Information Technology provides a wide variety of technology solutions and support for faculty and their classrooms across the entire university.

New Faculty Survival Guide

Are you a new faculty member, or just need a refresher on how to access IT services and classroom technology? This page contains the information in our New Faculty Survival Guide (also available as a downloadable PDF file) which can help you get started, or solve a problem with classroom technology, and more. We've also provided answers to several frequently asked questions we've received from faculty.

Software Tech Guides

Information Technology also provides several downloadable Tech Guides in PDF format that address many questions about technology applications available on campus. 

Only have time for the basics?

These top five tips will quickly get you started.

Choose bsuconnect to connect to Ball State’s wireless network.

BSUConnect is a secure wireless network for all faculty, staff, and students. The network can be accessed by any desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Once connected, enter your BSU credentials (username & password) and accept the security certificate.

Ball State has stepped up security to keep your information safe. 

DUO Mobile authenticates your identity to allow secure logins for many campus systems. When logging into a secure Ball State system you will be prompted for a two-step authentication code. Download the DUO Mobile app before you log in for the first time and follow the prompts to set up your secure authentication.

Contact the HelpDesk if you encounter any issues. For more information visit bsu.edu/twofactorhelp.

Pick up your new Ball State ID card in Bracken Library, room 001.

Your Ball State ID is an official form of identification while you are at Ball State. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you to pick up your new Ball State ID, which could include a state driver’s license, state-issued identification card, military identification card, passport, permanent resident alien card, or certificate of US naturalization. For more information visit bsu.edu/idcards.

Printers are located in your home department. 

At Ball State, printing is easy and close to home. Reach out to the Helpdesk to have drivers installed on your computer. Printer drivers allow faculty to print directly from departmental printers. Contact bsu.edu/helpdesk for assistance installing all necessary print drivers.

Call 285-1517. Click bsu.edu/helpdesk. Visit the Tech Center in Bracken Library.

Problems with technology? The HelpDesk can help! Submit your support request by visiting bsu.edu/helpdesk and clicking the Get Tech Help link or request assistance via Online chat. You may also call 765-285-1517 to speak to a support specialist or stop by the Tech Center, Bracken Library, room 101, for assistance.

For support in the classroom, call 765-285-3999.

Classroom Technology Support

Classroom Technology Support

What's the worst time for a technology issue? Right as class gets started. Here are some resources to make sure you avoid technical glitches in the classroom.

Most classrooms and conference rooms on Ball State’s campus are equipped with HDMI connections for displaying audio and video presentations. An HDMI cable can often be plugged directly into a laptop for a quick, easy connection. Some laptops may not have HDMI plugs and will require an adapter. In rare instances, a classroom may not have an HDMI connection and will require a different setup to connect to the screen. Please take your laptop to your classroom ahead of time to check these connections. If you have questions about what adapter you may need, visit bsu.edu/helpdesk and submit a request by clicking Get Tech Help. IT staff can then help you get an adapter that will best meet your needs.

Many classrooms across campus will also feature a media input control panel. These small boxes (sometimes touchscreens, sometimes wall plates) will allow you to turn on the projector, adjust the volume in the room, and change what you see on the screen. After plugging in your laptop, use the control panel to turn on the projector and make any necessary adjustments to the image and volume.

Personal Software and Services

Information Technology wants to help you get stuff done. Tap into the large array of digital software and services available to faculty.

Online collaboration is key, and videoconferencing tools like Zoom can streamline online engagement from virtually any device. To log in to Ball State's Zoom application, visit bsu.zoom.us and enter your Ball State credentials (username and password).

For more information and help, visit bsu.edu/zoomhelp.

Get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more through your Ball State account. Visit the Tech Center in Bracken Library (BL101) or the Technology Knowledge Base for information on how to install Microsoft Office 365.

