Approved Academic Tools
Listed by Function
shows this tool integrates with Canvas
indicates a Generative AI tool
All tools listed on this page are approved for use.
This list presents a curated subset of reviewed learning technology tools, chosen for their enterprise capabilities and widespread adoption. To see the complete list of tools that have been reviewed and the results of the review, please visit the Teaching and Learning: Tools and Technology article.
| Tool |
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| ALDA |
Generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, improving the inclusivity of course materials and activities. |
||
| Lexis+ AI |
college supported |
Support law students to quickly find relevant information and draft documents |
|
| Microsoft Copilot |
Generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, generating and revising text, generating images, audio transcription. |
||
| NOLEJ |
Rapidly developing learning activities and materials (e.g., practice questions, flashcards, etc.). |
||
| NVivo |
Learning qualitative data analysis |
||
| ResearchRabbit |
Find and organize relevant journal articles. |
||
| SMARTIE |
Generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, improving the inclusivity of course materials and activities. Also see the newly created, preferred USask tool ALDA |
|
Tool
|
Icon |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | quizzes, assignments | |
| Cengage Mindlink | limited support | Humanities/Language student practice and assessment (MindTap) and STEM student practice and assessment (WebAssign) | |
| CrowdMark | limited support | handwritten and/or electronic assessments (assignments and exams) | |
| ExamSoft |
college supported |
question bank creation, support the integrity of digital exams. See Respondus Lockdown Browser (for use in other colleges) | |
| H5P | create and share web-based interactive learning activities | ||
| Mentimeter | polling, formative assessment, use Poll Everywhere where applicable | ||
| Mobius | limited support | student practice and assessment | |
| NOLEJ | self-supported, conditions may apply | rapidly developing learning activities and materials (e.g., practice questions, flashcards, etc.) | |
| NVivo | limited support | learning qualitative data analysis | |
| Perusall | self-supported, conditions may apply | annotating shared documents | |
| Poll Everywhere | limited support | student practice, formative assessment, polling | |
| Portfolium | self-supported, conditions may apply | course level assessment, program level evidence of competencies, workspace for reflective learning | |
| fully supported and integrated | Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) ("Scantron") exam grading | ||
| limited support | supports the integrity of digital exams | ||
| Riipen | limited support | integrating authentic projects and work experiences into courses | |
| Smartwork 5 | limited support | STEM student practice and assessment |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Mentimeter | self-supported, conditions may apply | polling, formative assessment, use Poll Everywhere where applicable | |
| Poll Everywhere | limited support | student practice, formative assessment, polling | |
| Zoom Polling | formative assessment, summative assessment, polling |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | discussion board using the liking feature | |
| H5P | limited support | create and share web-based interactive learning activities | |
| Lucidchart | limited support | creating digital, visual organizational tools such as flowcharts, diagrams, and mind maps in synchronous or asynchronous learning activities. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Lucidspark | limited support | brainstorming, sharing ideas, organizing information, and engaging learners in a digital whiteboard learning environment. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Microsoft Copilot | generating and revising text with references included, generating new images, audio transcription of written text, generating questions and assessments to use in teaching, generating course activities. | ||
| Mural | self-supported, conditions may apply | collaborative whiteboarding, mind-mapping | |
| Padlet | self-supported, conditions may apply | collaborative bulletin board with a range of media types, concept mapping | |
| Poll Everywhere | limited support | word clouds, discussion questions | |
| SMARTIE | self-supported, conditions may apply | generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, improving the inclusivity of course materials and activities | |
| XMind | self-supported, conditions may apply | mind-mapping, brainstorming |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | creating learning modules, pages, assignments, etc. | |
| H5P | limited support | create and share web-based interactive learning activities | |
| Lucidchart | limited support | creating digital, visual organizational tools such as flowcharts, diagrams, and mind maps in synchronous or asynchronous learning activities. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Lucidspark | limited support | brainstorming, sharing ideas, organizing information, and engaging learners in a digital whiteboard learning environment. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Microsoft 365 | fully supported and integrated | creating documents and presentations | |
| Microsoft Copilot | generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, generating and revising text, generating images, audio transcription | ||
| NOLEJ | rapidly developing learning activities and materials (e.g., practice questions, flashcards, etc.) | ||
| Panopto | fully supported and integrated | lecture recording, screen capture | |
| Pressbooks | limited support | creating & sharing open textbooks | |
| SMARTIE | self-supported, conditions may apply | generating course elements, generating assessment tasks and questions, improving the inclusivity of course materials and activities | |
| WordPress | self-supported, conditions may apply | blogging, sharing resources | |
| Zoom | fully supported and integrated | synchronous video conferencing, recording, group presentations |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | creating learning modules, pages, assignments, etc. | |
| Cengage Mindlink | limited support | Humanities/Language student practice and assessment (MindTap) and STEM student practice and assessment (WebAssign) | |
| H5P | limited support | create and share web-based interactive learning activities | |
| Lucidchart | limited support | creating digital, visual organizational tools such as flowcharts, diagrams, and mind maps in synchronous or asynchronous learning activities. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Lucidspark | limited support | brainstorming, sharing ideas, organizing information, and engaging learners in a digital whiteboard learning environment. Can be used individually or for group collaboration. | |
| Microsoft 365 | fully supported and integrated | creating documents and presentations | |
| Panopto | fully supported and integrated | lecture recording, screen capture | |
| Perusall | self-supported, conditions may apply | annotating shared documents | |
| Pressbooks | limited support | creating & sharing open textbooks | |
| Smartwork 5 | limited support | STEM student practice and assessment | |
| WordPress | self-supported, conditions may apply | blogging, sharing resources | |
| Zoom | fully supported and integrated | synchronous video conferencing, breakout rooms |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | course announcements, creating groups, course calendar, creating course modules, etc. |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | asynchronous discussion boards | |
| Perusall | self-supported, conditions may apply | annotating shared documents | |
| Zoom | fully supported and integrated | synchronous online discussions for large groups or small groups (breakout rooms) |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Microsoft 365 | fully supported and integrated | document creation and collaboration | |
| OneDrive | fully supported and integrated | file sharing for collaboration | |
| Perusall | self-supported, conditions may apply | annotating shared documents |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
| Mahara | fully supported and integrated | |
| Microsoft 365 (OneNote) | fully supported and integrated | |
| Portfolium | fully supported and integrated | |
| WordPress | limited support |
See the ePortfolio Guide for how to pick the right tool for use in your class.
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Canvas | fully supported and integrated | peer review of submitted assessment, discussion boards | |
| Padlet | multimedia collaborative bulletin board with commenting |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| ResearchRabbit | self-supported, conditions may apply | find and organize relevant journal articles |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Mahara | fully supported and integrated | showcasing evidence of learning across courses and programs | |
| Microsoft 365 | fully supported and integrated | creating reflection notes (OneNote) | |
| Panopto | fully supported and integrated | creating reflection videos | |
| Portfolium | fully supported and integrated | course level assessment, program level evidence of competencies, workspace for reflective learning | |
| WordPress | limited support | blogging |
|
Tool
|
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| Zoom | fully supported and integrated | synchronous lecture or discussions, breakout sessions |
| Tool |
Status |
Support Level |
Can be used for |
| WordPress | limited support | web design |