Equipped for Success

There are some basic computing skills that you should know, or be willing to learn--to enable you to get the most out of your learning experience.  Even classes that are fully in-person will often require you to access online or digital applications, share and save files in formats that can be opened, and navigate class or program-specific digital resources.  Some basic computing skills include (but are not limited to):

• Navigating your device's hardware vs software

• Adjusting volume and sound

• Shutting down and signing into your device

• Copy/Paste functions

• Saving and organizing files and documents

• Sharing files that can be opened by your professor (ie: saving as PDF or Word)

• Accessing and navigating a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge are the only supported Web browsers for UMS-supported tools)

A partner resource, UMS Academy has a couple of good (though dated) starter trainings to get up to speed with basic computing skills--though you may note that the email sections are not applicable to our purposes--more email help can be accessed in the Digital Communication & Collaboration Skills tab below.  Note, that for the following trainings, you will have to be logged in with your @maine.edu email address, to access:

1. Computer Literacy Basics Training, for PC

2. Computer Literacy Basics Training, for MAC

Communicating with UMPI faculty, staff and peers is an essential skill to master.  Without a doubt, you will need to utilize the UMS-supported Gmail for email (your @maine.edu email address), to access essential communications, as well as log into important campus portals, like Mainestreet (to manage grades and sign up for classes), as well as Brightspace (our learning platform) and more!  Lets look at some common communication and information sharing  skills and guidance:

Managing your Gmail account

You should plan on checking your @maine.edu email address at least daily.  This is the primary way that faculty, advisors and important campuses offices with contact you.

• Activate your account and manage your password 

• Accessing your Gmail

• Add or save attachments to an email

• Don't forget that email has a different purpose than informal IM-ing, use good email etiquette when drafting and sending University emails.

Accessing your MyUMPI portal and Brightspace courses

Your MyUMPI portal gives you access to essential campus announcements, as well as access, via the launchpad (in the top left corner) to your Mainestreet, your Gmail, Brightspace, and easy access to IT, Navigate, emergency notification management and other help resources!  

• Check out how to access and use your Mainestreet account

• Learn about our Learning platform, Brightspace

Google Drive & Sharing supported file types

There are many times that will require you to share different types of files on campus--when filling out paperwork, passing in assignments, when working on group work, and more!  Google Drive is a cloud-based platform (you can access it on any device), that is widely used to share information, as well as to support student collaborative working groups.  There are some pointers to keep in mind, when sharing files with people (so that they can bee accessed and viewed):

• If you are brand new to Google Drive, it may help to view this getting started video

• It is also helpful to know what kinds of files you can store and share in Drive

• Many assignments will require you to submit Word or PDF files.  You should become familiar with how to save your Google Docs or .pages (on a MAC) document as a PDF (or Word), for submission. Note: Brightspace assignments cannot open MAC file types: .pages, .key,  .img, .smi or .mpeg submission types--your instructor may not accept or may penalize the submission of unsupported file types.

• From within Google Drive, you can share any documents you create with professors, or peers.  You can even control whether collaborators can view, edit or just make comments on your document.  Note, that if you are sharing a Google doc with a professor or collaborator, they will not be able to access it, if you just grab the URL--you must add people to the document, or 'get a link' with appropriate viewing permissions.