Whether you are new to the university, or a veteran instructor looking to explore new learning technologies, the guides below will help you get started with Ohio State Toolsets. "Getting Started" guides orient you to the basic function and setup for each tool. They cover logistics like logging in, creating accounts and profiles, understanding and customizing key settings and features, and how to get help.
When you're not sure where to begin with a new tool, the Getting Started guide is your go-to resource. You can also share these guides with students at the start of the semester or before coursework or assignments that require them to use one or more tools.
CarmenCanvas
CarmenCanvas is Ohio State's learning management system—your hub for housing course content, assignments, grades, communications, and more.
Learn more
- Explore more CarmenCanvas guides.
- Learn about the Carmen Essentials, four key elements of a student-friendly Carmen course.
- Discover ten student-authored suggestions for an effective course in Carmen Common Sense: Basic Best Practices.
CarmenZoom
CarmenZoom is an academic audio and web conferencing tool that also integrates with CarmenCanvas. You can use it for remote teaching, advising sessions, virtual group work, meetings, and more.
Learn more
- Explore more CarmenZoom guides.
- Consider how to foster a welcoming and supportive environment in Zoom with Creating a Positive Learning Environment in CarmenZoom.
Mediasite
Mediasite is a video and lecture capture tool you can use to record lectures and class sessions, as well as to manage videos for your course. It integrates with Carmen for a more seamless user experience. Mediasite is also our recommended tool for captioning your instructional videos.
Learn more
- Explore more Mediasite guides.
- Discover tips and techniques for creating effective and engaging videos for your course in Best Practices for Recording Instructional Videos.
PebblePad
PebblePad is the university's ePortfolio service. Students and instructors alike can create ePortfolios to curate digital evidence of reflection, learning, and professional development. Ohio State's General Education (GE) curriculumhas a structured pathway for students to incorporate reflective learning in ePortfolios throughout their undergraduate experience.
Learn more
- Explore more PebblePad guides.
- Explore ideas for integrating ePortfolios in your course at ePortfolios in the Curriculum: Incorporating Reflection Into Your Course.
- Learn about Ohio State's GE curriculum in Planning Your Course for the General Education Curriculum.
Top Hat
Top Hat is a web-based classroom response system for creating interactive lectures, polling students, and more. Top Hat is a useful tool for integrating active learning in large lectures or for surveying an audience during a presentation. It can also integrate with CarmenCanvas.
Learn more
- Explore more Top Hat guides.
- Discover guidance for Teaching Large Enrollment Courses.
- Learn how to use Top Hat in settings outside the classroom, such as event and conference presentations, in Top Hat Guest Mode.
U.OSU
U.OSU is a user-friendly professional website platform. Ohio State faculty, staff, and students can use U.OSU for academic or professional activities. Use your U.OSU site to share your research, host course assignments, facilitate collaborative projects and communications, and more.
Learn more
- Explore more U.OSU guides.
Get Help
The learning technology tools listed above are centrally supported by the Learning Systems Support team within the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation. If you cannot find the answer you seek in our instructional guides, visit the Toolsets Help forms to request individualized assistance.