Web Conferencing Tools

Towson University offers web-conferencing, lecture capture and a-synchronous collaboration tools. 

Web Conferencing Tools

Webex 

Webex Meetings, Webex (formerly Webex Teams) and your Personal Meeting Room allow you to virtually meet with other people from any location. With a host account, you have access to your virtual conference space or you can schedule a meeting using a unique URL. Other features include messaging, file sharing, white boarding. You can use Meetings on your desktop or across mobile devices (Android and iOS).

Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform that can be used for video conferencing meetings, audio conferencing, webinars, meeting recordings, and live chat. You can use Zoom on your desktop or across mobile devices (Android and iOS).

Lecture Capture

Panopto

Panopto is TU's easy-to-use and flexible instructional recording package, and can be used from a computer or mobile device. It integrates closely with Blackboard allowing faculty to easily share content online. Panopto also allows for live streaming events, communications, and lectures with the ability to record as it is broadcasting. 

A-Synchronous Collaboration

VoiceThread

VoiceThread is an online collaboration and discussion platform in Blackboard. You can easily comment and respond with audio, video, or text; upload media (images, videos, presentations, etc.) for discussion; and create graded or ungraded assignments. The instructional uses for VoiceThread include student presentation, online discussions, foreign language assignments, and more. 

TU's has conferencing tool options to fit your academic or business needs.

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Live Streaming Accessibility

Listed below recommendations and resources related to conducting live and accessible virtual meetings or events on platforms such as WebEx/Zoom. 

Note: while useful for general purposes, no automated captioning/transcription within a platform (i.e. Webex, Zoom), is accurate enough for ADA compliance. 

  • If possible, require registration for your event and include a field asking if registrants have a need for a disability accommodation.
  • Close registration several business days in advance of your event to ensure adequate time for making accommodations for captioning/transcript.
  • If registration is not feasible and more than 15 attendees are expected, arrange for live captioning/transcription when doing initial planning.
  • If registration is not feasible and less than 15 attendees are expected, include how to request an accommodation in all messaging and advertising.

Live captioning/transcription provides a separate URL view next to the main meeting window for a real-time transcription feed. This is generated by an actual person and not AI and every live TU event with captioning will have its own unique URL.

  • If you have the url in advance: if you know in advance that you'll be captioning/transcribing the event and have already initiated captioning services, include the URL with your initial invitation.
  • If you obtain the url after the invite has been sent: update where possible to include the caption/transcription URL.
  • During the meeting: paste the caption/transcription URL into the meeting chat box upon launch, and then do so again about 10 minutes after you begin so that any late arrivals know how to access the live caption/transcription feed.

If you plan to record your event and provide access on-demand, your video should be closed captioned/transcribed, To request video or audio transcriptions, complete and submit this form.  

TU supports numerous virtual event/meeting platforms, although there is not a one size fits all solution when it comes to accessible technology. For consultation to determine which TU platform is best for your audience's needs, request a captioning accommodation.

Questions about guidance on captioning and transcripts can be sent to . See self-help articles about Digital Accessibility.