|
Tuesday, 13 January 2004
Contents:
1. New Year's Resolutions for Network Safety
2. Configuring Email Clients to Receive Mail
3. How-to Upgrade Your Windows 98
4. Drexel Hosts Neighboring Schools for WebCT
WebCT News
5. Backing Up, Restoring WebCT Courses
6. Drexel Again Hosts WebCT Regional Conference
7. WebCT Boot Camps
8. Tips for This Month
1. New Year's Resolutions for Network Safety
I hereby resolve to do all I can to keep my computer, and the Drexel network,
safe from compromise this year. Specifically:
* I will keep my Windows patches up to date. Go every day to Internet
Explorer > Tools > Windows Update. Click on "Scan for updates".
* I will keep my anti-virus software up to date. Go every day to Symantec
AntiVirus Client and click on "LiveUpdate".
This whole process usually takes less than one minute per day - slightly more
if there actually are updates to be installed. It's very simple, so just do
it!
More security questions? Check out http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/security/.
Back to Top
2. Configuring Email Clients to Receive Mail
Some users have been receiving password errors when trying to check mail, but
their passwords are or should be valid. If this happens to you, look at the
server address for incoming mail in your email client. IRT recommends that the
incoming mail server name should be "imap.mail.drexel.edu" (this leaves
your email on the server). If you prefer to download your email, then use "pop.mail.drexel.edu".
For detailed instructions, see the web page at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/ConfigureEmail.html.
Back to Top
3. How-to Upgrade Your Windows 98
In the last issue of IRT Technology Update, we warned you about the
imminent departure of Windows 98. This operating system is now more than five
years old, which in the computer world makes it definitely prehistoric.
Word has now been received that Microsoft has extended support for Windows
98 from first quarter of 2004 until sometime in 2006; this makes the issue somewhat
less urgent. It is still a problem, however, because the system is unable to
run some of the newer applications.
Before deciding just what to do, check out our web page on upgrading from Windows
98 to XP at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/win98_2_winxp.html.
Especially check out the capability of your hardware to handle the upgrade.
You ultimately have two choices:
(a) You can upgrade using the step-by-step instructions on the web page (but
be very sure to heed the warnings and do the job right the first time).
(b) You can wait until you purchase a new computer, which most likely will be
soon if you are still running this antiquated operating system.
Back to Top
4. Drexel Hosts Neighboring Schools for WebCT
Drexel's IRT is now hosting WebCT and ancillary information technology services
for a number of nearby institutions. This sharing of resources now encompasses
five other schools: Neumann College, Cabrini College, Rosemont College, Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Wilkes University.
The partnership provides resources for the smaller schools that would simply
not be cost effective any other way, and also provides economies of scale for
Drexel itself.
Meanwhile, the use of WebCT at Drexel continues to burgeon. As of the current
term, some 350 Drexel instructors are using some portion of WebCT in 900 plus
out of the 2,500 scheduled courses on the Drexel roster. Between 3,000-5,000
unique logins to WebCT are recorded every day.
Back to Top
WebCT News
5. Backing Up, Restoring WebCT Courses
A new tutorial for backing up and restoring WebCT courses is posted in the
WebCT DES-101 (Designers Forum) course. Click on the "Backup & Restore"
selection in the Course Menu. If you need additional assistance,
contact us at webct@drexel.edu.
Back to Top
6. Drexel Again Hosts WebCT Regional Conference
Drexel will be hosting its second WebCT Regional Conference on April 19-20,
2004. Stay tuned for calls for proposals and think about presenting your course,
demonstrating your approach, highlighting your unique content. Last year's event
was a resounding success, drawing some 200 people from 40 institutions. With
your input, this one will be even better.
Back to Top
7. WebCT Boot Camps
WebCT Boot Camps, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 116 of the Korman Computing
Center, have been scheduled for the following dates:
Friday, Jan 30 - 3 slots open
Friday, Feb 27
Friday, March 26
Friday, April 23
Friday, June 18
Laptops are provided for hands-on experience and, when the session is full
(per usual), we also supply lunch. Pick your date and get your reservation in
early at webct@drexel.edu.
Back to Top
8. Tips for This Month
* Some of your students' ISPs may have "timeouts" built in. If the
account is inactive for a period of time, they are automatically logged off
of the Internet. This can be a problem if you adminster lengthy quizzes since
activity within WebCT does NOT constitute "activity" in the
eyes of these ISPs.
Result? Some of your students may get "kicked out" of a
quiz. This is not a WebCT problem; the settings are determined by the ISPs.
Solution? Try some practice quizzes to see if this is a problem for
any of your students. Also, being mindful of this possibility, consider doing
more frequent but shorter quizzes.
* The Gradebook in WebCT is a powerful tool; students appreciate
being able to monitor their performance via WebCT. Setting up your Gradebook
can facilitate additional features. You can include a Total Grade column, using
a formula window to compute grade components and display a sturent's Total Grade.
This only works for Gradebook columns designated as the "numeric"
type. If you want a column to be part of the Total Grade, be sure to designate
it as "numeric" from the start to avoid having to revise it later
on.
Back to Top
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.
|
