Author: tgale@ufl.edu

2024 Tech Fair

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The annual Tech Fair is an opportunity for all students–undergrads, graduate, and professional students– regardless of major, to learn about IT services and support available to them during their UF career. The 2024 Tech Fair will be held on:

Wednesday, Feb. 28

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Marston Breezeway – CSE Plaza

This year’s experiential event focuses on helping students utilize AI and online tools to get to the next level. Get information about a variety of tech as well as tech support (such as account questions or getting fast secure campus Wi-Fi on your phone) during the event. Have you thought about what it might take to get that coveted internship? Check out Tech Fair and see how managing your online portfolio or completing a LinkedIn Learning career path might get your name on the top of that internship list! You can also see some of the technologies available in Marston, get tips on setting up a great GitHub presence, and meet with a Career Connections Center rep who will answer your questions and show you how to use their online resources.

As always, Tech Fair also means prizes and this year UF Information Technology has several available! Stop by the welcome tent and learn how you could win Apple Air Tags, a JALL smart wakeup light, Beats, a JBL Bluetooth speaker, water bottles, and more. See you Feb. 28 on the plaza, Gators!

Certification Practice Exams Now Available on LinkedIn Learning

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LinkedIn Learning now offers technical certification preparation practice exams to help users prepare for official certification exams. Tech certifications are an industry-recognized benchmark for verifying skills, especially for roles in technical support, network administration, and information security.

With LinkedIn Learning, users can choose from nearly 50 practice exams to assess their current subject matter knowledge and also pinpoint what skills need improvement to be successful prior to taking the official exam. Each practice exam covers current certification content from leading providers such as AWS, CompTIA, ISC2, and Microsoft Azure. You can also customize your practice exam by choosing what skills to test on.

Your FREE LinkedIn Learning account provided by UF Information Technology (UFIT) offers access to the certification preparation practice exams, along with 20,000+ courses covering a wide range of professional and personal skills.

Visit https://elearning.ufl.edu/supported-services/linkedin-learning/ to activate your account. Need assistance? Contact the UFIT Help Desk by calling 352-392-HELP or visiting 132 Hub, across from the Starbucks. Students can also stop by the 2024 Tech Fair on Feb. 28 to learn how to make the most of free access to Linkedin Learning!

Encouraging Students to Enroll Devices in Eduroam

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This month, UF Information Technology (UFIT) is launching a proactive educational and communication initiative aimed at enhancing student awareness and utilization of eduroam.

This initiative was conceived in response to student feedback regarding the quality and accessibility of Wi-Fi in the university’s public areas, particularly in the UF libraries.  After thorough testing conducted by UFIT staff, it was determined that the Wi-Fi infrastructure in the libraries is operating as intended. Further analysis indicated that students can significantly enhance their Wi-Fi experience by making two simple adjustments: enrolling their devices in the eduroam service and deactivating their smartphone’s hot spot. Thus the three messaging “drumbeats” are the focus of the campaign:

  1. You’re a Gator—not a [UF] Guest! Enroll in eduroam.
  2. Get on eduroam for up to 10X’s faster internet!
  3. DYK? Your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot interferes with the Wi-Fi campus signal.

Another benefit students will see upon enrolling in eduroam is they won’t have to re-register every 24 hours to use the UF Guest Wi-Fi. Device registration eliminates the need to do that, while also providing the most secure connection available.

Outreach support for the You’re a Gator–not a [UF] Guest! campaign includes monitor images, multiple videos, a social media campaign, signage in strategic, student gathering locations, and tabling events. Campaign materials (e.g., monitor images, videos, and stickers) will be made available to UF’s colleges and divisions, to help spread the word. Anyone with questions about the campaign is welcome to contact UFIT Communications.

Elevating Generative AI Recipes to Encourage Authentic Assessments

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UF Information Technology (UFIT) offers multiple Tech Bytes each year. Tech Bytes are shorter, “byte-sized” events that demonstrate new/emerging technologies and strategies to enhance teaching and learning. The next Tech Byte is on Thursday, Feb. 29, and focuses on encouraging authentic assessments with artificial intelligence (AI).

Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

Registration link

Educational Technologist Chris Sharp and Instructional Designer Leslie Mojeiko are hosting this new Tech Byte that explores how to utilize generative AI to increase authentic assessments in the classroom. Chris and Leslie previously shared their AI Prompt Cookbook in a 2023 Tech Byte, which contains recipes (or prompts) designed to enhance teaching and learning. This new session will feature recipes that elevate instructors’ use of generative AI to move beyond basic use and embrace how it can transform the teaching and learning process. Join Chris and Leslie to learn new tech recipes for debating, role playing, tutoring, and more.

Previous Tech Byte event recordings are available online at no charge. Instructors with questions about this event are welcome to contact UFIT’s Center for Instructional Technology and Training via their online form.

New NVIDIA DLI Workshop Offered in February

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The University of Florida’s ambassadorship status with NVIDIA means that faculty, students, and staff have free training opportunities in accelerated computing and applied AI. Through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) and in coordination with UFIT, a two-day Generative AI with Diffusion Models workshop is being offered for the first time at UF on February 22-23.

Day/Date/Time: Thursday and Friday, Feb. 22–23, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. each day

Location: Malachowsky Hall Auditorium – Room 1000

Register to Attend: Registration Link

The Generative AI with Diffusion Models workshop is taught by UF’s NVIDIA AI Technology Center Site Manager and Senior Data Scientist Kaleb Smith. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of denoising diffusion models to generate images from text prompts. Proficiency in PyTorch and deep learning models is required to attend, with participants who complete the 8-hour course earning a certificate of completion.

Learning highlights in this workshop include:

  • How to build a U-Net to generate images from pure noise
  • Improving the quality of generated images with the Denoising Diffusion process
  • Controlling the image output with context embeddings
  • Generating images from English text-prompts using CLIP

NVIDIA DLI workshops are in-person only and not recorded for later/repeat viewing. Anyone with questions about this workshop is welcome to contact Research Computing Training Team Lead Matt Gitzendanner.

Money Available for Tech Purchases that Enable Student Success

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Could your college or major benefit from a new software or hardware purchase? Is there a tech resource you wish UF’s libraries offered? The 2024 Student Technology Fee grant submissions cycle is now open to all students, faculty, and staff with IT-based purchase ideas that support teaching and learning at UF.

The annual proposal review process involves the randomized selection of a committee comprised of several students along with one faculty member to determine which proposals are recommended to CIO Elias Eldayrie for funding. Students are encouraged to submit their ideas because part of their tuition each semester funds the Tech Fee program–at a rate of $5.25 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and $6.56 per credit hour for graduate courses. In other words, this student-led initiative is paid for and determined by YOU.

Winning proposals from the 2022-23 Tech Fee funding cycle include a podcasting studio at Marston Science Library (available to all students regardless of major), the Arts & AI Virtual Workstation Studio for College of the Arts students to experiment with AI technologies, and state-of-the-art equipment purchased for the Quest 2 astrophotography course. Your one-time proposal could change course instruction and the student experience at UF for years to come!

Did you know that LinkedIn Learning and iPads for borrowing at Smathers were both proposals initially funded by your Tech Fee? The deadline for submitting a proposal is Monday, March 18, 2024. Students must partner with a UF department or college on their proposals so get started now! Review the 2024 Tech Fee Proposal Template for submission guidelines, including how to format your proposal and who you must send it to for review prior to deadline. Important dates for the 2024 funding cycle are listed on the Tech Fee Grants webpage. If you have questions, please email UFIT Manager Anne Allen (alallen@ufl.edu), support administrator for the Technology Fee Advisory Committee.

 

The Institutional Impacts of a Cyberattack

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Higher education is facing an exponentially growing threat: Cyberattacks. Check Point Software reports educational institutions experienced an average of 2,507 cyberattack attempts per institution per week in the first three months of 2023 alone! Universities and colleges are at a high risk of suffering a data breach or a ransomware attack because the amount and types of data created and stored is extremely valuable to cybercriminals–data like student records, banking information, protected health information, and research data. Restricted data falling into the wrong hands can be devastating for UF, its constituents, to university business partnerships, and for funding from federal and state agencies. The welfare of the campus community and even our recruitment capabilities are all on the line.

