Asking Questions/Finding Answers

Are you seeking help?

Can’t meet up with anyone to resolve your issue?

Is your professor or manager not providing you with enough information to succeed?

Fret not Hornets! Where there's a will, there's always a way! We're going to help you find the solutions and online platforms, where you can find all the answers to your important questions.

Schoolwork:

• Many courses have discussion boards on Canvas! This is available for you to ask and answer course related material. If you don’t understand something, ask for help.
   
• Schedule a Zoom meeting with your classmates! Zoom is probably your best option, because you can share your screen and showcase what you are trying to figure out. Zoom also has the functionality for remote control access. This allows the person who is trying to help, control your machine until the issue is resolved.
   
• If you're still having trouble understanding the material, don’t forget that you can email / virtually meet with your professor on Zoom, to clarify your questions and get a better understanding on the material. Professors are here to help you succeed!

• You can always check the ESU Learn Anywhere site for campus resources or reach out to us and we'll help direct you to the person who can answer your question.

Job tasks:

• The best option when it comes to finding a solution to your work related question, is to communicate with your team on the established communication channels.  Is that email?  Teams? SharePoint? Perhaps now is the ideal time to establish that channel!
   
• Schedule a meeting with a manager or coworker(s). This will give you an opportunity to ask all your questions and get the answers. Make a list of questions before the meeting so you don't miss anything.
   
• If no one is available--that's not a problem! You have the greatest invention known to us, GOOGLE.  Ask Google any question you have, and you are most likely to get an answer. Use it with caution!

It's important to realize that these are unprecedented times for all of us! So, don’t be scared to ask for help!

Anton Levanovich
Student Web Developer

Web & Digital Strategies

Group Collaboration

Is it your first time taking an online class? Are you stressed about not being able to communicate with your group mates? Don't worry, we've got your back. In this post, we'll cover what you need to know about virtually collaborating with your groups.

Sometimes collaborating with your group gets complicated; and bad communication can result in bad grades (and a bad mood.)    

We are here to help make collaborating online simple. All you need is a good internet connection and a reliable device. (A Windows laptop, a MacBook, an iPad, or even a smartphone.)

Need a new way to collaborate with your group on projects, assignments, and studying? 
Zoom is a great video chat software that allows you to not only chat, but also share your screen and give your group-mates control of your computer. Zoom is free and unlimited to all ESU students and employees.

Looking for a software that allows you and your groupmates to share and edit documents?
Google products such as Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides. They are simple to use and convenient when everyone in the group must work on the same file. 

Do you not like video or audio chatting?
Text-based chat using messengers like Apple Messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, may be more to your liking. You can also chat on Canvas under the “chat” tab. If none of those sound good to you, then emailing your groupmates is the always an option. 
(Just remember that all group members need to be diligent in checking and responding to messages!)

Are you trying to find a safe place for storing your files online where your group-mates can also access them?
OneDrive and Google Drive are your best options in this situation. Upload your document and share it with people you want to have access to the document. You can allow them to only view the document or both view and edit it; it’s totally up to you.  

Working on an individual project?

Emporia State University offers free access to all the Office365 products. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and more. All ready for you to use free of charge as a student. You can download them at hornet365.com. 

Having online classes might be stressful at first, but services we all have access to make our lives much easier. Check back weekly for more useful tips, and more! Stay safe, stay healthy and stay inside.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant

Web & Digital Strategies

Remote Work + Study

Working + Studying from home might seem like a terrifying and complicated concept, but it doesn't have to be. We know with all the distractions you have freely available at your home, it can be quite easy to forget a quiz you may have to take, or a class you may have to attend, or work your supervisor had assigned to you.

Here are some tips to keep you in check and help stay on track, whether it be class work or work projects and tasks. 

For School: 

1. Be on time

If you have an online meeting or zoom class session, make sure to have the date and time on your calendar. Participation counts and you might lose points if you don't follow the schedule. Make sure to submit your work on time to avoid losing points.

2. Limit all distractions around you

Distraction is your biggest enemy when it comes to studying from home. Make sure you stay in a quiet room with limited distractions.
 

3. Keep up with your courses  

Ensure you have a flow of communication with your professor and classmate, be sure to check up on any new assignments, quizzes, or exams you may. Check out (link to taylor's blog post on how to maintain a schedule) for more information.

4. Time yourself

Start a timer! Work in 40 minute chunks. This will ensure that you have put in hard work for 40 minutes straight, and also help you feel accomplished when taking a short break.

5. Ask questions

Do not stress if you're having a difficult time understanding concepts in class. You have all the tools needed in order to communicate with your professors, and peers.  

6. Take tests and quizzes in a quiet room. 

Always stay focused  when it comes to time-sensitive material like a test or quiz.

For Work: 

1. Be on time

Even though you are working from home, you still have a tight schedule to follow. Be ready to work diligently when you are scheduled to.

2. Maintain a flow of communication 

Ensure you are communicating with your supervisor on how things are going. Your supervisor must know what everyone is working on to keep track of the progress and make plans for the future.

3. Be Proactive  

Be sure to ask your supervisor how you could be helping in continuing with the daily workflow.

If you have never worked or studied from home, don’t worry! Your supervisor and professor will do everything they can to aid in this process and help you stay on track.

Now, time to stay focused, and study hard, and work hard. Good luck Hornets!

Anton Levanovich
Student Web Developer

Web & Digital Strategies

Work Anywhere - Employee Guide

Are you ready to work from home? We sure hope so. If not, we look to prep you with everything you'll need to know about the near future of ESU classes.

As an ESU employee, there are a number of things that you need to take in to account to become a secure and productive remote worker.

Let's begin with the basics.
You're going to need a computer or compatible device - If you already have an ESU laptop with Windows or MacOS, then you're set.
If you have an iPad, you should be able to do most tasks as well. (But if you mostly work with Microsoft Office, you're going to want a keyboard.)

If you don't have an ESU laptop and you're familiar with cloud services - You can use your home computer.
However, if you're using secure services that need a VPN, (Banner Admin pages, Jabber, and the W: drive,) you'll need to use an ESU laptop.

If you need to check out an ESU laptop, visit the Teach and Work Anywhere site on emporia.edu/covid19 and fill out the form under "Recommended Equipment."

Next,
You'll need communicate with your colleagues or students - Starting with your ESU office phone.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to forward it to your home phone or cell phone due to technical limitations.

This leaves you with two alternatives:

1. Change your voicemail - Inform callers that you will return their call via phone or email. Instructions and more information located on the Work Anywhere site.
2. Jabber Software Client - This is for lines with a larger call volume, (Admissions, Registration, or any department's main line.) Using the Jabber software client installed on your laptop, you'll be able to make and receive calls using the speaker and microphone on your computer. (Note: you must be connected to the ESU VPN.)

ESU offers two types of applications and services: 

1. Cloud based - You can use it anywhere on any device (Office 365, Teams, Canvas, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.)
2. Secure (Requires VPN connection to use.) - A VPN consists of software that runs on your computer and connects back to the ESU network, providing a secure tunnel. Essentially, you're on the ESU network from home. (Banner Admin pages, Jabber, and the W: drive.)

An alternative to using the VPN is ESU's online virtual computer lab, SkyLab, ESU's virtual computer lab

Have you moved to SharePoint Drive or your personal OneDrive? - You can access those from anywhere.
If you still have files on the W: or X: drives, you will need VPN or SkyLab to access those files.

Web Conferencing Software

There are 2 Options for Employees

1. Zoom - ESU's primary platform for hosting a video conference. Instructors can use it to have virtual classes and departments can use it to host meetings. (All employees have access to Zoom via Hornet 365)
2. Microsoft Teams - ESU's primary platform for instant messaging. You can access it from anywhere and on any device. Virtual meetings can be hosted on Teams as well. (All employees have access to Microsoft Teams via Hornet 365)

Now that you're informed on ESU's online capabilities, you have the ability to work from anywhere.

For more information, visit our Teach + Work Anywhere website.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant

Web & Digital Strategies

Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom - Which Should You Use?

As we move our classes online, you may wonder, "What is the difference between Teams and Zoom?"

