Digital Skills

Beacon is your intelligent digital guide to help you through your university experience. Just like you, it will be learning more and more skills and knowledge over the years to come, some of the things it can do include:

• View your timetable
• Search the staff directory
• View the contact details for your lecturers, personal tutor and course leader
• Check PC/Laptop availability
• Request important documents
• Browse news and events
• Order a replacement student card
• Search the societies and clubs you can join
• Get directions to buildings and places on campus
• Get answers to common questions across all our services: Career Connect, Student Wellbeing, Digital Services, Library, Student Inclusion, Student Support and Experience (including International Student Support and Money and Guidance), Student Connect and Students’ Union

Beacon is accessible direct via a web browser at https://beacon.staffs.ac.uk, or as a downloadable app for your compatible iOS/Android device.

In addition, the Beacon widget is also embedded within Microsoft Teams, meaning that staff and students can chat with Beacon without leaving Teams.

Got a question, ask Beacon!

Blackboard is your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which is where all of your learning content will be accessed from and where you will submit your assignments. Below you will find a video playlist walking through the basics of blackboard. Additionally there are also workshop in the Library Workshop calendar that you can join for a detailed walkthrough. 

Alternatively, there is also a test module that you can sign up for which will give you a more of a hands on approach. Click here to sign onto the Blackboard module. (You will need a University of Staffordshire Username and Password).

To access a transcript please view it using the Watch on YouTube option.

Office 365 gives you access to a range of Microsoft applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Teams which are all vital for your learning at Staffs. Whether that be for writing an report, delivering a pitch to an important client or managing your calendar. Below you will be able to watch videos on accessing your Office account as well as installing it on to your personal device. We have also put together some pages to help you get started using the applications! 

To access the transcripts, please view the videos using the Watch on YouTube option.