Technology tips for new students

Posted on: August 5, 2015 | By: Ryan Gay | Filed under: Tech Tips, Service Desk

When first techtipsarriving on campus for fall semester, freshmen are bombarded with a wide variety of new information and experiences that truly kick off the start of their higher education journey with a bang.

It’s easy for freshmen, and even upperclassmen, to put technology needs on the backburner as they adjust to life on a college campus. If you’re new to Elon, or are even a returning student in need of a refresher, here are some tips to make sure you’re prepared for interacting with University technology once classes begin.

Configuring wireless access

When students first arrive on campus, one of the first experiences they have with University technology is accessing our wireless network. The Technology Service Desk recommends that all students configure their wireless network to elonu-secure. The elonu-secure network will require you to enter your University email username and password. Please note that there are known issues with Windows 8 computers accessing this network and configuration may not be successful. In these instances, you should utilize the elonu network for PCs.

Why can’t I log into the wireless network, email, or Moodle?

If you cannot log into the wireless network, email, or Moodle,

then there could be a problem with your username and password. In most cases, these situations may be resolved by visiting the Self-Service Password Maintenance Site. If this is your first time visiting the site, you should click the ‘Sign Up’ button to establish security questions before logging into the system. If you’ve used the site before, you can click ‘Change Password’ to reset your password. If you’ve reset your password and still cannot access email, Moodle, or the wireless network, contact the Technology Service Desk at 278-5200.

Print Management Stations

Students have the ability to download and install universal print drivers that allow you to print to a variety of locations across campus. After installing the print driver, you can print to the HP-Devices on PHAROS01 printer on your computer and receive your document at any print management station. When printing, you will be prompted to enter your username. Afterwards, simply swipe your Phoenix Card at one of the locations and select the documents in your queue that you wish to print. Please note that documents in your print queue are deleted 2 hours after being sent to print. For more information on using the print stations, click here.

Download Microsoft Office for free

Elon University students are entitled to a free download of the Microsoft Office 2010 (for Windows) or Microsoft Office 2011 (for Macs) suite through Kivuto’s E-Academy. All you need to do is sign-up for the site using your Elon University email address. From there, you can download the software. You should write down your product key to save in safe place in case you need to re-install the software at a later date.

After 30 days, there is no way to retrieve the product key. Additionally, students may choose to download Office 2013, although this is offered to students at a cost set by Kivuto’s E-Academy. The Technology Service Desk also sells copies of Office 2013 for a nominal fee.

File storage

It’s always important for students to take the time to save and backup schoolwork to a safe location. This may include emailing documents to yourself, saving them to a flashdrive, or by using Google Drive, which provides unlimited cloud-based storage for files.

Confirm technical requirements

It’s always stressful when you attempt to access your course online and your computer can’t view or display the webpages you need for class. Before a class even begins, it’s important for students to make sure they know what the technical requirements are beforehand. This includes making sure that a variety of computer software is up-to-date before the class begins. The most common items you want to make sure are up-to-date are Java, Flash, and your web browser. Try accessing course materials early so that you can and know how to navigate them. This will prevent you from wasting valuable course time trying to figure out the technology.

The Technology Service Desk is here to aid students in simple configuration and access problems. If you need assistance, please contact us at (336) 278-5200.

Image by Aras Corp

 

Ryan Gay

Ryan is the Manager of Service Management & IT Project Lead for Instructional & Campus Technologies. He has received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in English from UNC-Greensboro.

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