Digital Student Resources

This page and other student resources are managed by Middlebury students from our College and Institute through the DLINQ Internship Program to support digital learning. We encourage you to start with these resources, as they contain Middlebury-specific information.

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Get in Touch with DLINQ Interns

DLINQ Interns are available for help with coursework and projects, students can visit the one of DLINQ’s Labs for drop-in hours or request a DLINQ Intern Consultation.

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Student Continuity Planner

An easy-to-use planner for students to keep track of their courses’ remote learning requirements in one place.

*Note: There will be a brief lag while the document copies itself. This is normal.

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PACE Digital Learning Guide

Inspired by the University of Michigan Center of Academic Innovation, DLINQ Interns in collaboration with the CTLR have created a guide to support students’ navigation through remote and digital learning.

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ITS Support

Have a question about connecting to Middlebury network services or need help? Reach out to the ITS Helpdesk. Support is available via a ticket, email, Zoom web call, or phone (802) 443-2200 VT and (831) 647-6656 CA.

Visit the ITS Technology Packet to find out more about What Students Need to Know about digital access at Middlebury.

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You are encouraged to make the most of the Canvas Student Guide. The more comfortable you are with the remote learning software, the better your experience. A Canvas Student Mobile App is available that you may wish to take advantage of. The app is available for iOS, Windows and Android.

What will professors be using Canvas for?

For more courses, Canvas will be the hub for course content (readings, videos, etc.), assignment uploads, class discussions, and access to Zoom sessions. The tool best promotes asynchronous learning.

Visit Canvas Orientation for Students for a thorough demonstration of Canvas.

While most classes are expected to be asynchronous, Zoom will still be used in particular classes or for group work. Familiarize yourself with the Zoom Guide in preparation for your classes. We also encourage you to download the Zoom Desktop App if possible.

What will Zoom be used for?

For synchronous classes, Zoom will be the medium for lectures and discussions. Zoom may also be used for group work or for office hours with your professors. Asynchronous classes will not be using Zoom for lectures but may have smaller discussion sessions via Zoom. For your convenience, track these expectations at go.middlebury.edu/studentplanner or download at go.middlebury.edu/downloadstudentplanner.

Zoom Security

Zoom has released a new software update which adds a Security option to the Zoom meeting controls bar of the in-meeting experience. See below for a screenshot example. This new feature allows meeting hosts to easily manage the security of their Zoom meetings, including the ability to quickly lock a Zoom meeting, enable the waiting room feature, and a number of other helpful options to keep your Zoom meetings safe and secure.
Screen shot showing new Zoom security option
To update to the newest version, open your Zoom desktop client. Then go to your “zoom.us” menu from your desktop client and click on “Check for Updates…” See screen shot below.
Screen shot showing where to find the update Zoom link
Security is very important to ITS and Middlebury. ITS continues to evaluate Zoom’s security posture and we have published an evolving list of guidelines and tips for safe use, as well as explanations of Zoom’s security options here: http://go.middlebury.edu/zoominfo

What will Panopto be used for?

Panopto is a video and audio storage service that allows you to upload, edit, store and share video and audio files with varying levels of privacy settings. Panopto can also be a very powerful tool to use for recording and sharing presentation assignments, for viewing video lectures and annotation.

Students may not need to interact with Panopto unless requested by their professor. If you are asked to record a presentation that would have otherwise been presented in a classroom, Panopto desktop recorder allows you to record your video and/or voice over slides.

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MIDD and MIIS students can access course and learning materials in the same way as they did before. Confirm with your professors to see which methods they will be using, as their methods may have changed.

MIDD students can access MIDDFILES from any web browser without a VPN connection through Nasuni Web Access. Log in at http://go.middlebury.edu/webaccess by simply entering your full Middlebury network username (username@middlebury.edu) and your password.

Librarians can answer questions and talk with you about the library and research via chat, email, and zoom. Find librarian contact information at the library’s Ask Us contact hub.

On-Campus Access: The libraries will begin a phased reopening on Tuesday, September 8; the schedule is posted at Library Hours. In order to ensure appropriate physical distancing, 50% of the seating in both Davis Family Library and Armstrong Library will be removed. Circulation of books and DVDs will be via a paging service; instructions are at Requesting Books, DVDs, or Other Physical Materials. 

Off Campus Access:  To access a library-licensed resource from off campus, click on its link from the Library Homepage, LibrarySearch, MIDCAT, Research Guides, Middlebury Databases, When prompted for a username and password, use your Middlebury credentials. Once logged in, you will have access to all our subscription e-resources, and you will not need to log in again unless you close your Web browser. If you begin at a search engine like Google, you will not be prompted to log in, so your access as a Middlebury student, faculty or staff member will not be recognized. Visit the Library’s Off Campus Access page for more information. 

You do not need a VPN connection to use library databases.

The Middlebury Institute Library serves the Institute in Monterey, CA. Books, articles, films,  and primary sources are available online and in print to current Institute students, faculty, and staff. Interlibrary loan service increases access to library collections across the country.

Contact a librarian for assistance with using the library, including locating, requesting and citing materials for your classes or research.

See Accessing Library Resources from Off Campus to get started.

Time Management:

It’s important to recognize that extraordinary circumstances, like the ones we are living through now, create a heavy burden on executive function. This affects your ability to plan, engage with and sustain effort to complete your course work. Please recognize the challenge you are facing and be gentle with yourselves.

