Tech Tip: Office 365 Video channels migrated to Microsoft Stream

Microsoft is transitioning away from Office 365 Video to the video storage platform, Stream. As such, all existing 365 Video channels have been migrated to Stream. Any videos and permissions for the site have been migrated automatically. If you had a personal channel or your department had a group channel in Office 365 Video, please check the group permissions in Stream (public or private) and update any documentation, as needed, with the new hyperlink(s).

How to access Microsoft Stream

  1. Open your LLCC web Outlook.
  2. Select the waffle icon in the upper left corner.
  3. Select Stream. If not showing, select All apps and choose Stream.
  4. You will be on your homepage.
    1. To view all groups, select Discover > Groups.
    2. To view groups that you are a member of, select My Content > Groups.
    3. Note: If you do not see your group immediately, scroll down and select the See more link.
  5. Select the group’s name.
  6. Select videos.
    1. Select the Sort by box, and choose Name for an alphabetical listing of all videos in the group.
    2. All videos shared with your channel will appear here.

Visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/stream for detailed instruction on the many features of Stream. Should you need assistance with your existing group channel in Stream, please submit a request to the IT Helpdesk via KBOX ticket. https://help.llcc.edu

Tech Tip: How to blur or change backgrounds in a video conference

You can blur or change your background while participating in a Teams or Zoom video conference meeting.

Change your background during a meeting in Teams

If you want to change what appears behind you in a video conference, you can either blur your background or replace it entirely using the background effects feature. This feature is only available in scheduled meetings.

Note: Blurring or replacing your background might not prevent sensitive information from being visible to other meeting participants.

  1. To alter your background after you’ve already joined a meeting, go to your meeting controls and select More actions > Show background effects.
  2. Select Blur to blur your background or choose from the available images to replace it.
    1. You’ll be able to preview your chosen background to see how it looks before you apply it.

Note: If you don’t see Show background effects as an option in the menu, the feature might not be available on your device or web browser in use.

Change your Zoom background on the desktop app

  1. In the Zoom app, click your profile in the top right corner, and click Settings.
  2. On the menu to the left, click Virtual Background.
  3. You’ll see a few default background options provided by Zoom, including an outer space scene or blades of grass. You can choose one of those by clicking on it, and it will automatically change your screen as well. There’s also an option for if you have a green screen and want to use that.
  4. If you want to upload a photo to use as your background, on the same Virtual Background Page, click the + icon next to where it says Choose Virtual Background. A box will pop up allowing you to upload a photo from your computer. Click on the one you want, and it will appear alongside the other pictures as an option for you to choose from.
  5. To get rid of any photos you upload, tap the X in their top left corner.

Read more: Zoom, Skype, FaceTime: 11 great tips to make video calls actually fun

Change your Zoom background on the mobile app

  1. When you log in to your account and join a meeting, tap the three dots at the bottom right of the screen to open the More menu.
  2. Tap Virtual Background.
  3. Select a background from the default options or upload your own.

FSI 2020 free online conference May 20

The 2020 Faculty Summer Institute has been canceled, but in its place will be a one day online conference titled “Strengthening Student Experiences during COVID-19.” Registration for the FSI 2020 online event is free. After registering, you will be emailed a link to access the conference. If you previously registered for the face-to-face conference, you will need to register again.

The event will be offered through Zoom on the morning of Wednesday, May 20. You can attend one, two or all three sessions listed below. Each session will include time for discussions in Zoom breakout “rooms.”

  • 9 a.m. | Shared Experiences and Lessons Learned
    Facilitator: Robert Paul Malchow, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • 10 a.m. | Approaches that Support Student Equity and Accessibility
    Facilitators: Barbara Hancin-Bhatt, Associate Dean, and Murillo Soranso, Assistant Dean, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • 11 a.m. | Supporting and Enhancing Student Learning in the Coming Months
    Facilitator: Justin Hodgson, Indiana University Bloomington

Note: The conference will not be recorded (neither video nor audio).

More information is available at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/6587869.html.

Tech Tip: Creating signatures in Outlook

In business, it is standard practice to send a letter with a formal signature, but what about when in place of a mailed letter an email is sent? Email communication is considered a formal communication from an organization, not just the individual sending the message. As such, an email signature is an important component. This tells the email recipient who you are, your position with the organization and how to contact you. It is recommended that your signature be set automatically for all new messages.

Remote Access Knowledge BaseTo view the documentation, Create an Email Signature in Outlook.pdf or Create an Email Signature in Outlook 365.pdf, please visit the Remote Access Knowledge Base IT portal page. Both documents are accessible by selecting the Outlook folder.

Signature Suggestions:

Name (full name and any degrees or licenses)
Position
Lincoln Land Community College
5250 Shepherd Rd. (or your campus address)
Springfield, IL 62794
Phone number (including area code)
www.llcc.edu (or your department website link)
Social media icons (with active links)

In addition, PRM often provides promotional graphics via LincIn, which you are encouraged to add!
Summer 2020 classes. No online fees. Register now!

Tech tip: Send mail from a shared mailbox in Outlook or Outlook 365

Do you have access to a department inbox within your Outlook? At times you may need to send an or reply to an email from the department mailbox instead of your own account. In Outlook, you can turn on the From feature within a new message.

Outlook

  1. Choose New Email.
  2. If you don’t see the From field at the top of your message, in the ribbon, choose Options > From.
  3. Click the From drop-down in the message, and change to the shared email address.
    1. If the shared email address is not listed, select the Other Email Address … and type in the name of the email address (i.e., admissions@llcc.edu).
    2. Select the mailbox and click on OK.
  4. Finish typing your message, and then choose Send.

Outlook 365

  1. Choose New Message
  2. Select … at the top of the message draft and choose Show From.
  3. Select the From field, and choose the shared email address.
  4. If the shared email address is not listed, select Other Email Address … and type in the name of the email address (i.e., admissions@llcc.edu). Select the email address to use.
  5. Finish typing your message, and then choose Send.

Tech Tip: What is Microsoft Stream?

Microsoft Stream is part of your LLCC Office 365 subscription and is a place where you can securely upload, view and share previously recorded videos. These videos can be recordings of class lectures, meetings, presentations, training sessions or other videos that aid in your team’s collaboration. (Please contact LLCC Public Relations & Marketing for guidelines and documentation regarding the recording of meetings and class lectures prior to recording and/or uploading any videos).

As Microsoft Stream is a secure video service, you can manage who views your video content and if it will remain private, shared with everyone in LLCC or limited to channels, groups or specific people. As Stream is an Office 365 app, it works well with Teams, SharePoint, OneNote and Yammer.

If you want to explore Stream for yourself, open your LLCC Outlook on the web and click on the waffle icon in the upper left corner. Select All Apps and choose Stream (if this does not appear in the immediate listing). isit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/stream for detailed instruction on the many features of Stream.

Webinar series on Universal Design for Learning

The Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support at Illinois State University’s College of Education is hosting a four-part webinar series on Universal Design for Learning. Detailed information on the webinar series can be found below, as well as information on how to register.

Registration is free and open to all Illinois educators.

  • May 6 — Webinar 1: Introduction to UDL
    Participants will understand the UDL Core Concepts — the theory and research behind this instructional frame.
  • May 8 — Webinar 2: UDL in Practice
    Participants will learn how to design using a UDL lens and the UDL Guidelines. They will also practice identifying UDL in Practice.
  • May 13 — Webinar 3: UDL in a Virtual Platform
    Participants will learn how to leverage UDL to create flexible remote lessons.
  • May 15 — Webinar 4: UDL in CTE
    Participants will discuss instructional design particular to CTE and how UDL can inform some of these designs.

Each webinar has a separate registration form, will start at 1 p.m. and will be recorded. Recordings and materials from each webinar can be found on the ICSPS website.

Tech Tip: Take notes in a Teams meeting

LRemote Access Knowledge Baseearn how to take notes within a Teams meeting and access them for future reference.

For supporting documentation (Take Notes in a Teams Meeting), please visit the Remote Access Document Library > Teams folder.

Microsoft TeamsWhile participating in a Teams meeting via audio or video, you can take notes. These notes are saved within the meeting history, as well as any chat conversations and shared documents.

  1. Select the … More Actions and choose Show meeting notes.
  2. Click on the Xwithin Meeting notes to return to the active meeting.
  3. Once you have ended the meeting, all content will display within the chat, and in the menu bar at the top.
  4. Click on the document to open it within Chat window.
    1. Click on Close to return to the Chat synopsis.
  5. Click on Show notes in fullscreen to open the Meeting Notes.
    1. You can edit the existing notes by formatting the text, adding additional text to the existing content, or add a new notes section by clicking on the + below the text.
    2. To leave notes, click on Chat in the menu bar.

Tech Tip: Screen sharing with Teams

Learn how to share your desktop, windows or documents with others via a Teams chat or meeting.

Remote Access Knowledge BaseFor supporting documentation (Screen Sharing in Teams), please visit the Remote Access Document Library > Teams folder.

Each participant of a Teams chat or meeting can participate in screen sharing. This can be a window or document. It is not required; however, it is recommended that you open any documents that you wish to share prior to selecting this function.

Screen Sharing via Chat

  • Select the share icon to the right of the microphone.
  • When sharing via the chat message, choose your desktop or a window.
  • Grant permissions to control the shared screen and stop presenting via the toolbar at the top of the desktop.
  • If this is a chat, you will be given the option to turn this into an audio call.

Screen Sharing via Audio or Video Call

  • Select the share icon to the right of the microphone. You will be presented with the option of selecting your desktop/window, open PowerPoint and other documents, or browse. When choosing browse, you will have the ability to search additional options for sharing.
  • Select the appropriate window or document and share.
  • To stop sharing, select the screen sharing icon in the toolbar that now has an X to stop sharing.

Tech Tip: Adjusting the call quality in Skype for Business

Learn how to adjust your Skype for Business settings on your local device to improve call quality.

Remote Access Knowledge BaseFor supporting documentation (Adjusting the Call Quality in Skype for Business), please visit the Remote Access Document Library > Skype for Business folder.

While using Skype for Business on your personal smart device (iOS or Android), you may experience poor quality of the calls. The quality can be affected by the signal strength of your Cellular or Wi-Fi connection and network traffic, in addition to the device itself. So, what can you do to improve the quality?

  1. Make sure the Skype for Business app is updated to the latest version.
  2. Wear headphones with a built-in microphone.
  3. Don’t overload your internet with other tasks.
    1. Turn off devices that are not in use, but actively connected to Wi-Fi.
    2. Limit online streaming from video games and/or streaming entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.
  4. If necessary, use your device data plan, if possible, instead of Wi-Fi.
    1. Change the settings within Skype for Business from VoIP (Voice over IP) to Wi-Fi or Cellular.
    2. Skype for Business defaults to the VoIP setting. This uses your Internet bandwidth to make and receive phone calls. If you are struggling with quality of those calls, you may need to turn VoIP off.
  5. Talk to your Internet provider about increasing your bandwidth, if possible and at what cost.

iOS and Android

  • Select your initials or Picture in Skype.
  • Select Settings > Voice Settings