Top Hat - Detailed Review
Self Improvement Tools
Top Hat - Product Overview
Top Hat Overview
Top Hat is a comprehensive education technology platform that focuses on enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes in higher education. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:
Primary Function
Top Hat is designed to make the classroom experience more interactive and engaging. It allows instructors to create a dynamic learning environment by integrating various tools such as polls, quizzes, discussions, and assignments directly into their teaching methods. This platform supports both in-class and remote instruction, facilitating active learning in synchronous and asynchronous formats.
Target Audience
The primary target audience for Top Hat includes higher education instructors and students. The platform is used by over 24,000 educators and 3 million students across more than 750 North American institutions.
Key Features
Student Response & Assessment
Top Hat enables instructors to conduct polls, quizzes, discussions, and assignments. It also includes features for automatic attendance tracking and various question types to assess student learning.
Customizable Content
Instructors can personalize content using the Top Hat Catalog, create custom textbooks, and design interactive labs. The platform also allows for the creation of interactive slides with annotations and questions.
Educator Tools & Insights
Top Hat provides real-time data and insights to help instructors identify struggling students or difficult concepts. It also offers integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas, making it easy to manage grades and content.
Accessibility and Support
The platform is accessible on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It offers extensive support through live chat, phone, email, and a comprehensive support center. Additionally, Top Hat provides training opportunities, including self-paced and instructor-led sessions.
Affordability
Top Hat helps make education more affordable by offering discounted textbooks to students, which can be ordered through the university bookstore.
Overall, Top Hat is a versatile tool that enhances the classroom experience by fostering engagement, providing actionable insights, and supporting evidence-based teaching and learning practices.
Top Hat - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of Top Hat
The user interface of Top Hat, particularly in its AI-driven product category with the assistant named Ace, is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, focusing on enhancing both teaching and learning experiences.
Ease of Use
- Ace, Top Hat’s AI-powered assistant, simplifies the process for educators to prepare and engage their students. With just a few clicks, educators can generate discussion questions, hints, and explanations directly from their lecture slides or course content. This feature saves time and ensures that the questions are relevant and aligned with the course material.
- For students, Ace provides personalized study support. Students can access Ace through both the desktop and mobile app, allowing them to break down concepts, find guidance on homework questions, and test their knowledge at any time and from any location.
User Experience
- Discussion Question Generation: Educators can use Ace to generate discussion questions from their lecture slides, promoting more student interactions in classroom sessions. This feature encourages low-stakes, frequent assessments, which are proven to drive student participation.
- Personalized Study Support: Ace offers students personalized study assistance, similar to what they would receive from a tutor. Students can ask questions and receive detailed, timely responses based on the course material. This helps students take more precise and in-depth notes and better comprehend the course content.
- On-Demand Practice Sessions: Students can initiate practice sessions through the Top Hat mobile app, where Ace generates multiple-choice questions based on the assignment content. Students receive instant feedback, helping them review and build confidence in their knowledge.
Engagement
- The platform is designed to foster engagement through interactive content. Top Hat Pages allow educators to add various question types, local examples, case studies, videos, and images that reflect students’ lives and interests. This makes the learning experience more engaging and relevant.
- The Class Threads feature enables students to start conversations alongside their assigned course material, allowing them to ask questions, connect, and learn from each other asynchronously.
Factual Accuracy
- Ace ensures that the content generated is accurate and aligned with the course material. Educators have the option to edit any part of the generated questions to ensure they fit perfectly with their assignments.
Overall, the user interface of Top Hat with Ace is streamlined to make it easy for both educators and students to use. It enhances engagement, provides immediate feedback, and offers personalized support, all of which contribute to a positive and effective learning experience.
Top Hat - Key Features and Functionality
Top Hat’s AI Integration in Higher Education
Top Hat, a leading provider of higher education engagement solutions, integrates AI in several key features to enhance the learning experience. Here are the main features and how they work:
AI-Generated Discussion Questions
Top Hat’s AI-powered lecture enhancer, part of its Ace assistant, can generate discussion questions from educators’ own lecture slides. This feature encourages more student interactions in classroom sessions by using the proven strategy of low-stakes, frequent assessments to drive student participation. Educators can generate these questions with just a few clicks, making it easy to foster critical thinking and collaboration.