Online storage you can access anywhere is made easier with Microsoft OneDrive. Available on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile, OneDrive stores your files in the cloud and allows you to retrieve them from any authenticated device. For more information and help, including installation instructions, visit bsu.edu/onedrivehelp.

Feeling creative? Adobe Creative Cloud gives you unlimited access to industry-leading creation tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, along with consumer-based tools like Spark and Rush. To learn more about all the software available to faculty, visit bsu.edu/it/digitaltools. Get started for free by visiting the Tech Center or searching the HelpDesk online.

For more information and help, visit bsu.edu/adobe.

All of these tools—and many more!—can be found at MyBallState. Use your Ball State credentials to log into this secure site to access a dashboard of online campus tools.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact the Technology HelpDesk online or call them at 765-285-1517 for additional help.

Enterprise Software and Services

Information Technology aims to keep you connected, informed, and ready to collaborate in the classroom and beyond.

If you would like to talk about course design and best practices for instruction, contact the Division of Online and Strategic Learning at 285-1763 or by email at strategiclrn@bsu.edu.

For technical issues using Canvas, contact the Technology Helpdesk online or call them at 765-285-1517. 

Ball State provides access to the Udemy Business e-learning platform for faculty and students. Through thousands of self-paced online video tutorials covering topics like business, technology, and creativity, faculty and students can expand their learning online for free.

For more information and help, visit bsu.edu/udemyhelp.

Feeling creative, but need a little more help to bring your ideas to life? The Digital Corps employs dozens of creative students empowered to give back to the campus community by collaborating on creative media projects. From video production and graphic design to computer development and communication strategy, the Digital Corps works with faculty to realize their creative ideas. Just email digitalcorps@bsu.edu to get started.

Ball State University makes instruction available to everyone. Information Technology provides the latest in technology to Ball State students, faculty and staff with adaptive technology services for those with disabilities. For more information, visit bsu.edu/digitalaccessibility.

Still Need Help?

You've tried rebooting, You've unplugged it and plugged it back in. Still doesn't work? We've got your back.

Visit the IT Tech Center in Bracken Library, call 765-285-1517, or visit bsu.edu/helpdesk for help with all of your technology questions.

Looking to Buy Some Technology?

The Tech Store in Bracken Library offers personal and departmental technology, often at educational discounts. Visit bsu.edu/technologystore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Instructional Classroom Support Services (ICSS) designs, installs, and supports electronic classrooms across campus. We also partner with other departments to continuously improve the classroom environment.

Questions and Troubleshooting

If you have questions about an eClassroom or if you should experience difficulties while using eClassroom technology, we are just a phone call away. Call 765-285-3999 and a trained and friendly staff person will assist you. You may also use this number to report any problems with the equipment. If the problem you are experiencing cannot be resolved over the phone, we will dispatch a technician to the room.

Faculty are encouraged to visit their classrooms prior to the first week of classes, to ensure they are familiar with the features of those spaces and are comfortable with the technology they will be using. 

Training

We offer individual or group training for eClassrooms. Please feel free to contact us at 765-285-3999 for more information.

If you'd like to schedule an individual or group demo of the technology in a specific eClassroom, you may request an appointment by calling 765-285-3999 or submitting a request at www.bsu.edu/helpdesk by selecting the “Report an Issue” option. 

Record natively within Mediasite using mymediasite with your camera and microphone.

We provide the following helpful resources for getting started with Mediasite.

Record content in Zoom and post the content to Mediasite using the new integration.

Ball State has enabled a new integration between Zoom and Mediasite.  When enabled, you can record in Zoom and your recordings are automatically uploaded to Mediasite. 

To Record Your Video in Zoom

  1. Visit https://bsu.zoom.us
  2. Log in with your BSU credentials
  3. Select Schedule a Meeting
  4. Name Your Meeting, for example Welcome to TCOM 405
  5. Under Meeting Options, select Automatically record meeting and In the cloud.
  6. From the Import into Mediasite dropdown, choose Yes
  7. Leave Module ID blank, your recording will go directly to drafts, where you can manage your video later.
  8. Click Save
  9. Click Start this Meeting button
  10. Select Open Zoom Meetings
  11. Record the Welcome video.
  12. End the meeting, when you conclude the meeting, the recording will automatically end. 
  13. You will receive an email from Mediasite letting you know that it is ready, then you can share it in Canvas.

