Weekly Feed鈥擳echnology News & Updates

KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 10, 2025

Contents:

D2L Brightspace Basics: Learn How to Manage Your Online Courses

University Information Technology Services (UITS) is excited to introduce , a tailored series of brief video tutorials designed to support KSU faculty in navigating KSU's learning management platform with ease and confidence.

This self-paced program offers a practical, step-by-step guide to essential D2L Brightspace features, empowering instructors to streamline course management and enhance the teaching and learning experience.

What You鈥檒l Learn:

Whether you're a beginner or looking for a refresher, this video series covers fundamental features, including:

  • Grades: Learn how to set up and efficiently manage your grade book, ensuring students stay informed of their academic progress.
  • Quizzes: Create and customize assessments that align with your course objectives.
  • Groups: Organize students for discussions, assignments, and collaborative projects to foster engagement.
  • Course Setup: Get familiar with setting up your course structure, including navigation, modules, and settings.
  • Content: Learn how to upload and organize course materials, making them easily accessible to students.
  • Assignments: Discover how to create, manage, and grade assignments for students.
  • Discussions: Facilitate meaningful online discussions to engage students and foster a collaborative learning environment.

This OwlTrain resource is your pathway to a more efficient and organized teaching experience with D2L Brightspace.

Start Your Journey Today!

Access and unlock the full potential of your course management tools!

Need assistance?

UITS is here to help! Reach out to the if you have questions or need technical support.

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Swipe Left on Scammers: Stay Safe This Valentine鈥檚 Day

Valentine's Day is all about love, chocolates, and thoughtful messages. But while you鈥檙e busy making heart emojis, scammers are hard at work online. This time of year sees a rise in cyber scams targeting people looking for love or sending gifts. From fake dating profiles to phishing emails and online gift card fraud, these tricks can break more than just your heart 鈥 they can drain your bank account too.

Let鈥檚 break down how to spot these online traps and stay safe from scammers this Valentine鈥檚 Day.

Watch Out for Romance Scams

Scammers often create fake profiles on dating apps or social media, using stolen photos and made-up stories. They shower people with attention to build a whirlwind romance before revealing their true goal鈥攎oney.

Here are some signs to help you spot a scammer before they break your heart:

  • Too Good to Be True: Does this person seem perfect鈥攄ream job, amazing looks, and quick to confess their love? Slow down. Scammers often create ideal personas to gain your trust.
  • Love at First Type: Be cautious if someone declares their love within days or weeks of meeting online. Real relationships take time to grow. Scammers rush emotions to cloud your judgment.
  • The 鈥淓mergency鈥 Request: Watch out if they suddenly have a crisis, like a medical emergency or being stranded in another country, and ask for money. Never send money to someone you've only met online.
  • Avoiding Real-Life Meetups: If they always make excuses to avoid meeting in person, this is a warning sign. While online relationships can be real, reluctance to meet might mean they鈥檙e hiding something.
  • Suspicious Profiles: Check their profile carefully. Does it seem vague or inconsistent? Try doing a reverse image search on their photos. If those pictures show up elsewhere under different names, it鈥檚 likely a fake account.

 
Protect Yourself from Scammers

  • Do Your Homework: Look up the person online. Check their social media for red flags or inconsistencies.
    Take Your Time: Build connections slowly and get to know someone before sharing personal information.
  • Never Send Money: No matter how convincing their story sounds, don鈥檛 send money to someone you only know online.
  • Talk to Someone: If something feels off, ask a friend or family member for their thoughts.
  • Report Suspicious Activity: If you think you鈥檙e dealing with a scammer, report them to the platform and the authorities.

Valentine鈥檚 Day should be about love and happiness, not scams; by staying alert and following these tips, you can protect yourself and enjoy the holiday stress-free.

Stay safe, and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Need assistance?

UITS is here to help! Reach out to the if you have questions or need technical support.

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Explore the KSU Technology Guides 

Navigating technology at KSU doesn鈥檛 have to be overwhelming! University Information Technology Services (UITS) has created two technology guides鈥攑ractical resources designed to help students or faculty and staff get the most out of the tools and services available on campus.

These guides clarify the 鈥渨ho,鈥 鈥渨hat,鈥 鈥渨here,鈥 鈥渨hen,鈥 鈥渉ow,鈥 and 鈥渨hy鈥 of accessing KSU technology services, software, hardware, support, and processes at KSU.

For Students:

The KSU Technology Guide for Students breaks down everything you need to know about accessing software, hardware, support services, and key technology processes at KSU. Whether you鈥檙e figuring out where to print assignments, how to connect to campus Wi-Fi, or which software is free for you to use, this guide has you covered.

We encourage faculty and staff to share this guide with students.

For Faculty & Staff:

The KSU Technology Guide for Faculty & Staff is tailored to support your academic and administrative work. From learning about new classroom technologies to accessing IT support and recommended tools for effective teaching and research, it鈥檚 the essential resource you need to work smarter, not harder.

Why Check It Out Now? This guide is all about making technology work for you鈥攕aving time, reducing frustration, and empowering your academic or professional journey.

Need assistance?

UITS is here to help! Reach out to the if you have questions or need technical support.

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New: DocuSign E-Courses

University Information Technology Services (UITS) is pleased to share brand-new training materials to help faculty and staff understand and use DocuSign. The following courses are now live in OwlTrain:

  • Learn how to sign a document and sign envelopes. (20 minutes)
  • Learn how to create templates and PowerForms in DocuSign. (20 minutes) 
     

Looking for DocuSign information on the new UITS website? Check it out: E-Signature (DocuSign). 

Need assistance?

UITS is here to help! Reach out to the if you have questions or need technical support.

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Technology Workshops: Canva (Feb. 11) and Microsoft Forms (Feb. 12)

Explore technology workshops at KSU! Each semester, University Information Technology Services (UITS) offers a variety of workshops to help you make the most of our tech tools鈥攖ake a look at this week's offerings below. 

This Week's Technology Workshops

Intro to Canva

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2鈥3 p.m. via Teams鈥

Participants will learn the basics of creating eye-catching designs using Canva's user-friendly graphic design platform. They鈥檒l explore features like templates, fonts, colors, and elements, gaining practical skills for creating visually appealing graphics and presentations.

Getting Started with Microsoft Forms

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 10鈥11 a.m. via Teams鈥

This workshop will equip you with the skills to utilize Microsoft Forms for efficient data collection and feedback, regardless of your experience level. Learn to create and edit forms, explore various question types, implement branching logic, share and collaborate effectively, and create engaging quizzes.

Need personalized technology training?

UITS offers one-on-one and group training, tailored to meet your needs! Follow these steps to request one-on-one or group technology training:

  1. Navigate to
  2. Log in (in the top-right corner) and authenticate using Duo.  
  3. Select Service request.  
  4. From the menu on the left, select Software Support.
  5. Select Training Request for KSU Technology and complete the form.
    • Here, you will indicate whether you would like to request individual or group training.
  6. Click Submit, and a UITS team member will be in touch with you soon (typically within 2鈥3 business days).  

Need technology assistance?

UITS is here to help! Reach out to the if you have questions or need technical support.

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