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The following information was shared with Ohio University faculty on May 6, 2022.
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) has provided this information for faculty and staff to re-tool and prepare for the fall semester. The following technology tool updates are designed to help members of the OHIO community become more comfortable with enhancements to educational technology.
Tool updates
Course Offerings
A new version of Course Offerings is now available, with a more modern interface and mobile-friendly, responsive design. The new version was created by student developers and will be available alongside the previous version throughout the summer. Faculty are encouraged to submit feedback on the new design.
Microsoft Teams
Teams is continuously releasing new updates and enhancements. Be sure to check out the new whiteboard app and class insights , a tool that enables instructors to easily track their students’ Teams activity, from assignment completions to engagement in class conversations.
As a reminder, you can easily request the creation of a Team for your courses. Blackboard Ultra users can use the tools located within your Blackboard course to generate a Team. If you use Blackboard Original or need a unique combination of sections/courses merged into one Team, submit the Team Auto Creation form .
To stay up to date with the latest enhancements, you can visit What's new in Microsoft Teams or type "/whatsnew" into the Teams search bar.
Qualtrics
Qualtrics will end its support for Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, in conjunction with Microsoft’s retirement of Internet Explorer. Qualtrics will be inaccessible from the Internet Explorer browser after that date. OIT recommends using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to access Qualtrics.
Turnitin
Blackboard upgrades have occurred and instructors using Turnitin on Blackboard Original will now need to rebuild all assignments created prior to summer term or switch to using Blackboard Assignment and Peer Assessment features.
Assignments created in Blackboard Ultra will continue to work, but any Turnitin assignments in Blackboard Original that were copied from a previous term must be deleted and recreated to collect new submissions from students.
Top Hat
A recent change in the way that Top Hat and Blackboard courses sync affects how instructors connect content. To sync Top Hat and Blackboard courses you must initiate the sync from within Blackboard rather than Top Hat.
Watch How to pair a Top Hat course with a Blackboard course for a demonstration. This option is compatible with both Blackboard Ultra Courses and Blackboard Original.
REDCap
REDCap , a survey tool ideal for collecting longitudinal data, data in community settings, or data for multi-site projects, has been added to OIT survey tool options. REDCap is a secure web-based survey tool that is available to all OHIO faculty, staff, and students.
Schedule a REDCap workshop to make your surveys the best they can be.
Training Resources
Training and consultation information
Visit the OIT Technology Resources and Training webpage to access online help information and to schedule a workshop or consultation with an OIT professional to navigate your software or classroom technology needs.
Topics include Blackboard Original , Blackboard Ultra , Learning Spaces , Microsoft Teams , Panopto , Qualtrics , VoiceThread , and more.
Learning Spaces resources
Explore the following resources to learn more about your classroom for upcoming semesters:
- Technology Finder : Allows you to search for technology available in OIT supported teaching space(s).
- Classroom Help Hub : View self-guided help tools for common classroom technology topics.
- Digital Toolboxes : Learn which technology options are best suited to meet your student learning goals.
- Consultations
: Meet with OIT support staff for a hands-on demonstration of learning spaces that are configured for safe distance learning. These consultations also cover the use of the following hardware:
- Audio (microphones, etc.)
- Document cameras for sharing demos and handwritten notes
- Other special equipment
Learning Spaces updates
Classroom spaces in the RTV Commuications Building, Tupper Hall, and selected spaces in Porter Hall, are scheduled for a technology refresh during the summer and early parts of fall semester. More information and details on the project, timelines, and impacted spaces are available on the Classroom Improvement Initiative webpage .
Scheduled maintenance
Ellis Hall:Computers located in all spaces within Ellis that are supported by OIT will be replaced during summer semester.
All OIT-managed computers in classrooms at OHIO will be updated to Windows 11 operating system prior to the start of fall semester.Faculty members will be notified if their classroom is selected for a Windows 11 OS update, during the first summer session. This update should not impact your experience with navigating your Windows device.
Technology Reminders
Learn how to enroll in Azure multi-factor authentication
Ohio University will transition from Duo Mobile to Azure MFA , a new multi-factor authentication tool, over the next year. Azure MFA offers enhanced security, cost savings, integration with Microsoft products, and a self-service password reset not available with Duo Mobile.
Faculty are invited to enroll and provide feedback on the experience during the current opt-in phase.
Be accessible!
OHIO is committed to providing students with an accessible user experience. If you’re unsure if your course materials are considered digitally accessible, would like information on best practices, or have other questions about digital accessibility, consider joining an office hours session with an accessibility expert.
These office hours are hosted monthly by the OHIO-Digital Accessibility Network (DAN) , a University-wide, interdisciplinary group of volunteers who are committed to helping Ohio University promote inclusivity through digital accessibility.
Update your device
Don’t ignore update reminders! Take time throughout the summer to download and install updates on your University-owned and personal devices. Consistent updates make your device secure and operate more efficiently.
Internet Explorer retirement
Internet Explorer will be retired on June 15, 2022. If you use Internet Explorer, we recommend switching to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox . Chrome and Firefox are the recommended browsers for many tools, including Blackboard and Qualtrics.
Stay safe
The Information Security Office is aware of recent reports of potential cyber-attacks against the United States. Please practice heightened technology security vigilance . Stay up to date on information security resources for faculty , and be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent round of approved Security Standards .
Understanding VDI
The OHIO Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) provides remote access to specific Ohio University software by using a full Windows desktop environment from any PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device. This access allows users to connect to select University resources from a personal device.
Once you have installed VDI , you can search for Available VDI software applications to preview what is available to OHIO faculty, staff, and students without purchase. If you find that you need help connecting with these applications or to determine your access eligibility, please contact the IT Service Desk .
Still need help?
Visit the Technology Help Center ( help.ohio.edu ) to find help materials, submit a ticket, or connect with the IT Service Desk. Visit the Tech Ready site for the most common semester-start tech topics for faculty and students. If you need help in person, you can stop by Bobcat Depot inside Baker Center.
Need more hands-on help?
Visit our Technology Resources and Training page to sign up for a group workshop, schedule a one-on-one consultation, or request a specific workshop for your group with an OIT expert.
For more information, contact the Office of Information Technology .