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. Here is a little insight into how much of my generation utilizes tech, so we can understand each other a little better.

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. In a matter of weeks, they released Zoom, increased PittNet VPN capacity, launched the Virtual Computing Lab/Virtual Desktops, ensured remote support, extended LinkedIn Learning for recent graduates, and published resources to support remote work. And they didn’t stop there. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the new IT projects completed recently.

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. Planner is a tool to automate important organizational skills associated with successful project management. It helps you to create a plan, assemble a team, assign tasks, and monitor the progress of the plan and individual tasks.

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. You could send messages through Outlook or Teams, but starting a chain email or spamming a Teams channel isn’t ideal either. Introducing Yammer—an easy solution for connecting with Pitt friends and colleagues.  

The Dietrich School Academic Advising Center provides one-on-one academic advising to help students pursue their educational and career goals, navigate University policies and procedures, and connect with helpful Pitt resources.

Timely Data Without Having to Ask

Accurate information on students is vital in order for advisors to identify situations that can interfere with academic progress or signs that a student may be struggling. They need access to a wide range of data: grades, credits, account holds, first-year course requirements, and full-/part-time status.

The spring semester has ended. It was wild, but we stuck together, stayed agile, and leveraged new technologies to transition to remote operations. Time to take a deep breath. For many faculty and staff, the summer semester may be a little less busy. Combined with the scheduling flexibility of working from home, the next couple months are an ideal time to think about your long-term goals.

Remote virtual learning has become the new normal for instructors, administrators, and students during the pandemic response. While the transition may not be easy, we want to provide resources to ensure users are creating secure and effective virtual classrooms. Zoom collected the top 10 most frequently asked questions about using the platform for virtual education and online learning: