Personal Computer Recommendations

Suggested computer configurations are the same for students, faculty and staff. 

Internet Bandwidth

When it comes to bandwidth (network speed), more is better. Recommended minimum bandwidth for Zoom meeting and/or webinar... 600 kbps / 1.2 Mbps (up / down) Check your Internet bandwidth using Speedtest.

Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 provides virtually anywhere access to familiar Office tools, plus enterprise email, conferencing, and more IT services that are hosted in the cloud (managed remotely on servers owned by Microsoft).
Office 365 instructions.

Laptop checkout

Faculty, staff and students who need access to a laptop or specialized software may check out a College of Education laptop. Laptops have the full suite of software found on College of Education desktop computers including SMART software, Adobe Acrobat Pro, UI Capture (Panopto) and EndNote software.

Approximately twenty laptops are available to reserve and check out for two weeks. Inventory permitting checkouts can be renewed. Please stop down at our service counter in N110 LC or call 319-335-5623, email etc-counter@uiowa.edu to reserve or check availability of laptops.

Zoom Web-conferencing

Zoom is an instructional web conferencing solution for the University of Iowa. Zoom has many features including integration with ICON (Canvas), hosting online meetings and video conferences, scheduling webinars, questionnaires within meetings, and much more. All users can host meetings up to 300 participants. 
Instructions on how to use Zoom.

Zoom consultation site managed by College of Education graduate students

Visit the Zoom consultation site managed by College of Education graduate students. They can help you learn, test and practice technologies. Have your webcam ready!

Available hours:

M-Th: 8a-8p
Fri: 8a-4p
Sun: 3p-8p

Panopto (UICapture)

Panopto (UICapture) can create digital recordings of audio, video and screen content via a software application that is installed on either Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, or Android. UICapture records this content, processes it and can make the content available as streamed presentations, downloadable audio and video podcasts. UICapture content can be easily linked to ICON courses or other web sites.
Get started using Panopto/UICapture.

Microsoft Skype for Business

Skype for Business unifies voice and video calls, Skype for Business Meetings, presence, and instant messaging (IM) in one easy-to-use client, making it simple to choose and switch between different forms of communication.
More information on Microsoft Skype for Business.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop lets you access your computer from another computer.

VPN

UI Anywhere (Virtual Private Network) provides secure, off-campus access to resources located on the University of Iowa campus.

Folders on Shared Drive (L:)

Most users will see their Shared Departmental files (L: Drive) by going to Computer and double clicking.  You will see an L: drive mapped to your departmental shared drive.
Note: "mydepartmentname" for our college is coe.

Instructions on how to connect to shared folder (L: )

Connect to your Home Drive (H:)

A Home Drive is a private space where files can be stored. Up to 25 GB of storage is available to all faculty, staff, and students free of charge and can be accessible from work or home.

Instructions on how to connect to your home drive (H: )

Virtual Desktop

You could also use Virtual Desktop to access the Shared and Home drives. This is more involved, but is another option for you.
The Virtual Desktop service provides remote access to many University-licensed Windows applications from anywhere and without having to obtain and install the software on your own computer.  Instead, you need only install the Citrix Workspace App, which allows you to make a remote connection to applications that are running in the datacenter.  Nearly all platforms are supported, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android and others. Virtual Desktop applications are available for use from both on-campus and off-campus (Some software is restricted to use only from an on-campus location due to licensing restrictions).

 


If you have problems with any of the above please contact the ITS Help Desk (384-4357)

More information about working remotely (ITS)