From Saturday, October 10 at 11:00 pm to Sunday, October 11 at 3:00 am, Poll Everywhere will undergo scheduled maintenance. During this time, you may experience service interruptions when accessing Poll Everywhere on the web or through their apps. In addition, you will also see a friendly reminder when using Poll Everywhere on the web as we get closer to the scheduled maintenance.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. You can see status updates at status.polleverywhere.com, including a final update when service is fully restored.
On Tuesday, September 15, Cisco will deploy additional updates to Webex Meetings. The highlights of these additional features are below. Full release notes are also available.
Video Breakout Sessions in Webex Meetings Breakout sessions allow you to place your meeting participants into smaller groups to collaborate and share ideas. Inside of the breakout session is like being in a smaller meeting, complete with audio and video where participants can collaborate and share content, or even ask the host for help from the main session. For more details, you can explore these capabilities in depth. UWW users may have up to 100 breakout sessions per meeting with a maximum of 1,000 meeting participants.
Be sure anyone participating in a Webex Meeting on a mobile phone or mobile device updates the app on their device. While they will be able to join the meeting, they will not be able to go into a breakout session until they update the app. UWW owned devices will automatically update, but student apps and devices may not.
View of Breakout session tool within Webex Meetings
In-Meeting Cohost Role As a meeting host, you can now assign other meeting participants as cohosts. Cohosts share your host-level privileges like muting and unmuting other participants, moving participants to or admitting participants from the lobby, and more!
You can assign cohosts on the fly, directly in-meeting, by right-clicking the participant and changing their role to Cohost. You may have as many cohosts in a meeting as you wish.
The following features aren’t currently supported in a breakout session and will be addressed in a future release:
Raise hand, People Insights profile, and the notes taker role
Closed captioning
Recording breakout sessions
“Optimize for motion and video” content sharing
Sharing web browser or multimedia
Annotation and Whiteboard
Live streaming
Polling
Saving chat
Users who join from the Webex Meeting web app can’t share content
Grid Layout for Cloud Recordings With the grid layout becoming the default experience in Webex Meetings, meeting recordings will default to the grid layout in this update for new and existing Webex hosts. This applies to both Webex Meetings and Webex Events. To return to previous settings or make changes to your recording preferences, sign in at uww.webex.com, navigate to Preferences and then select the Recordings tab. Be sure to hit SAVE!
Recording settings in your preferences
Participant Content Sharing Hosts can now allow the participants to share their screen during scheduled meetings or Personal Rooms meetings.
On Tuesday, September 8, Cisco deployed the Webex Meetings 40.9 update. The highlights of this release are listed below. Full release notes are also available. Please note, some of the updates outlined in the full release notes are not yet available. We expect these to launch next Tuesday, September 15.
Optimized Audio and Video Preview The larger, optimized Audio/Video Preview window makes it easier to look your best and find the settings you need before joining a meeting.
Webex preview window
Updated Controls in Meetings and Events The look of the controls in Meetings and Events has changed to make them more intuitive and easier to use. Meeting controls are now clearly labeled and located at the bottom of your meeting window, which means you’ll always have them in sight, but without them covering up shared content or video.
Clear and easy-to-find meeting controls
Contextual Option Menus Audio settings and camera settings can now be conveniently accessed in the menus at the right of their respective mute and camera buttons.
An easier way to adjust your setting
Consolidated Panel Controls Panel controls (like Participants, Chat, and Q&A) can be found towards the right, where the panel opens.
Panel controls
Additional Virtual Background Improvements and Support Cisco has added more virtual background images to choose from in your Meetings and Events. The virtual background feature is now supported on Macs with dual-core processors.
Virtual background preset images
Other Updates to Note: -Users of Amazon Echo Show or Google Home Hub Smart Display devices will now be able to use Webex Meetings on these devices. Amazon Echo Show devices will be able to display meeting and recording lists, as well as play back recordings. Google Nest Hub devices will be able to display meeting and recording lists, play back recordings, and schedule meetings. –Facebook Portal users will now be able to leverage their Webex Meetings app directly from all Facebook Portal devices! The experience will match what currently exists in the Android app. –Cisco is officially retiring Support for Internet Explorer 10 and Windows 7. While users on these platforms won’t be prevented from joining or starting meetings, Cisco will no longer provide bug fixes or updates for this operating system and browser going forward.
RESOLVED 4/22/2021: The issue has now been resolved and videos can once again be embedded into Canvas without issue.
UPDATE: Thank you for your patience with the embedded video issue. There are a number of technical upgrades that have to happen before this issue can be fully resolved. We are currently on target to have this issue resolved by the end of the Spring 2021 semester.
With the latest versions of Google Chrome and Safari, an issue can occur when videos from Rev (http://streaming.uww.edu) are embedded inside of your Canvas course.
We are currently working on a solution. In the meantime, please use one of the following workarounds:
Workaround 1: Use a web browser other than Google Chrome or Safari to access the video in the Canvas course.
Workaround 2: Login to streaming.uww.edu first, and then load the link in Canvas. This will allow the video to load as expected in Canvas. This does work in both Google Chrome and Safari.
Workaround 3: The issue is only impacting videos that are embedded in Canvas. As a workaround, you could change the embedded video to be a link instead. Instructions are available at: https://spaces.uww.edu/x/F4Gc
As we near the beginning of the fall semester, you might be wondering how you can keep track of your students’ progress while also navigating the changing learning environment. Please consider joining the Learning Technology Center for a session on tracking student progress in alternate formats. The session description is below:
If you are new to teaching online, hybrid, remote, or any format other than face-to-face, you might be concerned about how you can tell whether your students understand the course material and how you can chart their progress. Join us for a discussion and demonstration on how you can keep track of your students’ progress when teaching in alternate delivery formats.
