes, contact the ASU Experience Center.