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Seven Things

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MERIT is sharing these essential steps to make your return to campus as smooth as possible.

Seven Tech To-Dos for Your Return to Campus

Follow these essential steps to make your return to campus as smooth as possible.

1. Visit Your Classroom(s)

Teaching on campus this fall? You may find it helpful to visit your classroom(s) at least one week before the start of the semester. Review the technology available in the classroom. Have questions about how to use the in-room computer? Contact the MERIT Help Desk.

2. Restart Your Computer

Has your office computer been turned off for the past year? Have you been using your computer remotely without regular reboots? Restart your computer! Your computer will need many updates. It may take a day or more to complete these updates. Quick tip: Have a Windows PC? If it says “install failed” on a few updates, but other updates are ready for a restart, restart your computer. Then run Windows Updates again until all updates have successfully completed.

3. Reset Your Password

Do you remember the password to log in to your computer? Quick tip for Windows desktop computers:  It is the same as the username and password you use to connect to GlobalProtect. If you need help resetting your password, contact the MERIT Help Desk.

4. Add a Printer

Do you need to add a printer to your computer? Follow the steps in this guide: Adding a School of Education Printer

5. Identify Your Video Conferencing Needs

Will you occasionally attend or host meetings virtually when you are on campus? Campus created this helpful guide to hosting inclusive hybrid meetings.

  • Do you have a web camera?
  • Do you have a headset and microphone?

If you need assistance identifying items to purchase, contact the MERIT Help Desk.

6. Use Your NetID

Are you having trouble accessing sites that require your NetID such as MyUW, Box, Google, or your email? Contact the DoIT Help Desk, who can assist with resetting your NetID password.

7. Check Your Phone

Are you having trouble using your office phone? Dialing, voicemail, Cisco portal, and quick reference guides can be found here: Cisco VoIP Overview – Help and Support. If your phone isn’t working, try these troubleshooting steps: Basic Troubleshooting for Desk Phones. If you have any other IT questions or concerns, contact the MERIT Help Desk:

Seven Tips for Teaching this Fall

Heading back to the classroom this fall? MERIT is your School of Education partner in teaching, library research, and IT.

1. Visit your classrooms.

You may find it helpful to visit your classroom(s) at least one week before the start of the semester. Familiarize yourself with the technology available in the room. Have questions? Contact the MERIT Help Desk. Unsure of whether you will want or need a microphone? Connect with your department administration; MERIT has shared microphone purchase recommendations based on each classroom. If you’d like to try out a microphone, please email canvas@education.wisc.edu to make an appointment to test one.

2. Contact MERIT’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Team.

Have a question about Canvas? Need to share digital files with a student? Want to try a new active learning strategy or add more student-to-student interactivity? Contact MERIT’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Team at canvas@education.wisc.edu.

Recommended syllabus template for Fall 2021: Course Syllabi at UW-Madison

If you have questions about COVID-19 policies and guidelines, visit Fall 2021 Instruction.

Highlights include:

  • Face-to-face instruction is the expectation. Modality changes must be approved by the department, school, and campus.
  • Instructors are not expected to teach in a HiFlex environment (simultaneous face-to-face and online modalities).
  • Mask-wearing is required indoors. The McBurney Center will contact you if you have students whose accommodations include not wearing a mask.
  • If a student is not wearing a mask: 1) Remind them of the policy; 2) Offer a mask; and 3) Respond; referral to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.

Academic departments and units can obtain PPE (masks, cleaning, and disinfecting supplies) at no cost through ShopUW+.

  • Instructors are encouraged to offer office hours in person.

3. Check out the Library Dashboard in Canvas.

The new Library Dashboard is automatically included in the navigation menu of your Canvas course site. It connects your students to UW Library Services. The dashboard can be customized to include resources like reading lists and contact information for librarians teaching sessions for your courses.

4. Reserve books for your courses.

Would you like your students to access course readings through the library? We accept reserve requests at any time and process them in the order they are received. To ensure that items are available by the start of the class, please submit requests two weeks before the beginning of the semester. How to request and access course reserves:

5. Take Part in Deeper Learning Opportunities.

The new campus Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring is a resource to support your success in the classroom. It is offering a range of professional development opportunities this fall: CTLM Programs. New to Canvas? Find tool-specific training via Learn@UW Events. Prefer to learn on your own time? Review: Fall 2021 Instructional Resources.

6. Check out equipment for your courses.

MERIT equipment is back in circulation! Starting Fall 2021, all equipment will be available for checkout at MERIT’s public service desk (Teacher Education Building, third floor). What’s new?

  • All equipment loans are on a first-come, first-served basis with a current Wiscard.
  • Some items are available for reservation on a case-by-case basis.
  • For more information, visit our public service desk, call 608-263-4750, or email library@education.wisc.edu.

7. Visit MERIT Library.

MERIT Library’s spaces, collections, and walk-up service desk will be open for in-person visits this fall. MERIT is the School of Education’s library, housed in the Teacher Education Building.

  • MERIT’s service desk offers library, technology, A/V, and classroom support all in one spot.
  • For more information about our services and hours of operation, visit MERIT’s website.