Important Notice – Stay Informed
Page last updated: 12/09/20 – 1:00pm
Be sure to check this page regularly as it will be periodically updated. Stay informed about the latest resources and information related to the coronavirus.
Webcourses@UCF Support
Get support with Webcourses@UCF.
Email: webcourses@ucf.edu
Phone: (407)823-0407
- M-Th: 8am-6:30pm
- F: 8am-5pm
- M-F: 8pm-11pm
- Sat-Sun: 10am-1pm
UCF welcomes students back to campus Spring 2021 with all classrooms and labs at limited capacity to accommodate physical distancing guidelines. As a result, some face-to-face or blended courses (e.g., “M” or “mixed-mode”) will continue to be taught remotely in Webcourses@UCF. Some face-to-face classes (e.g., “P”) may adopt the BlendFlex model for instruction.
The resources on this page will aid you in making a smooth transition to remote or BlendFlex learning as a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Webcourses@UCF Support team provides support to our students, faculty, and staff for any technical assistance, concerns, or questions related to online learning at UCF. For technical help, contact Webcourses@UCF Support.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES
Course Delivery Models
There are several types of courses offered at UCF, referred to as course modes or modalities. We expect that the 2020-2021 academic year will require a significant amount of flexibility on the part of both faculty and students. To achieve this, UCF has added the V1 (V Prime) course modality as a type of course students can enroll in. Additionally, the BlendFlex delivery model will also be implemented in some face-to-face and mixed mode courses. BlendFlex is intended to offer the maximum flexibility possible to accommodate a variety of shifting scenarios without compromising UCF’s high academic quality expectations.
Establish Your Learning Space
Because UCF has moved to remote instruction, it’s important to make sure you determine how you will access your face-to-face courses in Webcourses@UCF. Do you have access to a computer, laptop, or mobile device? Can you connect to a secure, stable internet connection? Review the tips below for developing a solid learning space for your online courses.
UCF is Here For You
During this transition to remote instruction, you may find yourself in need of more than just technical support. Student Care Services, Knights Pantry, and Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) are available to UCF students. We encourage you to reach out to these services for the extra support you may need during this time. Read about methods for coping with COVID-19 provided by CAPS.
Best Practices
- Find a quiet, distraction-free area to access your online courses.
- Take any assessments, exams, or quizzes from a desktop computer or laptop. Avoid using the Canvas Student app or a mobile browser for these types of assignments.
- Use a secure internet connection when participating in live course streams through Webcourses@UCF Conferences, Zoom, or Panopto.
Computer Specifications
- Verify you are using one of the supported browsers for Webcourses@UCF. If your browser is not on that list, update your browser accordingly for the best experience.
- If your instructor is using ProctorHub for quizzes, test your webcam prior to starting a quiz.
- Download any Microsoft Office 365 programs you need onto your computer. Microsoft Office 365 is free to download for all UCF students.
- Locate any additional software necessary for your courses through UCF Apps.
Alternative Webcams
Webcams have become increasingly difficult to acquire. In the event that you do not have a webcam or cannot acquire access to one, then you may want to explore the option of using your mobile phone as a webcam. Review Webcam Alternatives for a suggested list of software that allows you to connect your mobile device to your computer as a working webcam.Mobile Apps
During this period of remote learning, you may not have access to a desktop computer or laptop and will use a smartphone or tablet to complete coursework. Please consider the following suggestions if you have limited access:
- Download UCF Mobile, Canvas Student, Zoom or other student-specific apps from Mobile Apps @UCF on your mobile device.
- Older devices might not support the Canvas Student app, but mobile web access to Webcourses@UCF is still available.
- Use UCF-supported cloud services such as Office 365 or User Files section of Webcourses@UCF to sync course material across devices.
- Contact your instructor and ask if there are alternative ways to submit long assignments such as scanned handwritten papers or video/audio submissions.
Free Spectrum Internet
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.First Day Adoption for Spring 2021
Your course materials may be eligible for the First Day program through Barnes and Noble. If your instructor has made them available, you will need to click on the on the “course materials” button located on the left-hand side of your Webcourse page in the navigation menu to opt in. For more information about the program, including tutorial videos, please visit Digital Learning’s First Day page.
This opt-in program allows students to immediately access their digital course materials through Webcourses at a discounted rate prior to the add/drop deadline and defer payment through their student account. For assistance with the First Day program within your course, please contact the Customer Care team.
Getting to Know Webcourses@UCF
If you haven’t taken a course that uses Webcourses@UCF in the past, reference the following resources to learn more.
Student Tour
Knights Online
Webcourses@UCF Technical Support
For any questions or concerns about using Webcourses@UCF, please contact Webcourses@UCF Support at webcourses@ucf.edu or 407-823-0407.Technical Support Beyond Webcourses@UCF
During this time, you may need support for a service outside of Webcourses@UCF. If you need help with any of the following services, please contact UCF IT at https://it.ucf.edu/student-support/.- myUCF Portal
- UCF ID and NID
- Knights Email
- UCF VPN
- Office 365
Enable Webcourses@UCF Notifications
With all of your classes online in Webcourses@UCF, it’s important to make sure your notification settings are properly configured. You can receive notifications by email, text message, or Canvas Student app push notifications, or a combination of all three. Be sure to add any additional contact methods to guarantee your preferred contact method is linked to your Webcourses@UCF account.
