Tech Tools for Virtual NP Faculty
- The Elevated NP
- Dec 29, 2025
- 5 min read
(because “just upload the slides” is not a pedagogical strategy)
If you’ve taught online before, you already know that virtual education isn’t simply transferring your in-person content to an LMS and hoping for the best – especially when teaching the next generation of advanced practice nurses.
Teaching adult students online means translating clinical reasoning, professional judgment, and identity formation into a digital space — while also managing discussion boards, grading queues, email volume, and at least one platform that updates itself mid-semester.
The right tech tools won’t magically make online teaching effortless. But they can reduce friction, save time, and help you show up as a more present, effective faculty member — instead of someone whispering “why is nothing working” at their laptop.
Let’s talk about tools that actually support virtual NP faculty.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, The Elevated NP may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All recommendations reflect tools commonly used and valued in NP education.
Video & Lecture Tools: Less Talking, More Teaching
One of the biggest mistakes in virtual NP education is assuming that students need longer lectures to compensate for being online or to try and cover ALL the content in a texbook. In reality, shorter, more intentional videos tend to be far more effective — especially for adult learners juggling clinical hours, jobs, and families.
Tools like Loom or Zoom recording make it easy to create brief videos that focus on what matters most: explaining expectations, walking through assignments, or modeling clinical thinking. These videos don’t need to be polished productions. In fact, students often prefer them to feel conversational and human — like you’re sitting down and saying, “Here’s how I’d approach this.”
Also, clear audio is non-negotiable. If students are straining to hear you, they stop listening — no matter how brilliant your explanation is. A simple USB microphone can dramatically improve sound quality and reduce listener fatigue, making your content more accessible without adding work.
Visual & Slide Design Tools: Cognitive Load Is Real
Slides are still a core teaching tool in NP education — but they work best when they support thinking, not overwhelm it. Text-heavy slides increase cognitive load and often shift students into passive consumption mode, especially online.
This is where tools like Canva shine. Canva allows faculty to quickly create clean, readable slides, diagrams, and infographics that highlight relationships between concepts rather than listing everything that could possibly be tested.
Many NP faculty find Canva particularly helpful for:
Conceptual frameworks
Clinical pathways
Assignment guides
Weekly overviews that orient students to priorities
You can create slides in Canva or use it to create awesome graphics to add to a traditional PowerPoint slide deck.
Canva does have a free version but be sure to check out individual and group pricing for the professional upgrade!
Organization & Workflow Tools: Teaching Is a System, Not a Sprint
Virtual teaching multiplies tasks. Without a system, even experienced faculty can feel scattered — jumping between LMS tabs, email threads, grading rubrics, and meeting notes.
Tools like Notion or Miro help externalize that mental load. Many faculty use them to map out an entire semester, track recurring tasks, or store reusable feedback language. The goal isn’t productivity for productivity’s sake — it’s freeing up cognitive space for teaching and mentorship.
These tools are especially helpful if you teach multiple courses or rotate between clinical and academic roles. When your workflow is clear, your teaching becomes more intentional and less reactive.
Engagement Tools: Participation Without Performance
Online discussions often default to rigid posting requirements that encourage compliance rather than curiosity. Tools like Padlet or polling platforms (Mentimeter, Poll Everywhere) allow for more dynamic, low-pressure engagement that mirrors clinical reasoning conversations.
For example, instead of asking students to write in a discussion board, you might:
Post a case and ask students to drop differential diagnoses
Use a poll to choose next steps in management
Invite brief reflections or clinical pearls
These tools allow students to participate in different ways — which is especially important in asynchronous learning environments.
Friendly truth: Engagement doesn’t require more typing. Sometimes it just requires better prompts.
Assessment & Feedback Tools: Your Time Is Valuable
Providing meaningful feedback is one of the most important — and time-consuming — aspects of NP education. Rewriting the same explanations about clinical reasoning, APA errors, or assignment expectations semester after semester is exhausting and unnecessary.
Using comment banks, text expanders, or even short audio feedback allows you to maintain high-quality feedback without burning out. Many faculty find that audio or video feedback feels more personal to students and actually reduces follow-up questions.
Efficiency doesn’t mean being impersonal. It means using your expertise where it matters most.
Hardware That Quietly Improves Everything
Some of the most impactful “tech tools” aren’t software at all. A second monitor can dramatically improve grading efficiency and reduce screen fatigue. An ergonomic chair or adjustable desk protects your body during long teaching days.
These tools don’t show up in course evaluations — but they directly affect your ability to teach sustainably.
Gentle reminder: Academic martyrdom is not a requirement for effective teaching.
Virtual Faculty Tech Essentials
Portable 15.6” External Monitor
A second screen is a game-changer for virtual NP faculty. This portable monitor makes it easy to grade on one screen while referencing rubrics, cases, or the LMS on the other — without needing a full office setup.
Why I recommend it: Anything that reduces tab-switching during grading immediately lowers cognitive fatigue. Once you use a second monitor, it’s hard to go back — and this one is lightweight enough to move between home, office, or travel.
ComfiLife Under-Desk Ergonomic Foot Rest
This adjustable memory foam foot rest provides subtle but meaningful ergonomic support during long teaching and grading sessions. It helps improve posture and reduce back and hip strain when you’re seated for hours.
Why I recommend it: Virtual faculty work often means longer stretches of sitting than we realize. This is one of those tools that doesn’t feel dramatic — but your body notices the difference by the end of the day.
Logitech Wave Keys Ergonomic Keyboard
Designed to support a more natural typing position, this wireless ergonomic keyboard is comfortable for extended writing, grading, and feedback sessions. The cushioned palm rest adds extra support without feeling bulky.
Why I recommend it: NP faculty type a lot — discussion feedback, emails, rubrics, committee work. This keyboard reduces wrist strain and makes long writing sessions feel less physically taxing.
CMTECK USB Desktop Microphone
This plug-and-play USB microphone significantly improves audio quality for recorded lectures, Zoom sessions, and audio feedback. Clear sound makes content more accessible and easier for students to follow.
Why I recommend it: Students will tolerate imperfect video, but poor audio quickly leads to disengagement. This microphone is an easy upgrade that improves the learning experience without adding tech headaches.
NEEWER Clip-On Ring Light
A compact, adjustable ring light that clips directly to your monitor or laptop to improve lighting during video lectures and meetings. It creates more even lighting and reduces harsh shadows.
Why I recommend it: Good lighting helps students stay focused and reduces screen fatigue — and it’s especially helpful during early mornings or late evenings when natural light isn’t an option.
Final Thoughts: Tech Should Serve Your Teaching — Not Replace It
The best tech tools don’t make you teach more. They help you teach better, with less friction and more clarity.
Virtual NP education thrives when faculty are supported, organized, and able to focus on what truly matters: developing competent, thoughtful, reflective clinicians.
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