Curious about which learning technologies can make your course more interactive and engaging? Check out this blog post to discover the tools available to the McGill community that enhance student engagement and support dynamic learning experiences.
Engagement is at the heart of effective learning—whether in a physical classroom or an online space. When students actively discuss, collaborate, and explore course material with curiosity, learning becomes more dynamic and meaningful. However fostering this level of interaction requires the right tools. That’s where learning technologies come in.
But what exactly is engagement in a learning context? At its core, engagement is about fostering meaningful connections—between students and their peers (student-student engagement), students and their instructors (student-instructor engagement), and students and the course material (student-content engagement). These interactions can take place in various modes, whether in class, online, synchronously, or asynchronously. The challenge is finding the right tools to support and enhance these different types of engagement in a way that feels natural and effective.
At McGill, we have access to a range of learning technologies that are available to enhance participation, collaboration, and interactivity. Whether facilitating discussions, creating dynamic content, or encouraging teamwork, these tools help transform passive learning into an active experience. In this post, we’ll explore key engagement-focused technologies that can bring your course to life.
Promote community and collaboration
Mural and Microsoft Whiteboard
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-instructor, student-content
Mural and Microsoft (MS) Whiteboard are digital whiteboards that transform brainstorming, problem-solving, and collaboration into highly interactive experiences. Both tools allow students to visually organize ideas, map out concepts, and engage in teamwork—whether in person or online.
McGill instructors can use these platforms to facilitate real-time discussions, encourage student-driven exploration, and make abstract concepts more tangible. Whether it’s building mind maps, participating in icebreakers, engaging in group problem-solving activities or in-class active learning strategies, Mural and MS Whiteboard create visually stimulating spaces that foster deep engagement and meaningful participation.
Mode of engagement: In-class, online synchronous, online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Mural and MS Whiteboard are not integrated with myCourses.
Getting started:
- Group collaboration with Mural
- How to use Mural – your quickstart guide
- Access MS Whiteboard
- Whiteboard help & learning
Padlet
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-content
Padlet is a simple yet powerful digital bulletin board that transforms the way students share ideas, collaborate, and engage with course content. With its flexible, multimedia-friendly interface, Padlet allows students to post text, images, videos, links, and more—all in an interactive, visually appealing space.
At McGill, instructors can use Padlet to encourage participation and spark discussions. It can be used for activities like interactive Q&A, peer feedback, collaborative research, or brainstorming.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Padlet is not integrated with myCourses but can be added to your content by using the share link.
Getting started:
Poll students with various question types
Polling @ McGill (Vevox): COMING SOON!
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-instructor, student-content
Vevox is a student response system designed to enhance the learning experience by transforming traditional, passive teaching methods into interactive and engaging activities. It offers features such as live multiple-choice polling, written responses, word clouds, and anonymous Q&A, encouraging students to take an active role in lectures, discussions, and group activities.
At McGill University, instructors can use Vevox to check student comprehension, encourage contributions from all participants, and foster meaningful discussions. This helps establish an inclusive learning atmosphere where every student’s voice is valued. Additionally, Vevox supports engagement in both classroom settings and online environments. It integrates with PowerPoint and myCourses, allowing instructors to monitor student participation and performance effectively.
Mode of engagement: In-class, online synchronous, online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Vevox is integrated with myCourses.
Getting started:
- COMING SOON!
Facilitate online discussions
myCourses Discussion Boards
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-instructor, student-content
The myCourses Discussion tool is a versatile platform for fostering thoughtful dialogue, critical thinking, and collaboration among students. Whether used for structured debates, peer feedback, reflections, or informal Q&A, myCourses Discussions provides a space where students can engage in meaningful conversations at their own pace.
At McGill, instructors can use myCourses Discussions to extend classroom discussions, encourage deeper exploration of course topics, and create an inclusive space where all students—regardless of participation style—can contribute. With features like threaded replies, multimedia integration (photos, videos, audio…etc), and instructor moderation, this tool helps cultivate an interactive learning environment that promotes engagement and collaborative knowledge-building.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
Getting started:
Ed Discussions
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-instructor, student-content
Ed Discussions, developed by Ed STEM, is an advanced discussion platform aimed at increasing student engagement and fostering collaborative problem-solving. The platform includes features such as threaded conversations, anonymous posting, and integration of rich multimedia content, creating an interactive environment for students to ask questions, share insights, and dive into in-depth discussions.
