FAQ - Technology and Working from Off Campus
Due to recent events with COVID-19 (also called novel coronavirus), institutions are taking measures to facilitate distance learning and working remotely. Below are our most frequently asked questions in regards to technology and working from off campus. Check back often as additional questions and answers may be added as the situation develops.
As always, please reach out to IT Services for help at 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.
Yes. Login to the MySMC Portal to access all SMC applications such as Moodle, GaelXpress, Email, Calendar, Zoom, and more.
Call IT Services, during business hours, at 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.
Visit the IT Services Technology Available from Off Campus page.
Yes.
In response to the need to work from off campus during the public health order to shelter in place IT Services has laptops with Zoom capabilities to borrow for those who need them. Laptops are on a first come first serve basis. During this time the technology equipment lending timeframes will be waived.- To request a laptop submit a Lending Equipment Request.
- Learn more about equipment lending.
- For questions about laptop lending contact the Service Desk at 925-631-4266
For web conferencing Faculty, Staff and Students should have the following:
- Laptop or desktop with working webcam and microphone
- Strong internet connection
- Chrome Internet browserNOTE: With some smart devices, such tablets and smart phones (data rates may apply), the basic Zoom function of simply seeing and hearing each other should be functional. However, the interactive Zoom tools, such as Chat, Screen Share, Polls and/or Breakout Rooms may not be available.
Zoom web conferencing is the preferred SMC cloud solution for virtual classrooms, conducting online training, and virtual meetings.
- Learn more about Zoom here and here (login required)Yes, however web cameras and/or microphones are on a first come first serve basis and are in very limited supply at this time. Learn more about equipment lending.
You will need to use VPN to access FS2, S drive, Informer and/or Colleague from off-campus. Additionally, if you are unable to authenticate to an application from MySMC you may need VPN access. Learn more about VPN and two-factor authentication (login required)
Contact your supervisor to discuss how you may be equipped to work from off campus.
Bandwidth is a consideration. It could be that if multiple people are using the Wifi at the same time they could be using up the available bandwidth. You will want to minimize others usage while using Zoom.
Internet Access On Campus
For faculty and students that need WiFi access to continue their work they can reserve a seat in Galileo, rooms 113 and 114.
To learn more and reserve a seat fill out the WiFi Workspace Reservation Form.Internet Access from off Campus
Below is a list of companies that you can work with to set up or boost your own personal internet access from off campus.
Please Note: The college is not responsible for providing or supporting personal internet access from outside of the college. The list below does not consitute an endorsement by SMC for any of the companies below.- 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
- AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
- Verizon COVID-19 response
- Sprint COVID-19 response: Provides unlimited data to existing customers, and will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
- T-Mobile COVID-19 response: Provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.
- Common.net: Available in Alameda, San Leandro, Santa Clara, San Jose and Sunnyvale (coming to Oakland soon).
- Charter - Free Internet offer for 2 months: Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households and More
Yes.
In response to the need to work from off campus during the public health order to shelter in place IT Services has laptops with Zoom capabilities for faculty to borrow. Laptops are on a first come first serve basis. During this time the technology equipment lending timeframes will be waived.- To request a laptop submit a Lending Equipment Request.
- Learn more about equipment lending.
- For questions about laptop lending contact the Service Desk at 925-631-4266
The “Academic Resiliency Checklist” can help prepare you to continue instruction if face-to-face meetings with students is not possible.
We recommend the following options:
- The professor can receive training by dropping-in to the EdTech Center, Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm.
- The professor can request to bring the class to the EdTech Center for training, but we must receive a 3 business day advance notice. To submit this request, please call 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.
- The professor can provide the following information to their class:
Zoom Students (leads to tutorials on how SMC uses Zoom)
Zoom Help Center (Zoom's general help page)
Faculty resources for Moodle are on the Faculty Quickstarts page.
By using Moodle and/or Zoom. Through the Moodle learning management system, you can communicate and provide course resources and activities for your students. Through the Zoom video management system, you can meet in real time with your students.
- Review the Academic Resiliency Checklist, which contains links to Moodle and Zoom tutorials.
- If you prefer to meet with an EdTech team member for training, call 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.
- Encourage your faculty to review the Academic Resiliency Checklist, which contains links to Moodle and Zoom tutorials.
- If your faculty are not familiar with Moodle and Zoom, encourage them to get trained. Have them call 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.
- As the Chair or Program Manager of X department, you can oversee the continuity of your faculty’s remote classes by having “Co-Teacher” access to their Moodle course sites. To request this, call 925-631-4266 or submit a ticket.