Tech Update 5/25/21: Updates on Teams Meetings Presentations, Password Protection Tips, and Calls for Feedback

Colleagues,

The latest edition of Tech Update, below, is packed full. In it, you’ll find an update on some of the newest Microsoft Teams features, tips for how to manage your passwords, and more.

Ongoing dialogue and conversations with the community are key to the continuous efforts for improving the technology services and digital resources at Northeastern. A few opportunities to share feedback with IT Services can be found below, including a series of focus group sessions on the employee digital experience and a survey seeking feedback about the Tech Service Portal.

Of course, your feedback is welcome anytime. Visit the Tech Service Portal 24/7 to make a request, report an issue, or submit an idea for a new feature or project.

Cheers!

– M

Marcus P. Robinson,
Associate Vice President, Engagement and Experience

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Tech Update: May 25, 2021

Shaping the Future of Northeastern’s Digital Experience

Want to help Northeastern create a more connected university community and better enable its workforce through digital tools and technology? Help shape the future of the Northeastern employee digital experience across the global network by participating in an upcoming chat-style focus group. Register today!

Thursday, June 3, 2021
12 – 1 p.m. EST (9 – 10 a.m. PST, 5 – 6 p.m. GMT)

Monday, June 7, 2021
2 – 3 p.m. EST (11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PST, 7 – 8 p.m. GMT)

Present More Engaging PowerPoints, with More Confidence

Microsoft is rolling out PowerPoint Live for Teams Meetings, which allows presenters to customize their presentation view without compromising what the audience sees. The following features are now available, or will be available soon, to the Northeastern community:

• A new and improved Share content view to streamline sharing during Teams meetings.
• A customizable Presenter view so that you can see everything that is happening, all in one place.
• A Presenter mode makes for a more engaging experience by allowing the audience to see both the presenter and the PowerPoint slide on the same screen.
• The ability for the audience to consume the content at their own pace, through interacting with hyperlinks and videos, and navigating slides.
• A high-contrast mode that increases content accessibility and comprehension.

Read more about the PowerPoint Live updates directly from Microsoft >

Got 10 Minutes Before Your Next Meeting?

In less time than it may take to scroll through your social media feed or answer the next email in your inbox, your answers to a few questions could help improve the IT support offerings at Northeastern.

You’re invited to share your experience and feedback in this brief survey about the Tech Service Portal, Northeastern’s online gateway to technology solutions and IT Service Desk support. No matter your experience with the Tech Service Portal, your perspective is important and will be considered the portal’s future direction.

Smart Storage of Strong Passwords

Your passwords not only remain a critical defense shield against the world of cybercrime, but they also protect you and your personal information. Because of this, they’re considered personal property and you should protect them as such. A simple, two-step process offers the most robust protection:

1. Use strong passwords. Strong passwords consist of 15 or more characters and are updated annually, at a minimum.
2. Keep passwords close. Never share your passwords with others, and consider using a password manager to keep track of complex and hard-to-remember passwords.

Get Creative in Your Classroom with Adobe Spark and Canvas Studio

Learn how to spark creativity and engage students with two powerful and easy-to-use storytelling tools, Adobe Spark and Canvas Studio. Join a hands-on, 90-minute virtual training on June 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET hosted by Academic Technologies and CATLR. During this workshop, faculty will hear about the benefits of digital media creation for achieving learning outcomes and experience the creative process firsthand. Please register in advance.

Learn more about the Using Video Tools to Empower Creativity workshop >

Last Call before Blackboard’s Retirement on June 30

If you still have any content on Blackboard, now is a good time to access and download it. Northeastern’s Blackboard environment retires on June 30, after which direct access to northeastern.blackboard.com will no longer be available and access to course records and content must be requested. Downloading content before June 30 is the only way to ensure you have access to the materials you’ll need in the future.

Prepare for Blackboard’s retirement at Northeastern >

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