Wraparound Resources for Boise State Employees

Thank you for being here. These pages were built to provide you with resources that may help you better navigate some of the uncertainty that surrounds us during this time. This resource list is organized around Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs because we recognize that it is impossible to focus on things like being creative when your basic needs are not being met.

Taking Care of You

Hierarchy of Needs

In times of uncertainty, we need to be aware of what we need from ourselves and each other. In Human Resources we care about people and their needs. We have developed this page of community and university resources based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Depending on what you need, please take the time to explore the tabs to the side.

Resources for Remote Working

Strategies for successful remote working

All of this disruption—the shift to remote working and the social changes wrought by COVID-19—can be incredibly disorienting. Sometimes you might feel too overwhelmed to be as productive as you would like to be. To help you dispel these feelings, this section of the guide suggests some concrete strategies you can use to help you best organize your time and focus your attention.

Communicate with your supervisor

It’s important to stay in regular communication with your supervisor about projects, work, and what you personally need to be successful in this environment.

Unless you hear otherwise from individual colleagues, the best way to contact your coworkers is through their Boise State email address or Google Chat.

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of email you’re getting, there are several ways to manage Gmail. You can use filters, labels, and folders; change the way Gmail displays your inbox; and archive email to reduce the number of messages in your inbox. Read more about organizing Gmail.

When communicating in text you won’t have tone and inflection to help explain your message

Keep in mind how your words can be interpreted. Avoid sarcasm as it doesn’t translate very well in text. Using ALL CAPS or excessively bolding text can be interpreted as yelling.

We recommend following these guidelines for effective online communication:

Be positive & respectful of others thoughts, ideas, and contributions.
Use proper language & titles. Avoid texting or slang language.
Use effective communication by clearly saying what you mean.
Practice good manners and thank others for their contributions.
Ask for clarification if you are unclear about what you read.

Ask for what you need

In face-to-face work, you see your colleagues regularly, and they can usually discern—by chatting, listening, and reading facial expressions and body language—what you need from one another.

However, when work moves online, we lose the ability to make these in-person observations. In addition, because this is a new environment for most, we are all learning how to navigate working remotely with one another.

It’s important, therefore, that you be clear (without being demanding) about what you need to be successful. Your supervisor likely will be grateful to learn about these needs, as there’s a very good chance that other employees have these needs as well.

Depending on your circumstances, you might need to ask your instructors for:

Getting access to up to date information.
Clearer or more regular communication from them about:
- their expectations for workload and participation in meetings.
- upcoming deadlines.
- accessing and using the technology required to complete work remotely.
Changing expectations so that the workload remains reasonable.
If your job requires research, instructions on how to access articles or ebooks through the Albertsons Library website.

Schedule time for exercise, relaxation, and connection

Take a deep breath. You’ll get it all done. It’s important to also schedule time for things that keep you healthy and that give you enjoyment.

Block off time in your schedule to meet virtually with friends or family, to get some physical activity, and to enjoy movies or hobbies.

Google G Suite is the official group collaboration software for Boise State University faculty and staff. Also known as “BroncoMail,” G Suite provides access to dozens of Google applications including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Sites and YouTube.

To access Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, go to drive.google.com and log in with your Boise State email address.

Google G Suite offers several useful features:

Google Drive safely stores all kinds of files in the cloud, for easy access on or off campus.
- If you haven’t already moved your files from your office computer to the cloud, do that ASAP. Google Drive is an excellent tool for this task.
You can collaborate synchronously or asynchronously via Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.

Google Suite Assistance

If you’re stuck and want immediate help, you can contact the Help Desk via phone (208) 426-4357, email helpdesk@boisestate.edu, or chat.
If you want more focused, one-on-one assistance with an instructional technologist, reserve a time via the Office of Information Technology.

If you need more support: Google Workspace Learning Center, from Google

Video conferencing with Zoom

Zoom is a video-conferencing platform you can use to hold your meetings synchronously or meet with colleagues for spontaneous collaboration. Zoom allows you to engage in real-time conversations with your colleagues using audio, video, and text-based chat features.

You can use Zoom to:

Share your screen, webcam feeds, and audio simultaneously.
Create Polls
Record meetings to a local computer or to the cloud.
Send classes into smaller virtual breakout rooms.
Set up a group chat, even if you aren’t on a Zoom call.

