Web and video conferencing tools
McMaster has three recommended web and video conferencing tools for students. The specific video conferencing tools will be specified by the instructor. Some instructors may require the use of some or all of these tools.
Microsoft Teams is a highly collaborative platform and allows students to host and participate in video conferences, share and edit documents together and engage with rich chat functionality. All students can access Microsoft Teams through their Microsoft 365 license. Student-specific training sessions for Teams are also available.
Webex is a secure video conferencing application where students may be participants but cannot host video conferences. You can join video conferences from your browser.
All eligible McMaster faculty, staff and active students now have access to licensed accounts. In some cases, users may need to make an additional request to obtain a zoom license. You can use Zoom on a laptop, smartphone or tablet through your browser or app.
While licenses are available for the campus community, University Technology Services (UTS) strongly recommends that students, staff and faculty members use Microsoft Teams for any sessions or interactions containing sensitive information. Students can view a ‘Features & Use Cases’ comparison table here, which shows the strengths, accessibility and security levels of each McMaster-provided web and video conferencing tool.
Additional tech resources
These additional tech resources will allow students to maintain their access to McMaster tools from online.
Students can access UTS computer labs anywhere with internet. Currently, the Virtual Desktop service has a capacity of 330. When you are finished using these services, please promptly logout so others can access resources. This service is available 24/7
LinkedIn Learning is an on-demand learning platform to help learners gain professional, technical and career skills. All students have access to LinkedIn Learning and do not need a LinkedIn profile.
Echo 360 is a free, active learning and lecture-capturing platform that allows students to view content, take notes and discuss.
McMaster’s libraries are dedicated to providing students with research and learning resources, expert help and friendly service as it moves online. Many resources have increased remote access, such as e-books, journals, databases, along with off-campus access to computers.