Technology Resources for Students | Academic Technology (2024)

This guide will help students prepare to work remotely and interact with their course content, classmatesand instructors using remote modalities.

Topics this guide covers:

• Setting up technology forlearning

• Campus technology toolsand services

• Remote learning tips and best practices

• Courses and class content

• SFSUResources

• Software titles and licenses

How to Get Help

Academic Technology

Students may contact AT for assistance withteaching and learning tools.AT Services is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m.

Contact:

• Email - at@sfsu.edu
• Phone - (415) 405-5555
• Book an appointment in Outlook

• Know your SF State email
  • You will use your SF State email to log in and access a variety of remote technologies
    • Go to SF State email account servicesand log in if you are unaware of your SF State email address
  • Important information from the campus and your instructors will be sent to your official SF State email account - be sure to check it regularly!
    • Log into email by navigating to Outlookand entering your SF State email
• Know your SF State password
  • If you do not know your password or have it saved on your devices, you may want to reset your password and keep it safe
    • Reset SF State password

Requesting Loaner Laptops

Requesting laptops:
To request a laptop, pleaseuse this form.

Requirements

• A computing device with internet access such as a desktop or laptop computer OR a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet
  • See section below on connectivity and internet access for more information on internet requirements and recommendations
• A microphone (instructors may require students to participate in courses verbally)
• Speakers or headphones

Recommendations

• Use a laptop running Windows 10 or macOS 10.13 (or above)
  • Rationale: Laptops generally have all of the necessary equipment built-in, including microphones, webcams and speakers. A laptop running a supported version of Windows or macOS will provide the best compatibility with software and websites students are required to use in courses.
• Webcam (integrated with laptop or USB accessory)
  • Rationale: If your computer does not have a camera built-in, an external USB webcam will provide camera functionality for cases when instructors may ask students to show video in livesessions or for video recorded assignments such as speeches and presentations. Many USB webcams also have microphones built-in with slightly better quality than the ones built-in to a computer.

Best practices and tips:

• iPads and devices running ChromeOS are not recommended as a full computer replacement as they may not be compatible with software required to complete course work
• Keep your computer's operating system and the browsers and applications you use up-to-date to ensure continued access to campus resources such as Canvasand Zoom

SF State students requiring internet access in their place of residence during remote instruction and operation periods can refer to our list of resourcesto assist with securing an internet connection.

View Internet access resources

Canvas is a web-based learning management system, or LMS. It is used by learning institutions, educators, and students to access and manage online course learning materials and communicate about skill development and learning achievement.

Related support documents:

• View all Canvas guides

SF State uses the Zoom web and video conferencing application. Zoom provides high quality, real-time video, voice, chat, and other collaboration options for faculty, students and staff.

• To set up your account, go tohttps://sfsu.zoom.usand select theSign inlink
  • You can log in using yourSFSU IDorSFSU email addressandSFSU password
• Download the Zoom client by navigating tohttps://sfsu.zoom.us/download

Note:You do not need an account to join a meeting, only to start one. Participants can simply select the meeting link to join a session without logging in.

Related Support Documents:

• Learn more about Zoom
• Zoom on mobile devices

Labspaceprovides students and faculty anytime, anywhere access to software applications.Popular titles such as SPSS, SAS, Mathematica, MATLAB, ArcGIS, and Microsoft Office are available. For students, this means they can access software used in their courses from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere they have a computer and internet connection.Contact your instructor to request access for your class.

• Learn more about Labspace

Related Support Documents:

• AT Help Center Labspace Guides

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Box at SF State is a cloud-based, collaborative storage service used to share documents with employees, students and non-SF State individuals. The service permits syncing files between devices and provides access to files from many mobile devices.

• Learn more about Box at SF State

Related Support Documents:

• Box user guide

• Stay connected
  • If you enjoy collaboration, set up group study sessions or chats via Zoom
  • Communicate regularly with your instructors, classmates, support personnel, advisors, etc.
• Stick to a schedule
  • Reserve specific blocks of time in your daily schedule for attending online sessions and completing readings and assignments, and remember that instructors may schedule virtual meetings and discussions
  • Remote modalities often require extra mindfulness to keep track of deadlines
• Mimic the classroom learning experience
  • Continue to take notes as you would if you were there in person
  • Turn off notifications or silence your devices, and refrain from using social media
  • Try to find ways to remain engaged - ask questions and communicate regularly with your instructors, classmates, advisors, and more
  • Inform any housemates of your "Do Not Disturb" working hours
• Take care of yourself
  • Frequent study breaks, exercise, and maintaining your energy levels through food and sleephelp maintain focus

Work space:

• If possible, set up a designated "work space" such as a desk/table and chair in an area that is easy for you to focus in
• Try to find a chair with some cushioning, or add pillows for comfort
• If you can,adjust your seat so that your thighs are parallel to the floor and your feet are able to be flat on the floor
• If you can, try to adjust your seat-back upright to help refrain from slouching, and try to create lumbar support by adding a rolled up towel or pillow to the space between your lower back and the chair back

Equipment:

