Infographic: Common Blackboard Exam and Assignment Issues

Contributed by Jenn Ray, Learning Technology Administrator

If you would like to share this infographic with your students, please use the following hyperlink to download the shareable PDF document: Infographic: Common Blackboard Exam and Assignment Issues. NOTE: You may be prompted to enter your UHCL account credentials to open this file from OneDrive.

Infographic: Need Blackboard Help?

Contributed by Jenn Ray, Learning Technology Administrator

If you would like to share this infographic with your students, please use the following hyperlink to download the shareable PDF document, which will enable them to use the clickable links: Infographic: Need Blackboard Help? NOTE: You may be prompted to enter your UHCL account credentials to open this file from OneDrive.

OIT Support Center Tech Tip: Making the Most of Microsoft OneDrive

Contributed by Jenni Willis-Opalenik, Ph.D., Director - OIT Technology Learning Services

Although OIT launched Microsoft 365 before the start of the pandemic, many campus users are unfamiliar with many of its component applications. This week, we'll focus on OneDrive, your online file storage space. Microsoft describes OneDrive as follows:

OneDrive is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. It lets you store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on all your devices. When you use OneDrive with an account provided by your company or school, it's sometimes called "OneDrive for work or school." It used to be known as "OneDrive for Business," so you may still see it called that in places.

Resources

Some excellent resources on the web can help you get started with OneDrive. However, Microsoft published some of the best of those on their support page, Intro to OneDrive. We provided the first of those short Microsoft help videos, What is OneDrive?, below. 

Additional video tutorials include the following:

• Get Started with OneDrive
• OneDrive Basics
• Set Up Your Android Phone or Tablet for OneDrive
• Set Up Your iPhone or iPad for OneDrive
• Use the OneDrive Mobile Ap

For a more comprehensive tutorial, remember that all UHCL faculty and staff can access LinkedIn Learning's many online courses, including offerings focusing on Microsoft 365 and its component applications. One highly recommended online course is the one-hour OneDrive for Business Essential Training with facilitator Jess Stratton.

Remember that you can always contact OIT's Support Center at 281-283-2828 or supportcenter@uhcl.edu, and a Support Technician will assist you or refer your inquiry to another OIT staff member.

Support Center Tip: Troubleshoot Login Issues Due to Cached Data

Contributed by Jenni Willis-Opalenik, Ph.D., Director - OIT Technology Learning Services

As previously announced, the QuickLaunch portal go.uhcl.edu is now deployed for all UHCL students, faculty, and staff. The Blackboard link on UHCL's web pages has been updated to go.uhcl.edu since Blackboard is now accessed via the portal. As a reminder, instructions on accessing, getting started, and using GoUHCL are posted online in the document, Accessing and Using GoUHCL (QuickLaunch).

The deployment of GoUHCL has been an overwhelming success. However, some users may receive error messages (usually about invalid accounts) when accessing GoUHCL or the applications within the portal. Most of these problems are related to the user's browser activating old, cached information pertaining to the application logins before GoUHCL was activated. There are two ways to resolve cache-based issues:
Clear your browser cache to remove old information. The procedure for clearing your cache will vary depending on which browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and which versions of the browser you are using. A Google search should produce several resources that explain how to clear your cache. One such resource is PCMag's online article How to Clear Your Cache on Any Browser.
An option for users who prefer NOT to clear their cache is to use private or incognito mode in your browser. Again, a Google search should yield many resources about private/incognito browsing. For an example, please consult Lifewire's online article How to Turn on Incognito Mode in Your Browser.

If you have any questions about the above information, please contact the Support Center at either 281-283-2828 or supportcenter@uhcl.edu.

Announcing the Arrival of GoUHCL (QuickLaunch)

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is proud to announce the successful launch of GoUHCL (QuickLaunch) earlier today, Monday, March 14, 2022. GoUHCL is a cloud-based Identity & Access Management (IAM) solution that will provide the following key services to UHCL students, faculty and staff: 

• Single Sign-On - One Portal for UHCL students, faculty and staff to access UHCL-Wide Applications such as Blackboard, Zoom, Taleo, Microsoft 365, and Echo360. 
• Password Manager with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - One Portal for UHCL students, faculty and staff to securely reset lost or forgotten passwords with multi-factor authentication (MFA). 

