Top Hat / Guide: Instructor

Purpose

• To answer frequently asked questions about the use of Top Hat 
• To provide resources for instructors to set up Top Hat within Canvas

User

• Miami University Instructor

Environment

• 10185: Canvas

Top Hat Resources 

What is Top Hat?

• Top Hat is an engagement platform that empowers educators to incorporate active learning into every area of their course
• Instructors use Top Hat during class to drive discussions, take live polls, and give students real-time feedback on how well they understand course concepts. Outside of class, Top Hat enables instructors to adopt and personalize interactive content, assignments, and assessments
• Top Hat also offers services such as group training, individual consultation, and instructional design support to help faculty achieve their desired course outcomes
• Miami University has partnered with Top Hat to provide their engagement platform to our faculty, students, and staff at no additional cost to you. In courses where the instructor uses a Top Hat Textbook or other content for a fee, students will be asked to pay for access during the registration process
• Video overview

Getting started for instructors

• Quick Start Guides
  • Create your account and course(s)
  • Navigating your course(s)
  • Create content
  • Create a sample student account
  • Enroll your students
  • Present your content
  • Student participation
  • Take attendance
  • Gradebook
• Videos
  • If you have 5 minutes…
    • Creating questions
    • Presenting in Top Hat
    • Taking attendance
    • Assigning content
    • Top Hat assessment space
  • If you have 30 minutes…
    • Introduction to Top Hat
    • Using Top Hat pages
  • If you have 1 to 2 hours…
    • Top Hat Summer Camp: Recorded by renowned speaker José Anton, Top Hat functionality
    • Top Hat certification: Hands-on Top Hat, delivered in Top Hat

Top Hat platform training is always on

Our series of live and on-demand webinars is designed to help faculty bring active learning to your course — and get comfortable using the features of the Top Hat platform. Watch on-demand or sign up for live webinars here.

Use Top Hat integrated with Canvas

Follow these steps to use Top Hat integrated with Canvas:

1. Set up your Top Hat course
2. Connect your Canvas course to Top Hat
3. Learn about automatic roster sync
4. Create deep links
5. Learn about automatic grade sync
6. Include information in your syllabus about how to get started

Need help?

Get in touch with Top Hat’s support team:

• Live chat in Top Hat’s platform: Find it next to your name, in the top-right corner of your screen
• Phone: 1-888-663-5491, Monday to Friday 9 AM–9 PM EST
• Email: support@tophat.com

Notes

• Students do not pay for the use of Top Hat and once the app is set up by the instructor within Canvas, the students will click the link to get access
• More information can be found at Miami Online's Teach Online website
   
• Miami Online offers Canvas training
  • To find information and to register, go to the Events Calendar and search for Canvas. Resources for using technology. guides, and best practices can be found on the Miami Online website
  • Self-paced training is available to faculty and staff. Go to Miami Online Catalog and log in
• Visit the Canvas Status Dashboard to check performance information for Canvas services
• Instructure provides up-to-date instructor documentation and instructions for Canvas
  • Browse all Canvas Guides by product or see the Canvas Instructor Guide