COLLEGE PARK, MD (October, 2015) Over the summer, DIT introduced two new academic technology tools on campus. They are Turning Point Cloud and Voice Thread.
Turning Point Cloud
Turning Point Cloud is a cloud-based interface tied to a Turning Point account. Turning Point Cloud is used for classroom polling using clickers. It combines PowerPoint slides into quick polling and assessment in class.
In order to access Turning Point Cloud both instructor and student must register for a turning point account. Each account provides a unique identifier for each user. When an instructor logs into Turning Point Cloud with their own username and password, it will store unique data specific to the individual, including the sessions.
Clickers can be used to gauge understanding of current material presented in class, obtain greater student engagement, or provide small quizzes in class.
Voice Thread
VoiceThread is a web-based tool for asynchronous communication between instructors and students. It allows users to create, share and comment on images, PowerPoint presentation, pdfs, videos and audio files, using a webcam, microphone, or text. Voice thread provides a secure area where multiple students can view multimedia content and exchange ideas.
For further information on using Turning Point Cloud or VoiceThread, please contact Rosalia Webb in Educational Technology Services (ETS) at rosalia5@umd.edu or 301-405-0309.