TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
The Help Center staff are here for you to answer your questions, help troubleshoot technology issues and suggest resources to help you navigate this online/remote semester. For questions, please email them at helpdesk@ric.edu or call 401-456-8803. Please provide your name, student ID, phone number and a description of the problem for faster service.
TECHNOLOGY FAQs
We compiled a list of answers to frequently asked questions that may help.
Q. Will the IT Help Center provide services?
IT Help Center | 401-456-8803 |
helpdesk@ric.edu | Services provided by the ITS Help Center will continue.
Services provided by the ITS Help Center will continue. The ITS Help Center will have no walk-ups, and appointments are required. If you have hardware or technology related issues and needs that require in-person service, please email
helpdesk@ric.edu to schedule an appointment. The Help Center will be available from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays. The Help Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Q. Where will I be able to access a computer lab?
There will be no public computer labs available on campus. Information Technology Services has developed a virtual computer lab to provide academic software directly to students via the Internet. If your course requires special academic software your instructor will notify your class.
Q. What if I don’t have access to or reliable internet at home or laptop for classes if they are online/remote?
The ITS Help Center will provide a mobile hotspot and/or a laptop on loan to you. Please contact the Help Center at
helpdesk@ric.edu, or call (401) 456-8803 to arrange for loaner equipment.
Q. What technology support is available?
We are continuing our efforts to make sure that you have access and the ability to complete your online (synchronous or asynchronous) courses. If you have any questions, visit the technology support page of the RICremote website for information about accessing free Wi-Fi or mobile hotspots from local and national providers to support your remote learning needs.
Q. How do I log into Blackboard?
There two ways to log into Blackboard (Learning Management System).
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Option A: Go to
https://blackboard.ric.edu and then use your Office 365 RIC email and password.
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Option B: Log into MyRIC and then click on the Blackboard link located on the right-hand side of the window.
Q. I have never used Blackboard before, what do I do?
If you have questions about Blackboard, please email helpdesk@ric.edu. The ITS Help Center is closed for walk-in service, but services will continue. If you have hardware or technology related issues that require in-person service, please email
helpdesk@ric.edu to schedule an appointment. The Help Center will continue to be available from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays. The Help Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Q. I have a disability and I have questions regarding accessibility of my course materials and special assistive technologies (reading software, screen readers, accessible PDFs, etc.), where do I go for help?
The Disability Services Center can help. Please email DSC at dsc@ric.edu so that we can get you the support you need.
Q. What software licensing agreements are available to the College community?
Rhode Island College students, faculty, and staff have access to Microsoft Office 365 which provides users access to several web-based apps including Outlook, Calendar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive and more. RIC students, faculty and staff also have the ability to download the latest desktop version of Microsoft Office (PC and Mac) for free through their Microsoft Office 365 account.
Q. Can you tell me more about my Microsoft Office 365 account?
Yes! Rhode Island College continues to enhance the services provided to our students and has upgraded your student email system to the Microsoft Office 365 environment.
Highlights include:
- A larger inbox and larger attachment size handling
- Additional storage in a new OneDrive associated with your Office 365 account (1TB).
- Ability to view and edit documents with Office Web Apps across a broad range of browsers (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari)
- Collaboration capabilities using:
- Zoom for audio and video conferencing and screen sharing
- Microsoft Office for group document editing in real-time
For information about Microsoft Office 365, please visit
http://www.ric.edu/uss/Pages/Office-365.aspx
Q. How do I access my student email account?
To access student e-mail account information, please go to https://login.microsoftonline.com/
As the virus and the response continues to evolve, please make sure to check your campus emails (including your spam or junk folders, just in case), visit our
website, or send us an email if you have any questions:
stayinformed@ric.edu.
Q. How do I access my Zoom account?
To access your Zoom account, please go to
https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=109227 and follow the directions.
