Unit: Office of Academic Technologies

Learning to incorporate virtual and extended realities into the classroom

Two individuals work together on an virtual reality project that can partially be seen on a computer screen

Faculty from all academic colleges and Milner Library attended this year’s six-week Zero-to-Hero training boot camp pilot presented by the Offices of the Provost and Technology Solutions. Course goals included becoming familiar with current trends in consumer VR, learning the fundamentals of the Unity game engine, creating a custom VR application for the Quest 2 VR platform, and evaluating how VR technology can be used in research and pedagogy.

Supporting students by servicing their phones

A close-up of a TechZone associate working to open up an iPhone for repair

In the last few months, TechZone, part of the Office of Technology Solutions, has added a new feature to its repertoire: iPhone repair. It has been something that students have been asking about for several years.

Help others stay secure online: Be a cyberchampion!

Two female students work together on a laptop to resolve a technical problem

We have covered several methods cybercriminals use to get your information or your money. Hopefully, you have learned a lot and have taken steps to make your online presence more secure. However, there is more to cybersecurity than just protecting yourself. Cyberchampions actively help others around them avoid traps set by cyberthieves and reduce human error, the leading vulnerability to cybercrime. This makes cyberchampions invaluable to their families and social groups and in workplaces.

Know how to protect your accounts

student typing on laptop with Illinois State University login screen displayed

Cybercriminals don’t need to break into secure systems if they can get your password and bypass your other security measures. Here are four tips to help you protect your accounts and passwords.

5 common scams that target Redbirds

An opened Apple MacBook on a cushioned table with a red notebook balancing on the edge of the keyboard and an individual using the trackpad with their fingers

You might imagine hackers using sophisticated software to break through high-tech firewalls to steal your information. In the real world, criminals use phishing and social engineering attacks to trick people into giving up their credentials or their money. Here are the top five scams that every Redbird should watch out for. “There is a problem

A match made in virtual reality

A group of masked students sit at a computer clump in Julian Hall working on their virtual reality (VR) projects on their computers

Late in December of 2021, Dr. Roy Magnuson, associate professor of music composition and creative technology in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, reached out to Craig Jackson, director of Infrastructure Operations and Networking in the Office of Technology Solutions, about a class he was planning to teach during the first half of the

The move to Canvas begins

Student on laptop

The next phase in the transition from ReggieNet to Canvas will start soon, with full implementation scheduled for the fall of 2023.

Central Login to debut new look in May

Screenshot of new Central Login screen with the ISU logo and seal at the top left followed by text boxes for user's Username (ULID) and password

This month, an upgraded version of the University’s single sign-on service, Central Login, will debut. This will bring a fresh new look of a modern design that is purposefully built to support mobile functionality and accessibility needs. Along with the updated look, there will be several new improvements for University faculty, staff, and students. One