IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: January 10 2005

Do you send emails to your faculty members to inform them of meetings, activities, departmental decisions? Do you need to communicate with all your student majors? And do you find yourself pasting lists of email addresses into your email client, sometimes sending the same message multiple times because of technical limits on the email server regarding the number of addressees?

Many faculty members communicate electronically with their classes, either through the tools in WebCT or by requesting a Listserv class list via http://www.drexel.edu/classlist.

Department administrators have similar capabilities. You can request a Listserv list, then send your messages once and forget 'em.

To read about mailing lists at Drexel, see the General Information section at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/services/listserv/. (Don't be intimidated; once you have made a few advance decisions, the procedure is quite straightforward.)

To talk over the use of Listserv with a real person, call the Help Desk (215-895-2698) and ask to speak with someone in the Mass Mailing group. Or email your questions to mailreq@drexel.edu, and be sure to tell us how we should contact you.

To request a listserv mailing list, email mailreq@drexel.edu.

2. New Look, New-Old Address, for Exchange Web Mail

If you are a Drexel employee with an Exchange email account, you should now access that account from any Internet-connected computer by going to https://exchangeweb.drexel.edu. Log in using your Drexel domain ID and password.

This reflects the completion of transition to a new client version for Outlook Web Access. Some of you had previously been instructed to use another web address for this service; you should discontinue use of that temporary address and use the one above.

If you have any questions or problems, contact the help desk at 215-895-2698 or consult@drexel.edu.

3. Video Conferencing to Be Available in Korman Center

Heads up: IRT is in the final stages of rolling out access to video conference-enabled classrooms in the Korman Computing Center.

There is currently a dedicated classroom with built-in camera(s), microphones, and speakers, and a video conferencing appliance (the hardware that enables the sending and receiving of video, audio, and data). A second video conferencing appliance - self-contained on a roll-about cart - will be available for use in other Korman classrooms and conference rooms.

The technology chosen to support Korman's video conferencing (there are others on campus in other locations) is a Radvision ViaIP MCU (multipoint control unit), with Gateway and Gatekeeper to manage and control video conferences and end-points. These units will give capability to interoperate with both IP (network-based) and ISDN (telephone-based) end points, and enables multipoint capabilities (one conference encompassing multiple locations).

Watch future IRT Technology Updates for news on Korman video conferencing, including directions to IRT's web-based video conference reservation system.

And be thinking how you would wish to use video conferencing in your classes, departments, and other activities. Are you, for example, chairing the program committee for a forthcoming academic conference? Video conferencing has many possibile applications, so be creative. To discuss your ideas, contact the Faculty Development Center at 215-895-1224 or stop in to room 109 in the Korman Center.

4. IRT Offers Dreamweaver Intermediate Training

IRT will offer intermediate workshops for the Dreamweaver web design tool beginning in February 2005. To create a more advanced layout, the intermediate workshop will build on the skills learned in the basic workshop. Prior knowledge of Dreamweaver is assumed.

Topics to be covered include:

Using tables for site design
Adding user interactivity
Using cascading style sheets
Best practices
Attender requests

Please contact us at dreamweaver@drexel.edu if you have a specific "attender request". Use that address also to register if you are interested in attending a workshop.

Visit http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops/ for a current listing of our available Dreamweaver workshop dates.

5. Bye-Bye Windows 98

Although Microsoft has not completely dropped support for Windows 98, Drexel's IRT strongly recommends that anyone who connects to the campus network but is still running the Windows 98 operating system should upgrade to at least Windows 2000.

The reason is that more and more of Drexel's software applications simply do not work - or work poorly - with OS versions lower than Windows 2000. This is critical, among other issues, for network security.

Upgrades are available for students, faculty, and staff over the network at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/software/. For advice and answers to questions, contact consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2698.

6. Resnet Re-Registration

All returning students in campus residence halls have been re-registering their computers on the campus network this past week. By the end of the first day, some 2200 had completed the process successfully.

At that time, 80 computers were being blocked because of un-repaired security vulnerabilities. For most users needing repair, a page appeared giving information about what vulnerabilities were found and what to do about them. The final fall-back option was to call Resnet Help at 215-895-2020.

This process is important to protect all of us from the many viruses, worms, trojans, and other malicious stuff circulating on the Internet. The registration scans for 20 major vulnerabilities that may have resulted in computers being infected when used off campus during term break.

As an additional safeguard (it helps but it's no magic bullet), we advise you to set up your computer for automatic anti-virus protection and Windows updates. See http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/security/security_howto.html for instructions.

In short: do all of the above and still be careful.

7. Tell Phishers, Go P-Ph-Phf-Fish!

"We need to verify the information on your account." "We'll pay you a percentage for your help in transfering the gazillions left by a deceased cabinet minister in a remote country." Sound familiar?

Despite intensive blocking by IRT network managers, we all receive numerous spam-scams each week. Many of these are "phishes", that is, solicitations for a response - either by email or on a web link - that will give the phisher your personal information and can lead to a crime known as "identity theft".

What to do?

First, know that no reputable bank or other financial institution asks for personal information via email. A heavy finger on the Delete button is the appropriate response. Click the box in the upper corner of your window (upper right for Windows, upper left for Mac); do not click on anything within the window, and never go to any web link given.

Second, never give out your social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or other personal information in response to anyone who has contacted you by email, web page, or even by telephone. Only give information when you yourself have initiated the contact, and even then check the security settings (e.g., "https://").

Beyond the compromise of personal information which you, in a careless moment, might provide, the act of responding to phishing may also enable the phisher to install spyware on your computer. This is software that hijacks your computer, shares your files, monitors your keystrokes, and may compromise your passwords.

The consequences of all this can range from mildly annoying to downright tragic, both for your computer and for you.

In the words of the children's card game, tell phishers to "Go Fish!".

WebCT News

8. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions: Join Us

The following Brown Bag Lunch Sessions are scheduled for Winter term from noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005:
WebCT Campus Edition, a demo with Q&A session.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005:
Teaching Online, tips and strategies with opportunity to share experiences, successes and failures.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005:
Getting Ready for Spring Quarter, how to work in parent courses to develop online materials ahead of time, as well as exploring new features you want to know more about.

Bring your lunch and we will supply the sodas and dessert. Seating is limited, so sign up early at webct@drexel.edu.

9. WebCT Faculty Showcase

This year's WebCT Faculty Showcase will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2005. Submit one of your courses for consideration to webct@drexel.edu. Up to six faculty members will be chosen as presenters.

Presenters will demonstrate how they use WebCT in their course(s) in innovative, creative, and meaningful ways - for themselves and their students. The presentation receiving the most favorable reviews will be recognized in the following IRT Technology Update.

Lunch will be provided for all, but seating is limited.

10. Training for WebCT

IRT is offering two types of training for WebCT Campus Edition.

* For New Users: WebCT Boot Camps
WebCT Boot Camps, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 116 of the Korman Computing Center, provide an introduction to the most essential WebCT tools. Boot Camps have been scheduled for the following dates:

Friday, January 28
Friday, March 18
Friday, May 20

Laptops are provided as well as lunch. Reserve your slot at webct@drexel.edu.

* For Current Users: WebCT Workshops
For current WebCT Campus Edition users, there are four-hour workshops to enhance your knowledge in selected areas. These workshops will be held in Room 116 Korman Center on the following dates:

Friday, February 18, noon-4 p.m.
Friday, April 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Friday, June 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

To sign up, email webct@drexel.edu. Let us know which tools you want to learn.

* Departmental Training
If you would prefer to have a WebCT workshop or boot camp just for your department, let us know. We'll provide the same information at a time convenient for your group. We can, if you wish, break it into shorter segments spread over several days. We can do it in Korman or in your own lab. Contact us at webct@drexel.edu.

11. WebCT Tips for This Month

* Still using Scantron for end-of-course surveys? Go paperless - and learn about WebCT at the same time.

- We'll help you create a survey in WebCT that is identical to the one you currently administer with bubble sheets.
- We'll get your survey into your course(s)
- We'll help you when the results come in.

* Still taking class time for practice quizzes, quizzes, or tests? Wouldn't you rather use the class time for covering your material? The Quiz and Survey tool in WebCT may be your answer.

- It automatically grades true/false, multiple choice, short answer, and matching questions.
- It automatically puts the grade in the grade book.
- It can (if you choose), automatically display the grade to the individual student.
- It even delivers essay questions for you to grade later.

To get started, call the Faculty Development Center at 215-895-1224 and speak with Stephen or Michael, or email webct@drexel.edu.

To read previous issues of the IRT Technology Update, go to http://www.drexel.edu/irt/news/technews/

To manage your subscription options to the IRT Technology Update and other Drexel Announcements, go to http://www.drexel.edu/irt/subscriptions. If you prefer to receive a plain text version, please email your request to mailreq@drexel.edu.

Modified: August 20, 2008

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