Expanded Study Assistant Access
Ace’s study assistant feature is now available to all Top Hat users on both desktop and mobile platforms. This tool provides students with personalized study support, similar to what they would receive from a tutor. Students can use Ace to break down complex concepts, find guidance on difficult homework questions, and test their knowledge anytime and anywhere. This accessibility ensures students have continuous support outside of traditional classroom hours.
AI-Powered On-Demand Practice Sessions
Ace offers a new practice tool that allows students to independently test their knowledge at their convenience. Students can start a quick practice session on the Top Hat mobile app, and Ace generates multiple-choice questions based on the content in their assignments. Students receive instant feedback, enabling them to review their learnings and track their scores in each session, which helps build confidence in their understanding of the material.
Authoring Tools and Customizable Content
Top Hat provides intuitive authoring tools that allow instructors to create a variety of content, including quizzes, assignments, and multimedia presentations. These tools enable educators to publish their own textbooks, lab manuals, study guides, and homework packs, which can be customized to align with specific course objectives. This customization ensures the content is relevant and engaging for students, and instructors can even earn royalties from their original content.
Real-Time Data and Insights
Top Hat generates actionable insights from attendance, quiz, poll, assignment, and test data. This real-time data allows educators to track student progress, identify areas where additional support is needed, and implement personalized interventions to improve learning outcomes. This data-driven approach helps educators make informed decisions and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly.
Integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Top Hat seamlessly integrates with various LMS platforms such as Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle. Features like roster sync, grade sync, and deep linking ensure a smooth experience for both educators and students. The integration also includes single sign-on, making it convenient for users to access Top Hat content without multiple logins.
Interactive and Personalizable Content
Top Hat’s platform allows for the creation of interactive content, including discussions, polls, and assignments. The content can be personalized using the Pages Content Editor, which enables educators to customize their courses to deliver a dynamic learning experience. This interactive nature promotes a student-centric focus, encouraging collaboration, critical thinking, and community engagement.
Support for AI in Learning
Top Hat offers resources like the “Using AI for Learning” module, developed in partnership with Dr. Abram Anders from Iowa State University. This module helps students develop a functional knowledge of generative AI tools, think critically about AI output, and maintain academic integrity while leveraging AI’s capabilities. The module is available in interactive and presentation formats, both of which are editable to reflect unique AI policies and classroom needs.
These features collectively enhance the learning experience by leveraging AI to support educators in creating engaging, personalized, and data-driven learning environments.
Top Hat - Performance and Accuracy
Evaluation of Top Hat’s Performance in Self-Improvement Tools
To evaluate the performance and accuracy of Top Hat in the self-improvement tools category, particularly focusing on AI-driven features, here are some key points based on the available information:
Engagement and Accuracy
Top Hat’s AI-powered tool, Ace, has been integrated to enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Here are some highlights:
- Ace’s Performance: Ace has undergone extensive testing with educators and students, and it consistently delivers in terms of speed and accuracy. Fewer than five percent of the questions suggested by Ace need to be edited by users, indicating a high level of accuracy in generating questions based on slide content and imagery.
- In-Context Learning: Ace uses in-context learning to analyze slide content and imagery, ensuring that the recommendations are accurate and of high quality. This helps in creating an engaging learning environment where students can actively participate.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While the available information highlights the positive aspects of Top Hat’s AI capabilities, there are some areas to consider:
- User Control and Customization: While Ace provides accurate recommendations, educators still have the option to edit questions before adding them to their presentations. This ensures that educators maintain complete control over the content, which is crucial for maintaining accuracy and relevance.
- Feedback and Improvement: The system relies on user feedback to some extent. For instance, if users find any inaccuracies or need adjustments, they can edit the questions suggested by Ace. However, there is no detailed information on how the system learns from this feedback to improve over time.
- Scope of AI Capabilities: The current information does not provide a comprehensive view of how Ace handles nuanced or complex topics that might require deeper critical thinking or contextual understanding. It is primarily focused on generating multiple-choice questions and providing summaries, which might not cover all aspects of self-improvement or deeper learning.
Student and Educator Feedback
The feedback from students and educators is generally positive:
- Students appreciate Ace for its timely and detailed responses, which help them take more precise and in-depth notes and better understand the course content.
- Educators find Ace helpful in scaling personal support for students and fostering more impactful learning experiences.
Conclusion
Top Hat’s AI-driven tool, Ace, demonstrates strong performance in terms of engagement and accuracy, particularly in generating questions and providing summaries. However, there may be areas for improvement, such as how the system learns from user feedback and handles more complex topics. Overall, the feedback from both students and educators indicates that Ace is a valuable addition to the learning process, but continuous monitoring and improvement are necessary to address any emerging limitations.
Top Hat - Pricing and Plans
Top Hat Pricing Plans
Top Hat, an active learning platform for higher education, offers a clear and structured pricing plan that caters to the different needs of students and institutions.
Student Plans
Top Hat provides several subscription options for students:
- 1 Term (4 months): $33 – This plan is ideal for a single semester.
- 1 Year (12 months): $53 – Suitable for students who need the platform for the entire academic year.
- 4 Years (48 months): $96 – This is the best option for long-term use, often chosen when Top Hat is used campus-wide.
Features in Student Plans
All student plans include:
- Interactive lectures and discussions
- Engagement in assignments, quizzes, and readings
- Mobile app access for on-the-go learning
- Attendance tracking
- Instant feedback on assignments and quizzes
- Gradebook tracking
- 24/7 support
Institutional Plans
For institutions, Top Hat offers custom pricing plans:
- Department or Institution-Wide Solutions: These plans can be customized to meet the specific needs of departments or entire institutions. They include additional features such as:
- Slide presentations and editing tools
- Automated attendance and polling questions
- Comprehensive weekly insights on student performance and attendance
- Full gradebook and LMS integration
- Training, resources, and support for faculty and staff
Free Option
Top Hat introduced a free version called Top Hat Basic in 2020:
- Top Hat Basic: This free version is available to students and professors and includes features such as:
- Live streaming and recording of lectures
- Real-time in-class engagement tools (attendance, live chatting, discussions, polling, and quizzing)
- Interactive digital textbooks
- Secure online tests and exams with remote proctoring functionality
- Integration with synchronous video sessions and chat functionality
This free version is particularly useful for educators looking to enhance their online and blended courses without additional costs.
Top Hat - Integration and Compatibility
Top Hat Overview
Top Hat is a versatile educational tool that integrates seamlessly with various learning management systems (LMS) and operates across a range of devices and platforms, ensuring both instructors and students can engage effectively.Integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Top Hat has advanced integration capabilities, particularly with systems like UB Learns (Brightspace). This integration allows instructors to sync grading and class roster information between Top Hat and the LMS, making it easier to manage student registration, onboarding, and grading. Here are some key integration features:Key Integration Features
Compatibility Across Different Platforms
Top Hat is compatible with a variety of web browsers and devices:Web Browsers
Top Hat can be used on the three latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. It is optimized for Google Chrome and also works well with Mozilla Firefox. However, it does not support Internet Explorer.Mobile Devices
The Top Hat – Better Learning app is available for both iOS (Apple) and Android devices. This app is designed for student use only and allows students to participate in classes using their mobile devices. Instructors cannot create or present content from the app. The app requires the latest or one of the two latest iOS versions for iOS devices and the latest OS version for Android devices. Certain Android variants like Fire OS, Silent OS, YunOS, and the Nokia X Platform are not supported.Additional Features and Support
Top Hat also integrates with other tools through features like Single Sign-on (SSO) and deeplink proxying, especially when used with platforms like VitalSource. This ensures a frictionless access experience for students and direct access to specific assignments within the platform. For support, Top Hat offers one-on-one onboarding, instructional design expertise, and 24/7 technical assistance. The platform also includes a support hub for troubleshooting and FAQs, ensuring smooth navigation of its features.Conclusion
In summary, Top Hat’s integration with LMS systems and its compatibility across various browsers and devices make it a highly accessible and user-friendly tool for both instructors and students. Top Hat - Customer Support and Resources
Top Hat Customer Support Overview
Top Hat, a platform aimed at enhancing classroom engagement and learning, offers a comprehensive array of customer support options and additional resources to ensure users get the most out of the platform.Customer Support Options
For any issues or questions, Top Hat provides several support channels:Live Chat
Available within the Top Hat app, this feature allows you to get immediate help from a support agent.
