by Randy Hollowell, IT Services

Now that we are a few weeks into the first semester of a new school year, we in IT Services know that the University is in the midst of a whirlwind of activity. Everyone is busy trying to do five things at once and still be able to keep our heads above water.

Hopefully, that’s where we come in. We thought it would be helpful to spend a little bit of time looking at some of the helpful tools Miami staff and faculty have at your disposal -- and how they can help as the semester ramps up:

Qualtrics

This is a handy tool that allows instructors, staff, and students alike to set up surveys and gather information. Whether it’s for course credit or graduate research, Qualtrics can be a powerful ally in helping gain knowledge in a controlled environment. 

Before using Qualtrics, you should:

1. Create an account (student accounts need to be requested by a faculty or staff member).
2. Determine if your survey requires approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for research dealing with human subjects.
3. Familiarize yourself with the tool (our Knowledge Base is perfect for this!)

Read more about Qualtrics on the IT Services website.

Infobase Learning Cloud (formerly Hoonuit)

Have you ever wanted to learn how to edit an image in Photoshop, or had trouble adding media to a PowerPoint slideshow? Hoonuit should be your go-to application for learning how to do cool new things with regard to technology and instruction. It even includes modules on Canvas for both instructors and students. With your Miami credentials, you have access to hundreds of training modules about different tools.

Try it now.

FileLocker

FileLocker provides a secure way to share documents containing sensitive information with parties both inside and outside Miami. Documents uploaded to this system will be deleted after 90 days, ensuring that private information isn’t sitting unprotected and forgotten after you are finished with it.

Check out the Knowledge Base for full information and instructions on how to share files with both internal and external people.

eduroam

Developed for the international research and education community, eduroam (education roaming) is a secure network access service available in over 100 countries and territories. As a member of the Internet 2 community, Miami students, faculty, researchers, and staff who are visiting other participating institutions can obtain Internet connectivity by simply selecting the eduroam network ID on their mobile devices or laptops. Then log in with your full Miami email address and MUnet password.  

Before you travel, check to see if a nearby institution offers eduroam. The service is available at selected U.S. and international institutions, including some libraries and museums.  

It is also a good idea to test and configure your connection through Miami’s eduroam network before you leave. For directions, see the knowledge base article Wireless Network / eduroam configuration for wireless connection.

Canvas Bypass

When we turned Duo on in December 2018, we launched an application along with it that allows instructors to bypass their students from needing Duo to get into Canvas on any chosen day during the semester.

What is the use case for this app? It’s a just-in-case measure so that students have as much time to complete assignments as possible. If an instructor is giving an exam in Canvas during class time, for example, and a student has trouble logging in, this will take Duo out of the equation. The app can also be helpful for instructors leading groups abroad!

Note: This app is only used for Canvas. Even when bypassed via this app, students will continue to be prompted for Duo when accessing other Miami systems.

To learn more about this tool, and to initiate a Canvas Bypass for a class, please visit the knowledge base article Duo / Check your authentication bypass status for Canvas.