Microsoft Lync is a handy tool. It's a little Skype, though it can do more things. It's expensive, but as a Pitt student, it costs you nothing.
Microsoft Lync allows you to visit with your professor from home—or wherever you happen to be. More than one student can visit with a professor at the same time. (We could even hold class on Microsoft Lync—although he won't.) We can even share one another's screens. This tool is particularly helpful for commuter students in bad weather.
To use Microsoft Lync, you must first set it up. It's not hard. Go to my.pitt.edu and log in. When you do, you'll see a variety of items on the right hand side of the screen. Scroll down. Near the bottom, you'll see "Lync for Pitt" in blue letters. Click on that. It will take you to a "getting started" page. You will need to download a bit of software. It only takes a few seconds. Follow the instructions, and you're good to go.
If you want to meet with me via Microsoft Lync, you'll need to make an appointment, just as if you were coming to the office. I normally don't stay logged into Lync unless I'm using the tool.
I would suggest giving it a try and becoming familiar with the possibilities. Even if you don't use it much this semester, it will likely come in handy down the road.