About this tool
Perusall is a collaborative reading annotation platform that encourages group reading and deeper engagement with course materials. It allows you and your students to discuss specific words, sentences, images and passages in a written text, video (link), or audio file by highlighting or time stamping key portions of a document for comment, questions and discussion.
Features and functionality
| Unique features | Document types | Grading/reporting options | Accessibility features |
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Tool guide
| Cost | No cost, although instructors may have students purchase textbooks through Perusall |
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| Recommended class size | Unlimited |
| LEARN integrations | LTI 1.3 integration - class roster (including groups if desired) and grade sync from LEARN |
| Known limitations | Potential cost to students (dependent on publisher and copyright costs) |
| Level of support | Locally supported by Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) or for online courses (Centre for Extended Learning, CEL) |
| Privacy & Security | This tool has been reviewed |
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| Join the Forum | Coming soon! Connect with peers in the EdTech Hub Microsoft Teams forum to learn more about or discuss this tool |
Copyright information
Perusall offers a catalogue of over 1 million text titles for instructors to employ in their courses. Students can purchase these texts through Perusall. Instructors also have the option to upload copyrighted materials and have the copyrights cleared through the Copyright Clearance Centre at a small cost to students. They also have a relationship with OpenStax to support open educational resources. For all other copyright concerns, please consult the Library’s guide on Perusall.
Get started
- Getting started with Perusall - Waterloo Instructors
- Perusall home page
- Overview of Perusall (YouTube)
- What is Perusall (CTE website)
Additional resources
How your peers are using this tool
“Perusall is without a doubt the most important new teaching technology I have ever used. It really is transformative…I’m blown away by the quality of some of the insights my firsties are providing. Reading their comments has given me a window into their heads that I’ve never previously had. And it’s letting me integrate the readings more deeply into the lecture content than has been possible before”
- Rob de Loë; Professor / Associate Director, Undergraduate; School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Campus support
Contact Mary Power, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Vendor support
Contact Perusall
Training
Check the EdTech Hub Training page for all upcoming EdTech training opportunities.