Student Technology Resources

WSU Tri-Cities offers free laptop rentals to WSU Tri-Cities students, courtesy of a program run by ASWSUTC

Apply to check-out a laptop: tricities.wsu.edu/laptop

The WSU Provost Office also offers laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot rentals:

Apply for a Wi-Fi Hotspot – https://provost.wsu.edu/posts/wifi-access-interest/

Apply for a Chromebook – https://provost.wsu.edu/posts/computer-loan-program/

Blackboard Learn is WSU’s Learning Management System (LMS). It’s a virtual classroom where students and instructors interact and share information. Every WSU campus course has an associated Blackboard Learn course space that instructors can utilize to deliver their classes online.

To access Blackboard Learn, visit learn.wsu.edu. Your courses will be listed when you log in.

Blackboard Learn Tutorial

Learn how to “go to class”, connect to live Zoom lectures and meetings, find the course syllabus, assignment drop box, gradebook, and recordings, and more:

Blackboard Learn Tutorial video 
TRANSCRIPT

Blackboard Learn Sample Course

1. Access the course at learn.wsu.edu
2. Select “Non-WSU sign-in Here” and log in with:
   Username: wsustudent
   Password: wsustudent

Activating Your Zoom Account

Follow these steps to get started with Zoom and to ensure your name is shown when you participate in a Zoom session:

1. Visit https://wsu.zoom.us/
2. Choose Sign In
3. Enter your WSU credentials to activate and configure your account

You’ve now activated your account and your name will appear when you join a Zoom session.

Zoom for Student-Initiated Meetings

All current WSU students, faculty, and staff have access to a Zoom Pro license. Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows users to conduct a video meeting using any device with an internet connection. Use Zoom to meet up with classmates for study sessions, group projects, and informal check-ins.

Visit the Cougs Online Toolkit for instructions on using Zoom as well as Teams and other useful communication tools.

Your instructor may want you to create a course assignment using one of the following tools:

Panopto
Panopto is an application that allows users to create and share video.

• Create a Pantopto Recording (Windows)
• Create a Panopto Recording (Mac)
• Additional Panopto Resources

VoiceThread
VoiceThread is a cloud-based application that allows users to upload, share, and discuss documents, presentations, images, audio files, and videos.

• View a Recording
• Create a Recording
• Additional VoiceThread Resources

• Make sure you are tech ready. Visit the Global Campus technology requirements webpage for tips on getting tech ready.
• Log in early and often.  Explore your Blackboard course space so that you can find things easily when you need to.  Check back into the space regularly to be sure you keep up with any announcements or discussion posts, if your instructor is using these tools.
• Set aside regular study time. For example, if your campus class was scheduled to meet on Tuesday and Thursday at 9:10 – 10:25 but your instructor is not conducting live Zoom lectures, use that time to complete course assignments.
• Dedicate enough time and practice good time management. You will need to allow for time to “attend” class, as well as the same amount of time that you currently spend outside of class completing assignments and readings, studing for exams, etc.  If you normally spend three hours per week in class and three hours studying, you’ll still need to allow for 6 hours of classwork.  Learning online does not take less time than face-to-face courses. Avoid procrastination and plan ahead so you can complete assignments on time.
• Stay connected to your classmates: Use Zoom to schedule video meetings for group meetings or study sessions.
• Engage with your instructor. If you have questions, be sure to contact your instructor. Take advantage of faculty online office hours.

WSU Tri-Cities uses ALEKS, a web-based assessment and learning system for mathematics. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn’t know and then instructs the student on the topics they are most ready to learn. It is used for as the entrance exam for math and math course placement at WSU Tri-Cities, as well as in-class for several mathematics courses.

Check out tutorials, helpful trainings on how to use ALEKS: 

https://www.aleks.com/highered/students

Set up a free trial account with ALEKS to practice math problems, take practice assessments and more (only an option if you have not yet created an ALEKS account):

https://www.aleks.com/alekscgi/x/Isl.exe/home/guest/LP/login

Global Campus Required Skills and Resources for Online Learning

Skills for Success

Cougar Guide to Academic Success During COVID-19 (pdf)

In order to have an equal opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, students with certain disabilities or chronic medical conditions require reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations remove or reduce barriers to the university environment, which allows students an equal opportunity to engage in learning.

WSU Tri-Cities now uses MyAccess, a secure online platform that interconnects a student’s application for accommodations with the Access Services office and, once the intake process is complete, WSU Tri-Cities faculty.

Visit the Access Services website to learn more: tricities.wsu.edu/current-students/access/

Computer Center – tricities.tchelp@wsu.edu  |  509-372-7334 
IAT – tricities.iat@wsu.edu  |  509-372-7203

Get your questions answered/support you need in real time by speaking to a real person.

tricities.wsu.edu/televisit

Help desks available:

• IT
• Advising
• TRIO
• Veteran Center
• Library