• Place your keyboard and mouseclose together on your work table at the height where using themcauses your elbows to be bent at or near a 90 degree angle, so you aren’t bending your wrists to type
• Try to position your monitor about an arm's length away from you
• Ensure your computer and your webcamareelevated to give straight-on perspective during any video calls
• Position the computer and camera so that you are facing a light source for video calls, and try to make surethat light source is never behind you
  • The best lighting is natural light, though direct sunlight may cause you strain; if no natural light is available, use a lamp.
• Make sure you are aware of your surroundings when enabling any video calls
  • Bright lights and movement or other distracting backgrounds may detract from others ability to be able to concentrate on the topic at hand

• Instructors will provide information on how best to contact them in their Canvascourses and syllabi
• Make sure you check your SF State email
  • Important information from the campus and your instructors will be sent to your official SF State email account
    • Log in to email by navigating to Outlookand entering your SF State email
    • Don’t know what your email is? Go to SF State email account servicesand log in
• Download and install Zoom
  • Instructors may use Zoom to conduct live classes via video conference
    • Zoom is available for Laptops/Desktops and mobile devices: Zoom download center
    • Log in to set up your account: Zoom sign in
• Receivea copy of Announcements and Inbox messages you send in Canvas

Recommendations:

• Reach out to your instructors on your own.
• Sign up for office hours.
• If you aren’t sure how best to participate in the remote classroom, contact your instructor for clarification.
• Please realize that your instructor may not be able to respond immediately. Be patient, but follow up.

• Zoom accounts are available to all students. Setting up study groups or other engagements with fellow students can be done from your own Zoom accounts.
• Instructors may provide discussion forums in iLearn for student engagement.
  • Related Support Documents:
    • Posting to a forum
    • Replying to an existing forum post
• Instructors may ask students to post videos
  • Related Support Documents:
    • Submitting video to anassignment
    • Adding a video to a text box, such as a forum post for “Introduce yourself” type activities

• Check your SF State email
  • Important information from the campus and your instructors will be sent to your official SF State email account
    • Log in to email by navigating to Outlookand entering your SF State email
    • Don’t know what your email is? Go to SF State email account servicesand log in
• Instructors may also use theiLearnlearning management system for distributing course content
  • Log in to iLearn
  • You can also use the Moodle Mobile app
• Instructors may use iLearn assignments for students to submit work
  • Related Support Documents:
    • Submit an assignment via iLearn
    • Submit an assignment via Turnitin

SF State's J. Paul Leonard Library is available for some remote support services during campus closures. Resourcesavailable are listed athttps://libguides.sfsu.edu/updates.

Research Help:

Online research support is available via

• Chat : https://sfsu.libanswers.com/
• Email: libref@sfsu.edu
• Text: 415-933-0385
• You can also schedule an in-depth research consultation with the librarian who works with your program/department. Find your librarian here.

Online Resources:

• AccessOneSearch- Search for books and e-books, articles, digital media, course reserves, and more.
• Access Databases- Find and search more than 200 databases by subject area or department.
• Access eBooks- Get information about SF State's eBook collections, including how to find, read, and use eBooks for your research.
• Access Research Guides- Explore guides that centralize recommended resources for specific topics or subject areas.
• Complimentary Electronic Resources- These resources aretemporarilyavailable during the COVD-19 pandemic. Each resource listed on this page includes the date when access will expire.

Checkouts:

• Books will be renewed automatically until the library building reopens. If you have questions, please contact Circulation: circmail@sfsu.edu.
• CSU+ and ILLiadbookrequests will not be available until the Library re-opens.
• Media checkouts for classes are suspended until the library building re-opens.

• If you are registered with the Disability Program and Resource Center (DPRC), submit your accommodations requests via myDPRC a week before class starts. This ensures faculty are aware of the accommodations you plan to use in their class.
• If you identify as having a disability and are not registered with DPRC, we highly encourage you to contact DPRCfor more information or to establish services.
• If you have any questions about your accommodations or managing your disability in an online environment, or need assistance with anything concerning myDPRC, please reach out to your Disability Specialist as soon as possible so we may resolve any issues in a timely manner in the semester.
• All students at SF State can use theAccessible Media Quick Converterto easily convert documents between accessible formats (including audio).

Additional Resources:

• myDPRC Training Portal
• DPRC homepage - Most up-to-date information on our operations and services

• Counseling & Psychological Services -Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to providing support to students during this stressful time marked with concerns around the Novel Coronavirus as well as the transition to virtual instruction for the time being. CAPS remains open and operational with adjusted services.
  • Visit CAPS to learn more and get help.
• Student Health Services - Student Health Services is available for assistance with any concerns related to your mental health, and can provide guidance, necessary care and medication management.
  • Visit SHS to learn more and get help.

Find resources from all groups all over campus, organized by kind, in one handy place!Academic Technology has coordinated with campus partners to provide this comprehensive (and ever-growing) list of resources for students, which is currently available on the Student Resources website, in the Syllabus application, within iLearn, and now in the Drupal 8 web template as a block option for SF State websites.

Visit the Student Resources website

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Students in specific majors (BECA, Cinema, Art, Journalism, Design and CSU Media Alliance) are entitled to full access to Adobe Creative Cloud.

• How to install Adobe applications on personal machines

Students have access to installing IBM SPSS on personal computers. Use the form here to request a license.

Current students, faculty and staff are eligible to install MATLAB on personally owned computers.

• Getting MATLAB for students