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Panther Bytes Blog
In July, I wrote a blog comparing Skype and Teams for chatting, calling, and meetings. That was just a taste. Now that Microsoft is getting ready to retire Skype for Business, it’s time for a whole serving of Teams hacks. Here are my top tips for going from basic to pro with Teams meetings.
COVID-19 sure has made me appreciate technology that I admit previously taking for granted—particularly Microsoft Teams and Zoom. But let’s face it, as great as it is to have options, connecting with our colleagues or classmates over video calls each day just isn’t the same as IRL.
Wi-Fi is a necessity for modern working, learning, communication, and entertainment. During a pandemic, it’s even more critical! Here’s how to figure out what you need and where to get it, no matter where you are living or connecting.
I’m not going to pretend to be a hip Gen-Z (as evidenced by the fact that I just said “hip Gen-Z”). But I have some insider information about why your parents may struggle to treat you as an adult and how technology can make it easier.
Students will start moving onto campus next week! Where did the summer go? You’ve been preparing to take classes and participate in college life in the midst of a pandemic. It will be a challenge, but your resilience makes Panther Nation proud—#H2P!
Students will start moving onto campus next week—one of whom will be my own son, an incoming Pitt freshman. So believe me when I say that I could not be more appreciative of all of your hard work in preparing to teach in the midst of a pandemic! I figured the least I could do is provide a few helpful tips for getting started with Canvas.
In 1975, a Business Week article quoted a tech expert who predicted that offices would be paperless in 20 years. Forty-five years later, we still haven’t gotten there. We probably never will—but we can get a whole lot closer!
While many people have discovered that Skype for Business is a pretty useful app, there’s even more to love about Microsoft Teams. In fact, when Microsoft acquired Skype, they incorporated its best features into Teams— plus lots of additional features and better integration with Office 365—for a superior communications tool with significantly more functionality.
We are Generation Z! Digital natives and self-learners. We grew up in the age of technological innovation. We use technology for communication, entertainment, research, education, and work—basically anything you can think of. Technology and social media make up every part of our daily lives.
The end of the spring term was hectic for Pitt IT, as they worked around the clock to support the University’s sudden shift to remote operations.
Research requires more than collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details of managing a lab, especially when your staff is small and you’re mentoring undergraduate researchers.
When I came to work for Pitt IT, I didn’t really know what to expect. Growing up in the information age, I’m no stranger to technology. You might relate to me—you’ve got multiple social media accounts. You order things online when you need them. You’re shocked when your landlord doesn’t let you pay your rent virtually.
Finding a job or internship during a pandemic is tough. Whether it’s finding the right position, preparing your materials, or acing a virtual interview, navigating a non-traditional hiring process can feel overwhelming.
Organization is key when it comes to working on a team—especially when collaborating remotely. Managing your team’s progress can be a complicated web of back-and-forth emails and constant check-ins. But with Microsoft Planner, keeping track of all the moving pieces is simple.
These days, social distancing has made it difficult to feel connected with the campus community. Of course, you can chat with Pitt friends and colleagues on Facebook and Twitter, but those public platforms are rife with annoying trolls, random posts and ads, and endless distractions.