Overview
This article is an introduction to what remote teaching and work resources are at OSU / ASC. Additional content may be added over time.
There are pointers to OTDI (Office of Technology and Digital Innovation) resources and ASC knowledge base articles.
Contents
- Remote Teaching
- Remote Work
Remote Teaching
Keep in mind the goal with sudden conversion to remote teaching is to get the content across and assess competency, and one week to convert may require compromises.
Also, in putting material online be aware of what OSU and student data is made available to which audience. For this reason, ASCTech encourages the use of OTDI's tools, particularly CarmenCanvas, where login is required to get to content. Be especially careful with any information shared publicly, such as with OneDrive public links; be sure the shared information is public / S1 data classification.
OTDI Resources
OTDI (OSU's Office of Technology and Digital Innovation) is the starting point for central OSU resources, such as:
Keep Teaching Site
Keep Teaching (https://it.osu.edu/keepteaching) should be the initial resource in adapting content for temporarily teaching remotely.
There are articles covering how to plan and adapt courses to remote learning, communication, discussion, as well as sections on tools: CarmenCanvas, CarmenZoom, and Proctorio.
The Keep Teaching site will evolve with more material over time.
CarmenCanvas
CarmenCanvas is OSU's LMS (Learning Management System) and can house materials, host discussions, quiz students, and keep grades.
CarmenCanvas resources are at: https://resourcecenter.odee.osu.edu/carmencanvas. For those new to CarmenCanvas, start with the Getting Started with Canvas (Instructors) link in the lower left.
CarmenZoom
CarmenZoom is OSU's branding of the Zoom Video Conferencing tool. Zoom can also record content for upload to CarmenCanvas, such as pre-recorded lectures and lessons.
Similarly, OTDI has a Zoom getting started page: https://resourcecenter.odee.osu.edu/carmenzoom/getting-started-carmenzoom
ASCTech Resources
Once familiar with OTDI resources, please reach out to your local ASCTech support team with any questions.
If they cannot answer your question, they will assign your ticket to ASCTech's Academic Technology group, who have a deeper understanding of resources available.
Working Remotely
Many faculty and staff already have the tools to work from anywhere. Here are some pointers for remote work.
Remote Meetings
Zoom and Teams are the collaboration tools to replace meetings.
Zoom getting started page: https://resourcecenter.odee.osu.edu/carmenzoom/getting-started-carmenzoom
Hardware Requirements
- Office USB headsets and USB handsets can go home and back to work, if necessary.
- The USB handset (looks like a phone but has a USB connection) is basically a speaker and microphone and can be used for Zoom.
- The IP/hardwired handset plugs into a network jack and will not work if taken off campus.
- Remember laptops have mics built in.
- Webcams also have microphones built in.
- Zoom and Teams have iPad and smart phone apps.
Remotely Accessing/Sharing Files
Due to better performance, we encourage users to take advantage of OSU's cloud services versus using the VPN to connect to ASCTech file shares.
Cloud Services - Office 365
For non-shared files, each OSU user has 1TB available in Microsoft OneDrive. Collaboration and simultaneous group editing is available with Office365, both local and web apps.
Information is available at: https://office365.osu.edu/
Cloud Services - OneDrive and Teams
OneDrive and Teams are useful for sharing files to groups of users. Information at: https://office365.osu.edu/
ASCTech recommends that group shares be shared from Teams. The advantage with a Team is that they persist if a user leaves OSU. (It is an all too common occurrence for a student to share important files, graduate, and the files disappear.)
Local Files
Local files are fine as well, if you do not need to access them across multiple machines.
CrashPlan is ASCTech's backup software for local storage.
Using the VPN to Connect to ASCTech File Share
It is possible to use the ASC VPN to access ASCTech files shares:
Remotely Accessing Computers
It is possible to connect to Windows, Macintosh, and Linux machines remotely. It is more common for Windows and Linux users to connect remotely.
Accessing Campus Windows Machines Remotely
While it is possible to use the ASC VPN and Microsoft Remote Desktop to access your OSU Windows desktop, for best performance we recommend OSU's Guacamole service.
Please contact ASCTech for setting up your computer for remote access with Guacamole. Instructions are at: https://osu.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1929/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=100529
Accessing Campus Linux Machines Remotely
SSH is available to Unity and other Linux machines. SSH is available over the VPN, but the SSH Jump Host is a better alternative: https://osu.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1929/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=29849
Remotely Using Administrative Websites
Most OSU administrative sites are accessible without the VPN. Here are their URLs:
Note that eReports requires a plugin that is not licensed for non-OSU owned machines. Contact ASCTech if you need assistance using eReports.
ASCTech Remote Assistance
ASCTech has tools to assist remotely. If you are having a compute issue, please contact us and we will assist.
Non-OSU Owned Computers
Normally, ASCTech does not assist with non-OSU owned computers, and we discourage the use of non-OSU managed devices for OSU work. Given the uniqueness of the situation, ASCTech will assist as best we can.
Keep in mind your non-OSU owned machine should meet minimum security standards, not limited to, but including: (these are a good idea, in general)
- Keep the operating system and applications up to date: automatically and regularly.
- Run anti-virus software.
- Do not keep sensitive OSU data on personal devices.
- Be wary of any pop-ups and email that might be phishing.
Enterprise Security has more online security basics at: https://cybersecurity.osu.edu/cybersecurity-you/develop-safe-habits/online-security-basics and more information at Cybersecurity for you: https://cybersecurity.osu.edu/cybersecurity-you
Change Log
2020-08-07 changed Box to OneDrive
2020-03-24 removed that OSU is open
2020-03-10 initial article