Digital Tools
Looking for ideas?
Below we have compiled a list of a variety of tools that may help you in your online journey and to help you in creating material/projects for your course work.
Blackboard Support
Blackboard.com Student Help
Main Functionality: Blackboard is Humber’s Learning Management System. It is an online classroom where your instructor will provide learning materials, assignments, assessments, group collaboration and online communication etc. For assistance or tutorials, visit the website below.
Website: Blackboard Videos
Creating Simple Websites
Main Functionality: Create a website, no programming or design skills needed. Uses your Google Drive account to store images and files you share on your site.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: Google Sites
Main Functionality: This website is designed to help you start creating simple websites, guiding you through each step of the process, from initial planning, creation using free tools, to publishing the finished product.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: Idea Lab
Main Functionality: Free website builder makes it easy to create a website, blog, or online store.
Free version features: Free SSL security, advanced site stats and sites search etc.
Website: Weebly
Main Functionality: This website gives you a platform to create your own website. Easy drag n’ drop.
Free version features: 500 free designer-made templates.
Website: Wix
Graphic Creation
Main Functionality: Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games.
Free version features: Full open source program.
What students needs to do: Download free software from website (donation option also available).
Website: Blender
Main Functionality: Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content. It is available on web and mobile, and integrates millions of images, fonts, templates and illustrations.
Free version features: Access to free graphics, images and templates.
What students need to do: Create a personal account on the platform.
Website: Canva
Main Functionality: Easel.ly is a simple web tool that empowers anyone to create and share powerful visuals (infographics, posters)… no design experience needed.
What students need to do: Create an personal account on the platform.
Website: Easel.ly
Main Functionality: Access to Microsoft Office software cloud for Humber Students.
What students need to do: Login on page and use Humber credentials to log in.
Website: Humber Office 365
Main Functionality: Piktochart is a web-based infographic application which allows users without intensive experience as graphic designers to easily create infographics and visuals using themed templates.
Free version features: Unlimited creation, intuitive editor, access to all images and icon; and downloads with sharing capabilities.
What students need to do: Create an personal account on the platform.
Website: Piktochart
Image Curation
Main Functionality: Free stock photos and videos that can be used for projects and assignments.
Free version features: The free option is limited to 1000 photos or videos stored, with videos limited to 3 minutes.
What students need to do: Create an personal account on the platform.
Website: Flickr
Humber Libraries’ Idea Lab – Infographics
Main Functionality: This website has resources and tutorials to help you start creating infographics. Explore each step of the process, from initial planning to working on the finished product.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: Idea Lab: Infographics
Main Functionality: Free stock photos you can use everywhere.
Free version features: Access to free graphics, images and templates.
What students need to do: Create a personal account on the platform.
Website: Pexels
Main Functionality: Online photo editor that allows you to edit right in your browser.
Free version features: Basic photo editor opens almost any image format such as PSD (Photoshop), PXD, JPEG, PNG etc.
What students need to do: Click on Pixlr X or Pixlr E heading for free versions.
Website: Pixlr
Main Functionality: Diverse collection of free icons. The website that aggregates and catalogs symbols that are created and uploaded by graphic designers around the world.
Website: The Noun Project
Main Functionality: Freely usable images. Unsplash is a website dedicated to sharing stock photography under the Unsplash license.
Website: Unsplash
Learning Tools
Main Functionality: LinkedIn Learning is a website dedicated to online learning by providing access to thousands of online video tutorials created by industry experts. The library of videos cover a range of topics including business, design, photography, and education to help you achieve your learning goals.
Free: Available for all Humber Students.
What students need to do: Log in with Humber credentials.
Website: Humber’s LinkedIn Learning
Main Functionality: The Learning Portal includes tips on research, writing and study skills.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: The Learning Portal
Main Functionality: A library of video lessons where students can freely review and search topics related to course information. Many of the educational videos are collaborations between educators and students.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: TED-Ed
Main Functionality: Free video upload service.
Website: YouTube
Multimedia
Main Functionality: Free, open source, cross-platform audio software.
Website: Audacity
Humber Academic Application Streaming Service
Main Functionality: Application streaming (AppStream) available to Humber students is a technology that provides users with instant access to a growing list of desktop software.