Note: Once your meeting has been put into Mediasite you will be notified by email. This may take a little longer because Zoom has to save and encode the video for its platform, and then it shares it out to Mediasite to save and transcode for its platform.

To Share Your Video in Canvas

  1. Wait until you receive an email from Mediasite letting you know that your video has completed processing.
  2. In Canvas, select where you would like to link or embed the video.
  3. Select Mediasite from More External Tools in the Rich Content Editor
  4. Authorize Mediasite if necessary
  5. Select Presentation
  6. Locate your video and select the Make Viewable button
  7. Select the Add button
  8. Choose either Presentation Link or Player Only
  9. Save the Canvas page.

Connect General Classroom Audio to Zoom

By default, Zoom will use the audio and video sources of the computer that Zoom is running on.  If you would like to change that, Zoom allows you to specify the audio and video inputs to use during your Zoom session.  

The Technology Store has a wealth of available technology solutions and knowledgeable staff that can answer questions and assist in selecting the right technology to meet the needs of faculty. They can help with the purchase of computers, accessories, and other technology equipment.  More information about departmental purchases can be found on the Technology Store’s website.

Information Technology also has a supply of webcams and microphones that are available for faculty to request to help facilitate their courses.  Review the available equipment options and learn how to make a request.

NOTE: This does not include equipment additions or upgrades to an eClassroom. Changes to eClassroom technology requires administrative approval and funding. For information about technology in an eClassroom or to get price estimates related to eClassrooms, please submit a request and someone from ICSS will assist you.”

Ball State offers multiple video conferencing platforms for things like hosting class, facilitating virtual office hours, conducting tutoring sessions or hosting meetings. 

Zoom is an excellent collaboration tool for all teaching modalities and is the tool of choice for integrating with both Canvas and Mediasite. To access it, visit bsu.zoom.com. For additional information about using Zoom for your courses, visit www.bsu.edu/zoomhelp. 

WebEx allows participants to join via a PC, Mac or Smartphone for a complete audio, video, and collaborative experience or via a standard telephone for an audio only connection. To access it, visit ballstate.webwex.com.  Learn how to create and manage a WebEx session.

Microsoft Teams is a team chat and collaboration tool that allows many ways of communication, including group chats, private messages, video and audio conferencing and screen sharing. Find out how to use Teams at Ball State.  

All Ball State Testing Labs have been permanently closed. Faculty are encouraged to work with the Division of Online and Strategic Learning on alternative evaluation methods, which may include using Repondus Monitor for remote testing.

What It is and How to Get It

Explain Everything is an interactive recording tool for demonstrations, how-to, and whiteboard explanation videos. You can zoom in and highlight key points, look at visuals, annotate, and make edits to using the built-in timeline. Explain Everything also provides Resources directly on their website which includes Webinars, Success Stories, and a Help Center for questions.

Faculty that would like to utilize Explain Everything can submit a request for access.

Training

Once you’ve acquired the tool, the Division of Online and Strategic Learning invites you to co-facilitate or participate in our Explain Everything 2021 Studio.

At this time, we are seeking Experienced and Novice co-facilitators:

  • Experienced co-facilitators have used Explain Everything with students or another relevant audience and feel confident mentoring others;
  • Novice co-facilitators have explored several features and feel confident in mentoring others, but have not used the tool with students, or have had limited use of the tool.

The Explain Everything Studio will be offered monthly in Zoom, and facilitated around dates and times when faculty are available to co-facilitate a studio hour with a member of our team. To learn more and stay posted, contact us at strategiclrn@bsu.edu.