With the introduction of Harmonize to your teaching toolkit, you'll unlock a world of possibilities that will transform how you and your students engage meaningfully in the online environment. Harmonize is more than just a discussion tool; it's a gateway to creating a vibrant and inclusive learning environment where students' voices can be heard using multiple ways to interact! Its intuitive design is crafted to seamlessly integrate with Canvas, ensuring a smooth transition for both you and your students. Whether you're looking to foster dynamic discussions, amplify student engagement, or streamline communications, Harmonize brings your educational aspirations to life. Whether you are new to online discussion platforms or have prior experience, this guide will help you navigate Harmonize with ease and make the most of its features.
Harmonize is a tool that is currently being offered to faculty who participate in Curriculum Development with VCU Online.
Designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, Harmonize integrates seamlessly within Canvas, making access to its dashboard a breeze! This section is dedicated to guiding you through the Harmonize interface, all without leaving the Learning Management Sys.
Take a look at the video below to familiarize yourself with the main components:
Diving into the Harmonize platform unlocks multiple avenues designed to enrich course assignments. This section will discuss how to leverage Harmonize's unique features and will explain how each tool offers a distinct way to engage students, assess their understanding, and foster a collaborative learning environment.
Discussion Board Assignments:
Learn how to create dynamic discussion forums where students can take a deep dive into course content, share insights, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Creating a discussion assignment with Harmonize Assignment on Canvas.Poll Assignments:
Discover how to integrate polls into your coursework, offering a quick and effective way to gauge student opinions, understanding, and interest. Polls can serve as a valuable tool for real-time feedback and class engagement
How to Set up Harmonize Poll (Graded) in Canvas LMSPDF Annotation Assignments:
Explore the capabilities of PDF annotation within Harmonize, enablinlg students to directly interact with course materials. This feature allows for a hands-on approach to learning, encouraging students to highlight, comment, and question as they read.
How to Create a Harmonize PDF Annotation Assignment in CanvasAs the instructor, you have the ability to moderate discussions in Harmonize. You can monitor student contributions, provide feedback, and guide the conversation. Take advantage of the moderation tools, such as flagging inappropriate posts and deleting comments, to maintain a respectful and inclusive discussion environment.
Harmonize offers built-in auto-grading options, allowing you to assess student participation and contributions easily. You can set grading criteria, such as the quality of posts, frequency of participation, and engagement with peers. Take a look at the video below to see how Harmonize's auto-grading feature works:
Harmonize offers various features to facilitate meaningful interactions with your students. Here are some ways you can engage with them:
Many Ways to Participate: The Harmonize platform supports all expression types by allowing learners and instructors to use text, video, screenshare, audio files, and embedded videos to contribute to the assignment. As a result, this allows the discussions to be accessible to diverse learners and can help the more introverted students shine!
AI Rubric Coach: Harmonize recognizes that each student's journey is unique. Because of this, they now offer an AI Rubric Coach that provides a tailored learning experience with real-time feedback aligned to the assignment's provided rubric. This personalized approach helps to ensure full participation and growth in each activity.
Removing the Barriers: Harmonize's content editor has been designed with accessibility in mind. The platform auto-captions videos and is designed to have the same functionality across multiple devices. Whether working from a laptop or mobile device, students will have the same experience.
Engagement Insights: Harmonize offers an engagement insights dashboard that allows instructors to get a clear picture of how each student is performing on their assignments. The metrics provide a way for professors to see a student's performance and identify those students who may need additional help. (Take a look at this Engagement Insights article to learn more)
Harmonize Article: Why the Online Discussion Board Matters & How to Get Students Excited About it
Harmonize Video: Better Discussion Prompts with Harmonize and ChatGPT
If you encounter any issues or have questions while using Harmonize, there are several resources available to support you:
VCU Online Open Office Hours
VCU Online Workshops (Coming Soon)
Harmonize Client Portal and Resources
Harmonize Virtual Training Series
Congratulations! You have now been equipped with the knowledge to effectively use Harmonize, the new discussion platform designed to enhance the learning experience for both you and your students. By leveraging its features, you can foster engaging discussions, promote collaboration, and create a vibrant online learning environment. Should you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to reach out to your support team for assistance. Happy discussing!