Introduction

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) provides a cloud-based virtual desktop service (Apporto) to faculty and students. Instructors choose a virtual desktop to be integrated with their Canvas sites. Students then launch a virtual desktop from within the course site. 

Using hardware-based labs, students can remotely connect to physical computers in TLOS computer labs. Due to licensing restrictions, some applications are not available in virtual computer labs.

Contents

• Background
• Cloud-Based Virtual Computer Labs
  
  • Requesting a Cloud-based Lab Integration with Canvas
    
    • Available Desktops
  • Accessing Cloud-based Labs
• Getting Help
  
  • Troubleshooting white screen when launching virtual desktop
  • I can't submit a request for my Canvas course
  • Other Apporto Issues

Instructions

Background

Cloud-based computer labs support Windows, Mac OS, and Linux virtualization, and include collaborative features such as screen sharing, faculty view of student desktops, faculty assistance by taking over students' screens, and user profile persistence. Instructors can customize the operating system and software available to students. The cloud-based labs provide a consistent desktop experience for all users.

• Replicating a computer lab environment virtually
• Enabling access to software that may be cost-prohibitive for students to purchase
• Providing software which may have complicated installation procedures

Please note: Instructors and/or departments are responsible for licensing the software made available via the cloud-based computer lab. The labs can only be used with software licensing that supports virtualization (e.g. not Adobe Creative Cloud applications). 

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Cloud-Based Virtual Computer Labs

Requesting a Cloud-based Lab Integration with Canvas

To request a lab:

1. Fill out this form: Cloud-Based Computer Labs - Integrate with Canvas.
2. You will be asked for: 
   
   • URL of the Canvas site
   • Which virtual desktop (see Available Desktops) you want integrated
   • Request software be added to a desktop (please note that instructors and/or departments are responsible for licensing the software)
3. You can also request a consultation to discuss specific needs. 

Available Desktops

See also Apporto's Help Center & Video Tutorials. 

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Accessing Cloud-based Labs

Students and instructors access cloud-based computer labs the same way: 

1. Log in to Canvas with your VT Username (PID) and password.
2. Go to the course with the integrated computer lab. 
3. Click on Apporto Windows Desktop, Apporto Windows Desktop vGPU, or Apporto Mac Desktop in the course navigation menu.

   

4. The virtual desktop will open.

   

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Getting Help

See Apporto's Help Center for Education.

Troubleshooting White Screen When Launching a Virtual Desktop

If you see a white screen when you launch a virtual desktop in Apporto: 

1. Make sure you're using Google Chrome.
2. Do a hard refresh of your browser:
   
   • Windows: Hold Ctrl and F5.
   • Mac: Hold Cmd and Shift then press R.
3. Clear the cache in Chrome. See Clear cache & cookies.

I Can't Submit a Request for My Canvas Course

If your primary affiliation is not VT-Faculty or VT-Staff, you will not be able to fill out the Cloud-Based Computer Labs - Integrate with Canvas form. Instead, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. We will need the following information:

• URL of the Canvas site
• Which virtual desktop (see Available Desktops) you want integrated
• Request software be added to a desktop (please note that instructors and/or departments are responsible for licensing the software)

Other Apporto Issues

To report other Apporto issues, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. We will need the following information:

• URL of the Canvas site
• Description of the issue and screenshot if possible

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