Category: IT support

Be prepared: IT checklist

Author Student Communications | Posted on

We know it can feel overwhelming having to do so many different things to get ready for your new life at uni. Getting your laptop sorted probably sounds like one of the most boring items on your to-do list, but you don’t want to be the one chatting to the IT helpdesk while everyone else is out exploring Bristol.

To help you out, we’ve pulled together this checklist, so you can tick off everything you need to do to ensure you’re ready to hit the ground running and smash your studies when you get here:

  • Kit and equipment – make sure you know what you need to have with you when you arrive on campus to start your course. We’ve pulled together some guidance so you can make the right choices. As we know how expensive tech can be, there’s also info on scholarships and financial support.
  • Accessing your account and keeping it secure – you’ll be provided with a Microsoft account for access to your UWE email account via Outlook and other Microsoft 365 apps. You’ll need to use this to log in and access, well, pretty much everything. Once you have registered online and before you change your initial temporary password, you’ll need to set up your Microsoft security info. This includes setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) which allows you to confirm your identity and access your account. Most UWE Bristol systems will ask you for verification every three days or when using a personal device, so take some time to set it up, don’t forget to change your initial temporary password and ask if you need help.
  • Software – you may need to use specific software for your studies either on your own device or using computers on campus. Check out the software page for more info which also includes a link to installing and using Microsoft 365 apps.
  • MyUWE – you’ll already be familiar with myUWE as this is where you registered, though now you can use it as a hub to access other things like your email account, personal details and Blackboard.
  • Blackboard – now Blackboard is where it’s at! This is where you’ll find everything you need for your course such as your timetable, modules, assignments and updates from your programme team. You’re also likely to be using MS Teams and we have a blog written already to run through all that with you as well.
  • Get clued up – it’s worth familiarising yourself with the digital tools you’ll be using here, to start confidently and feel prepared. The Digital Learning Course is a short course which introduces you to some of the technologies you will come across at UWE. It will help give you the confidence to use the best digital tools for your subject and help you prepare for study. Also, our JISC Discovery Tool allows you to assess your current digital capability and work out how to improve.

Navigating MS Teams

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Join the Team!

When it comes to online learning on your course, most of you will be using a mixture of MS Teams and Blackboard, and it will be up to your teaching staff to decide what works best for your particular programme. You’ll have programme and module pages on Blackboard, but you may be asked to use Teams either in class or in your own time for activities such as group work, discussion boards, presentations or quizzes. Teams will also be the platform for any virtual lectures or teaching sessions.

Don’t panic –there is plenty of support on how to use Teams and teaching staff can point you in the direction of appropriate support. But, if you want to do some prep work, then why not check out Using Microsoft Teams on the Study Skills section of our website. You don’t need to create a new account to use Teams, you just use your UWE username and password.

If, once term starts, you find out that Teams is not being used in your programme and you would like it to be, then contact the module’s teaching staff for more information.

Benefits of using MS Teams

So why are we going to be using Teams? Put simply, loads of reasons. Our Digital Learning Team has been researching the best ways of helping you learn, and we believe that Teams has so many advantages over other platforms.

  • It’s universal. Teams is used in so many workplaces across the world, so getting to grips with it now will allow you to gain useful experience for life after graduation.
  • It is designed for collaboration, and will help you work with your peers. You can share files, meet online and send chat messages.
  • It comes with a whole range of tools to help you manage your work, both individually and as a group, such as planners and notebooks.
  • You can also use whiteboards, surveys and quizzes, and other apps that integrate with Teams, so you can learn in a way that works for you.
  • It has a number of accessibility features, including Immersive Reader, which is great tool for students with additional needs.

One thing you might need to be aware of if you’re going to be heading out on placement, is how to manage two Teams accounts at the same time – one for UWE and one for your employer. This is pretty straightforward. You just need to log into one site via the desktop app and the other through a browser window. You can read up on this closer to the time, but just something to bear in mind.

Playing by the rules

As always, there are a few ground rules we need you to follow when using Teams, just so we can make sure everyone is safe and happy online.

  • Be respectful to each other.
  • Don’t share other people’s photos or personal data without their consent.
  • Don’t try to pass others’ work off as your own. Even in an informal setting, it is good practice to reference where you have used other people’s work. See UWE guides to referencing and avoiding plagiarism.
  • Always act in accordance with the Student Conduct Policy.

Final bits

If this all seems a bit overwhelming, don’t panic! If, once your modules start, you’re not really sure what you’re supposed to be doing, then ask your tutor or module leader.

Also, there’s sooo much out there to help you get trained up in getting the most out of Teams. You have access to the LinkedIn Learning library of video courses, and here are some suggestions that will help guide you through it all:

And, if you have any technical issues, you can contact IT Services, or if you have other questions such as how to download the Teams app, then you may find our Study Support pages useful.

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