Microsoft has finally lifted the veil from their upcoming operating system, Windows 11, on October 5. While there are some significant and pretty snazzy changes with this new OS, we at OIT recommend that you do not upgrade your SMU-owned devices just yet! We are still in the process of ensuring reliability and compatibility with our most critical systems, and we will let you know when it is ready for your computer. That being said, we can provide a glimpse into what’s new in the next iteration of Windows. Continue reading Windows 11 is Here! Here’s the scoop.
Category: Microsoft
Cox Student Ranks 3rd in State for Microsoft Office Championship Qualifier
During spring 2021, Megan Waldron enrolled in ITOM 2308 (Information Systems Management). She was one of 155 students tasked to complete the Excel Associate and Excel Expert certifications.
Before the exam, Megan registered to enter her exam score as part of the Texas state qualifier for the Microsoft Office U.S National Championship. To her surprise, Megan made a perfect score completing the 50-minute exam in just 31 minutes and ranked 3rd in Texas for her time and score.
Continue reading Cox Student Ranks 3rd in State for Microsoft Office Championship Qualifier
Microsoft Office Certifications Add Valuable Benefits to CCPA Course
Last summer, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Piyawan Charoensap-Kelly, also known as Dr. Kelly, assistant professor of organizational communication for Meadows’ Corporate Communication and Public Affairs division.
We met to discuss onboarding Dr. Kelly’s students of CCPA 3360: Business and Professional Communication to the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program. Dr. Kelly explained that this course examines both written and oral communications and also focuses on professional development. In our discussion, she mentioned that she was interested in having her students pursue both the Microsoft Word and PowerPoint certifications, which would complement designated learning outcomes.
This semester, Dr. Kelly reached out to me to earn her own certifications alongside her students. I took a moment to follow up and see how things went both for her and her class. Continue reading Microsoft Office Certifications Add Valuable Benefits to CCPA Course
Science Says Your Brain Needs Breaks… To Nobody’s Surprise
Probably not a surprise to anyone doing back-to-back meetings of late, research has proved your brain needs breaks.
This research overseen by Microsoft’s Human Factors Engineering group is well worth the read. Still, if you don’t have time to take a break and read it, the main takeaway is that breaks are essential to make the transitions between meetings less stressful for employees. It doesn’t take much, even five minutes, for them to reset. Continue reading Science Says Your Brain Needs Breaks… To Nobody’s Surprise
OIT Quick Tip: Adding Box Folders to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a great way to collaborate with your colleagues and the app has become more and more popular on campus! While Teams has its own cloud storage capabilities, you and your team may already use Box to store and collaborate on documents. If you think that you have to choose between one or the other, think again! MS Teams allows you to connect Box folders so they appear in the Files section of team channels. Let’s go over how to set it up in this quick video! Continue reading OIT Quick Tip: Adding Box Folders to Microsoft Teams
