ITfeature

Microsoft Recognizes Kent State University On February 1st, Microsoft published this article that highlights the great work that Kent State and the Division of Information Technology have done utilizing Microsoft Teams for hybrid learning and workplace collaboration on campus.  The university's commitment to accessible and equal opportunity has earned high praise from Microsoft. Departments and university leadership partnered with each other to develop a strategy utilizing Microsoft Teams to allow hybrid educational and workplace efforts to persist when the pan...

  Are you interested in being part of a community that focuses on respect for people by recognizing that those who are doing the work are the best ones to improve it? Interested in continuous improvement and learning from your peers about how they have used Lean principles and tools to streamline their processes, big and small? Interested in sharing your own experiences? Then join the Lean Community of Practice. A Community of Practice is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better by inter...

Announcing Teams for Academics  The Division of Information Technology is pleased to announce the launch of Microsoft Teams for students. This launch will provide you an additional option to engage with your students, enable file collaboration, and enhance communications.    Noteworthy features include:   The ability to see up to 49 people on screen at once.   Real time closed captioning for live conversations.   Phone conferencing options for all participants (ideal for students on limited bandwidth).   Two Options - O...

In early September, The Division of Information Technology implemented a new grading tool for faculty called Gradescope. Gradescope helps faculty keep track of assignments and allows for an easier, more efficient way to grade digitally.   Useful Features  Gradescope offers a scanning feature that allows you to scan your students’ work .  Build rubrics inside of the program for an easier, more consistent grading technique.  Send grades right to the students or export them into Blackboard Lear...

In-person instruction will change dramatically this Fall with the requirements in place to ensure physical distancing.  To accommodate the needs defined by these requirements, a Classroom Technology Committee was formed to make recommendations on technology solutions designed to support a quality instructional experience at a distance. The committee was made up of faculty from a variety of disciplines, students, staff from Information Technology, the Office of Continuing and Distance Education, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and&nbs...

As the concern of the COVID-19 pandemic heightened throughout the month of March, Kent State made the decision to cancel face-to-face classes and move to completely online classes. But that meant some heavy lifting on the part of faculty, staff and students. According to Valerie Kelly, associate vice president for the Office of Continuing and Distance Education (OCDE), over the course of six days, Kent State University’s Information Technology (IT) staff, OCDE staff, departmental educational technologists and instructional designers moved more than 8,000 traditional courses to digital learn...

On March 10, Kent State University officials ceased face-to-face classes and has allowed for flexible work arrangements through April 12 due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The Division of Information Technology has created a guide on how to maintain productivity using collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams when working off site; this guide can be found at https://www.kent.edu/keeponworking. Below are some quick practices and recommendations from the university: Only connect to trusted networks (i.e., your home password-protected network, not public wifi) when working off-campus....

Free access to Gartner is now offered through Kent State University for students, faculty, and staff across its eight campuses. Gartner is a research and advisory company that provides technology-related information and insights to help clients make informed decisions. Its website offers access to accurate and current research on information technology topics. Gartner gives its users practical tools, strategic advice, and trusted insights to drive successful outcomes. Here’s how Gartner will benefit the Kent State community: Students: Students will gain insight on current trends...

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of protection to your account. An authentication protected by MFA will usually start the same way as any other login – by requiring a username and password. After your password is verified, MFA will require a second form of verification to ensure that the correct person is accessing an account – hence the “multi” in MFA. Accounts protected with MFA will require at least two of these three mechanisms to verify an identity: Something you know – usually a password or a PIN Something you have – usually a cell phone, a card, or a...

Remember cybersecurity should not be limited to just the home or office. It is very important to practice safe online behavior when preparing for your vacation. So, who’s ready for a summer vacation? As everyone knows, no matter where you’re headed, having fun and relaxing is the goal. If you’re going to be traveling abroad, there’ll be plenty to think about in preparation – including what clothes you’re going to take and exciting places you’re going to visit. Individuals face a variety of threats when traveling and best practices should start long before boarding the plane. For instance, d...