Digital Learning Institute, 4/27-6/12

by | Apr 20, 2020 | Announcements

Dear Faculty,

We hope this message finds you are safe and healthy. In response to the growing interest in digital learning and teaching with technologies, the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI), in partnership with the Online Learning Research Center at the UCI School of Education, is launching a faculty development program – the Digital Learning Institute (DLI).

The theme of the inaugural 2020 DLI is “Embracing Pedagogical Excellence in Remote Teaching” to prepare faculty teaching in the summer. This 7-week program will run from Monday, April 27, 2020, to Friday, June 12, 2020, and will include a weekly webinar along with one-on-one consultations with a designated instructional designer. Participants will also receive peer support and will be guided by a research-informed rubric. Faculty who complete the program will be recognized as Digital Learning Institute Fellows with more future opportunities for these individuals being developed.

Interested instructors must complete a brief application form by Wednesday, April 22nd. Seats are limited so we encourage you to apply soon.

If you have further questions, please contact us at DTEIsupport@uci.edu. We look forward to collaborating with you and exploring the possibilities of remote teaching together at the Digital Learning Institute.

Sincerely yours,

Megan Wanlin Linos
Director of Learning Experience Design and Online Education
Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI)
Email:  wlinos@uci.edu
Web: digitallearning.dtei.uci.edu

Remote IT Services

by | Mar 25, 2020 | Announcements

Dear UCI Community,

As we are all adjusting to teaching, working and learning in a virtual world due to COVID-19, OIT would like to remind students and employees of the technological services and tools available to facilitate campus business remotely. Whether you need to instruct a course, meet and collaborate with a colleague, or complete coursework remotely, OIT is committed to meeting your technology needs. Here are recently deployed tools that support our collective remote work:

  • Zoom: A powerful web conferencing tool is now available to all faculty, staff, and students. You can host an online gathering for instruction or meetings for up to 300 people.
  • Campus VPN: We’ve added capacity on the campus VPN (Virtual Private Network) to accommodate the increase in off-campus traffic. VPN allows you to access University resources, such as your work computer or UCI Libraries resources from off campus.
  • Virtual Computing Lab: The virtual computing lab allows students and faculty to use common research software such as Matlab, SPSS, SAS, and others in a virtual environment remotely.
  • Respondus Lockdown Browser + Monitor: Facilitate exams with this combination of tools that restricts computer activity and provides for automated exam session monitoring and recording.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud: For a limited time through May 31, Adobe has made the Creative Cloud suite available to all campus. This includes popular applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and other premium Adobe software.
  • Laptops for Loan: Faculty, staff, and students who do not have a computer available at home may request OIT-provided laptops to loan on a limited basis.

Keep updated on information and resources for remote work with TechPrep @ UCI and other Virtual Tools and Resources.

If you need support for any of the above services, please contact the OIT Help Desk at (949) 824-2222 or oit@uci.edu. You can also follow OIT on Twitter for tips, tools and updates on technology at UCI.

Sarkis Daglian, M.B.A.
Director, Client Services
Office of Information Technology

Supporting Remote Learning: Student Laptop Program

by | Mar 25, 2020 | Announcements

Dear Anteaters:

These are very difficult times and not having the right equipment to access your coursework can make them even more difficult. To help alleviate the challenge of securing appropriate computer equipment for remote learning, UCI has secured a number of laptops for free loan during Spring quarter to students who don’t have access to key remote learning tools.

In particular, students who don’t have access to the following computer equipment, which is required to run Zoom (for web conferencing) and Respondus Monitor + LockDown Browser (for online test proctoring), might benefit from borrowing a laptop:

  • Windows or Mac OS X operating systems (Google Chromebooks, iPads, iPhones, and Android tablets and phones do not support Respondus)
  • A webcam
  • A microphone

Please review the following Student Laptop Loan Program details before submitting a request:

  • Each laptop has a webcam and microphone and the following software pre-installed: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Office 365, Google Chrome browser, Zoom, and Cisco AnyConnect VPN client. You can install additional software.
  • The loan is free of charge, but fines will be imposed for damage (beyond normal wear and tear), late return, or non-return (including because of loss or theft), up to $800.
  • You must be able to pick up the laptop from campus on a weekday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. We will use appropriate social distancing during the pickup process. We are, unfortunately, unable to ship out laptops at this time but will explore this and let you know if things change.
  • The program’s laptops have been leased by UCI and must be returned to campus during the week of June 15th either in person or by shipping. If shipping, you are responsible for proper packaging, costs, and any damage incurred in the process.

To request a laptop loan, please follow the link below and submit a request form:

https://forms.gle/HJdqduHWpKNrHkqTA

For students working as instructional assistants, TAs, Readers, or Research Assistants who need additional equipment for that work, you should request this equipment through your hiring department rather than through this loan program.

If you have any questions about the Student Laptop Loan Program, please email studentequipment@uci.edu

We appreciate all that you are coping with and hope this program helps a bit. We all look forward to our return from these emergency procedures as soon as possible.

Michael Dennin
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education
Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning

Gillian Hayes
Kleist Professor of Informatics
Dean, Graduate Division
Vice Provost for Graduate Education

UCI Libraries Closed Until Further Notice

by | Mar 18, 2020 | Announcements

Due to COVID-19, effective immediately the UCI Libraries will close all our services until further notice.

Remote Access to Library Services and Collections

We have compiled a webpage that provides links to all our services and collections that can be accessed remotely. This includes 24/7 chat research help.

Our expert subject librarians are available to assist remotely with virtual research workshops and discipline-related research questions.

If you have questions about your library account please email us at circadm@uci.edu. If you have any questions or requests to support your teaching and research needs, please send them via our Comments/Suggestions Form.

For up-to-date information on campus status, please continue to visit the UCI Coronavirus website.