Working (and learning) remotely will require access to the internet. Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Telecom companies have responded during the global pandemic by providing free or expanded service. Check with your local ISP or mobile carrier, or review this list.

St. Olaf IT maintains a page with free software recommendations for students. Some highlights are:

Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides – but also Keep (for notes) and Jamboard (virtual whiteboard)
Office 365 (Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
Autodesk Sketchbook and software licenced for education

spark.adobe.com is also a useful suite of tools for creating graphics, simple websites, and short videos with voice-over. Create your adobeID by signing-in with Google and your St. Olaf account – this account can be used with the Adobe Mobile apps free, too – look for them on Andriod and IOS.

Adobe Creative Cloud can be offered through St. Olaf to individuals who need it for a class or work project. Your professor or supervisor should request this for you using this Software Request form.

Your classes may be using a combination of tools to communicate during the remainder of the semester. If you haven’t already, you should test these connections on your computer (or device) before classes begin.

In all cases below, ensure you are logged in using Google and your St. Olaf credentials. The best way to test these tools is to find a friend and set up a call with them. If you need further help, don’t hesitate to contact the helpdesk.

Google Chat
Google Meet
Zoom.us

Staying Safe with Zoom?

There have been recent media reports and concerns about Zoom security and privacy issues, including “Zoom bombing.”  St. Olaf IT has been following these issues closely.
We are encouraged that Zoom has taken these concerns seriously and addressed them quickly.

To take advantage of the latest security patches, you will need to ensure your application is up-to-date. Zoom updates are not uniformly sent automatically. Instructions for updating Zoom for macOS and Windows can be found here: Zoom Support – Download the Latest Version.

We recommend Zoom’s Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom for those teaching (or meeting) with Zoom, particularly enabling a waiting room, restricting attendance to invited guests, and using random meeting IDs and passwords for each session.

The St. Olaf Center for Academic Advising and Support remains open for you.
Here is their webpage.

On the page, you’ll find these tips for Student Success for Distant Learning

Listen. All work and no play is not the way to go. Here, curated by IT and Libraries staff, are some fun ways (digital or otherwise) to stay healthy during these stressful times.

For all of the kombucha drinkers: Grow your own SCOBY!  – Jillian Sparks, Special Collections and College Archives

Draw, and then frame, a member of your family. Or a self portrait. Start a comic book. – Ezra Plemons, Instructional technologist.

Sing something, anything, every day (at the top of your lungs, if possible)! Physical and emotional benefits abound! – Kali Schwartz, Access Services

Online faux real time jam-sessions could be a fun idea. Haven’t tried Jammr or any of these, but I will and provide a review. (anyone want to try this with me?) –Doug Hamilton, Instructional Technologist

With your St. Olaf provided access to Linkedin Learning, you have a wealth of online courses and materials to choose from. Log-in with your St. Olaf email and credentials, choose some topics you’re interested in, or use the search field.

Some of the most watched Linkedin Courses at St. Olaf:
R Statistics software.
Microsoft Excel