Category: Enable Student Success

Helpful e-Learning Tips for Students

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The university’s online and in-person teaching and learning environment is once again in full swing. To help students make the most of their time learning online, UFIT created several short videos highlighting features in Canvas e-Learning in one minute or less:

1. Do’s and Don’ts for Using the Canvas e-Learning App
→ Know when to use the app or the web version.

2. Connecting Your Canvas e-Learning Calendar to Your Phone/Desktop Calendar
→ Never miss a deadline by syncing your Canvas calendar to a desktop/mobile calendar.

3. Viewing Grades in Canvas e-Learning
→ See all grades in one place instead of opening each course.

4. Using the Calendar Feature in Canvas e-Learning
→ Add personal to-do items and keep track of assignment deadlines by course.

We have a great team of e-Learning support specialists who can answer your questions about Canvas e-Learning. Call them at 352-392-HELP/4357 or email helpdesk@ufl.edu.

Supporting Faculty Video Needs

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Faculty can now record course videos or professional work on their own time. UFIT recently opened its On-Demand Studio, offering a quick and easy alternative to filming lectures, trainings, or presentations.

UFIT produces instructional videos related to an official UF course at no cost to the instructor or department. The On-Demand Studio enables faculty to create professional-quality videos through a self-serve process for courses, research, or pre-recorded conference presentations. The studio is professionally set up with lights, a camera, and a green screen. Follow the instructions labelled in the room to start recording. The studio is located in the HUB room 225 and is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Faculty can book time in the studio by using the calendar link on the On-Demand Studio webpage. A complete list of instructions, what to bring, and FAQs are also available. Please contact the academic media productions team with any questions
or to schedule a consultation.

Returning to Campus Facilitated by UFIT

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Through mid-April, UF Information Technology has allocated more than 10,000 staff hours in support of UF Health’s Screen, Test & Protect initiative. Under UF Health leadership, UFIT quickly worked to understand the procedural requirements as well the data, reports, and dashboards needed to support this once-in-a-generation undertaking. Data privacy and FERPA/HIPAA compliance remained at the forefront of all staff efforts. Some curated numbers (through April 12) include:

• Nearly 80,000 UF community members submitting more than 556,000 screening forms and scheduling more than 282,000 COVID-19 tests
• More than 90 jobs running each day in support of data reporting needs, executing 2,700+ steps to process information from UF Health and UF enterprise systems
• Enabling a waitlist allowing 111,000 individuals to register for the vaccine, and scheduling more than 85,000 vaccinations. Online forms were created via a collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County and UF Health

A fuller context and detail of the work undertaken by UFIT to support return to campus efforts is available on the Senior VP and Chief Operation Officer’s website.

Cybercriminals Target UF International Community

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UF’s 5,712 international students, along with our international faculty and staff population, are prime targets for criminals who want to leverage their immigration status to steal money and sensitive data.

The UF International Center (UFIC) reported several cases of phishing emails and phone calls from cybercriminals posing as representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Scams include threats of deportation, visa revocation, or phony visa lottery acceptances. The fake messages are schemes to solicit money or sensitive information (e.g. Social Security numbers, credit card information, etc.).

“We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for our international students to be aware of scams and phishing attempts that can impact their legal status, identity, and financial future,” said Debra Anderson, director of International Student Support Services for UFIC.

Everyone, regardless of visa status, should think twice before automatically clicking on an email attachment. U.S. government agencies never demand immediate payment over the phone or via email. In fact, contact with U.S. agencies involved in immigration issues always starts with a letter, not a phone call or an email. If you think an email in your GatorMail is suspicious, report it with the Phish Alert Button so UF’s Information Security Office can investigate further.

Supporting Academic Accessibility Efforts

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UFIT is hosting Fix Your Content Day sessions as part of UF’s support of of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. These sessions will empower instructors, TAs, and academic support staff to maximize use of Ally and make courses accessible for all learners. Ally is an easy-to-use tool that generates accessibility reports, providing a score that correlates to the accessibility of the content, and offers suggestions for quickly fixing content. Two sessions will be offered on May 20. Participants may drop-in for all or part of either session:

• 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fix Your Content Day is free. Pre-registration is not required. To participate, log in to the Canvas event page, select a session, and enter the Zoom lobby. Attendees will be paired with an e-Learning specialist or instructional designer who will discuss their course’s Ally report and identify ways to make content more accessible. UFIT’s Center for Instructional Technology and Training (CITT) offers several options for creating inclusive courses, including Ally in Canvas, Designing an Inclusive Course, and Accessibility Fundamentals. For more information, please contact the CITT.

Student Resources in UFIT-Managed Learning Spaces

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Library West and Marston are students’ go-to study spots on campus, and offer a variety of technical services–and Starbucks to keep up student energy levels! UFIT also manages multiple computer labs, computer classrooms, and learning spaces. These quiet, technology enhanced spaces are perfect for self-study time and group work and everything in between. Learning spaces are in select Libraries, CSE, the Hub, Weil Hall, Norman Hall, and the Architecture Building. Hours vary by location; however, the Architecture learning space is open 24/7 to accommodate students who need to submit a project by midnight or print an assignment at 7:00 a.m.