Video COnferencing/lecturing Tools
The university now offers a campus-wide license for Zoom, a video conferencing platform for online classes, meetings, conferences, webinars, and lectures. You may also encounter the use of Panopto, used for capturing lectures, in your course. Your instructor may choose to capture or host online lectures or meetings through either of these tools. You should familiarize yourself with both applications.
Zoom
All UCF faculty, GTAs, staff, and students with an active NID have access to Zoom. To create a session outside of Webcourses@UCF, navigate to: http://ucf.zoom.us/. Use your NID and NID password to log in. If you need assistance, contact Webcourses@UCF Support.
Panopto
Panopto is one of the leading video lecture capture technologies available on the educational technology market. Panopto is typically used at UCF by faculty teaching V or RS modality courses, however, starting in the Fall 2020 semester, access to Panopto is being expanded to accommodate remote learning needs for those with larger class sizes, and some campus classrooms are being upgraded to allow faculty teaching face-to-face to seamlessly incorporate the tool into their courses.
Access to a Webcam and/or Mic for Zoom Sessions
As we progress into the Spring semester, your instructor may require the use of a webcam and/or mic for Zoom lectures. Many modern laptops already have these peripherals built in. As a student, it will be your responsibility to review your instructor’s syllabus and acquire such tech if necessary.
If your instructor is utilizing Zoom, you can use a mobile phone to “join your audio” into the session (also commonly known as “calling in”), thus allowing you to use your phone as a mic. Consult with you instructor if having access to a mic is necessary for your course.
Review this announcement for information how you can acquire a webcam through UCF.
Proctored Exams
UCF faculty have several remote proctoring solutions from which to choose to ensure academic integrity in electronically-delivered courses. In order to meet course assessment needs during the period of remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, UCF provides the following platforms:
- ProctorHub
- Respondus Lockdown Browser
- Honorlock
- Examity (College of Nursing)
Honorlock Privacy and Security
Be assured that all solutions that UCF implements, including Honorlock, must pass through a privacy and security evaluation by the UCF IT Information Security Office. Honorlock has signed UCF’s rigorous “Secure Handling of UCF Data” agreement. This agreement goes beyond the provider’s general terms of service.
Regarding some specific concerns that have been raised:
- Honorlock does not sell student information to third parties (section 4 of the Secure Handling of UCF Data Agreement).
- Honorlock does not scan home networks or monitor data from any device on the network other than network activities within the chrome browser that the plugin is installed within.
- Honorlock has no access to other devices in the network; it simply interacts with the student’s browser.
- Since the browser extension is contained within the Chrome browser itself, it only has access to the limited operations that are provided by the browser – nothing else. Students may deactivate the extension when the exam concludes.
For detailed information regarding Honorlock’s privacy and security, please refer to their Student Privacy Statement and their latest blog post: A Message to Students New to Online Education and Remote Proctoring.
Access to a Webcam and/or Mic for Proctored Assessments
As we progress into the Spring semester, your instructor may require the use of a webcam and/or mic for proctored assessments. Many modern laptops already have these peripherals built in. As a student, it will be your responsibility to review your instructor’s syllabus and acquire such tech if necessary.
During a proctored exam (i.e., assessments using ProctorHub, Honorlock, or Examity) – You will need a webcam and mic connected/integrated to your desktop or laptop that you are taking the assessment on. You cannot use a mobile device as a webcam while taking the assessment on your computer, nor can you take the assessment on your mobile device, as these proctoring platforms do not run on mobile devices.
As always, if you have any concerns about your ability to meet the technical requirements of any exam, please contact your instructor as early as possible. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Webcourses@UCF Support at: webcourses@ucf.edu.
Review this announcement for information how you can acquire a webcam through UCF.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No. UCF remains open and operational at this time. Check https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/ for the most recent updates on UCF’s operation status.
Refer to your instructor on how any previously scheduled assignments will be handled. Review the course syllabus or Announcements feed in Webcourses@UCF for any updates on scheduled exams, assignment expectations, or course content changes.
For any course content-related questions, refer to your instructor. Your instructor may post updates in the Announcements tool, update the syllabus, or send communications via Webcourses@UCF.
Your instructor will determine the best plan of action for transitioning content to Webcourses@UCF. Some instructors may choose to host online lectures through tools such as Conferences, Zoom, or Panopto. Refer to your instructor for any questions about how content and lectures will be delivered online.
Contact Student Accessibility Services for any accessibility concerns or accommodation questions at sas@ucf.edu or 407-823-2371. You should also review the SAS Student Remote Learning & Accommodation Guidance page.
Refer to your course’s syllabus for your instructor’s preferred communication preferences. If your instructor has requested communication via email or phone, continue to follow that protocol. If your instructor has not specified communication preferences in the syllabus, we advise using the inbox in Webcourses@UCF.
If you feel that you are unable to continue with your classes as a result of COVID-19, please notify your instructors. Be prepared to provide any medical or travel notices as proof.
Log in to the UCF LinkedIn Learning portal using your UCF NID login credentials.
GET SUPPORT
We get it. Technology can have its challenges. We’re here to help. The Webcourses@UCF Support team provides support to our students, faculty, and staff for any technical assistance, concerns, or questions related to online learning at UCF. Whether it’s Webcourses@UCF, Panopto, Materia, Obojobo, or Personalized Adaptive Learning, we provide the assistance you need.