Start of Semester Student Technology Help Sessions

As recently announced, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) strongly recommends that all students check they have the necessary technology setup to be successful as online learners. To help, DoIT is hosting 12 Sprint sessions for 10-minute, virtual walk-in consults or pop-up support groups on key topics including the following:

1. Getting Online (required of all UMBC students)*

2. Getting A Computer (required of all UMBC students)*

3. Checking Your Blackboard Collaborate Audio Connection (essential)

4. Using UMBC’s Virtual Computing Lab (recommended)

5. Using myUMBC Groups & Webex Teams for Student Clubs & Organizations (8/26, 8/30, 9/2 and 9/9 only).

The sprints will occur across four weeks starting Tues., 8/8 and ending Wed., 9/9 (click here for specific dates & times).

About Today's Sprint

The sprint will take place in a Blackboard Collaborate virtual conference room. Use the following link up to 15 minutes before the start time:

tinyurl.com/umbcdoit-studenthelp

Due to the short format, these virtual support sessions are designed for quick consults, not deep dives or customized training sessions. Also, you will likely be in a virtual room with several people who also are interested in the same topic, and being helped by a DoIT support staff member. Often, you can learn by listening to this Q&A, but if you want a personalized consult, please use my.umbc.edu/help to open a Request Tracker (RT) ticket.

While you can just “show up,” advance registration -- by indicating you are “Going” to this myUMBC event -- is appreciated and can help DoIT gauge how many support staff are needed in each breakout room.

Prior to the session

If this is your first time joining one of our live sessions, please review the Getting Started Guide. You will also find additional helpful information for using Blackboard Collaborate at our extensive FAQs. 

For the best experience, we recommend using Google Chrome or a recent browser update. Closing any unnecessary browser tabs will help conserve your bandwidth. After joining the session, please configure your audio. 

* Note: As announced to all incoming students on 7/23/20, since UMBC requires all students to have a computer and Internet access, these are now officially factored into UMBC’s “Cost of Attendance" and thus, can be funded through financial aid. To learn more, visit doit.umbc.edu/students