If you are working from home you might want to consider the following:
- Internet Service Provider: If you are living off campus, speak to your internet service provider about setup and installation before moving into your new residence. On the day of service installation, give yourself plenty of time for equipment installation, configuring settings, and testing your wireless speeds and stability. On-campus students will connect to AirPennNet.
- Additional Equipment: If you plan to use video conferencing services (e.g. Zoom) for classes, you might want to consider noise-canceling headphones. We recommend wired headphones to reduce the chance of losing connection during class, and you should also confirm if your laptop has a built-in microphone. Online courses are set up so that you don't need a printer, so it is a personal preference whether or not you'd like the ability to print course materials at home.
- Ergonomic Considerations: If you are spending a lot of time at home, you may want to invest in a quality chair, desk, laptop stand, etc. to maximize comfort and support your body's needs (e.g., back and neck support).
- Designated Workspace: If you have the available space, you can designate a specific workspace that is separate from the rest of your home.
- Consider Best Practices for Video Conferencing:
- Find a quiet area.
- Mute your microphone at the start of a meeting.
- Pay attention to your background and lighting.
- Speak loud enough for your laptop mic or external mic to pick up sound.
- If you are using a mobile device instead of a laptop, mount it on something to keep the video steady.
Note: All students with concerns about affording technology for remote learning can approach the Emergency and Opportunity Fund or Penn First Plus.
For more information, check out Working and Learning Remotely - Students, and Remote Working Checklist