Sharmeen Abedi

With the University of Toronto planning a mix of in-person and remote classes this fall, many students will be accessing at least part of their studies online.

That could include everything from live sessions to pre-recorded lectures and assignments, depending on the instructor and the time zones where students reside.

As is the case with all technologies, occasional hiccups will require troubleshooting — particularly for students connecting from outside the Greater Toronto Area. Fortunately, there are many people at �Թϱ�� working to ensure students have the best possible remote learning experience. There are also plenty of online resources.

Here are six tips to navigate some common challenges associated with remote classroom learning:

1. Know your Wi-Fi

The most common obstacle students experience with remote classes is the lack of a solid Wi-Fi connection. Poor connections may be due to the quality of the network in your area, but it can also be related to the specific equipment that you use. For the most reliable results, try connecting directly to your modem or router with an ethernet cable.

If you want to test your connection speed, check the website of your local Internet provider or try this �Թϱ�� test.

2. Keep your computer and web browser up to date

It’s always a good idea to keep your computer’s software up to date to ensure your machine is protected from threats and runs without glitches. Similarly, most remote learning tools have minimum operating system and browser requirements to ensure the best quality of experience.

If you have an older computer, or if cost is a barrier to attaining the right equipment, contact your college or divisional registrar about possible bursaries or other solutions.

3. Work offline, then submit

One of the biggest aggravations faced by students who are studying remotely is having an assignment suddenly disappear before you can post it. While this may seem like a glitch with Quercus, it usually has to do with a lost network connection.

Hence, it’s strongly recommended that you type – and save – your work on your computer and then copy and paste it onto the website when you are ready to submit it. This ensures that you will always have a copy of your work in case something goes wrong.

4. Plan ahead for time zones

Be aware of course requirements that may require real-time, scheduled activities – particularly if you are accessing you studies from a different time zone than Toronto’s (Eastern).

Check your course syllabus or ACORN for information on the delivery mode of your courses. If a course includes live sessions that are incompatible with your time zone – i.e. a class that occurs in the middle of the night – ask the instructor or TA if they can make arrangements for you. That could include recording lectures so you can download and watch them at your convenience. Your instructor may also be able to time shift assignments or tests, but you must contact and inform them about this early in the semester.

5. Plan ahead for online exams

If you are taking courses that have online exams, especially e-proctored ones, it is important that you tell your instructor or TA at the start of the course that you are located outside of the GTA and may face issues with your computer, network or the time zone. That way they will have time to work on a suitable accommodation.

6. Use a VPN to access blocked �Թϱ�� content

There may be places in the world where you are unable to access Quercus or other tools for a variety of reasons. So, �Թϱ�� has expanded access to its General Purpose VPN for students, which should allow you to access what you need for your studies.

However, VPN use may be legally regulated in some areas. If that’s the case, students should connect through a legal VPN service. �Թϱ�� is looking to create a list of known and legal VPN services by location.

It’s also important to understand that using a VPN to access video content, including pre-recorded or live courses, could impair the quality of the stream. Some �Թϱ�� students outside Canada have reported improved video quality via VPN by taking a series of steps in the following order: turn on the VPN: launch web browser; visit the page with the video link; and, finally, shut off the VPN while keeping the browser open.

Tell your instructors or TAs that you are accessing the course from a remote location so that they can help come up with suitable alternatives.

For further help, contact the Information Commons help.desk@utoronto.ca.

From Parliament Hill to Kim’s Convenience, prominent Canadians congratulate �Թϱ��’s class of 2020

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:56:38 +0000

From Parliament Hill to Kim’s Convenience, prominent Canadians congratulate �Թϱ��’s class of 2020

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 06/24/2020 - 12:56

Cutline

Clockwise from top left: James Makokis, a participant in the reality television show The Amazing Race Canada, Governor General Julie Payette, actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were among those who congratulated the Class of 2020

Topic

Several prominent Canadians – from senior government officials to reality TV personalities – have extended their congratulations to �Թϱ��’s graduates, noting the significance of their achievement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor General Julie Payette, a �Թϱ�� alumna, paid regard to the extraordinary circumstances in her congratulatory message to �Թϱ��’s class of 2020.

She pointed out the hardship and uncertainty faced by the graduating class, who “rose to the challenge, found creative ways to remain connected, finished classes online and made the best out of a difficult situation.”

Payette attended �Թϱ�� as a graduate student from 1988 to 1990. She told the 2020 class that they were the future of the country and urged them to get involved in their community and society.

“Stay open to new ideas, look after others, especially those less fortunate, and take care of the planet,” she wrote in her message, a version of which also went to other schools.

“Have passion, vision and opinions.”

With restrictions on large gatherings during the pandemic, �Թϱ�� held a virtual convocation ceremony for the first time in its 193-year history. On June 2, more than 15,000 graduates, hailing from 100 different countries, including Canada, received their degrees in absentia – and tuned in from around the world to be part of the shared moment.

Payette wasn’t the only senior government official to reach out to �Թϱ�� grads in recent weeks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated �Թϱ��’s Faculty of Medicine 2020 class in a video address in which he spoke about the gravity of the current situation and told graduates “you will face one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

While Trudeau noted that the last two months have not gone by as expected, he told the graduates “it is still your moment.”

Mayor John Tory also congratulated the faculty’s graduates, saying in a video that “all 260 of you are joining the ranks of some of the most vital workers in our country.”

Well wishes and words of encouragement also poured in from �Թϱ�� alumni.

James Makokis, a participant in the reality television show The Amazing Race Canada and a physician who works with the trans community and two-spirit people, reached out to stress the importance of love and acceptance.

“Remember that when you’re working with people and treating families, when you work from a place of love – you will always do the right thing,” he said.

Makokis is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation and has worked within his community. He received a Master in Public Health from �Թϱ�� in 2006, and then went on to attend medical school.

Other distinguished alumni who congratulated �Թϱ��’s 2020 class include Ed Clark, the former CEO of TD Bank, and Bill Davis, the former premier of Ontario.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, a graduate of St. Michael’s College, praised grads for making it through despite the limitations brought on by the pandemic.

“This is a huge milestone, and you should all be very proud of yourselves,” Crombie said before highlighting the role played by faculty and staff.

“I would also like to say a special thank you to the teachers, professors, and the staff who adapted their teaching styles and pushed through the school year.”

Kim’s Convenience actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who attended University College in 1991, noted the extraordinary circumstances in his congratulations to the University College 2020 class.

In his video message, Lee said, “it gives me great pleasure to congratulate you, the 2020 class of University College, on your graduation.”

He also noted that graduation is the brightest part of the year and ended his message by reminding grads to “take care of yourself, wash your hands – and stop touching your face.”

Sharmeen Abedi

Six remote learning tips for �Թϱ��� students

1. Know your Wi-Fi

2. Keep your computer and web browser up to date

3. Work offline, then submit

4. Plan ahead for time zones

5. Plan ahead for online exams

6. Use a VPN to access blocked �Թϱ��� content

From Parliament Hill to Kim’s Convenience, prominent Canadians congratulate �Թϱ���’s class of 2020

Six remote learning tips for �Թϱ�� students

6. Use a VPN to access blocked �Թϱ�� content

From Parliament Hill to Kim’s Convenience, prominent Canadians congratulate �Թϱ��’s class of 2020