Website: Information Technology Services
Main Functionality: Multiple software available to download for Humber students such as AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, Revit and much much more.
Free: Available for Humber Students (login with Humber credentials).
Website: Information Technology Services
Humber Libraries’ Idea Lab – Podcasting & Audio Recording
Main Functionality: This website has resources and tutorials to help you start creating Podcasts. Use the menu to navigate through each step of the process, from initial planning to uploading the finished product.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Presentations
Humber Libraries’ Idea Lab – Presentation Primer
Main Functionality: This website is designed to help you create engaging presentations. Explore three components common to great presentations: storytelling, slides, and presence.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: Idea Lab: Presentation Primer
Main Functionality: Presentation software. Access to Microsoft Office software cloud for Humber Students.
What students need to do: Login on page and use Humber credentials to log in.
Website: Humber Office 365
Humber Libraries’ Idea Lab – Podcasting & Audio Recording
Main Functionality: Cloud based animation software to create videos or presentations.
Free version features: Powtoon – Free signup and access to free content only. Vyond – All features for a 14 day trial.
What students need to do: Create an personal account on the platform.
Main Functionality: Presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring a different look to your presentation.
Free version features: Unlimited presentations.
Website: Prezi
Main Functionality: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more. Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports.
What students need to do: Login on page and use Humber credentials to log in.
Website: Humber Office 365
Quiz Tools & Research Help
Main Functionality: Quizlet is a mobile and web-based study application that allows students to study information via learning tools and games.
Website: Quizlet
Main Functionality: Assistance with research for assignments is available by chat, online appointment, and email.
Free: Available to Everyone.
Website: Humber Libraries Research Support and the Library Website
Video Editing
Main Functionality: Offers many options for editing video and audio, including adding photos, music, and narration to your videos.
Free version features: Full video editing.
What students need to do: Download from Apple App Store.
Website: iMovie
Main Functionality: Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games.
Free version features: Full open source program.
What students need to do: Download free software from website (donation option also available).
Website: Blender
Humber Libraries’ Idea Lab – Creating Video
Main Functionality: This website has resources and tutorials to help you create videos. Explore each step of the video creation process, from initial planning, scripting, filming, editing (with free software) to uploading the finished product.
Free: Available for Everyone.
Website: Idea Lab: Creating Videos
Main Functionality: Powerful video editor. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Free version features: Free or pro version available.
Website: Lightworks
Main Functionality: This is a video creation platform powered by A.I. that enables anyone without training or experience to easily create engaging video content.
Free version features: Standard media library, 3000+ music tracks, popular themes, can download 5 videos every month.
Website: Lumen5
Main Functionality: Online video editor is a fast & powerful video maker. Turn your photos and video clips into video stories.
Free version features: Free Trial Only. $ 4.99 per month.
What students need to do: Download from either Apple App Store or Google Play.
Website: Magisto
Main Functionality: Converts video to MP4, WebM (vp8), Ogg Theora, or for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Free version features: Can create one movie project to make movies and slideshows, trim video, join video, add background music, and save your project to output video file.
What students need to do: Download from website. Pro version is also available.
Website: Microsoft Movie Maker
Main Functionality: Converts video to MP4, WebM (vp8), Ogg Theora, or for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Free version features: Full open source program.
What students need to do: Download Miro Video Converter from website.
Website: Miro Video Converter
Articles and Resources About Learning Online
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12 Free Online Study Tools Every Student Should Know About. Wignall, A. (2019, December 18). Retrieved from College Raptors.
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11 Digital Education Tools For Teachers And Students. Chauhan, A. (2018, March 31). Retrieved from eLearning Industry.
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25 Important Apps And Digital Learning Tools For University Students. Romaniuk, S. N. (2018, April 18). Retrieved from eLearning Industry.
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17 Tech Tools for Online College Students: Boost Productivity and Better Manage Your Time. Global, P. U. (2018, June 28). Retrieved from Purdue University Global.
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Adjusting your study habits during COVID. University of Michigan (2020, March 12). Retrieved from University of Michigan.
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California colleges are going online. How ready are they? Vanessa Arredondo, F. M. (2020, MARCH 17). Retrieved from CalMatters.