Category Archives: Did you Know?

Virtual Lab

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Did you know that you can access many of software packages offered in the General Access Labs remotely from your own computer? With a VPN connection to the UWW network, you can even access the software off-campus! All that’s required is access to a Windows or Mac computer, and a high-speed internet connection.

Some of the software available to you through Virtual Lab includes:

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  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Audacity
  • Autodesk (Mac)
  • Blender (Mac)
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • JAWS 7 (Windows)
  • Microsoft Office 2016
  • Respondus Lockdown Browser
  • Wacom (Mac)
  • …and more!

For more information regarding Virtual Lab, check out the following link: http://www.uww.edu/icit/services/virtual-lab

Access UW-Whitewater’s secure network while off Campus

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AnyConnectIf you want to access the secure network while off campus, you can use Cisco AnyConnect. AnyConnect is a Virtual Private Network or VPN that allows you to remotely access the campus’s network. Since the campus’ network infrastructure is protected from internet viruses and worm attacks by a firewall, VPN solution is necessary to gain access to specific campus resources, such as network storage, while maintaining the security of the system for both users and the network. UW-Whitewater enables VPN access using the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Software. VPN securely encrypts data transmissions from your computer to the campus network. A valid campus net-id and password are required to gain access.

If you use a University owned laptop, AnyConnect should already be installed.

If you do not have AnyConnect installed follow the steps below:

  1. Go to vpn.uww.edu
  2. Login with your UW-Whitewater Net-ID and password.
  3. Select the ‘AnyConnect’ item from the menu on the left.
  4. Click the link to ‘Start AnyConnect’.
  5. If you have not been through this process, or you do not have the correct version of the Java Runtime Environment installed, a pop-up window will appear and direct you to download Java Runtime Environment.
  6. When prompted, install the AnyConnect software.
  7. When the install is complete, the webpage will refresh to show that you are successfully connected.

Accessing most campus enterprise technology services, such as Email, calendar, the UW-Whitewater web site, WINS, and other web-based services does not require the use of the VPN.

If you have questions or issues setting up the VPN, please contact the UW-W Helpdesk.

WINS Schedule Planner

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Have you ever found it difficult lining up, and visualizing your schedule while enrolling for Final Scheduleclasses?  Well the Schedule Planner is the tool for you!

The Schedule Planner allows you to input which classes you want to take, and then provides you with a calendar view of every possible weekly schedule.  Here’s how to access Schedule Planner:

  1. Log in at wins.uww.edu
  2. Navigate to “Main Menu” — “Enrollment” — “Add a Class” — “Add Classes” and select your term.
  3. Click on the “Schedule Planner” button

Once your on the Schedule Planner click the “Add Course” to start adding classes to your schedule.  When you’ve chosen all of your classes, go back to the previous page and scroll down to the “Schedules” section and click on “Generate Schedules”.

Now you can see all of your possible schedules with whichever classes you have selected.  You can also add breaks, or times of the day you don’t want a class.  If it turns out there are any conflicts in your schedule, Schedule Planner will let you know.

For more a more detailed look at Schedule Planner, refer to this guide

Lynda Courses: Business Skills, Communication & Leadership

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You may know that you have access to Lynda for free as a student here at UW-Whitewater, but did you know that they offer courses on topics beyond technology?

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The Business Skills section covers topics such as:

  • Holding Yourself Accountable
  • Organization Design
  • Sales: Closing a Complex Sale
  • Creating a Positive Customer Experience

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The Communication section includes courses on:

  • Communicating in Times of Change
  • Unconscious Bias
  • Writing Formal Business Letters and Emails
  • Anger Management

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The Leadership section has video tutorials that can help you with:

  • Strategic Thinking
  • Acting Decisively
  • Delivering Bad News Effectively
  • Leading without Formal Authority

Lynda can teach you a whole lot more than you might have originally thought! Take advantage of this amazing resource by checking out Lynda.com!

Quiz Tricks and Tips

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We have a few tips and tricks for you to keep in mind the next time you take a quiz in D2L. The items below will help you avoid the most commonly reported issues with quizzes.

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You should always “Save” a response after you have answered a question. This ensures that if your browser freezes or something happens to your computer, the work you already have completed will not be lost

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If you close out your browser while taking your quiz the timer will not stop. Please ensure that you have enough time to complete the quiz when you start it. If something happens and you are not able to complete the quiz, please contact your instructor. Know when the quiz ends and how much time you have to take the quiz so that you can plan accordingly.

Be aware of how many attempts you have to take a quiz. Many professors allow for more than one attempt at any given quiz. Don’t run out of attempts before you get your desired grade.

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Before you submit your quiz, click on the “Save all Responses” to make sure that all of your answers have been saved. Submitting a blank answer won’t be good for your grade.

If you run into any errors with your quizzes, or other D2L tools, please contact D2L support.

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Common Student Issues with Desire2Learn

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shutterstock_110236751Now that the Fall semester is well underway, we wanted to share some common issues and resolutions with you to help you avoid headaches while working on your coursework in Desire2Learn (D2L)!

  • Dropbox.  If you are having trouble submitting a file, first check to make sure you are not using any special characters or quotes in the file name.  If that doesn’t work, try using a different browser on your computer.
  • Quizzes.  Can’t find the start button for your quiz?  Some courses require the use of Respondus Lockdown Browser.  If you go to launch the quiz, but don’t see the start button, odd’s are you aren’t in the Lockdown Browser.  The Lockdown Browser is installed in all labs on campus.  You can download it for personal computers by going to: https://spaces.uww.edu/x/LoEV
  • Discussions.  Unable to view any posts in the discussion forum? Some courses require you to first create a post before you can read any of the other entries in the discussion forum.  You’ll see the words “Must post first” directly under the discussion forum name if this is enabled in your course.
  • Other Issues?  We have a full FAQ, Tutorial Videos and a User Guide all at your disposal 24×7.

