Preparing to Work Remotely - Checklist
Last Modified on 04/12/2021 2:19 pm EDT
This checklist helps you prepare for learning and working remotely.
For more in-depth information see:
If you have additional questions, contact your IT representative.
Preparing your Space
The first thing to do when preparing to Work Remotely is find a place from which to work. Ideally, this will be a dedicated workspace that you can use whenever you're in class or working on something. This will allow you to maintain some separation of work and your personal life. Not everyone is able to have a dedicated space, however, so be sure to pick a space that you can use regularly.
No matter where you're working the following tips apply:
 Connectivity
- Internet Connection: Confirm your internet connection is strong (e.g. WiFi in coffee shops can be intermittent).
- Updated Browser and OS: Make sure your computer's OS is up to date and you're using a modern, up to date browser.
- Security Check: An anti-virus program should be installed and running on your computer. Symantec Endpoint Protection is free for Penn staff, faculty, and students.
|  Environs - Work Space: Choose a location to work that is quiet, but will allow you to talk.
- Check your surroundings: Be aware of what is behind you when you are on camera – windows or backlighting can make it hard to see you and whatever your camera can see will be visible to people in your video conference. Set your camera so you are looking straight at it, and experiment with a light in front of your space so that your face is well lit.
- Locate a power outlet: Video conferencing drains batteries very quickly; for any extended use make sure you have access to power and have your charger handy.
|  Etiquette - Don't over share: Close any personal apps and websites and disable notifications, particularly if you are planning to share your screen.
- Mute on Joining: When you join a meeting, we recommend you mute your audio except when you are speaking.
- Camera and Audio: Make sure your webcam works and you know how to mute it. We recommend using a headset, or earbuds, for best audio experience.
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If something seems wrong with a Wharton online service, check the Wharton Computing Status Page for possible outages or updates. You can even subscribe to alerts and get them delivered to your email or phone.
Useful Applications
There are a host of applications that can help you work remotely, but the four listed below are essential for staff, faculty, and students:
Wharton VPN
Staff and Faculty should be sure to install the Wharton VPN client on their computers to access on campus resources.
| Zoom Meetings
To gain access to all that Zoom has to offer, be sure to install the native Zoom app on your platform of choice. MacOS
App Installation & SetupYou’ll need to download and install the Mac app before following these directions. Although you don't need this installed to use Zoom, using it will provide a better experience. - If you have the Zoom app installed Zoom meeting links will automatically launch it. You can also manually launch the app.
- Click “Sign In with SSO.”
- You’ll need to provide the company domain (upenn). You can either search via your UPenn email address or click on “I know the company domain” and enter upenn.
- Click “Continue.”
- Enter your PennKey username and password and click “Log In.”
- And you’re logged into the Zoom app with your Penn Zoom account.
Have Questions?See our Zoom vs. BlueJeans Meetings and Zoom FAQ.
Windows
App Installation & SetupYou’ll need to download and install the Windows app before following these directions. Although you don't need this installed to use Zoom, using it will provide a better experience. - Launch the app and click Sign In.
- Click Sign in with SSO.
- Enter “upenn” as the domain and click Continue.
- Log in with your PennKey username and password.
- Click Open to switch back to the Zoom app.
- You’re now logged into your Penn Zoom account on the Windows Zoom app.
Have Questions?See our Zoom vs. BlueJeans Meetings and Zoom FAQ.
iOS
Installation & Setup- Download and launch the Zoom iOS app (available here).
- Tap Sign In.
- Tap the SSO button at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter “Upenn” as the company domain and tap go on the keyboard.
- Enter your PennKey username and password and tap Log in.
- A dialogue will ask you if you want to open the page in Zoom. You do, so tap Open.
- Now you’re logged in.
- If you want to see your scheduled meetings tap Meetings at the bottom of the screen.
Have Questions?See our Zoom vs. BlueJeans Meetings and Zoom FAQ.
Android & Chromebook
Installation & Setup- Download and launch the Zoom Android app (available here).
- Tap Sign In.
- Tap the Sign in with.. SSO button part way down the screen.
- Enter “Upenn” as the company domain and tap Continue on the keyboard.
- Enter your PennKey username and password and tap Log in.
- You'll need to approve the two-step verification.
- Now you’re logged in, and should be at the Meet and Chat page. This is where you can create, schedule and join meetings.