Information security is our shared responsibility! Faculty, students, and staff must all be aware of what’s at stake, and do their part to help protect UF from cyberattacks. According to a 2023 IBM Security report, data breaches initiated through compromised credentials (such as GatorLink login information) take the longest for institutions to resolve and can be incredibly costly. Help prevent data breaches by practicing caution when opening any email received in your GatorMail marked [EXTERNAL EMAIL]. These emails come from outside the UF organization and could potentially be phishing attempts. Pay close attention to any email requesting your GatorLink login or other personally identifiable information, and report suspicious messages directly to UFIT with the phish alert report button in the top right corner of your GatorMail.

UFIT’s Information Security Office’s website has recently refreshed its online presence with new resources. Take some time to visit https://security.ufl.edu/protect-yourself/social-engineering/ and learn about different types of cyberattacks and some best practices for protecting yourself…and UF.

UFIT Announces Spring Research Computing Training Schedule

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This semester’s Research Computing training schedule is packed with a variety of HiPerGator, Practicum AI workshops free for faculty, lab staff , postdoctoral candidates, and students.

Traditional, single-session Research Computing training options will be held on Thursdays in person and online from 10:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Sessions include Introduction to Research Computing & HiPerGator, SLURM Submission Scripts, and Jupyter Notebook and Managing Conda Environments. A three-day Git and GitHub workshop in March, developed by Drs. Catia Silva and Matt Gitzendanner, will feature hands-on activities with no coding background or prerequisites required.

Practicum AI is returning this Spring with two beginner course series: Deep Learning Foundations and Python for AI. Both training series are intended for participants with limited experience who want to explore using applied AI. All Practicum AI sessions will be available via Zoom or in person at Malachowsky Hall’s NVIDIA Auditorium (room 1000).

Visit https://rc.ufl.edu/calendar/ to view the full training schedule and register for any of the workshops. Anyone with questions about Research Computing training, or who is interested is setting up a custom training for their lab team or a class, is welcome to contact Training Team Lead Dr. Matt Gitzendanner.

Upgrades to UFIT’s Video Production Studios

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New equipment has been installed and is ready for instructor use in UFIT’s video production studios.

Instructors can now more easily share files and discuss visual concepts when filming their course videos. A larger green screen has been installed in one of UFIT’s studios, allowing for much wider shots than before, so the person being filmed has more mobility during their video shoot. Additionally, a 28″ Surface Studio was part of this recent equipment upgrade, providing a touchscreen-based personal computer, interactive whiteboard, and digital pen for use during your video shoot.

UFIT’s video production studios has multimedia specialists available for consult and who will support you and your project throughout the process. The studios are located on the second floor of the Hub. Filming can be done in-studio or in the field, so if you require location shooting for projects like welcome videos or the recording of in-class lectures, this isn’t an issue. Visit https://citt.ufl.edu/services/video-production/ to learn more, schedule a consult, or to book time in the studio.

Anyone with questions about the services offered is welcome to email UFIT Production Manager Greg D’angio. 

What To Do When You Get a New Device

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Did you get a new laptop or smartphone over the winter break? You’ve invested in a new device so take the time to ensure it is cyber-secure and prepared for your campus life needs. Here are three steps to prioritize before you spend your life on that new device:

  1. Whether you plan on donating or reselling your old device, before doing so, back up all data into a secure cloud or drive to keep it safe and private, so it’s available when needed. According to Wired, you should wipe all of your old device’s data by factory-resetting your device (an option in your device’s settings options) to safeguard your information from falling into the wrong hands.  
  2. Set up the new device for use with DUO to approve GatorLink logins. Also, configure your device to eduroam to have the fastest internet available on campus. 
  3. When creating a password or PIN for your new device, don’t even think about using ‘1-2-3-4’ or ‘2-5-8-0’, Gators! If possible, avoid saving personal login info and payment details because if you do, cyber criminals can easily steal these if they hack into the device.

Visit https://security.ufl.edu/protect-yourself/protect-my/mobile-device/ for more tips on keeping your devices and information secure.