IT information for instructors - Spring 2023 | Information Systems & Technology

About this communication

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has launched a term-based communication highlighting IT-related information that may be relevant to instructors as they prepare for their upcoming teaching term. The communication may identify IT-related news, changes, availability of tools and services, etc. that may impact, support, and/or enhance teaching and learning activities at Waterloo.

Migrating N: drives to OneDrive

Effective April 30, 2023, the IST-hosted individual user network drives and related profiles for employees ('fileu' and 'filep') and students ('files' and 'fileq') in the Faculties of Arts, Environment, Health, and Science will no longer be offered.

Staff, students, and faculty in Arts, Environment, Health and Science must:

Migrate files you wish to keep access to from your N: drive to your OneDrive by April 30.
Update any course notes that reference N: drives to point to an alternate, University-supported storage option (e.g., OneDrive).
Please contact your Faculty IT contact for assistance.

Content must be migrated by April 30, 2023 to prevent data loss.

Visit the IST news item for full details and resources to support this work.

Classic Teams only available until mid-May

In preparation for the retirement of classic Teams (March 31), new Teams has been installed and is the default client.

Classic Teams users will begin seeing an informational banner to remind them to switch to new Teams if they have not already (at the top of the main Teams client window, underneath the main bar).
The toggle to return to classic Teams will be available, if needed, until approximately mid-May.
After making the switch to new Teams:
- Right click on the new Teams icon in your taskbar and click ‘Pin to taskbar’.
- Remove the classic Teams icon by right clicking on it and choosing ‘Unpin from taskbar’.

Additional resources: See our New Microsoft Teams support article in the IST Knowledge Base.

Questions or concerns? Please contact the IST Service Desk.

Learning Management System (LMS) Review project | Summary of consultation findings

As announced in September 2022, the pending contract end date (October 2023) for the University’s current learning management system (LMS) D2L Brightspace (LEARN) provided an opportune time to conduct a thorough review of the environment to better understand how the LMS may or may not be meeting the needs and expectations of our campus community.

An extensive review of the D2L Brightspace (LEARN) platform was conducted between April 2022 and January 2023 that included an external review of the LMS market and trends; consultations with peer institutions; and internally, a campus-wide survey and consultation sessions with University faculty, students, and staff.

A high-level summary of these consultation findings is available for review on the Educational Technology (EdTech) Hub site.

Evolving the EdTech Ecosystem project | EdTech Support Model initiative

A review of the EdTech support model, which includes centrally supported online EdTech tools (e.g. LEARN, Mobius), classroom technology, and studio/events, is expected to begin in May 2023.

Consultation opportunities will be offered to understand current state, gaps, issues, and potential opportunities for improvement before a future support model is established. This new support model will ensure transparent, structured processes/workflows, and clear accountabilities.

This initiative was launched in response to the University’s 2020-2025 strategic plan, the IT Review, and feedback collected through the digital learning strategy consultations which made evident the need for a more intentional and strategic collaborative approach to the evolution of the educational technology (EdTech) ecosystem to ensure its support model is efficient and sustainable, with a path to adapt to need, allows users to recognize innovative opportunities, and enables the growth of EdTech in a manageable and pedagogically responsive way.

Further communications will be provided as opportunities and timelines for this work are identified. Visit the EdTech Hub website to learn more about this initiative.

Teaching and learning tools and resources

Self-service options for start of term

Instructional Technologies and Media Services (ITMS) offers the following self-service options to help you prepare for the start of a new term:

Find additional LEARN Help resources in the IST Knowledge Base.

EdTech Hub

Educational technologies, or EdTech, are digital technology tools used to deliver and facilitate learning, learning activities, and aid in creating or disseminating content.

Visit the EdTech Hub for information about centrally supported educational technology tools (list tool by Category or A-Z), projects and more.