Technology News for Faculty
Fall 2011

Welcome to the fall 2011 semester at Temple University. As a Temple faculty member, you have access to numerous technology resources to support your courses, research, and projects. Learn what we have to offer by visiting the Computer Services web site, especially the Faculty section, which details additional resources tailored to your needs.

As you begin the school year, no doubt you are busy settling into your courses. To make the most of your time, Computer Services has compiled the following list of 13 practical tech tips to help you take advantage of our technology resources.

1.	Don't share your password with anyone We can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping your password secure. Realize that by sharing your password, you give access to all your personal information in Self-Service Banner, TUmail, and more. If you have shared your password, change it immediately at accounts.temple.edu.

2.	Get help with Blackboard A number of resources are available to help you make the most of Blackboard for your classes: Hands-on training including jumpstart sessions and feature-focused sessions such the grade center, assignments and safe assignments, blogs and wikis, tests, surveys, and pools Online training documents for setting up a Blackboard course Also, recommend the Blackboard Quick Reference Guide to your students to help them learn about the major features of Blackboard.

3.	View your paycheck, submit grades, and more with Self-Service Banner TUportal is your gateway to a variety of centralized technology resources such as Self-Service Banner. Use Self-Service Banner to submit grades, request a grade change, access DARS, view your paycheck, update your personal, work, and emergency contact information, check leave-related information, and more.

4.	Register your cell phone to receive TU Alert Providing current contact information is critical to ensuring that you will receive notification in the event of an emergency. TU Alert is used to communicate information regarding an emergency requiring immediate action on the part of the campus community. We urge you to log in to TUportal, click on the Staff Tools tab, and look for TUalert to register your cell phone number and receive TU Alert text messages.

5.	Learn how to use Banner Review webinars and documentation on how to perform Banner tasks by clicking on the red question mark in the upper right-hand corner of TUportal. Contact Amy Lavin at amyl@temple.edu for individual or group Banner training sessions.

6.	Personalize your e-mail address If your Temple e-mail address is in the form of tua9876@temple.edu or if you would prefer to have an alternate address, create an alias or nickname. To create an alias, log in to TUportal, go to Cherry and White Update, and complete the information. You can create a maximum of five aliases. For TU Gmail users: Once you've created your alias(es), you can set up your e-mail account so you have the option to use your alias address in the From section when you send messages using TUmail.

7.	Access TUmail on your cell phone Set up your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry to access your TU Gmail messages. If you use Outlook/Exchange for your TUmail, submit a request through TUhelp for setup assistance.

8.	Tap into Temple with TUmobile Access Temple information on the go using TUmobile. Locate a building on campus, browse the library catalog, follow the latest news at Temple, check game scores, and more.

9.	Connect to wireless As you move around campus with your laptop to teach classes, work on projects, and meet students and colleagues, stay connected 24/7 with the Temple wireless networks.

10.	Use Google Docs to create and share documents TU Gmail and Outlook/Exchange users can create, collaborate, and share documents with Temple colleagues, students, and staff using Google Docs and Sites. Google Docs also allows you to easily create and send out surveys. To learn more, visit the Work Together web site. Hands-on training is also available on Google Apps. For a list of training topics and dates on the site, go to the Register for Technology Training and type Google in the Keyword Search box.

11.	Don't pay full price Take advantage of numerous discounts. Discounts include educational pricing on computers and software and the opportunity to purchase antivirus software for under $10 for home use. In addition, as recycled/refurbished university computer and electronic equipment become available, they are offered at reduced prices from the Computer Recycling Center (CRC). Eligible faculty can also participate in Temple's Microsoft Work-At-Home Software Distribution Program for Windows and Office. For details, see the Computer Business Services web site. In addition, as a Temple employee, faculty are eligible to obtain reduced prices on Verizon cell phone plans and cellular accessories.

12.	Take advantage of online technology training Interactive courses and course reference guides for a variety of topics are available 24/7. Courses include Microsoft Office 2010 and 2007 applications, Windows 7, and the Mac operating system. To get started, go to the Access 24/7 Technology Training web site and click on Register Now. You'll be asked to set up an account with your AccessNet username and create a separate password. Then, log in to Blackboard and, under My Courses, click Computer Services Online Technology Training to enter the online classroom and access class handouts and tutorials.

13.	Get Help from the ISC The Instructional Support Center (ISC) provides faculty with consulting services, training, and access to state-of-the-art computer equipment and innovative technologies. The ISC staff are on hand to assist Temple faculty who are interested in incorporating technology into the teaching/learning process.

We hope you find these tips useful for the school year. Please note that we recently shared some of these tips with the students.

If you need assistance with any of these tips or with technology issues, contact the Help Desk. Computer Services has a dedicated Help Desk staff providing support on a wide range of technical resources. You can request technical assistance and track your request online through the TUhelp web site. You can also call (215-204-8000/1-8000) or visit the Help Desk (The TECH Center, room 106). In addition, you may find the answer to your question by searching the Knowledge Base, our online collection of frequently asked questions.

Best wishes for a successful and productive fall semester.