If you have questions about Zoom, please email
helpdesk@ric.edu. The ITS Help Center is closed for walk-in service, but services will continue. If you have hardware or technology related issues that require in-person service, please email
helpdesk@ric.edu to schedule an appointment. The Help Center will continue to be available from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays. The Help Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Q. How do I set, change or regain access to RIC email, Blackboard or MyRIC?
To reset your current account password, visit http://passwordstation.ric.edu.
- Step One: Enter your user ID
- Step Two: Choose "Forgot Password"
- Step Three: Follow the onscreen prompts
Please note that it will take up to 20 minutes for this change to take effect.
NOTE: To further enhance security for students, the system will require strong passwords (i.e., passwords containing 10-14 characters, no names or repeating characters and at least two of each of the following: upper case, lower case, number, and a special character).
RESOURCES
Checklist for connecting remotely:
Blackboard Accessibility Features:
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Administrator/Hosting/Accessibility/Accessibility_Features
Blackboard Technical Help for Students:
Browser Support -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Getting_Started/Browser_Support
Navigate outside a course -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Getting_Started/Navigate_Outside_a_Course
Personal Settings -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/About_You/Personal_Settings
Adding a Profile Image-
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/About_You/Profile
Staying in the Loop -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Stay_in_the_Loop
- Activity Stream
- Announcements
- Calendar
- Institution Page
- Notifications
Interact with Others -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Interact
- Blackboard Collaborate
- Blogs
- Discussions
- Email
- Groups
- Journals
Types of Content -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Content/Types_of_Course_Content
Assignments
Submit assignment -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Assignments/Submit_Assignments
How students submit to an assignment – https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=106288
Submit group assignment -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Assignments/Submit_Group_Assignments
Supported file types -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Assignments/Supported_File_Types
Assignment Grades -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Assignments/Assignment_Grades
How students can see posted grades in a Blackboard course – https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=104816
Assignments and SafeAssign -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Assignments/Assignments_SafeAssign
Test and Surveys
What’s the difference between a test and a survey? -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#whats-the-difference-between-a-test-and-a-survey_OTP-0
Where do I access tests and surveys? -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#where-do-i-access-tests-and-surveys_OTP-1
Watch a video about tests -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#watch-a-video-about-tests_OTP-2
Tips for taking a test -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#tips-for-taking-a-test_OTP-3
How to take a test or survey -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#take-a-test-or-survey_OTP-4
View a test question with a rubric -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#view-a-test-question-with-a-rubric_OTP-5
Timer status bar -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#timer-status-bar_OTP-6
Presentation options -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#presentation-options_OTP-7
Retake a test or survey -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#retake-a-test-or-survey_OTP-8
Grades and feedback -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Tests_and_Surveys#grades-and-feedback_OTP-9
Discussion Board
Watch a video about discussions -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Interact/Discussions#watch-a-video-about-discussions_OTP-0
How students post threads in a discussion board forum and reply to a classmate’s thread and reply – https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=106300
Reply to thread -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Interact/Discussions/Reply_to_Discussion_Posts#reply-to-a-thread_OTP-0
Save a post as draft -
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Interact/Discussions/Reply_to_Discussion_Posts#save-a-post-as-a-draft_OTP-1
Access your posted grades
How students can see posted grades in a Blackboard course – https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=104816
Blackboard Ally Student Information:
https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student
Long Term Assignment Planning Tool:
https://www.ldadvisory.com/long_term_planning_tool/
Time Management and Study Scheduling Tools:
https://www.ldadvisory.com/time_management_tool/
Organizing Electronic Files:
http://www.ldadvisory.com/organize-electronic-files/
The 10 Best Apps to Help You Focus and Block Distractions:
https://zapier.com/blog/stay-focused-avoid-distractions/
Success in the Online Classroom:
https://answers.syr.edu/display/AC/Preparing+for+your+Virtual+Academic+Experience?preview=/105090341/105090352/Success%20in%20the%20Online%20Environment.pdf
Khan Academy:
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Zoom Online Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vFhAEoCF7jg?rel=0&autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1