If you are having issues, or running into problems, help is only a click away!  Contact us at anytime with your questions or issues by filling out the UW-W Desire2Learn Support Form.

Final Post: Grades

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Hi Everyone!

The semester is coming to an end and Summer is right around the corner!

Before I leave you all I want to talk about Grades in D2L. It’s important to check your grades before the semester is over to make sure everything looks correct before professors submit your final grades. Once professors submit your grades they are final, and they cannot be adjusted.

Professors who post final grades to D2L can be found at the top of the Grades page in D2L, as shown below. CaptureNot all professors will use to D2L to post final grades. If you do not see your final grades in D2L they will be posted in WINS.

Also, be aware of a visual change in D2L. This will include icons and font. Nothing too major!

I hope you all have an easy finals week as well as an amazing Summer!

Thanks for your time!

MyDesire2Learn

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Hey everyone!

The end of the semester is coming to an end and many of us are scrambling to collect all the work that we have done over the course of the semester! If you are graduating or leaving the University, and have an ePortfolio, then it’s important to know about myDesire2Learn.

myDesire2Learn is a cloud-hosted ePortfolio that lets you import all your information from your ePortfolio in D2L.

To access myDesire2Learn log into D2L and click on the Export myDesire2Learn button on the right side of your D2L homepage.Capture

Next, a screen will appear that gives instructions on how Export your ePortfolio. You will first need to create a EduDentity account. When you have created your account and have returned to the D2L homepage, click on the Export to MyDesire2Learn button.capture 2

On the next page, click on the Add Items box. You can then select all the items you would like to export. After you have selected all the items you want, click Add. capture 4

Login to your EduDentity account on the pop-up screen. After you login the following screen will appear letting you know the status of your ePortfolio.

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After your ePortfolio has a status of complete you can login to your EduDentity account at https://www.mydesire2learn.com/d2l/login and your ePortfolio will be waiting for you, and you never have to worry about it going away!

If you have any questions regarding your ePortfolio please contact UW-W Desire2Learn Support.

Thanks for your time!

Did you know you have an ePortfolio?

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Hey everyone!

The end of the semester is coming to an end and many of us are scrambling to collect all the work that we have done over the course of the semester! The D2L ePortfolio is a tool which allows you to collect a number of artifacts and resources into one spot where you can easily view and manage them all.

To access your ePortfolio, go to the right hand side of your D2L homepage and clicks on Tools and then select ePortfolio. From there, you’ll be brought to your ePortfolio home page.tools

On your home page, you have a number of different resources, including a feed which shows you the resources that you’ve updated, worked on, or have been shared with you from other people. You can also Add files and Add links from this page.eportfoilio page

Under My Items, you see a list of the objects you’ve created within your ePortfolio. To view them, simply click on the desired artifact, or you can click on the drop down arrow at the end of their name where you can view them, edit them, copy them, share them, delete them, and add them to presentations or collections.

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Under the Explore tab, we can see the artifacts that have been shared with us from other people.

Lastly, under the Sharing Groups tab, you can create a sharing group which allows you to easily share things with multiple people without having to individually add each one. This allows sharing to be much more easy, quick and convenient .

If you have any questions regarding your ePortfolio please contact UW-W Desire2Learn Support.

Thanks for your time!

 

General Access Labs

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Hey Everyone!

This is about the time of the year when people really start to get stressed. Classes are starting to wind down and exams will be here before you know it. With all of this panic and confusion, it’s easy to forget the essentials like, what the school offers to help you in this time of need.

MG_7492 A popular example of forgotten luxuries is the General Access Labs! The general access labs are located in the basement of Andersen, or Andersen 1008 and McGraw room 19. They offer free black and white printing, for all of your end of year assignments. They have a mix of computers with all different types of programs and software to help you with your classroom assignments.

Did you know you can print from your personal computer or mobile device? UW-Whitewater students have the ability to print documents and files from personal computers and mobile devices in general access computer labs, simply use one of the following methods. (NOTE: Files larger than 25 MB cannot be printed using this method)

  1. Smartphone Method: Using your UWW.edu email account, attach your document(s) or file(s) to an email and send it to print@uww.edu. Once complete, you will receive an email with instructions on how to print. Use this method when printing from iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.
  2. PC/Mac Method: Connect the device to the campus network. Using your device’s web browser, go to https://labprint.uww.edu/MyPrintCenter. Login using your Net-ID, then upload your document(s) or file(s). This method allows you to adjust your printing options. Use this this method when printing from a Mac computer, or a Windowstablet or computer.

If you need help with this software or if you would like to print something in color or get it things laminated, the General Access Labs also contain the Media Lab.

This is where you can print in color and get things laminated, this also includes poster printing for anyone who wants to make their presentations as professional as can be. The Media Lab also offers A/V Checkouts where you can check out, projectors, screens, tablets, headphones, microphones and all sorts of other different audio and visual recording equipment.MG_7633

To check out this equipment go to av-checkouts.uww.edu and fill out the online request form. You can pick your equipment up in the Media Lab.

The general access labs also have Collab rooms for all of your group work needs. Rooms can be reserved for a maximum of three hours per use. Time may be extended if there are no other groups waiting to use the room. You can reserve a room by going to: http://www.uww.edu/reserve. See lab attendant upon arrival.

Their hours of operation are as follows:

hours

For more information about the general access labs/media lab please visit their website!

Thanks for your time!