ESU offers a plethora of resources for conferencing and communications, and today we'll be comparing two: Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Both software are great when it comes to online collaboration, but they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Both Microsoft Teams and Zoom offer individual and group communication through messaging and video conferencing. This can come in handy when working on group projects, online instruction, presentations, or traditional face-to-face meetings.  So the question is, when does one work better than the other?

Microsoft Teams:

• Quick Messaging
• File Sharing
• Push-Notification Instant Messaging
• Text-Based Group chats

Zoom:

• Massive Video-Calling
• Online Classroom
• Phone Dial-In Service
• Screen Casting
• Screen Recording

Both services offer a mobile app as well, which works best with iPhones.

Looking to download Zoom? Click here.

Looking to download Microsoft Teams? Click here.

For more information, watch episode 12 of IT Only Takes a Minute where we discuss these further in depth.

Questions? Contact the IT Help Desk and we'll be happy to help you out!

Call: 877-341-5555

Email: helpdesk@emporia.edu

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant

Web & Digital Strategies

Cyber Security Month: Tips of the week

In honor of Cyber Security Awareness month, the IT department has been working to bring you helpful tips, tricks, and reminders to keep you and your personal information safe. Here, we take a more in-depth look at some of the tips we've provided.

1. Filter What You Post

Employers are looking into social media more and more everyday. Whatever you post today has the potential to affect your future career and reputation. Remember, there is no ‘Delete’ button on the Internet! Share with care, if a post or picture is deleted from your profile even seconds after posting it, chances are someone still saw it. Even the ever so popular "Finsta," short for "fake Instagram" is not a valid form of privacy. Followers of the account have the ability to screenshot posts, send your posts to other friends via direct message, or even just pulling up your account in person.

2. Update Your Privacy Settings


Set your privacy and security settings to your comfort level for information sharing. Disable geotagging, which allows anyone to see where you are—and where you aren’t—at any given time. Geotagging can be used to collect your information for marketing, sales, and many other purposes. Many apps track your location in the background even when you're not using them!



3. Stay Away From Strangers

Connect only with people you trust! Most social networks are a journal of your personal information. They display your name, your friends, your likes and interests, locations you've been, and even workplaces and personal addresses. While some social networks might seem safer for connecting because of the limited personal information shared through them, keep your connections to people you know and trust.

4. Limit Personal Information

Because social networks display the information previously discussed, limit what information you post on social media. From personal addresses to where you like to grab coffee, most people treat their accounts like an autobiography. What you may not realize is that these details are all that criminals need to know to target you.



5. Speak up!

Speak up if you’re uncomfortable! If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable, let them know. Likewise, stay open-minded if a friend approaches you because something you’ve posted makes them uncomfortable. People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them, and it is important to respect those differences. Don’t hesitate to report any instance of cyberbullying you see.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant 
Web & Digital Strategies

6 Months With Teams

A User's Perspective: 

While IT only recently just rolled out Teams, our team has been using it for just over six months. These six months have really opened my eyes to team collaboration and the versatility of Teams. It really is an all expansive tool that has seemed to sit well with our Team's operations after trying many platforms such as Slack, email, and Skype. Each had their strengths, but none of them could fully satisfy the full needs of what we required. However, when switching to Team, some of the gaps were filled in very quickly, and from there it was merely a learning experience of new features.

So far one of the coolest features I've experienced was similar to that of Sheldon's floating head from Big Bang Theory. What I mean by this is, one of my co-workers, Tyler, was unable to come in for the afternoon, but was able to set up his Teams such that he was able to be present at his desk virtually. If myself or one of my teammates had questions, we simply needed to approach Tyler at his desk and interact normally. This is an extension of Microsoft's attempt to easily allow users to manage conference calls and it easily outpaces Skype and other Competitors. Other features that are amazing are Microsoft's seamless integration between platforms so I can keep Teams with me wherever I am and on whatever device I am carrying with me. I remember being on my way to a conference and being able to still interact with my teammates and help where necessary.

And lastly, but most definitely not least, is the nice UI experience that comes with teams. I am a major fan of looking at a simple and clean user interface, especially on my phone. Microsoft has designed this in such a manner that picking up my phone and responding to Teams messages is a pleasure rather than a burden.