- If you want to see your scheduled meetings tap Meetings at the bottom of the screen.
Have Questions?See our Zoom vs. BlueJeans Meetings and Zoom FAQ.
| BlueJeans
To gain access to all that BlueJeans has to offer be sure to install the native BlueJeans app for your platform of choice: MacOS
Windows
iOS
Android & Chromebook
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Microsoft Office
All Faculty, Staff, and Students can install the full Office suite on their computers. Follow the directions below for your platform of choice. MacOS
Downloading & Installing O365- Navigate to portal.office.com
- Login with your PennO365 credentials
- Click Install Office in the top-right
- Run the installer that downloads and follow the prompts
- After it has installed, open any MS Office Application
- i.e. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
- Sign-in with your PennO365 credentials
Have Questions?See our Office 365 University article.
Windows
Downloading & Installing O365- Navigate to portal.office.com
- Login with your PennO365 credentials
- i.e. PennkeyUsername@upenn.edu
- Click Install Office in the top-right
- Run the installer that downloads and follow the prompts
- After it has installed, open any MS Office Application
- i.e. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
- Sign-in with your PennO365 credentials
Have Questions?See our Office 365 University article.
iOS
Downloading & Installing O365- Open the iOS App Store
- Search for each of the MS Office Applications and install them
- i.e. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
- When prompted, login with your PennO365 credentials
Have Questions?See our Office 365 University article.
Android & Chromebook
Downloading & Installing O365- Open the Google Play Store
- Search for each of the MS Office Applications and install them
- i.e. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
- When prompted, login with your PennO365 credentials
Have Questions?See our Office 365 University article.
| Canvas Student
Most classes will be leveraging Canvas more than ever before. Make sure you can log into Canvas and find your courses. Consider whether you want to sync your Canvas Calendar and download and install the Canvas app for your mobile device. iOS
Installation & Configuration- Open the iOS App Store
- Search for and install Canvas Student
- Open the Canvas app
- When prompted to Find Your School, search for and select University of Pennsylvania
- Sign-in with your PennKey credentials
- When prompted for two-step, make sure Trust this browser is checked
More InformationSee Canvas and Study.Net apps (for students).
Android & Chromebook
Installation & Configuration- Open the Google Play Store
- Search for and install Canvas Student
- Open the Canvas app
- When prompted to Find Your School, search for and select University of Pennsylvania
- Sign-in with your PennKey credentials
- When prompted for two-step, make sure Trust this browser is checked
More InformationSee Canvas and Study.Net apps (for students).
| Virtual Lab (VMware)
Wharton provides 24/7 remote access to virtual computers equipped with the same software as Wharton's public computers. Keep in mind that Virtual Lab is a limited, shared resource like the physical public computers. MacOS
Installation & Setup- Download and run the installer
- Accept all default settings
- Enter vlab.wharton.upenn.edu for Default View Connect Server
- Click Finish
- Launch VMware
- Login with the following credentials:
- Username = PennKey username
- Password = PennKey password
- Domain = UPENN.EDU
Have Questions?See our Virtual Lab article.
Windows
Installation & Setup- Download and run the installer
- Accept all default settings
- Enter vlab.wharton.upenn.edu for Default View Connect Server
- Click Finish
- Launch VMware
- Login with the following credentials:
- Username = PennKey username
- Password = PennKey password
- Domain = UPENN.EDU
Have Questions?See our Virtual Lab article.
iOS
Installation & Setup- Search VMware Horizon in the iOS App Store
- Tap to install
- Type vlab.wharton.upenn.edu in the Server Address
- Tap Add Server/Connect
- Connect using the following credentials:
- Username = PennKey username
- Password = PennKey password
- Domain = UPENN.EDU
- Tap Virtual Lab to connect
Have Questions?See our Virtual Lab article.
Android & Chromebook
Installation & Setup- Search VMware Horizon in the Google Play Store
- Tap to install
- Type vlab.wharton.upenn.edu in the Server Address
- Tap Add Server/Connect
- Connect using the following credentials:
- Username = PennKey username
- Password = PennKey password
- Domain = UPENN.EDU
- Tap Virtual Lab to connect
Have Questions?See our Virtual Lab.
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Questions?
More information is available in our Working & Teaching Remotely section. For questions that aren't answered there, contact your Wharton Computing Representative.