At McGill, instructors can leverage Ed Discussions to promote peer-to-peer learning, organize structured question-and-answer sessions, and facilitate complex problem-solving activities. One of the platform’s notable features is its built-in LaTeX support, making it particularly useful for courses that require mathematical notation, coding, or formula-related discussions. Whether students are working together on equations, debugging software code, or exploring course concepts, Ed Discussions offers a versatile platform that encourages student engagement and supports active learning.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Ed Discussions is integrated with myCourses. Ed Discussions must be enabled in your course because McGill has limited licenses available. Fill out this consultation form; specify that you want to add Ed Discussions to your course, and include your course name and code.
Getting started:
- Group collaboration in Ed
- Tips and tricks for instructors (login required)
Support peer-peer learning
Perusall
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-instructor, student-content
Perusall is a social annotation platform designed to enhance reading assignments by creating interactive and collaborative learning experiences. Rather than simply reading course materials passively, students actively participate in discussions within the text itself. They can highlight important passages, leave comments, and interact with their peers.
At McGill, instructors can use Perusall to foster deeper engagement with texts, video, or audio materials, encourage critical thinking, and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. Ultimately, Perusall helps create a sense of community and accountability among students, making the reading process more dynamic and enriching.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Perusall is integrated with myCourses.
Getting started:
VoiceThread
Type of engagement: Student-student, student-content
VoiceThread is a dynamic presentation tool that facilitates conversations around media files. It allows instructors and students the ability to create digital presentations – by uploading various types of media, including images, videos, audio, and documents. Students and instructors can then comment on or “annotate” and engage with the shared media by including in-line text, audio, or video comments.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
myCourses integration: VoiceThread is integrated with myCourses. VoiceThread must be enabled in your course because McGill has limited licenses available. Fill out this consultation form; specify that you want to add VoiceThread to your course, and include your course name and code.
Getting started:
Create engaging content
Creator+
Type of engagement: Student-content
Creator+ is a powerful Content tool that allows instructors to design engaging, interactive learning experiences directly within myCourses Content. It offers a variety of ready-to-use elements, including practice questions, hotspots, and dynamic content layouts such as tabs and flip cards. By incorporating interactive elements, instructors can break up dense information, encourage self-assessment, and promote deeper exploration of course concepts. This approach not only boosts engagement but also helps students retain information more effectively, fostering a more immersive and dynamic learning experience.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
myCourses integration: Creator+ is a myCourses tool and is therefore integrated with myCourses. It can be accessed through the Content tool. Please note that Creator+ must be enabled before using. Fill out this consultation form; specify that you want to add Creator+ to your course, and include your course name and code.
Connect with students
myCourses Announcements
Type of engagement: Student-instructor
The myCourses Announcements tool is a simple yet powerful way to keep students connected, informed, and engaged with your course. With Announcements, instructors can share important updates, reminders, and insights directly on the course homepage, ensuring that students stay on track and actively involved.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
Getting started:
myCourses Email Classlist
Type of engagement: Student-instructor
The Email Classlist function in myCourses is a valuable tool for instructors, allowing for direct and efficient communication with students. This feature enables instructors to send targeted messages to individuals, groups, or the entire class, facilitating effective course communication. The Email Classlist can be used for various purposes, such as providing timely feedback, sending reminders about assignments, or offering additional support beyond class hours. As emails are directed to students’ McGill inboxes, this tool enhances the connection between in-class and out-of-class engagement, ultimately promoting a more cohesive instructor-student learning experience.
Mode of engagement: Online asynchronous
Getting started:
By integrating the right learning technologies, you can transform your course into an engaging, student-centered experience. Whether fostering collaboration with Mural, deepening discussions with myCourses Discussions, or creating engaging content with Creator+, these tools are aimed at making learning more active and meaningful.
Remember, if you need help with a learning technology, you can always book a one-on-one consultation with an Educational Development and Digital Learning Designer at TLS. We look forward to meeting with you!
