Frequently Asked Questions

What technology will faculty be using for their live virtual meetings? Webex Teams, Webex Training or Zoom?
The College's supported systems include Webex Meetings, although faculty are free to use Zoom with vendor provided support, if preferred.

Who will set up the virtual meeting sessions for classes? Do the faculty have to create Webex rooms for each CRN and then communicate that with their students, or is that being done by OLAT or ITS?
Faculty should set up their own virtual meeting sessions for their classes. This should not be handled by OLAT or ITS. However, via the help desk, support can be provided to assist faculty members with the process. Instructors will need to communicate the URL of the virtual meeting room to their students, as each will be unique to the CRN or the meeting itself.

Where are faculty being directed for support? While the CLEs can help with the instructional technology and design, do faculty know to go to ITS or OLAT for Webex or Blackboard technical support? There is common overlap between the CLEs, OLAT, and ITS from the faculty perspective. It would be helpful to clarify support channels so they can quickly receive assistance from the appropriate department.
Faculty should always go to the Tri-C help desk for support to ensure they are routed to the right team based on the issue they are encountering.

How will students be instructed to access the virtual meeting rooms before the first day of class?
Faculty will have to direct students via an email or their Blackboard course site regarding how to access the faculty member’s virtual meeting room. Faculty can refer to the Webex student page and the web conferencing page for information.

Are students being provided with requirements for headsets and microphones?
Online classes at Tri-C have always required headsets and microphones. Students are directed to visit the Attending a Web Conference page, Minimum Technical Requirements page (currently being updated), and online bookstore. Below is the language on the e-postcard to be sent to all students taking online courses, prior to the semester’s start date:

• Visit our Web Conferencing web page to learn the “EEEEs” of web conferencing. 
• Order your books, headset, web camera and other required online course materials from the bookstore.
• Watch the video “How to Search for Course Materials” on our YouTube channel for instructions.

Faculty are asking if their virtual lecture sessions can be recorded. Do they need student permission if video streams are being shared?
Yes, virtual lecture sessions can be recorded. It is recommended that cameras not be required for the entire session due to bandwidth issues. The link to the recording should be placed in Blackboard so that viewing is restricted to class members only. Also, faculty can set the recording preferences to “content-only view,” in which no participant video is recorded. For more information visit our FERPA and Online Class Recordings page.

Are webcams and microphones going to be listed as required course materials?
Not on the bookstore site, but in the syllabus.

Will the bookstore have these available, since they are out of stock at most online retailers?
The bookstore is ordering from their suppliers.

How will students know what technology they need for their classes, since they cannot access the online classroom until the night before the course starts?
Students may or may not know what technology is needed for their courses, just like they may or may not know what textbooks are required. However, they should have the minimum equipment required for all online classes, which is listed on the Minimum Technical Requirements page (currently being updated). 

Will faculty tell them? And if the answer is yes, does the contract language affect when that will happen? Faculty are off-contract for much of August.
Faculty can notify their students via email when they return on contract.

We need to clarify the support channels for both faculty and students. For Webex, is it ITS for both? For Blackboard, is it OLAT for both?
The College help desk is the technology support channel for both faculty and students. The help desk personnel will route the ticket to the right team based on the issue the student or faculty member is encountering.

What if students need headsets? Will the bookstore sell them?
Yes, the bookstore will sell headsets. Another option is to use a smartphone with the Webex app.

Will the bookstore be able to stock headsets, since they are hard to find at the moment?
Yes.

Overall, what tech support will be available for students?
Remote assistance is available through the help desk, including TechNow, during normal College hours, so faculty and students can still receive remote support should they decide to deliver their lectures from campus.