Yale Center for Teaching and Learning

Instructional Tools

When considering educational technology tools to support your course, you first need to identify your instructional mode.  Your needs will vary depending on whether your class will meet in-person, remote synchronous, remote asynchronous, or some combination.  Below you will find a brief description of the modes followed by a series of links to tools that can be used to support you class and lecture delivery.

Instructional Modes

  • In-person - Students will meet face to face in the classroom on a set schedule.
  • Remote Synchronous - Students will meet face to face online on a set schedule.
  • Remote Asynchronous - Students will not meet face to face but will interact online.
  • Combination - any combination of the above modes. 

To request an educational technology consultation, please click here.

Avoid non-Yale supported Technology

To avoid compromising the integrity of Yale’s secure networks, systems and institutional data, you should not implement new platforms or resources (free or paid) for Yale teaching without consulting with the Poorvu Center or Yale ITS. Unvetted platforms, tools, or resources pose a data privacy risk as well as legal risk related to FERPA and digital accessibility policies. Accounts created on systems outside of Yale’s vetted resources may impact the security of our students or faculty. Companies often monetize the data they collect – including the intellectual property you submit on unvetted platforms. Contact the Poorvu Center if you need help identifying and implementing solutions for your teaching. 

If faculty or students are interested in using platforms, the Poorvu Center would love to know about the platform and can work to approve it through Yale ITS, the Office of General Counsel, and Risk Management. Remember, free is never free! Please do not require students to use platforms unvetted by the University.

Class Content and Lecture Delivery Tools

Class and lecture content can be delivered synchronously or asynchronously - choosing which tool is right for your course will depend on your course goals and instructional mode. Keep in mind that asynchronous delivery of content can be used in courses that primarily meet face-to-face as a way of reserving in-class time for student discussion.

Communication Tools

In any course, it is critical for instructors to keep in contact with their students. There are many communication tool options available to faculty for both synchronous and asynchronous communication with their students. Make sure that you talk to your students about your preferred communication tool so that they know where to go to find messages about your course and how to contact you if they have questions.

Collaborative Tools

There are a vast number of ways to facilitate collaboration amongst students both during face-to-face and asynchronously online. Many of the available educational technology tools can be implemented to accommodate collaboration in all instructional modes.

Homework/Assignment Activity Tools

Educational technology tools can make homework/assignment management and collection more efficient for both students and instructors. Some educational tools provide features that streamline collection, grading, and feedback for traditional paper-based class homework while other tools help expand beyond traditional homework by opening up more submission options.

Exam / Assessment Tools

Educational technology tools can be used to streamline exams and assessments. Whether the exam is standard research/essay style exam or a multi-question exam multiple-choice style exam, there are tools that can be used to streamline collection, grading, and feedback.

Feedback / Polling Tools

Collecting feedback from students is a great way to gauge your students comfort and understanding both during class and between classes. Examples of feedback instructors might collect includes asking if your students feel comfortable with your course content, your delivery style, and your activities. Feedback and polling tools can also foster inclusivity by being used as a mechanism for students to provide input on topics and activities they would like to engage with as part of your course.