If you are interested, please register. You will need to login with your UWW credentials to register.
On Tuesday, August 4, Cisco deployed the Webex Meetings 40.8 update. The highlights of this release are listed below. Full release notes are also available.
Music Mode in Meetings and Events. Music mode optimizes the audio processing of the selected microphone source for music. This allows a richer audio experience when transmitting music with the main video benefiting virtual concerts and music lessons. When this mode is disabled, the application will optimize the audio processing for speech. The Music mode icon appears near the top right corner of the client when active.
Spacebar Push to Talk. When muted, you can now hold the spacebar down to momentarily unmute. Simply press and hold the spacebar when you want to talk. You’ll see an indicator that you are temporarily unmuted. Release the spacebar to go back on to mute.
Video Layout Enhancements for the Desktop App. The “Grid View” is now the default when on content is being shared. Your self-view is now shown as part of the other participant videos for a more natural experience. You can still float your self-view if preferred.
Virtual Backgrounds. On Windows and Mac, users can now select a virtual background. For best results, use images that are 1280 x 720 or larger.
Meeting Audio / Video Improvements. The Speaker, Microphone and Camera settings dialog has been improved to easily allow testing of selected device.
Host Key Removed from Emails. For improved security, the host key will be removed from scheduler emails. The host key will be changed to a link accessible to the configured hosts of the meeting.
VDI Enhancements. Webex now supports dual monitor setup for Windows virtual desktops. Enhancements were also made to deliver the most optimized experience to users of the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) client.
The Learning Technology Center (LTC) recording studio is now available at a reduced capacity for scheduling between 9am and noon on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Schedule your recording using our online form: LTC Studio Scheduling. Please allow at least 1 week for video post production and processing.
What are we doing to keep you safe?
The Media Studio setup has been adjusted. The equipment operator will be outside of the studio room – to allow for proper physical distancing. You will be the only person in the room during the recording.
All surfaces in the Media Studio will be sanitized before and after recording appointments.
Microphones will be sanitized before and after each use.
The studio is currently only open on Monday and Wednesday morning allowing time for the room to air out after scheduled sessions.
Please note that the following are required:
Per campus recommendations please wear a mask when entering the building, in restrooms, and in other common areas.
At this time outside building doors are locked. Please come to McGraw Door #5 and call the LTC (262.472.1004) and someone will come down and let you in for the recording.
During the Summer of 2020, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) will be offering opportunities to learn the Canvas basics, make simple changes to your courses to improve the student experience, and to dig deeper into Canvas features. For self guided assistance, please view the Canvas Service Page.
Canvas Basics Whether you are brand new to Canvas, or just want to brush up on the basics, this training will put you on the right path. We will focus on
Creating a new Module
Adding files to Modules
Adding Assignments to Modules
Setting up your gradebook
What Students Want in Canvas There are many good ways to set up a course. This training will focus on making a series of small, easy, and optional, shifts from your current course design to a setup backed by feedback from student panels conducted right here at UW-Whitewater. We will focus on
Matching your Assignments and Grades area to your course syllabus
Reorganizing Modules to a chronological layout
Getting assignments and tasks populated to student calendars
Utilizing the description area of Quizzes and Assignments
The goal is not to change how you teach, just how students view the course.
Canvas Deep Dives (1 Hour) We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.
Quizzes: This will touch on different question types, building in targeted feedback in auto-graded quizzes, and most likely spend the bulk of the time in the Question Bank area to help instructors get a feel for Canvas Question Bank.
Assignments: We will focus on tasks such as creating a place for students to digitally turn in work, and setting up your gradebook.
Discussions: We will look at setup (including threaded vs unthreaded), visibility, the lack of a “Forum” in Canvas (compared to how D2L had it), group setup, and grading.
Webex Tools: Webex is usable through Canvas, but does take some initial setup there. If you are interested in using Webex for your classes, this is the workshop for you.
During the Summer of 2020, the LTC will be offering opportunities to make simple changes to your courses to improve the canvas exerance for you and your students, and to dig deeper into Canvas features. For self guided assistance, please view the Canvas Service Page.
What Students Want in Canvas There are many good ways to set up a course. This training will focus on making a series of small, easy, and optional, shifts from your current course design to a setup backed by feedback from student panels conducted right here at UW-Whitewater. We will focus on
Matching your Assignments and Grades area to your course syllabus
Reorganizing Modules to a chronological layout
Getting assignments and tasks populated to student calendars
Utilizing the description area of Quizzes and Assignments
The goal is not to change how you teach, just how students view the course.
Canvas Deep Dives (1 Hour) We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.
Groups: This training will discuss what the tool is, how it differs from what we are use to in D2L, when it should be used, and when it shouldn’t be used.
Webex Tools: Webex is usable through Canvas, but does take some initial setup there. If you are interested in using Webex for your classes, this is the workshop for you.
Content: This training will walk through embedding video content, linking to other course content, and utilizing the student “to-do” list.
Rubrics: This training will start with the general creation of rubrics, then expand to specific use cases of instructors attending the session.
If you are interested in adaptive/personalized learning, please consider joining us this Thursday (5/14) at 10:00 am for a presentation by a Cerego pilot instructor on experiences piloting the platform. Registration is requested so that we can provide with a link to the Webex Meeting.
If you have any questions about the Cerego pilot project or this presentation, please contact us at icit-techpilots@uww.edu.