Log into Zoom using your Boise State username and password. From there, you can set up a meeting. When you share the meeting link with participants, they can follow the web link or call a phone number to join in on a live conversation.

Zoom requires you download the Zoom software the first time they use it. The software installs very quickly and is easy to use.

You can access Boise State Zoom by:

Visiting boisestate.zoom.us and log in with your Boise State username and password. From there, you can download the essential software application and create future meeting links.

Zoom assistance

You can access additional instructions for using Zoom at Boise State’s Office of Information Technology page.
If you’re stuck and want immediate help, you can contact the Help Desk via phone (208) 426-4357, email helpdesk@boisestate.edu, or chat.
If you want more focused, one-on-one assistance with an instructional technologist, reserve a time via the Learning Technology Solutions appointment calendar.
If you need more focused help (e.g., ways to use Zoom for small-group activities during meetings), seek help from the Office of Information Technology.

Zoom Recommendations

Use slides and screen sharing within Zoom to make sharing information easy. (Look for “Share Screen” at the bottom of your Zoom call.)
- On your first slide, display an agenda at the start of the meeting so that colleagues know what to expect of the shared time together.
Use the chat (bottom of your screen). See In-Meeting Chat.
- Moderate discussion, i.e., “call on” a colleague with a comment to speak, to help them break into the conversation.
- You might use the chat to troubleshoot technical problems. For example, if a coworker is having trouble connecting via audio or video, the chat might be a space for you to work together to problem-solve.
- Use Zoom Breakout Rooms to encourage collaboration during large meetings. See Managing Video Breakout Rooms.

A Few Troubleshooting Tips:

If your microphone is not working, use the phone number listed in the Zoom invitation when you set up a Zoom call. You can use your phone as the microphone and audio source for your call rather than your computer’s built-in microphone if necessary.
If your Internet connection is slow or lagging, consider temporarily turning off your video stream and only maintaining the audio stream. Sometimes, running the web camera on your computer will use up the Internet’s bandwidth in a way that might make communication challenging. Turning off the video should improve communication quality and consistency.
If you have earbuds or a headphone set, wear them! Wearing earbuds or headphones will reduce the amount of noise that your computer will pick up during your quality, which will make it easier for your colleagues to hear you.
Mute your microphones if you are not speaking and unmute the microphones when you wish to speak. Coworkers may be joining Zoom calls from all kinds of different locations, many of which may create background noise that could be distracting.
Check the “chat” space for questions and contributions. Some may not have working microphones and, therefore, may be unable to contribute via voice. The chat room is a good place for others to contribute, ask questions, and be involved.
Check the Zoom Help Center.

Accessibility Suggestions:

Automatic live captioning is not available in Zoom (automatic captions are visible if you record a Zoom session). You may wish to use Google Slides and enable the live captioning feature within Google Slides. If you share your screen using Google Slides, your voice will be captured and live captions will appear. See Present Slides with Captions (via Google Drive support) for more information.
For employees who are blind or have low visibility, narrate the material that you’re displaying visually on the screen. Read screen material that you share on-screen just in case an employee is not able to see essential text.

Record video or audio with Panopto

Panopto allows employees to record audio clips or videos using their computer’s camera and microphone. Employees may also record the contents of their screens. The Panopto software uploads those videos to a server and provides a link you can share with colleagues.

You can record videos from your computer camera or screen.
- You may capture video or audio of yourself.
- You may also record the contents of your screen.
You can view videos on their own schedule.
You can search for time-stamped words either displayed or spoken in the video.

To access Panopto, visit boisestate.hosted.panopto.com.

Panopto assistance

If you’re stuck and want immediate help, you can contact the Help Desk via phone (208) 426-4357, email helpdesk@boisestate.edu, or chat.
If you want more focused, one-on-one assistance with an instructional technologist, reserve a time via the Office of Information Technology.
If you need more help:
- Creating content in Panopto (from Boise State OIT)

Explain Everything is a whiteboard mobile app that lets you present, take notes, sketch, and collaborate—as well as record your screen as you’re taking any of these actions. (It’s also available via browser.) You can use Explain Everything to: