Bb World is Coming, Are You Presenting?

Have you done something interesting and awesome within Blackboard and want to present your work? Blackboard Inc. is making a call for presentations for their conference called Bb World that is annually held in Las Vegas.

We would love some of our SU Student Users to be involved!  

Make sure to go to the above link, and create a presentation proposal! 

You might be thinking, "why would I want to go to Las Vegas and look awesome presenting my interesting project that involve Bb?"

Allow me a moment to address this question:

1. It's Vegas, need any more excuse?
2. Representing your university on a national scale, and at a conference held by one of their largest business partners should be considered a huge honor.
3. Presenting at a conference of this magnitude looks attractive to potential graduate school programs.

SU and Bb Inc. have an incredibly strong partnership, and it's time that the rest of the Bb community sees just how savvy SU users really are!  I'll see you in Vegas (hopefully)!

Student Tech Buzz 2/24-2/28

Student Tech Buzz 2/14-2/28 New Sign-In Page for Google Apps Services Google has made a change to the sumail.su.edu login page, they changed it from our branded web page to the "normal" Google login page. They have done this to all Google Apps domains not just SU. The biggest impact for the SU community is you will now have to enter your full e-mail address to login. On the old page you could just enter username, now you will need to enter username@su.edu.   One new feature is the Stay signed in checkbox is selected by default. If you want to sign out of Google Apps automatically when you close your browser, you should deselect this checkbox. If you leave this checkbox selected when you sign in, you will remain signed in for two weeks or until you click the Sign out button that appears when you click on your photo in the upper right corner. If you have any questions regarding this issue please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@su.edu or 540-665-5555.   Update your iOS Devices! A security flaw in iOS devices has been fixed by Apple through an update that should be available in your settings.  This flaw allowed hackers to read information that you access through secure websites.  If you haven't done so yet, please update your iOS devices as soon as possible! For more information on the flaw, click the link. Authored by Devon Taylor Back by Popular Demand, Girl Scout Cookies for Survey Submissions! Another shipment of Girl Scout cookies has arrived by way of Techwinkle, and that means one thing for SU Bb users, delicious cookies for survey submissions! That's right, like last week, if you visited me, Techwinkle, at Traveling Bb Support and filled out my survey, you received a box of delicious cookies! This week, more cookies are up for grabs! That being said, you cannot get the cookies simply by filling out the survey online, you must come see me!  Also, make sure to give me the most insightful information possible! So, take some time, and visit me at the following times and locations: Bb Traveling Schedule: Mondays: Ruebush 11-12p Tuesday: Shingleton 10-11a, Brandt 12-2p, Gregory 2:30-3:30p Wednesday: Cork 11-1p, HPB 1:30-5p Thursday: NVC 9-12p 1st & 3rd Weeks, Shingleton 2-3p, HHH 3:30-4:30p Friday: Bowman 12-1p, MOB II 1-3p

Girl Scout Cookies for your Insightful Information!

Last week, we were giving away Girl Scout cookies for all users who visited Traveling Bb Support and filled out a survey!  The information that we received was incredibly insightful, and helps us know exactly what we need to work on.

"What was the survey all about?"

The survey was about your thoughts about SU's Bb environment.  What can we do, as the IC Bb team to improve the experience.  How can this system be better for you, the SU Bb user.  Though the survey was simple by design and deployment, the responses we received were anything but! 

Luckily, everybody provided information that is extremely useful in knowing where we need to focus our efforts!  

That being said, the survey went so well that Techwinkle is ready for round 2.  A second huge pile of Girl Scout cookies is piled up and ready to be distributed to SU Bb users in exchange for their insightful information.

That's right, delicious cookies are back up for grabs when you come and visit Techwinkle at Traveling Bb Support and hill out the survey!

SU Technology Tips and Tricks

Where I'll Be This Week Monday - Bowman Building 12:00 - 2:00 - Room 212 Wednesday - Cork Street - 10:00 - 12:00 - Conference Room Thursday - Wilkins Building- 11:00 - 1:00 - Conference Room Halpin-Harrison Hall 2:30 - 4:30 - Room 140 Friday - HPB - 11 - 1 - In Front of the Library Facebook Twitter Training Website Google Plus YouTube 24/7 Support BB Info Good Morning Everyone, I hope that everyone got to enjoy the brief respite of warmth this weekend!  Today I've got tips on using Google Apps to stay productive, a complete list of Excel functions, and a request that you update your iOS device as soon as possible!  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to ask! Have a great week!  SU Tips and Tricks Update Your iOS Device Now! A security flaw in iOS devices has been fixed by Apple through an update that should be available in your settings.  This flaw allowed hackers to read information that you access through secure websites.  If you haven't done so yet, please update your iOS devices as soon as possible! For more information on the flaw, click the link. Use Google Apps to Get Work Done! SMS reminders for events, pin tabs in Chrome, Google Drive offline editing....these and many more tips can be found on this great post from TechRepublic detailing 10 tips to help you make the most of Google Apps to get work done!  Excel Functions by Category If you are someone who uses Excel regularly or even if you just use it on occasion, this is a great site to bookmark!  Straight from Microsoft, this page lists all Excel formulas by category and gives a short description of what they do!  Great resource to have on standby when you need some Excel formula help!  Check out the link and bookmark it now! (Most of these should work in Google Sheets too!)

SafeAssign Got You Down?

Student Tech Buzz 2/17-2/21 Enable Third Party Cookies to Allow SafeAssign to Submit Properly   Make sure you enable third party cookies in order to successfully complete SafeAssign assignments.  This takes just seconds to do, and can save you a ton of headache! A few weeks ago, IC's Melissa Stange wrote a great entry to IC's tech blog about enabling third party cookies.  Here you can find step-by-step directions for whatever browser you may be using. Make Sure to Edit Your Notification Settings to Receive Bb Updates Via Email and/or SMS   A few students have recently mentioned that they would love to receive some sort of notifications involving their Blackboard experience via email. Let me one-up you, real quick.  Not only can you receive various notifications via email, but you can also receive them via SMS. BOOM! Yeah, that just happened! In order to change your notification settings, please follow these steps: From "My Bb" click in the top right corner on your name A dropdown menu will appear, click "Settings" a sub-dropdown menu will appear, click "Personal Information" click "Edit Personal Information" Enter all relevant information including your mobile phone number (if you want to receive notifications via SMS). Make sure to click "Submit" when you are finished Go back to the third bullet location where you found "Personal Information." This time click "Edit Notification Settings." From the "Edit Notification Settings" page you can edit exactly which notifications you want to receive and how you would like to receive them.  Techwinkle is Rocking the Survey, Girl Scout Style.   For the last week, Techwinkle has been providing Traveling Bb Support as usual, but with a twist.  If SU Bb users filled out a simple survey about ways in which they feel their Blackboard experience could be improved, Techwinkle gave them an entire box of Girl Scout cookies. Though this survey was short, the responses that we received were anything but! With the information we gathered from this survey, we now know a lot of the issues that users face, and with that knowledge we know where to focus our efforts to make sure SU Bb is being used as effectively as possible! Keep in mind, the survey is still available, and we would love to have additional submissions (though your submissions will not be rewarded with cookies, as supplies have been depleted).   Your Thoughts on SU Bb   With Techwinkle, market research has never tasted so delicious!

SafeAssign not Sending? Enable Third Party Cookies in your Browser.

If I had a dollar for every student who has recently had an issue with a SafeAssign assignment not submitting properly, I would literally have a few dollars. That would be enough for me to convert those dollars into quarters and then take my salt covered car to the wash.  Like everybody else, I don't want my undercarriage to corrode!

The answer: Enable third party cookies in your browser's settings. Not long ago, the IC Department's Melissa Stange wrote a great blog about how to enable third party cookies. Make sure to check this out because this is important! If you don't do it, you could find yourself in more frustration that this 30 second process would have you believe.

Additionally, if you hear of your fellow students having issues, make sure to share the above link with them.

BB Content Editor Tips

SU Technology Tips & Tricks From Devon

Where I'll Be This Week Monday - Bowman Building 12:00 - 2:00 - Room 212 Tuesday - Feltner Building 12:00 - 2:00 - Third Floor Wednesday - Cork Street - 11:00 - 1:00 - Conference Room Thursday - The NVC - 12:30 - 3:30 - Lobby Friday - HPB - 11 - 1 - In Front of the Library Facebook Twitter Training Website Google Plus YouTube 24/7 Support BB Info

Good Morning Everyone, I hope that you all had a relaxing and tech filled long weekend!  This week I've got tips on how to exercise at your desk, a guide to understanding #Hashtags, and a request for you to change your Comcast password! (Only if you use Comcast service) Have a great week! Devon SU Tips and Tricks Understanding #Hashtags Pound sign, number sign, hashtag...you find them everywhere now.  In Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, Pinterest, just about everywhere on social media and elsewhere, this simple symbol has proliferated into a phenomenon.  What do they mean?  What are they for?  These questions and more are answered in this great, short article from HP.  Check it out and start using #Hashtags to their full purpose! Desk Exercises to Alleviate Back Pain Sitting at your desk all day can have serious consequences on your body if you aren't careful about your posture and movement.  With that in mind, here is a quick video of a stretch that you can do a few times a day that will help prevent back pain associated with sitting!  Check out the link and start stretching today! Comcast Hacked...Change Your Password! Last week, hackers compromised some of the Comcast mail servers which gave them access to mail and account passwords.  If you have Comcast for your TV, Internet or Phone service, it is recommended that you change your password as soon as possible!  For more info, click the link.

Copyright © 2014 Shenandoah University, All rights reserved.
Technology Tips and Tricks Email - Brought to you by Institutional Computing

Student Tech Buzz 2/10-2/14

Student Tech Buzz 2/10-2/14 An Entire Box of Girl Scout Cookies for a Simple Survey! The concept is simple, you give us the quality information that we need to continue to improve your SU Bb environment, and we will give you delicious Girl Scout cookies. Keep in mind, we are looking for the most insightful information you can possibly give us! To get the cookies, all you have to do is visit Technology Support Liaison, Tristan Plummer, at Traveling Bb Support, and fill out his survey. He will then give you a box of tasty Girl Scout cookies (if he has not already run out of them). Feel free to fill out the survey provided below; however, cookies can only be distributed if you fill out the survey at Traveling Bb Support and cookies are still available.   Your Thoughts on SU Bb Making the Most Out of the Content Editor With Mashups! Did you know that you can embed different types of media within the Bb Content Editor? For instance, if you are referencing a particular YouTube video in a discussion board, why not just embed that video so that everybody can see it directly below your response? The process for using the Bb Content Editor Mashup is extremely easy, and something that every SU Bb user should learn to use! For example to embed a YouTube video with the Content Editor follow these steps: Expand the Content Editor Locate the Mashups Button Select "YouTube Video" from the drop down list that appears Search for the particular YouTube video you are looking to share and click "Select" Pay close attention to the options and then click "Submit" I hope you enjoy this extremely intuitive and simple feature.   Here is a click-by-click album showing you how to use the YouTube Mashup feature Do You Receive SMS Notifications from Bb? Bb can actually notify you about important course information via SMS; however, it does not do this by default.  You will need to go in and enable SMS notifications. To enable SMS notifications follow these directions: Go into your settings Edit your personal information to include your cell phone number Edit your notification settings to enable SMS notifications.  Sounds complicated, huh?  Don't worry, it's not!  Here's an online album to help walk you through the process IC Updates Servers, Friday 2/14, Starting At 9p   Institutional Computing is installing Windows updates on university servers , Feb. 14, starting at 9 p.m. IC expects to be finished with all updates by midnight. Other network services will not be disrupted during this period. If you have problems logging onto the network, or if you get disconnected, simply wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again. If you must work tonight between 9 p.m. and midnight, save your work often, and be prepared for the servers to be rebooted. This update also includes the Blackboard Learn servers.