UITS news for January 27, 2021
IU celebrates International Privacy Day
Find out what IU is doing to enhance your privacy.
Jan. 28 is International Privacy Day, a good time to reflect on 2020 worldwide privacy-related events and to recognize what IU is doing to protect your privacy in 2021 and beyond.
In 2020, several U.S. states and countries passed laws imposing disclosure of personal data collection, identification of third-party sharing arrangements, and requiring explanations for algorithmic personal information predictions. Also, in Europe, controversy continued over data transfers to the U.S., especially regarding data access by national security agencies.
At IU in 2020, we launched our first comprehensive Privacy Portal, offering guidance on student, health, financial, and research privacy and providing resources on where to go for questions or further information. This year, IU’s privacy team is reviewing and streamlining more than 1,000 web-based privacy notices. The goal is to increase your awareness of privacy topics like third-party data sharing and machine-based analysis.
Cybersecurity reminders for remote teaching and learning
You don’t have to be a technical expert to ward off hackers.
Working remotely means you’re outside many of the safeguards provided by the IU network. So, to keep your system and data secure, you’ll need to assume more responsibility for cybersecurity.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a technical expert to make your system and your data more secure. If you need help, contact your IT Pro or campus UITS Support Center.
Get creative with Adobe Stock
IU offers unlimited access to photos and more.
Following a new agreement with software giant Adobe, IU students, faculty, and staff now have unlimited access to Adobe Stock, including nearly 200 million photos, illustrations, and vector graphics. Download images for presentations, reports, videos, and websites, or add more interest to Canvas courses. Adobe tools are intuitive and easy to use, so you don’t need to be creative to get creative.
To get started, go to Adobe Stock and Sign in using your IU username followed by @iu.edu and click Continue. Fill in the prompts as required. Learn more on Adobe Stock at IU.
IU Email List upgrades to start Feb. 7
Delete unwanted lists prior to the updates.
Some 9,000 IU List users may notice some upcoming changes in IU’s email list service. Beginning Feb. 7 and continuing for several weeks, UITS will be upgrading the web interface with a new design and layout. The updates will enhance features, fix bugs, and improve security and email deliverability.
Email command functionality will not change. So, submitting commands to moderate, manage, or review lists should be familiar and perform as they do in the current IU List environment.
No actions are required for list owners, moderators, or subscribers, but UITS recommends that list owners delete unwanted lists prior to the updates.
IU Desktop beta testers can help IU and win a prize
Participants enter a weekly drawing for a gift card.
Beta testers are needed for IU Desktop, software currently in development that brings together commonly used applications, like Canvas, Zoom, and OneDrive, in one convenient dashboard. Using a customizable format, IU Desktop will make it easy for users to find the apps they use most.
Your feedback helps make the software better, so if you’re chosen as a beta tester, you’ll install the software and receive weekly surveys about the experience. Participants who complete the surveys will be entered in weekly drawings for gift cards.
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in beta testing.
Faculty: Piazza now available through IU eTexts
Sign up for the online problem-solving tool by Feb. 11.
Faculty can sign up for Piazza, an online problem-solving forum where students can ask, answer, and explore questions 24/7 under the guidance of instructors. Although the tool has been free in the past, the company recently moved to a pay model at a cost of $5 per student.
To use Piazza with Canvas integration for your spring 2021 course, place an order through IU eTexts by noon on Feb. 11. Enter Piazza as the ISBN identifier on the request form. For assistance with Piazza orders, contact etexthlp@iu.edu. For a free alternative to Piazza, try InScribe.
More IT news and events
- Use the Boost app and get notified about assignment due dates
- Jan. 29 Mosaic Initiative webinar on designing large active-learning classrooms
- Faculty: register for UITS Speed Dating with Learning Technologies
- IU-led Jetstream helps researchers study pandemics and dissent
- Inside Higher Ed interviews IU cybersecurity expert on SolarWinds hack
- Save the date for Teach, Play, Learn virtual conference on June 25
- Visit the UITS Tech Tidbits YouTube playlist