Please refer to our initial support document, Accessing and Using GoUHCL (QuickLaunch), for information on how to access and use GoUHCL. 

For more information regarding the GoUHCL, please contact the OIT Support Center at 281-283-2828 or supportcenter@uhcl.edu.

Emails from Zoom and Blackboard About Deletions?

Have you recently received emails directly from Zoom and /or Blackboard regarding recording deletions (Zoom) or Export file deletions (Blackboard)? If so, there is no need to panic. Our team has prepared two short videos in which we explain each message and clarify its meaning:

Crash Course - Zoom Trash Deletions [3:14]

Crash Course - Bb Export Deletion Emails [3:13]

We would like to remind ALL users that the IDT team will NEVER delete Blackboard course shells without first sending several email notices (from IDT@UHCL.EDU) announcing our plans.

For more information about these or other emails, please contact the Support Center to request assistance from a member of the IDT team.

Getting Started with Microsoft Sway

Contributed by Jenni Willis-Opalenik, Director - Technology Learning Services

One software application gaining much "buzz" during Faculty Development Week 2022 is Microsoft Sway. Based on faculty feedback, our Support Center staff is planning to offer Sway training in the near future, In addition, instructional designer Jane Nguyen is creating video tutorials that include how faculty might use Sway to create the interactive syllabi discussed in her recent presentation.

While we await both of those support options, I wanted to provide any "do it yourselfers" out there with some information about how you can learn more about, and get started with, Microsoft Sway:

• Microsoft Support Page: Getting Started with Sway
• Microsoft Sway Quick Start Tutorials

As you may already know, the IDT team moved to Sway for our weekly newsletters in late 2021. We look forward to sharing more information with you about our lessons learned in the near future!

Reminder - GoUHCL Application Portal Launches Next Week!

As announced to the campus via email over the past two weeks, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) is proud to announce the impending arrival of GoUHCL (Powered by OIT & QuickLaunch).

GoUHCL is a cloud-based Identity & Access Management (IAM) solution that will provide the following key services to UHCL students, faculty & staff:

• GoUHCL will enable One Portal for UHCL Students, Faculty & Staff to access UHCL-Wide Applications such as Blackboard, Zoom, Taleo, Microsoft365 (M365) & Echo360.
• GoUHCL will enable One Portal for UHCL Faculty & Staff to securely reset lost or forgotten passwords with multi-factor authentication (MFA)

GoUHCL will officially launch on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Upon launch, UHCL Students, Faculty & Staff will automatically be routed to GoUHCL when attempting to access the following systems:

• Blackboard
• Zoom
• Taleo (for Faculty/Staff)
• Microsoft 365 (M365)
• Echo360

For a quick preview of GoUHCL, please use the hyperlink provided below:

"Crash Course" - GoUHCL Preview [3:56]

This week's email to the campus (OIT Alert) will repeat this information and will include the date(s) and time(s) for upcoming drop-in presentations/Q&A sessions with the Support Center staff about GoUHCL. In the meantime, for more information regarding GoUHCL, please contact the OIT Support Center at 281-283-2828 or supportcenter@uhcl.edu.

Coming Soon! GoUHCL Application Portal

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is proud to announce the impending arrival of GoUHCL (Powered by OIT & QuickLaunch).

• The What - GoUHCL is a cloud-based Identity & Access Management (IAM) solution that will provide the following key services to UHCL students, faculty & staff:
• GoUHCL will enable One Portal for UHCL Students, Faculty & Staff to access UHCL-Wide Applications such as Blackboard, Zoom, Taleo, Microsoft365 (M365) & Echo360.
• GoUHCL will enable One Portal for UHCL Faculty & Staff to securely reset lost or forgotten passwords with multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• The When - GoUHCL will officially launch on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
• The How - Upon launch, UHCL Students, Faculty & Staff will automatically be routed to GoUHCL when attempting to access the following systems:
• Blackboard
• Zoom
• Tale
• Microsoft 365 (M365)
• Echo360

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) will provide updates to the UHCL community as we move toward the Go-Live Date and are excited about the immense value GoUHCL will provide.

For more information regarding GoUHCL, please contact the OIT Support Center at 281-283-2828 or supportcenter@uhcl.edu.