IntlTechTips

For the most recent student international technology tips file

For the most recent faculty/staff international technology and pedagogical tips file

 

Unable to access the files? The general content is also available below.

For Students

For Faculty/Staff

 

For students learning remotely in international locations 

Canvas

Time zone considerations

  • Time zones are something to consider early in conversations with faculty and in determining your schedule for academic work
  • If in different time zones, make sure to check the settings on your online materials, as some tools have the ability to adjust to the local/regional time, while others will show the Eastern time zone of Muhlenberg regardless of where you are currently
  • Have conversations with faculty related to recording sessions if time zone differences result in a web session in the middle of the night based on time zones

Communications

  • Be in contact with faculty and staff at Muhlenberg should there be any changes or questions/concerns arising at any time in the semester and your studies related to technologies and course material access
  • Contact your faculty so they know you are receiving messages and also with an additional means of communication (such as a personal email address) should you be comfortable doing so
  • If you are noticing any content within Canvas or other areas of your course are not opening or seem to have error messages that your peers are not mentioning, let your faculty know
  • Best efforts are being made, however, sites or web addresses might restrict over geography or not be available in all regions

Items to check

  • Work with faculty on adapting any alterations to technologies to be used in a course if know there is an issue and do so at the start of the semester (or as soon as aware of any issue)
  • Check any eBooks in your courses early to ensure access to content and let faculty know if there are any items not working

Collaboration and Community

  • Leverage ways to connect with your classmates through technology, whether in discussion boards or other areas your faculty made available, Muhlenberg related activities and events being broadcast when possible and of interest, and/or by forming virtual study or conversation groups. You are very much part of the Muhlenberg community

Technical assistance

  • If you are experiencing technical issues, please let the Office of Information Technology know as soon as possible, so that we can assist you.
    • Understanding there may be a time difference, please provide the best time to contact you if follow-up is needed.  
    • To initiate a support request online:
      • Visit servicedesk.muhlenberg.edu/HEAT (portal login required)
      • Click on the Service Catalog
      • Report an Issue
      • Once an incident has been created, you may check the status by clicking on "My Items" 
    • Want to drop us a note or suggestion, or perhaps you are unable to login? Report an Issue (no login required)
  • Call 484-664-3566

 

How can I access College resources from off campus?
VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, allow users to securely access a private network and share data remotely through public networks. If students require access to the campus network, they may contact the Student Help Desk for more information at [email protected] or 484-664-3566. Please note: VPN access does not guarantee access to campus resources like Google in countries which restrict their usage, specifically mainland China.

  

For faculty/staff working with students who are remote learning outside United States

Flexible design

    • Consider flexibility in tools/technologies students need to complete tasks, providing options (multimodal)
    • Know that videos embedded in Canvas might come across country-specific restrictions (example: mainland China) if the videos originate from sites like YouTube
      • Muhlenberg-hosted videos might serve as an alternative, as will finding several video options on a topic or theme. Vimeo may be an alternative in some geographic regions, but not all.
    • Check early with eBook providers if using digital books if there are workarounds for students outside United States if problems encountered, or of known issues

Plan adaptively for webconference/Zoom meeting

    • Consider whether having multiple video feeds (such as all students with webcams on) is needed as that can affect performance quality of video
    • Consider providing the slides sharing in additional area (such as within Canvas) for any students to refer to outside of the meeting in case of bandwidth or performance issues
    • Be mindful of time zones and weigh synchronous sessions (and whether to record) accordingly

Look into the technology and tools used in your course, and any country-specific restrictions, limitations, or access issues, including ones such as

Communications

  • Facilitate upfront conversation setting expectations of how, when communicating with students and what to do if you are not receiving responses or expected messaging (lets you know if messages received, any challenges being encountered). 
    • Consider having the students send an email, with you sending a response early to ascertain if any issues with email access
  • Consider starting your course with the access conversation and a low/no stakes walkthrough where students submit something to you demonstrating things are working, or submitting a write up of the issue(s) encountered
  • Create a common ground area for conversation among students who are in person and those who are at a distance (ex. Virtual coffee/conversation forum in discussion board, collaboration space outside the class times that allows students to study/interact together via technology)
    • This provides more ways for community to form and reduces possible feelings of separation
  • Connect students at a distance with most responsive routes for support for technology they will be using