Phone Support
You can contact Top Hat Support by calling 1-888-663-5491, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.
Email Support
For non-urgent issues, you can email support@tophat.com for assistance.
Support Center
Top Hat has a dedicated support center where you can submit a new support request directly from within your course or access various knowledge articles and resources.
Course-Specific Support
If your issue is specific to a particular course, you can submit a support request directly from within that course. Here’s how:Steps to Submit a Support Request
- Navigate to the course where you’re experiencing the issue.
- Click on the Support option at the bottom-left of your Top Hat course.
- Select Submit a New Support Request and provide a detailed explanation of your issue.
Additional Resources
Top Hat offers a wealth of resources to help instructors and students:Training and Certification Programs
Top Hat provides dedicated one-on-one training, hands-on instructional design support, and certification programs to help instructors master active learning strategies and data-driven insights.
Comprehensive Learning Resources
Access live and on-demand webinars, in-depth guides, and articles that offer the latest teaching tips and best practices for engaging students through active learning.
Community Support
Join a community of over 250 Top Scholars, which includes engaged and innovative instructors committed to advancing higher education. This community provides a platform to learn from peers, build networks, and share tips on using Top Hat effectively.
Technical Support
Reliable technical support is available for both instructors and students via phone, email, or live chat through the Top Hat app.
Faculty and Student Resources
Top Hat offers specific resources for both faculty and students:Instructor Resources
Includes guides on how to use Top Hat for polling, discussions, displaying lecture material, tracking attendance, and syncing grades with the Learning Management System (LMS).
Student Resources
Students can find help on how to respond to Top Hat questions and prompts using their devices, as well as general support options.
By leveraging these support options and resources, users can ensure they are fully equipped to utilize Top Hat effectively and enhance their learning and teaching experiences.
Top Hat - Pros and Cons
Advantages
Enhanced Engagement
Top Hat’s AI-powered assistant, Ace, helps educators generate discussion questions directly from their lecture slides, promoting more student interactions and participation in classroom sessions.
Personalized Study Support
Ace provides students with personalized study assistance, allowing them to break down concepts, find guidance on difficult homework questions, and test their knowledge anytime and anywhere. This feature is now available to all Top Hat users on both desktop and mobile platforms.
On-Demand Practice Sessions
Students can initiate practice sessions through the Top Hat mobile app, where Ace generates multiple-choice questions based on the assignment content. This feature offers instant feedback, helping students review and build confidence in their knowledge.
Efficient Teaching Tools
Educators can save time by using Ace to automatically generate assessment questions and design assignments. This helps in scaling personal support for students and adopting proven teaching strategies more efficiently.
Student Feedback
Students have reported positive experiences with Ace, noting it helps them take more precise notes and better comprehend course content.
Disadvantages
Dependence on Technology
The effectiveness of Top Hat’s tools relies heavily on the availability and reliability of technology, which can be a limitation in environments with poor internet connectivity or outdated devices.
Learning Curve
While the features are designed to be user-friendly, there may still be a learning curve for both educators and students to fully utilize all the capabilities of Ace and other Top Hat tools.
Cost
Although the specific costs are not detailed in the provided sources, integrating and maintaining advanced AI-powered tools like those offered by Top Hat could be expensive for some educational institutions.
