How to Teach Remotely

Owned by Brian Hinds (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Apr 02, 2020
4 min read

This page was created as a resource for Biola Faculty so that teaching, learning, and day-to-day work may continue from remote locations.

 How to get access to a computer for working remotely.

If you need to work remotely but do not have a laptop, please use the following Formstack form to assess what type of computer resources are available and appropriate for you to use. Please fill out this form before taking home a Biola desktop computer — not all desktop computers are configured for home use and they may not function properly off campus.

 How to report what technology equipment you've taken home.

If you have or will take home any technology equipment with asset tags, like desktop computers, monitors, or docks, please let us know by filling out our checkout form. It is critical that Biola be able to track what technology equipment has left campus.


Resources for Remote Teaching

ServiceRelated Resource
Tech Support
 How to Request Technical Support

How to Contact Biola Tech Support:

Hours:

  • The IT Helpdesk is available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Remote Support:

Appointment:

  • You can create an on-campus appointment to visit IT Helpdesk for assistance. Before setting an appointment contact us and ask about troubleshooting the issue with a remote screen sharing session.
Internet Options
 How to Access Special Internet Offers
Home Internet:

Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time

Home Internet:Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
Mobile Internet:

AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families

Mobile Internet:

Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.

Mobile Internet:

Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (we expect others will follow).

Mobile Internet:

T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (we expect others will follow).



Canvas
 General Canvas Information
Canvas URL:https://canvas.biola.edu
Canvas Help:Faculty & TA Canvas Instructions
Email & Calendaring
 How to Use Gmail & Google Calendar
Google CalendarHow to Use Google Services
Google GmailHow to Use Google Services
File Sharing
 How to Share Files Online
File Sharing

Content Sharing Options

Virtual Lab Access
 How to Access Virtual Computer Labs

If you teach a course in an IT-managed computer lab, you should have received an invitation to a virtual lab environment from Microsoft Azure. Most computer lab software will be supported in the Azure Lab Services environment.

How to Log In To Azure Lab Services

Software for Students
 How Students and Faculty Can Access Software

If you have a general request for how to access software for your own computer use, please use our computer software request form. For access to Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, or a list of free software for download, see the directions below.


The following software is available to students and faculty to install on their personal computers:

Teaching & Learning Tools

 How to Choose the Right Web-Conferencing Tool

The following page lists and compares common web-conferencing features between BigBlueButton, Google Meet, WebEx and Zoom.

 How to Add Alternative Web-Conferencing in Canvas

Biola is directing Faculty to use BigBlueButton in Canvas to facilitate web-conferencing at this time. We do understand some Faculty may be more familiar with other forms of web-conferencing and have curated some instructional pages on how to use Google Meet, WebEx or Zoom in Canvas.

The following pages will also assist if BigBlueButton ever were to encounter a service outage or degradation.

Google MeetHow to Add Google Meet to Your Canvas Course
WebEx Meeting
  1. Schedule a Reoccurring WebEx Class Session
  2. Share the WebEx Class Session URL, Meeting Number and Meeting Password to your Canvas Courses
  3. Start the Meeting at the Designated Days/Times
Zoom*
  1. Schedule a Reoccurring WebEx Class Session
  2. Share the WebEx Class Session URL, Meeting Number and Meeting Password to your Canvas Courses
  3. Start the Meeting at the Designated Days/Times


*Biola's IT department is only equipped, at present, to troubleshoot and support the use of WebEx or Google Meet for web-conferencing.