Getting Started with Technology Resources for Flexible Work

Teaching Flexibly

Whether you're teaching in-person, online, or doing a combination, here are some resources for supporting the way you need to teach:

• Learn how to maximize your use of the top three tools available to you and your students: Canvas, Zoom, and UD Capture.
• Learn how other specialized tools can enhance and compliment your teaching and learning goals by visiting the IT ATS Technology Toolbox.
• Check out these recorded workshops for a more in depth review of teaching technologies.
• Teaching in person? Contact IT UMS Classroom Technology to schedule a classroom orientation session.
• Have a teaching technology question? Contact IT ATS. For a live consultation, visit the IT-ATS Virtual Welcome Bar (Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 4:30pm).
• Want to invest more time in a course design project? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with an experienced instructional designer.
• ATS is reopening in-person services for fall 2021. View the schedule and operating hours.

Working Off-campus

• Voicemail: If you have an office phone, make sure your voicemail settings are appropriate for your virtual working schedule.
• Meet & chat: Check with your supervisor about what tool your team will primarily use to meet and chat online.
• Equipment: Talk to your supervisor about what equipment you need to support the working mode they approved you for (e.g., laptop, webcam, headset, etc.)
• Home Network: Check your home network speeds against UDIT's recommended connection speeds. Contact your home Internet Service Provider to adjust your service.
• Workspace security: Keep your workspace and the UD data you're responsible for secure by following UDIT's security recommendations.

Working On-campus

• Voicemail: Update your voicemail settings to ensure they are appropriate for your on-campus working schedule.
• Meet & chat: Check with your supervisor about what tool your team will primarily use to meet and chat online.
• Equipment: Talk to your supervisor about what equipment you need to support the working mode they approved you for (e.g., laptop, webcam, headset, etc.)
• Workspace security: Even though you're physically in the office, it's important to keep your workspace and the UD data you're responsible for secure by following UDIT's security recommendations.
• Returning to campus for the first time: When you return to the office for the first time, make sure you follow the steps below to ensure that things that may have been turned off or not used for a long time are turned back on and tested.

Checklist of things to do when you first return to campus:

When you first come back to campus, you will have to dust off devices and spaces you have not used – in some cases – since the campus shut-down for COVID-19. There's a chance that some devices may not work, have trouble starting or updating, or not allow you to connect to them. To avoid finding issues at a moment when you really need the device or service, follow the checklist to get things back up and running.

• Turn on your computer:
  • If you left your computer in the office, then let it run through any outstanding updates (this could take a while, but it's important).
  • If you took your computer home with you, then make sure your computer is plugged into a power source and has an Ethernet connection or is connected to eduroam. If you are having a hard time figuring out how to re-connect your computer at your workspace, contact the IT Professional for your department.
• Test out your webcam and headset with a colleague to ensure you can be heard and seen on virtual meetings, since not everyone will be meeting in-person. It's also important to check that you can share your screen, as your computer might require pre-configuration of that permission.
• Check to make sure your smartphone and laptop are able to connect to eduroam.
• Turn on and test other devices you typically work with:
  • Printers - try printing to the device.
  • Fax Machines - try faxing something to a colleague.
  • Televisions - try accessing a few popular channels.
  • Conference room technology - try projecting your computer screen and run a Zoom meeting with a colleague to ensure things like microphones, speakers, and screen sharing work.
  • Other specialized equipment - make sure the equipment turns on and does the things you expect it to do.
  • Coffee machine - yes, even check the coffee machine and other appliances you use on a daily basis.
• Check your access to applications you use for your job. Some applications are locked down to specific units, groups, individuals, and even devices through VPN. Updates to security access that allowed you to access certain applications from home may now prevent you from accessing those same applications on campus.