Did you know that you can borrow equipment from the University Library as well as books?
Both the Grainger IDEA Lab and the Media Commons have loanable technologies, including game consoles and virtual reality headsets.
Author: danaq2@illinois.edu
Tech Tip of the Week: Annual Announcement of Copyright Policies
In case you missed the Massmail over the holiday weekend, this week’s Tech Tip is the Annual Announcement of Copyright Policies:
“Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under Section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). Infringement may occur when a copyright protected work is reproduced or distributed without authorization, including when it is uploaded or downloaded from the Internet or otherwise published without permission. Protected works may include (among other works) photographic images, recordings (including class recordings), class lectures and slides, course readings, music, movies and television programs. Although there are limited exceptions not requiring permission, such as the doctrine of fair use, sharing substantial portions of such works, including on peer-to-peer networks, without authorization by the rights owner or by meeting the exception requirements is an infringement.
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. Copyright compliance enforcement agencies aggressively pursue infringers. If you are infringing, even unknowingly, you can be subject to civil damages per work infringed, and even criminal fines and jail time.
All universities in the University of Illinois System make every effort to comply with laws and institutional policies on copyright. Individuals who receive a copyright infringement notice may face disciplinary or employment actions. These actions may include, but are not limited to, loss of network access, mandatory training about copyright infringement, conduct sanctions, and potential dismissal from the University.
For more information about copyright at the University of Illinois, please visit: http://copyright.illinois.edu/compliance/.”
Tech Tip of the Week: Adapting to Being an Online Student
As we kick off the second week of classes many of us are still adjusting to online classes. The University has some tips on how to adjust that you can find here: https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2020/03/12/adapting-to-online-learning
This article gives tips for success in online classes: https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2015/09/16/7-tips-for-online-success
You can also find advice on how to connect with your classmates still: https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2020/03/22/ways-to-connect-with-your-online-classmates-during-a-time-of-social-distancing
This semester might look different than the others, but we are excited to have you at the iSchool!
Tech Tip of the Week: How to Look your Best on Zoom
This week we want to redirect you to this article by Brett Bitnner entitled “Webchat like a Pro-Cinematographer.”
This article includes some fantastic insight and graphics on how to look and sound good on a video call.
One note we want to emphasize is the need for a good headset! This will let you hear and sound much better than your computer’s built-in speakers and mic. We also highly recommend getting into the habit of checking if you are muted when you first enter a Zoom meeting.
Tech Tip of the Week: Alt + F4
This week’s Tech Tip is short, simple, and teaches you the easiest way to force quit a program!
By pressing both Alt and F4 you can close your current program. This will close the entire program, but if you instead press Ctrl and F4 this will only close your current tab or window.
Tech Tip of the Week: Preventing Eye Strain
This week’s Tech Tip is all about your eyes!
We use our eyes constantly and the screens we use nearly as often can cause strain to our eyes. There are a few things you can do to prevent this eye strain:
- Get an eye exam
- Use proper lighting
- Minimize Glare
- Upgrade your monitor
- Adjust your computer settings
- Blink more often
- Exercise your eyes
- Take frequent breaks
- Modify your workstation
- Wear computer glasses to reduce blue light
Tech Tip of The Week: Pinning Tabs in Chrome
In Chrome, you can pin a tab that you use often by right-clicking the tab and selecting “Pin”. This will move the tab to the far left and will show only the icon, which saves space and makes it so that you cannot accidentally close that tab!
You can unpin a tab by right-clicking on it again and selecting “Unpin”.
Pinned tabs will not stay after you close the browser and reappear when you next open Chrome unless you going into your Chrome settings, select “On startup” from the left menu, and select “Continue where you left off”. If you do this, all the tabs you had open when you last closed Chrome will reopen when you open the browser again.
Tech Tip of The Week: Stretches for your Hands!
Sitting at a computer all day typing can really take a toll on your hands. This week’s Tech Tip offers some stretches you can try throughout the day to keep your hands happy.
If videos are more your thing, this video was made by a doctor who specializes in treating professional gamers and demonstrates stretches for your entire hand.
And don’t forget to give your hands a well-earned break every now and then!
Tech Tip of the Week: Google Chrome Lets You Send Websites Between Devices
Do you use Google Chrome on both your computer and phone or tablet? Did you know you can easily send a website you have open on one device to the others?
When using a computer, you can click on the address bar and this symbol should appear to the right:
If you click on this symbol you will be asked to chose which device to share the website with.
When using a phone or tablet you will have to go to the Chrome menu by selecting the three verticle dots in the top right. In this menu, you will see the option to “Share”. Once you select that you should see the ability to “Send to your devices” and will be asked to chose which device to share the website with.
Need more details? Try the Google Support page here.
Tech Tip of The Week: Easily Opening a Link in a New Tab
While some links may automatically open in a new tab, why risk it? This week’s Tech Tip is on how to easily ensure a link opens in a new tab instead of creating a new window or removing you from the current page you’re on.
You can hold down the control key on Windows or the command key on Macs while clicking on a link to open that link in a new tab.
Additionally, if you are using a mouse you can click on a link with the scroll wheel to open the link in a new tab!
If for some reason these methods do not work for you or for a certain link, you can always right-click on a link to bring up a menu which will include the option to “Open link in new tab”.