Potential Overreliance on AI
There is a risk that students might rely too heavily on AI-generated support, potentially reducing their ability to think critically and solve problems independently.
Overall, Top Hat’s AI-driven tools offer significant benefits in terms of engagement, personalized learning, and efficiency, but it is important to consider the potential drawbacks and ensure a balanced approach to their use.
Top Hat - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing Top Hat, a leading provider of higher education engagement solutions, with other AI-driven tools in the self-improvement and education sectors, several unique features and potential alternatives stand out.
Unique Features of Top Hat
Top Hat distinguishes itself through its AI-powered assistant, Ace, which offers several innovative features:- Lecture Enhancer: Ace can generate discussion questions and assessment questions based on lecture content, enhancing classroom engagement and immediate comprehension assessment.
- Study Assistant: Provides personalized study support, helping students break down concepts, find guidance on homework, and test their knowledge anytime and anywhere.
- AI-Powered Practice Sessions: Allows students to generate practice sessions with multiple-choice questions based on their assignments, receiving instant feedback to build confidence in their understanding of the material.
Potential Alternatives and Competitors
Education Sector
- Turning Technologies: Focuses on video management, content streaming, and audience engagement tools. While it offers comprehensive solutions for video content, it lacks the AI-powered learning tools that Top Hat provides.
- LectureTools: Offers pedagogically sound software solutions for instructors and students but does not have the same level of AI integration as Top Hat.
- Poll Everywhere: Specializes in live online polling, surveys, Q&As, and quizzes, which are useful for audience engagement but do not match the AI-driven learning support of Top Hat.
Personal Development and Life Coaching
While Top Hat is primarily focused on educational settings, there are AI-driven life coaching apps that offer similar personalized support and engagement:- Rocky.AI: Provides 24/7 guidance, emotional support, and habit-building tools. It uses neuroscience-based techniques for personal development and goal setting, which is different from Top Hat’s educational focus but shares the AI-powered personalized guidance aspect.
- TextMei: Offers emotionally intelligent conversations, habit tracking, and AI journaling. It is more focused on emotional support and self-reflection rather than educational content.
- Replika: Acts as an AI companion with a broader focus on emotional connections and mental wellness tools. It is not specifically designed for educational purposes but provides a unique blend of coaching and emotional support.
Key Differences
- Educational Focus: Top Hat is specifically designed for educational settings, enhancing teaching and learning experiences with AI-powered tools. In contrast, life coaching apps like Rocky.AI, TextMei, and Replika are geared towards personal development and mental health support.
- AI Capabilities: Top Hat’s Ace is integrated into the educational platform, generating questions, providing study assistance, and facilitating practice sessions. Life coaching apps use AI for personalized guidance, emotional support, and habit tracking.
- User Base: Top Hat is used by educators and students, while life coaching apps are used by individuals seeking personal growth and mental health support.
Top Hat - Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key features of Top Hat?
Top Hat offers a range of features to enhance classroom engagement and learning. These include student response and assessment tools such as discussions, polls, quizzes, assignments, and exams. It also provides customizable content options like a pages content editor, customizable textbooks, and interactive labs. Additionally, Top Hat integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and offers real-time data and accessibility features.
How does Top Hat use AI to support educators and students?
Top Hat’s AI-powered assistant, Ace, helps educators by generating questions, hints, and explanations based on the course content. This saves educators time in preparing assessments and lectures, allowing them to focus more on teaching. For students, Ace provides on-demand study support, generates practice questions, and offers personalized feedback, helping students to better engage with and understand the course material.
Can Top Hat be integrated with other educational platforms?
Yes, Top Hat can be integrated with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas. This integration allows educators to use Top Hat as part of their existing course setup, making it easier to manage and deliver interactive content.
How much does Top Hat cost?
The pricing for Top Hat starts at $53 per year for students. There are also options for a single term ($33 for 4 months) or a four-year plan ($96 for 48 months). Institutions can also request custom plans based on their needs.
Does Top Hat offer any support or training for users?
