Getting Started Online

This initiative is open to all full- and part-time, currently enrolled students who do not have access to a computer.

Please note that we have a limited number of laptop available for a 3-week loan period. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide laptop loans to all students who apply.

Laptops are not renewable and fines will be charged if the laptop is not returned on the due date.

Application process

To apply for a laptop loan, please fill out the following form by clicking here

Choose your pick up location and the date you would like to pick it up, then send the request. Library Services will contact you once they have received your request

We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience; however, all elements of the Sask Polytech environment can be accessed with a smartphone.

• Desktop/Laptop- Make sure your computer has 10GB or more free space.  
• Have a webcam/headset with a microphone to participate in online classes.
• Phones/Tablets - Are recommended to be 3 years old or newer.

Operating Systems 

• Windows 10, Windows 8 
• Mac - OS X Yosemite or higher 
• iOS (iPhone/iPad) - Current within the two most recent versions 
• Android - Current with the last four major versions

In partnership with Dell, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is offering a Laptop Purchase Program. Students can choose from select Dell models at discounted prices. Refer to the specifications below to choose a model suitable to the program that you’re enrolled in. Please note that these specifications are a guideline based on program requirements, students may purchase the model they prefer.

To purchase a laptop, visit the Dell website. You will be prompted to create an account using your @saskpolytech email before being able to view laptop options.

• Minimum recommendation: 5 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload
• Optimal recommendation: 10 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload or greater
• Check your internet speed HERE

Access resources to help students access and navigate the technological landscape available at Sask Polytech. Learning Technology Training - Student Support Services

Access your Sask Polytech email and calendar through the Office 365 Portal. http://portal.office.com

We recommend installing Zoom on your computer and signing in using your Sask Polytech username and password instead of using Zoom through myWorkspace.

To secure Zoom meetings, ensure you update to the most recent version and take specific steps to secure your Zoom meeting.

Guide to Getting Started with Zoom

To Download Zoom, please go to to download the app for Windows or Mac.

Log In and Set Up

Zoom Desktop Client:

Find the Zoom icon  on your desktop and double-click it

1. Click “Sign In with SSO”
2. Enter saskpolytech when prompted for the company domain
3. If prompted enter your username@saskpolytech.ca and password on the login screen

Updating your Profile

1. In the Zoom client, in the top right corner click on the colored box and select “Change My Picture”.
2. This will open a browser window where you can now update your picture and change your display name.

           

Accessing Zoom Settings

Accessing Settings

• In the Zoom client, click your profile picture in the top right corner, click on “Settings” at the top right.
• On Mac, right-click the Zoom app in the Dock, select Options > Open at Login.
• About Setting

Advanced Zoom Settings

In the Zoom client, in the top right corner click on the colored box or your picture and select “Change My Picture” or “My Profile”

1. Click on Settings
2. Under the Meeting, find Upcoming meeting reminder.
3. Click on the switch to enable it.
4. Restart Zoom.

Please note: There are a number of optional settings that you can enable or disable under Settings on the Zoom web portal.

Chat

 

1. Starred Contacts are the same as Favourites in Skype for Business
2. Search for contacts
3. Start an audio or video meeting within a chat
4. Easily find files and images in a chat
5. Send screenshots or files
6. Send emoticons or GIFs
7. Type your message
8. Status of contacts
• Green circle = available
• Red circle = busy
• Red video camera = in an audio/video conference
• Grey circle = away
• Outline of circle = offline
• Green rectangle = on a mobile device
 

Join a Meeting

Multiple ways to join a meeting in Zoom

• Open the calendar event and click the link Join Zoom Meeting
• Open Zoom and on the Home tab, click Start or Join
• In Zoom, on the Meetings tab, find your meeting and click Start or Join
• If you’ve enabled Upcoming meeting reminders, click Start or Join on the desktop notification

Meeting Controls

Once the meeting has started, there are tools at the bottom of the meeting window that allow you to configure and manage various aspects of the session.

1. Mute/unmute your audio (not the audio of the participants) - the menu next to the audio icon allow you to configure your settings for audio
   1. Choose Join Audio by Computer to connect your computers mic and speakers to the Zoom Meeting. You can test you Audio sources by using the Test Computer Audiolink when joining.
   2. Choose Phone Call and dial the number provided. Enter in the Meeting ID and make sure to input the Participant ID
2. Stop or start your video - the menu next to the video icon allow you to configure your settings for video
   1. On the Video tab you can preview and change you camera source via the down arrow
3. Security will enable the host to Lock meeting, enable waiting room, allow participants to share screen, chat and unmute participants.
4. View and manage the list of participants
5. Send a message to all participants or one person (private chat). By default, a message sent in a meeting is sent to everyone.
   1. The dropdown on the chat window will allow you to message Everyone, or a specific participant.
6. Share your desktop or select a specific application to share (e. g., Microsoft Powerpoint)
   1. Click Share Screen
   2. Choose to share your desktop, specific application, whiteboard
   3. All participants in your meeting can share their screen
   4. During screen sharing you and your attendees can use the Annotation tools for drawing, pointing, highlighting, etc.
7. Record the meeting to your computer.
8. As host you can enable closed caption and participants can view the same. To learn more about closed caption click here.
9. Breakout rooms will allow you to split your zoom meeting in up to 50 separate sessions. The meeting host can choose to split the participants of the meeting into these seperate sessions automatically or manually and can switch between sessions at any time. To learn more about breakout rooms Click Here
10. Reactions is combination of emoji which can be used during the meeting.
11. End or leave the Zoom meeting.

Schedule a Meeting

 

1. To schedule a Zoom meeting in Outlook, click on Schedule a Meeting
2. You will be presented with meeting settings for you to configure
   1. You can turn on/off your video or participants video
   2. You can force participants to connect via telephone or computer audio or allow both
   3. You can require a meeting password for participants to join
3. Alternative hosts can be a single person or multiple people. Zoom requires a host for every meeting so if you are scheduling multiple meetings at the same time with different people, or there is a possibility the host might have to leave early, etc assign an Alternative host so that the meeting will proceed. When assigning an Alternative host use the format of username@saskpolytech.ca
4. If you have been assigned scheduling privileges in Zoom, you will see this option when scheduling a meeting.
5. These options are not recommended for use.
   1. If you use Personal Meeting ID for a meeting and someone keeps that meeting id, they could potentially connect to any future meeting that uses your Personal Meeting ID.
   2. If you click Save and do not show again, any options you had set will be used for all future meetings.

Zoom on Mobile

Zoom is available for both Apple & Android Devices

App can be found in your phones app store or https://zoom.us/download

A Few Last Things

Here are some great resources to take a deeper dive into using Zoom.

• Watch Zoom's Getting Started Videos
• Join Zoom's Live and Webinar training
• YouTube Zoom How To channel

Video Conference Support

If you need further assistance, or experience issues during a video conference, contact the Helpdesk

P: 1-888-733-5333 E: helpdesk@saskpolytech.ca

myWorkspace provides a virtual Windows desktop to access software for your program (such as Microsoft Office or accounting software etc.)

• Read instructions for accessing myWorkspace
• Install the Citrix Receiver
• Visit mySaskPolytech.ca and click on myWorkspace icon

Access Word, Excel, other Microsoft applications, and OneDrive file storage at http://portal.office.com

Note: Access is not available offline. If offline access is required, download and install on your computer.

To acces OneDrive, visit http://portal.office.com

How to save files to OneDrive

How to share files from OneDrive