Technical Resources and More

General Faculty and Student Resources

Faculty can find CUNYwide online resources, including webinars, online teaching workshops, industry standards and compliance, professional organizations, communities of practice, and online passport information on the CUNY Online Education Faculty Resources webpage as well as technological resources, such as technology services, building blocks, and technology training on the CUNY Online Education Academic Technologies Resources webpage. On the LaGuardia website, faculty can find resources specific to LaGuardia, including technology support, on the LaGuardia Online Faculty Resources webpage. They can also find resources for students, such as technical support, an explanation of online modes of learning, an online readiness survey, on campus spaces for taking online classes, and accessing free Wifi on the LaGuardia Online Learning Student Resources webpage.

Open Educational Resources (OERs)

The following resources provide tools and information to help instructors utilize open educational resources (OERs) to promote accessible and affordable education for all students:

• OER and Online Learning Faculty Quick Start Guide provides several strategies and considerations for using OER materials.
• OER Commons is a public digital library of open educational resources where educators can explore, create, and collaborate with other educators around the world.
• CUNY Academic Works: Open Education Resources collects instructional materials -- from textbooks to syllabi -- created by the CUNY community.
• CUNY Open Education Resources webpage describes CUNY’s OER initiative as well as links to each college’s OER Collection.

Troubleshooting technology

Hardware and software requirements for an online class should be made clear in the syllabus and in the first interactions the instructor has with the students.

Hardware

Students taking online classes should have a computer that is internet-enabled. For students in need of such, Media Services in the Library will lend machines to students, though some of the available computers may not be compatible with all the required software (especially for certain technical classes). Students are discouraged from attempting to take an online class on a mobile smart phone or a tablet. If they do decide to do this, they may find that certain aspects of their online class will be more difficult or even impossible. Specific issues with hardware may require contacting the retailer or the manufacturer. In the case of LaGuardia-provided hardware, students should return defective or damaged hardware to the Media Center as soon as they discover an issue for a possible replacement or referral to the Student Technology Helpdesk for a troubleshooting session.

Software

Whenever possible, online classes should use software that is provided by LaGuardia/CUNY, and students are expected to get help with these software packages from the appropriate technical support help desks including the CUNY IT Help knowledge base; contacting a Student Technology Mentor; submitting a helpdesk ticket; visiting the Student Technology Help Desk located in B127; or calling 718-482-6117.

College staff may be unable to troubleshoot problems with hardware and software not provided by LaGuardia or CUNY.

Synchronous Connectivity Issues

In the instance of online synchronous classes, students are expected to have access to sufficient broadband internet that allows them to share their camera video, microphone audio, and, when appropriate, share their screen. However, there may be instances where students lose connectivity due to technical difficulties or a loss of account access. These situations should be treated similarly to situations where, for any variety of reasons, students are unable to attend an in-person class. Students who experience incidental lo-fi access, throttling^[1], or other traffic issues that prevent smooth buffering/caching may find that they have access with audio-only (camera-disabled) or chat-only uploading. Instructors may accommodate such situations according to their discretion. In some instances (for example, a timed oral examination), there may be no lo-fi alternative that is acceptable.