Distance Learning and Technology Resources

Distance Learning and Technology Resources

This page highlights available technology to assist with virtual class meetings and blended and online teaching.

PLU offers two main services for virtual meetings – Google Hangouts Meet and Zoom.

PLU faculty, staff, and students have access to Google Hangouts Meet, a video calling and conferencing software. This software can be used to conduct virtual meetings or live-stream class sessions. Instructors can record meetings, save them to Google Drive, and share recording links.

PLU faculty all have access to a licensed Zoom account which allows for more interactivity during virtual meetings, and provides access to a digital whiteboard, polling, breakout discussion groups, and more. For assistance with your PLU Zoom account, please email itech@plu.edu.

PLU staff and faculty can download Screencast-O-Matic PRO software to create screencast recordings on their home or campus computer. Explore the resources below to learn more about this strategy.

An abundance of online programs are available to support teaching online – but more options are not always better. The PLUTO team generally recommends that faculty focus on using Sakai and Google Apps for developing online lessons to reduce the need for students to learn several different platforms and applications. Faculty should consider whether the benefits of a particular technology outweigh the time and effort for students (and faculty) to manage yet another learning tool.

Please email questions to teaching@plu.edu.