Category: IT support

Get your tech ready for uni

Author Student Communications | Posted on

There’s a lot to sort out before starting uni, and getting your tech ready might not be the most exciting thing on your to-do list. But getting the essentials set up now will make life much easier once you get started on your course.  

Here are the key things to tick off your list to help you feel prepared:  

1. Make sure you have the right equipment ✅

Check what equipment you’ll need, including which laptop and devices are most suitable.  

Our guidance on choosing IT equipment can help you with this, as well as provide info on financial support if the cost of tech is a concern.  

2. Set up and secure your UWE account ✅

Your UWE Microsoft account gives you access to your UWE email account via Outlook and many other Microsoft 365 apps you’ll use throughout your studies.  

Once you’ve registered online and before you change your temporary password, you’ll need to set up your Microsoft security info. This includes setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) which keeps your account secure.  

3. Know where to go for what ✅

You don’t need to know every UWE system before you get here, but we’ve listed the main ones you’ll need to get familiar with below: 

– myUWE is your starting point for accessing your email, personal details and Blackboard 

– Blackboard is where you’ll find info relating to your course, including modules, assignments and updated from the programme team. 

You’ll also use Microsoft Teams to collaborate and communicate you’re your peers and tutors during your studies. 

4. Download the software you need ✅

You might need specific software for your course. 

Take a look at the UWE software you can download, including Microsoft 365 apps. 

You don’t need to know everything before you start. Taking a little time to explore the systems and tools available to you can make those first few weeks feel much easier.   

The Digital Learning Course  introduces  some of the tech you’ll use at UWE and helps you build the confidence to use the best digital tools for your subject. And once you’re set up, there’s plenty of tools like Microsoft Copilot that can help you study, prepare and get organised.

Get a head start using Microsoft Teams

Author Student Communications | Posted on

As part of your learning at UWE Bristol, you’ll be using a mixture of Microsoft Teams and Blackboard, and it will be up to the academic team to decide what works best for your 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. You don’t need to create a new account to use Teams, you just use your UWE username and password. To get a head start, you can check out our Using Microsoft Teams on the Study Skills section of our website. There’s also some great online tutorials that walk you through step-by-step:

You’ll also have access to the LinkedIn Learning library of video courses, and if you have any technical issues, you can contact IT Services. If you have other questions such as how to download the Teams app, then you may find our Study Support pages useful. 

Benefits of using MS Teams

We’ve researched the best ways to help you learn and we believe that Teams has so many advantages over other platforms, including: 

  • It’s universal – Teams is used in so many workplaces across the world, so getting familiar 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 by sharing files, meeting online and sending chat messages.
  • It comes with a range of tools to help you manage your work, both individually and as a group, such as planners and notebooks.
  • You can 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.

Important note if you go on placement

If you’re going to be heading out on placement, you may need 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.

If 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. 

And if, once your modules start, you’re not really sure what you’re supposed to be doing, then get in touch with your tutor or module leader who will be more than happy to support.