Tag Archives: 202408

Welcome Back

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Technology Support Center (TSC) located in MCB Ground Floor A-050

Technology is excited to welcome you back to campus! Whether you’re new or have been here for years, we’re here to assist you. The Technology Service Desk is located on the ground floor of the MCB, room A-050. The Service Desk’s services, including walk-up support and equipment loans, are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Not on campus or remote? Our Service Desk provides technical support on a wide variety of topics. We can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer, account access, printing, Zoom, and many other technology-related issues. Our website provides access to many resources including contact information, support hours, FAQs, service and support request forms, classroom and event support information, and hardware and software discounts.

Elevate Your Skills with LinkedIn Learning

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Discover the Power of Continuous Learning

As the new academic year begins, it’s the perfect time to focus on personal and professional development. Enter LinkedIn Learning, an online platform offering a diverse range of courses spanning business, technology, and creative fields. With expert-led tutorials, LinkedIn Learning is a flexible and practical tool for skill enhancement. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast keen on exploring AI and machine learning, a creative mind diving into graphic design, or a business professional looking to sharpen your leadership or analytical skills, this platform has something for everyone.

Stay Ahead with Hot New Technologies

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying informed about the latest trends is more crucial than ever. LinkedIn Learning offers courses on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, data science, and cloud computing. These courses are designed to give you a competitive edge in your field by deepening your understanding of the technologies driving innovation across industries. Whether you want to learn how AI is reshaping business processes or explore the latest advancements in cybersecurity, LinkedIn Learning has you covered.

Why LinkedIn Learning is Your Ideal Fall Companion

LinkedIn Learning’s greatest strength lies in its vast library of courses, taught by industry veterans who provide both theoretical knowledge and practical insights. The platform’s integration with LinkedIn allows you to easily add completed course certifications to your profile, enhancing your professional online presence. What sets LinkedIn Learning apart is its personalized approach, offering course recommendations based on your interests and career goals, making it a tailored and efficient learning journey.

Embrace the Opportunity for Growth

This fall, transform your study breaks into productive learning sessions with LinkedIn Learning. The skills you acquire could significantly impact your academic and career trajectory, open new opportunities, or simply boost your confidence in your abilities. Start your learning journey on LinkedIn Learning today and take a significant step toward enhancing your skill set and future-proofing your career.

Visit LinkedIn Learning, explore its extensive course catalog, and embark on a journey of self-improvement and professional development. Your future self will thank you for this investment.

Classroom Media Equipment Improvements

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LEF Podium Monitors

Faculty teaching in the Lefavour Science labs will be pleased to learn that all podiums are now equipped with confidence monitors. No more turning around to check what’s displayed on the screen—everything you need is right in front of you. Originally, the podiums were designed to be “mobile” so they could be easily disconnected and moved. However, after years of feedback and realizing that the podiums were rarely, if ever, moved, we found a cost-effective solution to add monitors to every lab on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Document Cameras

Document cameras have become more compact, versatile, and affordable over the years. As a result, every classroom on campus is now equipped with one, aligning with our goal to standardize media equipment for a consistent experience across all classrooms. While you may not need to use these cameras for their traditional purpose, they offer a valuable secondary function—they can double as webcams. Simply connect the attached USB cable to a laptop or podium PC, and the document camera can serve as your Zoom camera and microphone. This is a convenient way to show a view of students to a remote presenter on Zoom or capture your presentation for sharing on Panopto or Moodle. (Please note: Many of our classrooms still use Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) computers, which cannot run Zoom, but we are working toward installing full computers in every classroom.)

Information Security and Phishing

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For the fall of 2024, it is expected that approximately 20.7 million students will attend U.S. universities. This influx of students, faculty, and staff returning for the academic year presents increased opportunities for cybercriminals, who often exploit the busy start of the school year to launch their attacks​ (EdTech Magazine)​ (Proofpoint).

Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks continue to be a significant threat, accounting for 36% of all data breaches in 2023. Currently, about 1.2% of all emails sent globally, which equates to nearly 3.4 billion emails per day, are malicious. This makes phishing one of the most prevalent cybersecurity threats, with educational institutions being particularly vulnerable due to their large and varied user bases​ (Proofpoint)​ (Pixel Privacy).

Protective Measures: To mitigate the risk of falling victim to these attacks, it is crucial to adopt robust cybersecurity practices:

  1. Be cautious of emails claiming urgency.
  2. Verify the sender’s email address.
  3. Watch for suspicious logos, signatures, or content.
  4. Check URLs before clicking; ensure they lead to official, encrypted sites.
  5. Think twice before opening attachments or clicking on links.
  6. Use different passwords for work, school, and personal accounts, and keep them secure.
  7. Regularly update devices, apps, browsers, and antivirus software.
  8. Delete sensitive information that is no longer needed.
  9. Backup your files regularly.

Common Scams Targeting Students: College students should be aware of common scams, including:

  • Fake emails offering “Part-Time” work.
  • Fake emails with “important information about your account” or issues with registration.
  • Tech support scams claiming issues with your computer.
  • Fake scholarship or textbook rental scams.
  • IRS scams demanding payment for a fake “federal student tax.”
  • Tuition reimbursement or student debt cancellation scams.
  • Requests for login information, passwords, or personal data.
  • Fake friend requests and misleading messages about shared documents.

These precautions and awareness can help protect against the growing wave of phishing and other cyberattacks targeting educational institutions and their communities​ (Pixel Privacy)​ (identitytheft).

Colleges of the Fenway AI Panel, Call for Panelists

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The Colleges of the Fenway AI Think Tank is preparing to host a COF-wide panel event this fall semester. The goal of the session is to continue the cross-institutional conversations about AI and education. By hosting a panel of students followed by a panel of faculty, we hope to share with the community the varying utilizations, and applications and perceptions of AI (to include large language models and image/audio generation tools). The panels will be moderated by the AI Think Tank members. Panel questions will be sourced from attendees and selected/adjusted by AI Think Tank members.

The Think Tank is currently seeking panelists for both the student panel and the faculty panel. We ask that you please circulate this opportunity to the appropriate groups and teams at your institution. Interested panelists can indicate their interest by submitting this form.

*Please note that panelists do not need to be experts on this topic! We are hoping to assemble a group of folks interested in discussing AI from their perspective.