Every UFIT-managed learning space is equipped with Windows/Mac computers offering more than 100 software applications. They also have black/white and color printers, as well as expert student support staff available to help. Would you believe us if we said there is more? A variety of additional resources can be found at specific labs: large format plotters for poster printing, Wacom drawing tablets, and A/V-enabled study rooms for students to project their work for others to see and to collaborate. Check out the UFIT labs campus map to see which is closest to you!

Visit https://labs.at.ufl.edu/ website for a complete list of resources available at each location, along with their hours.

Infusing AI Into the Undergraduate Experience

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According to a study by Gartner, artificial intelligence (AI) job creation will reach two million net-new jobs in 2025. To prepare graduates for an AI-enabled workforce, UF has begun integrating AI across the curriculum. Every student now has the opportunity to develop a competency in AI regardless of their field of study.

Several new and existing courses include AI in their syllabi. The UF AI website provides a list of all AI-related majors, minors, and courses. Students can also complete a certificate in AI Fundamentals and Applications. The program is available for undergraduates of all majors, and requires a fundamentals course, an ethics course, and one college-specific course.

To learn about applications of AI across the university, students can attend seminars, workshops, and other events. The Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) is hosting a virtual Artificial Intelligence in Research workshop on April 14, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Denisse Ventura, one of the CUR ambassadors organizing the event, said that all current undergraduates could benefit from understanding AI:

“Not only would students be equipped with skills that can make them more competitive in the job market, but they would also bring unique perspectives that can better diversify the growing research area.”

Self-Help, Expert Help When You Need It

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The UF Computing Help Desk website has self-help resources for students, faculty and staff, accessible from anywhere, at any time. Among the how-to pages are step-by-step instructions for connecting to eduroam and the UF VPN, setting up UF GatorMail on your phone, updating passwords on your phone, and managing your GatorLink account. For visual learners, how about putting that RTS bus time to good use by watching a video on UFIT’s YouTube channel? There are nearly 100 videos on https://www.youtube.com/GoGatorsUFIT, with more added each month.

For 24/7 assistance regarding technical services you cannot fix on your own, the Help Desk has you covered. During regular business hours, in-person and online consultations cover: VPN and wireless network connections, email services, GatorLink account issues, UF systems, e-Learning [Canvas] support, desktop application support, and thesis and dissertation formatting assistance. After hours (nights and weekends) phone support includes account management issues and general tech information.

There are multiple ways to connect with UF Computing Help Desk experts: Visit (132 Hub), call (352-392-HELP/4357), email (helpdesk@ufl.edu), or submit a myIT ticket to the team. Remember to have your UFID number handy!

Support for HyFlex Teaching

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HyFlex teaching classrooms are now ready for use. To assist teaching faculty transition to the enhanced classroom technologies, UFIT has multiple online and in-person options available the week prior to the start of the Spring 2021 term.

Short video trainings:
1. What Do Students and Faculty See in a HyFlex Classroom?
2. Teaching with PowerPoint in a UF HyFlex Classroom
3. How to Use a HyFlex Document Camera
4. Using the Annotation Monitor in a UF HyFlex Classroom

Hands-on practice options:
Instructors can also get comfortable with the new technologies during the week of January 4-10 in Turlington Hall L007, L011, 1101, 2305, or 2306. The rooms will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and staffed with teaching with technology experts. No reservation required!

Talk 1-on-1 with an expert:
Instructors can also drop in and ask questions of instructional technology experts from January 4-10 in Turlington Hall L005 and 2319. These rooms will be staffed from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.

More help is available on https://elearning.ufl.edu/keep-teaching/preparing-for-spring/.

Our Purpose. Our Legacy.

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On behalf of the staff of UFIT, it is with great excitement that we share the University of Florida 2020-2025 Strategic Plan for IT with Gator Nation! This five-year plan outlines how UFIT will support the university as it transforms to a national leadership role in the application of AI in higher education, including an expansive plan to elevate research, teaching, and economic development. The plan is built around six goals:

1. Enable Student Success
2. Empower the Future of Research
3. Accelerate Philanthropic Impact
4. Elevate the Stakeholder Experience
5. Advance an Analytics-Enabled Environment
6. Build a Resilient Cybersecurity Environment

We gratefully acknowledge the hundreds of faculty, students, and staff who gave their time to assist in the formation of the University of Florida 2020-2025 Strategic Plan for IT. While the plan was under development, the U.S. has been grappling with a global pandemic and addressing racial equality and social justice, important causes on campus and in our community. These issues are also addressed in the plan, with actionable items included as part of UFIT’s objectives. Anyone with questions about the plan or who would like to provide feedback is welcome to send their comments to VP and CIO Elias Eldayrie.