Yes, Top Hat provides various support options. Users can contact Top Hat support via in-app live chat, phone, or email. Additionally, there are extensive knowledge articles and training resources available, including self-paced and instructor-led sessions offered by Penn State IT Learning & Development and Top Hat’s own platform training webinars.
How can students access discounted textbooks through Top Hat?
Top Hat offers textbooks at discounted rates for students. However, due to contractual agreements, these textbooks must be ordered through the Penn State University Bookstore’s Barnes & Noble Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP). Detailed instructions can be found in the IT knowledge base.
What are the benefits of using Ace’s study assistant feature in Top Hat?
Ace’s study assistant feature provides students with personalized study support, similar to what they would get from a tutor. It helps students break down concepts, find guidance through difficult homework questions, and test their knowledge anytime and anywhere. Students can also generate practice sessions and receive instant feedback, which helps build their confidence in the material.
Can educators customize the AI-generated questions in Top Hat?
Yes, educators have complete control over the AI-generated questions. Ace generates questions based on the course content, but educators can edit these questions to ensure they align with their teaching goals.
How does Top Hat enhance student engagement and participation?
Top Hat enhances student engagement through various interactive tools such as discussions, polls, quizzes, and interactive labs. The AI-powered features, like Ace, also encourage more student interactions by providing regular opportunities for formative assessments and personalized practice sessions.
Is Top Hat accessible for students with disabilities?
Yes, Top Hat includes accessibility features to ensure that all students can use the platform effectively. This is part of its broader commitment to making educational tools accessible.
Can students use Top Hat on mobile devices?
Yes, students can use Top Hat on mobile devices. The platform is available through a mobile app, which allows students to access features like Ace’s study assistant and practice sessions on the go.
Top Hat - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Top Hat in the Self Improvement Tools AI-driven Product Category
Top Hat is a comprehensive platform that leverages AI to enhance student engagement, learning effectiveness, and educational equity in higher education. Here’s a detailed assessment of who would benefit most from using Top Hat and an overall recommendation.Key Features and Benefits
AI-Powered Tools
Top Hat’s AI assistant, Ace, is a central feature that generates discussion questions, practice sessions, and study support materials based on the course content. This helps educators adopt proven teaching strategies and provides students with personalized learning support.
Engagement and Interaction
Ace’s lecture enhancer can generate discussion questions from lecture slides, encouraging more student interactions in class. Additionally, the platform offers AI-powered on-demand practice sessions, allowing students to test their knowledge independently and receive instant feedback.
Personalized Study Support
The study assistant feature of Ace provides students with detailed responses to their questions, helps them break down concepts, and offers guidance on homework. This support is available on both desktop and mobile, ensuring students can access it anytime and anywhere.
Content Customization and Updates
Top Hat allows educators to customize textbooks, add local examples, case studies, videos, and images that reflect students’ interests. The platform also updates content in real-time, ensuring educators have access to the latest materials without losing customizations.
Who Would Benefit Most
Top Hat is particularly beneficial for several groups:
Educators
Faculty members can save time by using Ace to generate questions, assignments, and study materials. The platform also supports proven teaching practices and helps in scaling personal support for students, making it easier to manage large classes.
Students
Students gain from the personalized study support, interactive content, and the ability to practice and test their knowledge independently. The immediate feedback from Ace helps build confidence and improves their comprehension of the material.
Institutions
Higher education institutions can benefit from Top Hat’s ability to enhance student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and provide a more equitable learning experience. The platform integrates well with various learning management systems and offers a range of support services, including faculty training and instructional design support.
Overall Recommendation
Top Hat is a highly recommended tool for anyone involved in higher education who seeks to enhance engagement, equity, and the overall learning experience. Its AI-driven features, such as Ace, significantly reduce the workload for educators while providing students with valuable, personalized support. The platform’s ability to integrate with existing learning management systems and its focus on evidence-based learning make it a valuable asset for both educators and students.
In summary, Top Hat is an excellent choice for those looking to leverage AI to improve educational outcomes, foster more interactive learning environments, and support students in a more personalized and effective manner.