Technology Resources for Students

• Know your SF State email
  • You will use your SF State email to log in and access a variety of remote technologies
    • Go to SF State email account services and log in if you are unaware of your SF State email address
  • Important information from the campus and your instructors will be sent to your official SF State email account - be sure to check it regularly!
    • Log into email by navigating to Outlook and entering your SF State email
• Know your SF State password
  • If you do not know your password or have it saved on your devices, you may want to reset your password and keep it safe
    • Reset SF State password 

Requesting Loaner Laptops

Requesting laptops:
To request a laptop, please use this form.

Recommendations

• Use a laptop running an up to date version of Windows or macOS
  • Rationale: Laptops generally have all of the necessary equipment built-in, including microphones, webcams and speakers. A laptop running a supported version of Windows or macOS will provide the best compatibility with software and websites students are required to use in courses.

Best practices and tips:

• iPads and devices running ChromeOS are not recommended as a full computer replacement as they may not be compatible with software required to complete course work
• Keep your computer's operating system and the browsers and applications you use up-to-date to ensure continued access to campus resources such as Canvas and Zoom

SF State students requiring internet access in their place of residence during remote instruction and operation periods can refer to our list of resources to assist with securing an internet connection. 

View Internet access resources

Canvas is a web-based learning management system, or LMS. It is used by learning institutions, educators, and students to access and manage online course learning materials and communicate about skill development and learning achievement. 

Related support documents:

• View all Canvas guides

SF State uses the Zoom web and video conferencing application. Zoom provides high quality, real-time video, voice, chat, and other collaboration options for faculty, students and staff.

• To set up your account, go to https://sfsu.zoom.us and select the Sign in link
  • You can log in using your SFSU ID or SFSU email address and SFSU password
• Download the Zoom client by navigating to https://sfsu.zoom.us/download

Note: You do not need an account to join a meeting, only to start one. However, logging in with your SFSU account will give you the best Zoom experience and access to all of Zoom's features.

Related Support Documents:

• Learn more about Zoom
• Zoom on mobile devices

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Box at SF State is a cloud-based, collaborative storage service used to share documents with employees, students and non-SF State individuals. The service permits syncing files between devices and provides access to files from many mobile devices.

• Learn more about Box at SF State

Related Support Documents:

• Box user guide

• Stay connected
  • If you enjoy collaboration, set up group study sessions or chats via Zoom
  • Communicate regularly with your instructors, classmates, support personnel, advisors, etc.
• Stick to a schedule
  • Reserve specific blocks of time in your daily schedule for attending online sessions and completing readings and assignments, and remember that instructors may schedule virtual meetings and discussions
  • Remote modalities often require extra mindfulness to keep track of deadlines
• Mimic the classroom learning experience
  • Continue to take notes as you would if you were there in person
  • Turn off notifications or silence your devices, and refrain from using social media
  • Try to find ways to remain engaged - ask questions and communicate regularly with your instructors, classmates, advisors, and more
  • Inform any housemates of your "Do Not Disturb" working hours
• Take care of yourself
  • Frequent study breaks, exercise, and maintaining your energy levels through food and sleep help maintain focus

• Instructors will provide information on how best to contact them in their Canvas courses and syllabi
• Make sure you check your SFSU email
  • Important information from the campus and your instructors will be sent to your official SFSU email account
    • Log in to email by navigating to Outlook and entering your SFSU email
    • Don’t know what your email is? Go to SFSU email account services and log in
• Download and install Zoom
  • Instructors may use Zoom to conduct live classes via video conference
    • Zoom is available for Laptops/Desktops and mobile devices: Zoom download center
    • Log in to set up your account: Zoom sign in
• Receive a copy of Announcements and Inbox messages you send in Canvas

Recommendations: 

• Reach out to your instructors on your own.
• Sign up for office hours.
• If you aren’t sure how best to participate in the remote classroom, contact your instructor for clarification.
• Please realize that your instructor may not be able to respond immediately. Be patient, but follow up.

• Zoom accounts are available to all students. Setting up study groups or other engagements with fellow students can be done from your own Zoom accounts.
• Instructors may provide discussion forums in Canvas for student engagement.
  • Related Support Documents:
    • Posting to a discussion 
• Instructors may ask students to post videos
  • Related Support Documents:
    • Submitting video to an assignment
    • Adding a video to a text box, such as a forum post for “Introduce yourself” type activities

Resources available are listed at https://libguides.sfsu.edu/updates.

Research Help:

Online research support is available via

• Chat : https://sfsu.libanswers.com/
• Email: libref@sfsu.edu
• Text: 415-933-0385
• You can also schedule an in-depth research consultation with the librarian who works with your program/department. Find your librarian here.

Online Resources:

• Access OneSearch - Search for books and e-books, articles, digital media, course reserves, and more.
• Access Databases - Find and search more than 200 databases by subject area or department.
• Access eBooks -  Get information about SF State's eBook collections, including how to find, read, and use eBooks for your research.
• Access Research Guides - Explore guides that centralize recommended resources for specific topics or subject areas.
• Complimentary Electronic Resources - These resources are temporarily available during the COVD-19 pandemic. Each resource listed on this page includes the date when access will expire.

• If you are registered with the Disability Program and Resource Center (DPRC), submit your accommodations requests via myDPRC a week before class starts. This ensures faculty are aware of the accommodations you plan to use in their class.
• If you identify as having a disability and are not registered with DPRC, we highly encourage you to contact DPRC for more information or to establish services.
• If you have any questions about your accommodations or managing your disability in an online environment, or need assistance with anything concerning myDPRC, please reach out to your Disability Specialist as soon as possible so we may resolve any issues in a timely manner in the semester.
• All students at SF State can use the Accessible Media Quick Converter to easily convert documents between accessible formats (including audio).

Additional Resources:

• myDPRC Training Portal
• DPRC homepage - Most up-to-date information on our operations and services

• Counseling & Psychological Services - Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to providing support to students 
  • Visit CAPS to learn more and get help.
• Student Health Services - Student Health Services is available for assistance with any concerns related to your mental health, and can provide guidance, necessary care and medication management. 
  • Visit SHS to learn more and get help.

Find resources from all groups all over campus, organized by kind, in one handy place! Academic Technology has coordinated with campus partners to provide this comprehensive (and ever-growing) list of resources for students

Visit the Student Resources website

Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree granting program at San Francisco State University (i.e., matriculating students) are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 Education for Students.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Students in specific majors (BECA, Cinema, Art, Journalism, Design and CSU Media Alliance) are entitled to full access to Adobe Creative Cloud.

• How to install Adobe applications on personal machines

Students have access to installing IBM SPSS on personal computers. Use the form here to request a license.

Current students, faculty and staff are eligible to install MATLAB on personally owned computers.

• Getting MATLAB for students