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As a PGCC student, you have access to eLearning tools that will support your success in your courses - whether they are face-to-face, online, structured remote, or hybrid. Below, learn about each tool and ways to maximize them for your learning.

Ally Alternative Formats

Ally is the College tool that provides alternative formats for digital information within Canvas and on the PGCC website. Alternative formats present digital and printed documents in different formats to ensure equal access to information. Alternative formats can include ePub, electronic braille, MP3 audio, BeeLine Reader, Immersive Reader, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) PDF. To learn more about Ally Alternative Formats, check out this brief video.

Brainfuse

Brainfuse provides 24/7, online tutoring services to PGCC students. With Brainfuse, students have easy access to expert tutors – on demand – across a wide range of subjects up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Brainfuse is available to all PGCC students through their Canvas courses. Each semester, students receive 3 hours (180 minutes) of time to use Brainfuse. If needed, a time extension can be requested. Click here to learn more about Brainfuse.

Canvas

Canvas is an online, cloud-based learning management system that allows students to participate in learning activities like viewing course materials, accessing assignments, submitting coursework, and communicating with instructors and classmates. All credit courses and a select number of Continuing Education courses use Canvas for posting announcements, the course syllabus, the course schedule, faculty contact information, and student grades. Learn more about Canvas by participating in a Student Canvas Overview session. Find upcoming session dates and materials on the Student Overview page.

Copyleaks

Copyleaks is a plagiarism checking software that detects instances of similar and plagiarized text in school work, business documents, websites, and more. Your instructor may opt to use Copyleaks to ensure submitted work adheres to PGCC's Code of Academic Integrity.

Hypothes.is

Hypothes.is is a tool embedded in Canvas that students can use to annotate reading collaboratively, share comments, and pose questions. Your instructor may ask that you use Hypothes.is to engage with the reading and react to comments and questions from your classmates. This brief tutorial covers how to use Hypothes.is for annotations.

Panopto Videos

Panopto is the video platform where students can find recordings of past class sessions on Zoom. To access a recording of a past class session, go to the specific course's navigation menu in Canvas and click on Panopto Videos. Check out the Student Channel in Panopto for video resources on course formats, Canvas features, and more!

Publisher Materials

Instructors may opt to use materials from publishing companies to enhance students' engagement in the educational experience. Publisher materials that PGCC students may encounter include but are not limited to Cengage MindLinks, Follett Discover, Launchpad, Library Database, LibreTexts, MacMillan, McGraw-Hill Campus, Open Educational Resources, Pearson’s MyLab, and Wiley Plus.

Respondus LockDown Browser

Instructors have the option to apply the Respondus Lockdown Browser to assessments in Canvas. When applied, students will be unable to print, capture screen content, go to websites or access other applications while taking assessments. Students will need to download and install the LockDown Browser onto their device in order to access assessments that use the LockDown Browser. Learn how to download and install the Respondus LockDown Browser here.

Respondus Monitor

Instructors have the option to apply Respondus Monitor to assessments to minimize instances of cheating. Respondus Monitor uses the webcam on a student's device to record the entire testing session and uses software to detect possible cheating behaviors - like looking at a phone or another computer, talking to another person in the room, or having someone else take the test. After the exam session, the instructor can access flagged events and results for review.

VoiceThread

VoiceThread is an interactive collaboration and sharing tool that enables students to showcase their work by building online presentations with images, documents, videos, and other media. Once created, other users can add comments for discussion on the student's VoiceThread presentation. Your instructor may assign you a VoiceThread activity as part of your course activities and graded assignments.

Zoom

Zoom is a communications platform that allows users to connect with one another via audio, video, chat, and phone. Students may engage in class sessions with their instructor and fellow students via Zoom. To access a live Zoom session for a Canvas course, log into Canvas, select the course, select Zoom in the course navigation menu and click on the link provided by the instructor. To find recordings of past Zoom session, click on Panopto Videos. If you encounter an issue with Zoom, please submit a ticket via askPGCC.