There are a few feelings worse than losing a paper or glaring at a frozen online exam page. This week, our Moodle friends Dan Arnold and Nic Bongers give really important steps toward protecting your hard work and having a plan when tech issues happen. Do them today … really!

At this point in the semester, you’re likely compiling a lot of work in papers, notes, presentations and more. Protect that work by having a technology backup plan to make sure you can always access your documents and act effectively when your computer crashes or you lose internet access mid-online exam. This learning tip focuses on preventing such frustrations so that you can focus on the important part — the learning.

Use the cloud. Have you ever been writing an assignment and your computer crashes? What about that time you forgot to bring your thumb drive and couldn’t access your assignment? Google Drive is your friend, a free cloud storage service that you get as part of your OU Gmail account. You can create and store all sorts of documents, including papers, PDFs, presentations and spreadsheets.

If you prefer to use Microsoft Word instead of Google’s comparable product, Docs, then you can simply use Microsoft’s cloud storage system, OneDrive. As an OU student, you have free access to OneDrive, along with a variety of other Microsoft programs, by logging into the Office 365 website using your OU email and password. You can even download the latest versions of Microsoft Office to your laptop or desktop computer.

Have a plan B for computer and internet. In addition to using cloud storage, it’s always best to have a backup plan for online exams. What happens when your apartment Wi-Fi is disconnected? Deciding where will you go ahead of time — Kresge Library, your local library, McDonald’s, Starbucks, a friend’s house or on-campus location — can make the difference in getting your exam done on time.

For written answers in exams, draft outside of the browser. For essay questions and papers, type your answers on a Word or Google document first, then copy and paste your response into Moodle. In the unlikely event that Moodle freezes or you lose your internet connection, you’ll still have a copy of your answer saved on your computer.

How does your professor work with tech mishaps? Your professor may have their own technology backup plan on the syllabus. If they don’t, then it’s a good idea to ask them if they have any preference on how you handle any technology-related issues. Ideally, you should know this information at least a couple of days before the assignment or exam opens so that you aren’t trying to figure it out in the midst of a crisis situation.

Call Moodle Help. If you experience any Moodle-related issues at any time, including during your midterm, please contact Moodle support immediately for assistance. You can always use the Get Help button at the top of any Moodle page to find our contact information and hours of availability. We have extended evening hours during the week as well as on the weekend.

Plan for all of these things today! Having a plan in place before something happens will greatly reduce any stress or anxiety should something happen during your midterm. While it won’t completely eliminate all stress, it’s much less stressful to know what to do beforehand instead of reacting in the moment.

We wish you luck and success on your projects and exams, and hope you enjoy a well-deserved break!

Dan Arnold and Nic Bongers work in e-Learning and Instructional Support to help faculty and students with all things Moodle. They earned their doctorates at Oakland University and teach here as well. 

If you would like to contribute a learning tip to this column, contact Christina Moore at [email protected].