Visit the CTLR’s Time Management Resource Page.

Tutoring:

The CTLR’s regular learning and research tools remain available to students of Middlebury College. Access these resources at CTLR Resources for Students.

Apporto is a virtualization tool which allows apps and virtual desktops to be delivered via web browser.  No VPN or desktop client required.

Apporto currently grants off-campus access to Maple, Mathematica, R Studio, SPSS and Stata.

Visit https://middlebury.apporto.com and sign in with your Middlebury credentials to use.

The large majority of students will not need a Middlebury VPN Connection to access academic resources. Some courses will need VPNs to access the Virtual Classroom, though most will be using Apporto. Check go.middlebury.edu/needvpn to see if a service you need to use requires VPN.

Visit VPN Setup Instructions for more information.

All Middlebury students have free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud. Students are able to log into www.adobe.com with their username@middlebury.edu credentials and download the applications.

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If you plan to use any of the resources requiring VPN access, you will need to request VPN access by creating a Helpdesk ticket. Reminder: You do not need VPN to access MiddFiles.

If you have loading problems with Zoom, try downloading the local version of Zoom.

If you have trouble accessing Google Drive, we suggest you reach out to your professors to have alternative sources for course materials, such as OneDrive or MiddFiles.

If you are not currently in the U.S. and you cannot successfully respond to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) challenges because you set it up to use your U.S. cell phone number, please contact the ITS HelpDesk via Zoom using http://go.middlebury.edu/zoom2helpdesk/.  

If you have not yet set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), you will be prompted to do so when you access a Middlebury resource.  Visit go.middlebury.edu/whichmfa to help you decide which method is best for you—scenario A is recommended for overseas travelers.

Visit the Digital Tools Dashboard to find out more about global tool accessibility, boundaries and alternatives.

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All GO shortcuts can be accessed off-campus:

go.middlebury.edu/[shortcut] | e.g go.middlebury.edu/studentplanner

Please visit Working Remotely guidance to learn how to improve your home WIFI network if necessary

If you are not used to online learning, the experience of participating in an online course may be different and sometimes challenging. Here are some tips for a successful online learning experience:

  • Acknowledgement: Across our community, there are differences in our access to remote learning. Whether it  is access to high-speed internet, different time zones or accessibility needs, we ask you to communicate any and all challenges to your professors. We also encourage you to schedule a consultation with a DLINQ Intern for more support.
  • Communication: Make sure that you are checking your Middlebury email and Canvas notifications regularly. We strongly suggest that you set your notification preferences in Canvas to notify me right away or daily summary, so that you don’t miss any important information (Instructions for setting your Canvas notification preferences).
  • Time management: Allocate some daily time to check in and participate in course discussions and activities. Online coursework can be intensive, and it  is sometimes difficult to stay attuned to online activities (particularly discussion based ones) if participation is not ongoing. Select a time for course participation that is most conducive with your schedule and obligations, and once you have selected a time, treat it like an appointment – stay dedicated to that time.
  • Read carefully: Instruction in the online environment tends to be heavily text-based. Be sure to read through instructions and assignments carefully, and ask questions if you are unsure of requirements for assignments, deadlines, etc.
  • Ask questions: If you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask your professor, and the sooner the better – ask early, ask often!
  • Patience with technical issues: Expect that there will be times when the technology does not cooperate. It’s just the nature of the beast. Please be patient, and advise your professor of any issues.

Here are five video-based courses which present practices that can optimize your remote learning experience. 

Working from home is a wonderful opportunity, but time management can be a challenge. With so many demands on your time and attention, it’s a tricky balancing act to stay productive. In this course, bestselling author and productivity expert Dave Crenshaw offers best practices for anyone who works from home.

Time management tools and programs can only go so far. If you want to boost your productivity in a lasting way, you need to change the way you look at your time and your tasks. Productivity expert Dave Crenshaw shares bite-sized, actionable tips to help you improve your productivity, develop flexibility, and avoid lower-value activities. 

Learn how to have it all and enjoy it all by balancing your life and work. In this talk, author and business coach Dave Crenshaw explores smart strategies to make work a focus at work and give yourself time to enjoy your time at home.

Join instructor Heidi Hanna, PhD as she discusses what stress is, exactly; how you can train yourself to use stress in more effective ways by assessing and adjusting it.

Have trouble getting by when the going gets tough? Kelley School of Business professor and professional communications coach Tatiana Kolovou explains how to bounce back from difficult situations, by building your “resiliency threshold.” She outlines five training techniques to prepare for difficult situations, and five strategies for reflecting on them afterward.

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You are encouraged to use Zoom to communicate with classmates when working on group projects. Zoom offers a video call component, a chat component and a whiteboard feature for sketches and illustrations.

Of course, please be mindful of the following three factors whenever working in a group. Be sure to ask about your classmates’ situations and to communicate yours to them, if necessary.

  • The time zones of all members of the group
  • Others’ access to high-speed internet
  • Accessibility and Accommodation needs

As before, Google Drive and OneDrive are key collaboration tools offered to students. Your Middlebury login grants you full access to all tools, so take advantage of them.

We encourage you to take some time to explore all that’s possible with these tools.

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A compilation of Middlebury’s remote tools exists at Working Remotely. This resource was consulted in the compilation of this site.