Ah, the thrill of finals week—a rollercoaster of cramming, late-night study sessions, and an alarming spike in caffeine consumption. But fear not! Students can prepare for the final stretch using an array of cutting-edge technological resources that can greatly enhance efficiency and effectiveness. So stop worrying and start preparing!

Take A Look Through Canvas

Now is a great time to review your courses in Canvas. Reread the syllabi. Check the grading scale and where you stand in the class. Take a look at the grading scale to ensure you don’t miss the A-range by a point! Write down the due dates of final exams, papers, or projects somewhere you can easily see them. You’d be surprised how much of a difference it makes in managing your workload to simply write those dates down! Then be sure to really look at the final exam content and format, or the grading rubric for a final paper or project, so you know exactly what you need to do/know and what your professor is looking for.

Get Started Early

If you’re not starting your finals prep now, you’re already late! Getting a head start is vital in organizing your work in a timely manner. Make sure to write down any questions you have regarding content, assignments, or exams. Ask your instructors these questions as soon as possible. Contact them with plenty of time to respond. Announcing that you started a paper hours before it’s due by emailing them at 8 pm is a bad look! Create a formal study and work schedule using Outlook Calendar so you aren’t scrambling to do five things at once. Give yourself plenty of time to submit assignments, so that if you have technical issues, the Pitt IT Help Desk will have plenty of time to help you resolve the problem without panicking! Take simple steps now to organize your study schedule for a smooth finals week!

Rewatch Lectures in Panopto

Did you miss a lecture because you were sick or slept through your alarm and missed class? You don’t want to miss any important material that may be on your final exam! Or maybe the content of lectures that occurred weeks or months ago is feeling a little fuzzy now. Rewatching lectures is a great way to review content to ensure you understand the material.

Fortunately, many instructors record their lectures, so you can use Panopto Video to rewatch them! On your Canvas course page, click the “Panopto Video” link to access recorded video lectures (if provided by your professor). You can turn on closed captioning to help you understand what the instructor is saying. You can also adjust the video speed settings to watch your lectures at your desired pace — slower if you need a little more time to absorb something complicated, or faster if it’s just a quick review. It’s all in your control!

Go to the Computing Labs … or Have Them Come to You

The Pitt IT Student Computing Labs are available throughout finals week. They can provide a quiet, well-equipped place to study. All the software you could need is available from every powerful machine, along with large screen and ergonomic workspaces. There are even reservable team workspaces where groups can meet up to work.

That said, how awesome would it be to have a personal on-the-go lab? Pulling an all-nighter is easier in your jammies, at home, with access to snacks. Luckily, the Pitt IT Virtual Computing Lab enables you to remotely access all the lab software and resources that you would get while sitting in a Pitt IT Student Computing Lab on campus, accessible 24/7. (Yes, you heard us right … 24/7!)

In addition, if your laptop is prone to overheating and lagging, all you need is access to a stable internet connection and the virtual machines of the Virtual Computing Lab will provide all the compute power. No need to worry about losing your work. Your files will automatically be backed up to your OneDrive account, ready for access.

To get started, check out pi.tt/vlab and log in using your University computing account. Then navigate to “Pitt IT- Virtual Student Computing Labs” to get started. The virtual lab is available at your fingertips, so take advantage of it for lab access from any device.

Get Tech Help As Soon As You Need It

When it comes to preparing for finals, you want to ensure you maximize the time you spend studying! Why panic about a technical problem for two hours when you can have a professional help you resolve it in minutes instead? If you find yourself running into technical problems, visit the Pitt IT website at technology.pitt.edu to do a quick search on how to resolve your issue. Couldn’t find the answer? Contact the Technology Help Desk by calling 412-624-HELP (4357), shooting a quick email to helpdesk@pitt.edu, or using the live chat. Whatever the problem may be, Pitt IT is here to help!

Best of luck with your finals, Panthers. Let’s ace those exams and finish the semester strong!

-- By Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger