Instructions for accessing and using Microsoft Teams
Log in at AccessUH to access Blackboard (there are several other routes to access Blackboard. See for help and information on Blackboard)
Please familiarize yourself with the announcements and guidance being posted, and emailed to all students, from the University/Presidents and Provosts office).
Lectures:
Commit the assigned 11-12 MWF class time as a dedicated class time period, and put this on your weekly calendars. Arrive on time, ready to pay attention, with paper and pen and the notes we are going through (in printed form, or in a form that you can annotate on a tablet). Look through the notes, and do any assigned reading before class. Turn off your cellphone. A video in mp4 format of all lectures will be created whenever possible (a technical glitch may make that impossible), with a link to it on the class Blackboard site. Because it is hard to listen to online lectures on advanced material, there will also be occasional interactive assignments or in-class poppers (pop quizzes) intended to help you focus and grasp a significant point that has just been covered--if you need to be excused from class let me know before class so that we can send you any quizzes for that day.
Lectures/class meetings:
For lectures and Office hours we will use Microsoft Teams. You can find that Microsoft Teams in the Office 365 suite in AccessUH. Our Team is called MATH6320-2020-FALL. Download the Microsoft Teams app onto your devices.
Instructions for accessing and using Microsoft Teams
We do not recommend following math lectures on a phone! To access live class meetings there are two ways at least to enter the live meeting: a) at the class time go to the Team, and click on the channel of the week we are on and look for the blue ribbon for the meeting. b) I will also try to send an email to the class roll shortly before the class which by clicking on the appropriate line in the email will take you to the same place as in a). If you have the app make sure you are logged in to it. The full app allows you to share content on your screen while the web app does not I believe. Having a larger screen will make it easier to see what is being shared. Also if one of the other students are talking or presenting you can maximize that part of the screen (usually by pressing that part of the screen, or the expand gesture), so that it fills the screen. Test the meeting link before the meeting begins. From the meeting you can test that your microphone and video are working in the device settings. If you are not speaking in a meeting please mute your microphone to reduce background noise. Remember to unmute to speak. Try to find a quiet space with reliable internet connection. You may possibly need to put the meeting code into the appropriate place (e.g. "Enter a meeting code") on your Teams app. Use your real name. If you are not able to attend the live meeting, watch the video of it later from the link to it on the class Blackboard site.
Please have a printed copy of the class notes next to you during class, and a pen in hand to write notes on it. When signing in to a live event the general advice is to turn off your mic. and while in the meeting keep your mic turned off. Pin the presenter/presentation so that that is filling the entire screen. The chat feature is an icon which looks like a rectangular speech bubble with some horizontal lines in the bubble. Clicking on that opens a panel with the ongoing chat. If you have a question, or if you want to speak, you could type your question, or request to speak, in the chat bar. If I seem to be ignoring that that is probably because I havent looked at the chat recently, please be patient. Since this is a discussion class, you can just unmute your mic and start speaking, but please try to do that wisely, e.g. restrict your discussion to be relevant to the material being presented to avoid confusing everybody else. General questions may be asked by email or at the start or end of a live meeting. Try not to ask for technical help WHILE I am teaching, instead of pausing the lab to help one person, it might be better for the student to write in the chat column or email and I will respond to that student (perhapsafter the lab ends so that he/she can attend next time with no issues. Or contact the UH Teams Help if it is an issue with Teams. If the issue is a quick fix (such as “hit on mic button”) I will try help at the time. Also please take screen shots of the problems. E.g. if there is an issue when you shared your screen during an online test, we will need the screen shot at the step before when you shared the monitor. When it failed, you should have exited, logged in again, and restarted the process, taking screen shots at each step.
(Some possibly useful tips in case of trouble: Reboot your whole computer before starting the meeting. Reboot if there is a problem. Maybe try a different web browser (you may need to download a new browser you dont usually use). Try a link days before the meeting to get used to the procedure. Be patient and persistent.)
If there is a big technical glitch with the live presentation, we will disconnect and I probably will post a prerecorded lecture for the remainder of the class.
If you are presenting, unmute your mike and your camera. Probably you will want to either share your screen which has a pdf of your presentation (make sure that the rest of your screen is inoffensive and does not reveal private information), or simply talk (with the pdf on my device). So if you are presenting a pdf do have the pdf handy on your device; the share screen icon looks like a rectangle with a vertical up-pointing arrow into it. We probably will not do any student presentations online for a day or two until we are all used to the technology. On the pdf you will write or type the result in your own words, neatly. If you like I can send you the `LaTeX' for that result so that you do not have to retype everything.
During online lectures or video meetings have in front of you the class notes which you will find on Blackboard (linked within the module of the chapter we are working on).
Equipment or apps you will need: The University has `minimum specifications' for many of the items below, see e.g.\ UH technology requirements and ADD more forthcoming. A functioning and updated computer or tablet (with microphone, speaker or earphones, and webcam). For some functions you will need the Chrome or Edge browser. A good internet connection Broadband, Cable and DSL connections are the best for this. Good dial-up connections are also suitable. It is also a very good idea to use a wired connection (not Wi-Fi) if possible. You must be able to scan and upload your completed test in under 5 minutes, and certainly no more than 10. You will need to install a pdf viewer equivalent to Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.1 or higher which is available for free from http://www.adobe.com. You must be able to watch mp4 videos, and have Blackboard access to turn in assignments, and CASA accesss for tests. You should have a scanner or certain smartphone apps (such as camscanner) so that you can submit your homework as a PDF file, etc. Alternatively, certain tablets and tablet apps allow you to submit your written work directly from your tablet or computer. A printer and paper for the printer would be very useful, but not essential. Please inform me if you lack any of these--for example at the present time the University has said there will be on-campus computer loans or lab locations for those without computers.
Meeting with a breakout group :
Each breakout group, A, B, ... , has a hidden channel under the class Teams page. You can meet with your group there. I also suggest that you create a class webgroup like Groupme--and elect somebody to be the leader.
Office hours for Instructor and TA :
Via Teams and email. If you want to meet during the assigned Office hours, send me or the TA an email and we will send a Teams invite. We can also do a small group meeting on request. Instructions for Teams are as in the `Live lectures' description above. The instructor and TA/grader can also answer questions and go over certain of the homework problems by email.
Accessing tests and assignments:
Homework and tests will be turned in as a PDF on Blackboard. After uploading, double check you have submitted it and can view it. Tests will be proctored online, on CASA Monitor. Again you will have to upload a pdf of your solutions. After uploading, double check you have submitted it and can view it).
Information on CASA Monitor will be distributed mid semester. Read the Student Guide for CASA Monitor. Please familiarize yourself with the "Online Proctored Exam with CASA Monitor - Rules" document in the folder "Test and Exam stuff" on Blackboard. Please then watch this video on how to use CASAMonitor for your tests, and practice logging in to Casa Monitor and Casa Monitor test your computer area at least 6 days before the first Casa Monitor test. This will test your webcam and screen shots. A CASA video for students is here, but that contains less information than the other video linked above. Make sure you have (and use for the test) the Chrome or Edge browser, and a scanner app like Camscanner, etc. Let me know if you do not have a printer for the test, with paper. Go to CASA/CourseWare to schedule your exam under the "Schedule Exams" tab, at least 6 days before the test.
Communications and Announcements:
Communication between you and the instructor is by email to your official UH email address, and by postings by the red flashing light on the class website, etc. There may also be announcements via Blackboard or Teams. Please be sure that you are regularly getting and seeing your email to your official UH email address, since the instructor will largely communicate with the class by email.