IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: August 29 2006

It's the end of the academic year and the beginning of a new one. Time to check out your computer system, do a backup, discard or store old material, straighten out your file folders, and generally get ready for the new year.

While you're at it, be sure to change your password at http://accounts.drexel.edu. For pointers on choosing a good, strong password, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/policies/email.html#password.

For other tips on routine maintenance to be ready for the new year, see one of two tip sheets on the IRT web page:

http://drexel.edu/irt/support/tips/general/newstudents.pdf
http://drexel.edu/irt/support/tips/general/newemployees.pdf

Although these pages are directed to new students and new faculty/staff, they contain a useful compendium of references for old timers also.

02. Rich Media Conversion: New Version Released

Rich Media Conversion Project (RMCP) released version 2 (Cimera) on July 28. Its most important new features include:

A new tab-based interface
The renaming of Courses/Folders to Channels
The addition of Playlists.

The previous RMC application was unable to change the order of items, remove items, or aggregate items from various Courses/Folders (now Channels). In the new version, those functions are possible through the Playlist feature.

Using Playlist, you can:

Pick and choose which items you want to aggregate.
Set the order of items to be aggregated.
Select items from any or all of the Channels, or from any Channel that has been made "share-able".

Channels can be set to "share" at the discretion of the content creator. There is no limit to the number of Playlists a content creator can have or to the number of items a Playlist can contain. Playlist contents can be edited, republished, and deleted.

This new RMC version also expands the types of input files you can use. The ability to upload graphic files (GIF, JPG, PNG, TIF and BMP) has been added. In addition to uploading AVI and Quicktime (MOV, QT) video, digital video (DV) and MPEG (MPG) can now be uploaded and converted to Real, Windows Media, MP3, MP4 and/or 3GP formats.

For information, see http://www.drexel.edu/irt/rmcweb/.

03. Student Phone Numbers - A New Wrinkle

When students return to the residence halls in September they will find a significant enhancement in their phone service. The person who elects to use university phone services (i.e., the roommate who calls 215-895-2020 to activate service) will be able to keep that number when switching rooms. Previously, the phone number was tied to the room and jack, and a move meant a new number.

Phone service in the residence hall covers on-campus and local calling, receipt of calls, and voice mail. Long distance calling, as always, requires use of a phone card or individual cell phone.

04. ResNet Network Connections to Be Re-Registered

The turn-off date for network connections in Drexel residence halls is the weekend of September 9-10. After that weekend, all computers to be connected to a jack in a residence hall must be (re-)registered on the network.

This is a routine practice familiar to dormitory residents at Drexel. Its purpose is to safeguard the networks and other users - insofar as possible - from network-borne viruses. When a computer is plugged into the network jack, it connects to a special isolated web page with instructions for virus checking and then registration.

For questions, contact 215-895-2698.

05. Lithium Ion Battery Recall for Dell and Apple Notebooks

In mid August, Dell Computer announced the recall of batteries for some of its Latitude, Inspiron, Precision or XPS notebook computers because of possible overheating and fire hazard. The recall applies only to certain models of lithium ion batteries shipped in computers, or replaced in computers, between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006.

Ten days later Apple Computer announced a lithium ion battery recall on its 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 notebooks that were sold from October 2004 through May 2005, or batteries provided separately as replacements during that time frame.

To check whether your Dell computer battery is included in the recall, go to https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/default.aspx.
To check whether your Apple computer battery is included in the recall, go to https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html.

Both of these web pages give very explicit instructions on how to determine whether your notebook is affected and how to obtain a replacement battery, as well as phone numbers to call for help.

If your computer is affected, you may remove the battery and continue using the computer on AC current while waiting for the replacement battery from Dell or Apple.

06. Reserve Computer Classrooms for Fall Term ... Now!

Limited space is still available in the Korman Computing Center at the Drexel University City Main Campus. Its eight (8) specialized computer classrooms may be reserved by faculty members for single sessions or an entire term.

Faculty members must reserve classrooms for Fall term no later than tomorrow, Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/classrooms.

Special software requests must be renewed each term. Media, licenses and activation codes must be submitted to IRT for testing and installation, and instructors should themselves test the functionality of the special software before the start of their classes. Deadline for submission of special software is also Wednesday, August 30.

Since the Fall term deadline is now immediate, please call 215-895-2635 at once to alert IRT if you have not already completed your request.

WebCT Vista News

07. New Tech Support Team Member

Julie Allmayer is our new Technology Support Team member. We anticipate that she will work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., which will extend the hours of the Faculty Development Center to 6 p.m. daily.

Born and raised in Norristown, PA, Julie majored in psychology and near eastern studies at Cornell University, where she was active in Delta Phi Epsilon sorority and The Chordials, an a cappella group. After receiving a master's degree in higher education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in June 2003, she supported the technology needs of faculty, staff and students at Temple Law School (2003-05) and Penn Law School (2005-06) before joining Drexel IRT in August.

In her free time, Julie likes to jog (she hopes to run a half-marathon soon) and is currently taking a Yiddish class in Center City.

Welcome aboard, Julie!

08. Saturday Coverage in the Faculty Development Center

The Technology Support Team will provide Saturday coverage in the Faculty Development Center (room 109 Korman Computing Center) during Fall term 2006. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The facilities will be available and support team members will be on hand to help faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants. Users can also seek help by telephone at 215-895-1224 or via email at fdc@drexel.edu.

09. WebCT Vista Training for Students

Student introductory sessions and help using WebCT Vista are scheduled in Korman room 116 as follows:

Tuesday, September 26 - 10 a.m.
Wednesday, September 27 - 2 p.m.
Thursday, September 28 - 4 p.m.
Friday, September 29 - 10 a.m.

Tuesday, October 3 - 2 p.m.
Wednesday, October 4 - 10 a.m.
Thursday, October 5 - 10 a.m.
Friday, October 6 - 2 p.m.

These are one-hour sessions, but students may arrive at any time during the time frame. No pre-registration is needed.

10. Faculty Training for WebCT Vista

The schedule for WebCT Vista trainings is given below. As always, register early (webct@drexel.edu) since capacity is limited; watch for schedule updates and possible additional sessions at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops/index.html.

* For New Users: WebCT Vista Boot Camps
WebCT Vista 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 for novice users. Boot Camps are scheduled quarterly at the following times:

Friday, September 15 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, December 15, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Laptops are provided for use in the workshop as well as lunch. Reserve your slot at webct@drexel.edu.

* WebCT Vista Modularized Training
Based on participant feedback, the Technology Support Team will offer short, highly-focused workshops on WebCT Vista tools and features (as well as other emerging technologies) during the second half of 2006. These Modularized Training sessions, in Korman room 116, will be held as follows:

Thursday, September 7, 2-4 p.m. - Evaluating Students
Wednesday, September 13, 9-11 a.m. - Misc.: Media Library, Reports, Tracking
Thursday, September 21, 2-4 p.m. - Misc.: Media Library, Reports, Tracking

For workshop details, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops. To sign up, email webct@drexel.edu.

* Departmental Training
If you would prefer to have a WebCT Vista training session 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. Camtasia and Impatica Training

Licenses are available for both Impatica and Camtasia, software packages that enable you to record voiceover and other elements for lectures. When you attend a one-hour session on either application, we make arrangements for you to get the software. There are some limits on the number of licenses for faculty and staff.

Here are the sessions scheduled currently:

Tuesday, September 19, 10-11 a.m. in Korman 116 - Impatica
Wednesday, October 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Korman 116 - Impatica

Tuesday, September 19, 11 a.m.-noon in Korman 116 - Camtasia
Wednesday, October 18, 2:45-3:45 p.m. in Korman 116 - Camtasia

To sign up, email webct@drexel.edu.

12. Horizon Wimba Web-Based Training

Faculty and teaching assistants may sign up for free web-based training sessions in Horizon Wimba. Three sessions may be reached as follows:

Live Classroon: Presenter Training 101
http://tinyurl.com/agk8a

Live Classroom: Advanced Presenter Training
http://tinyurl.com/7b8rb

Audio/Voice Tools within Blackboard or WebCT
http://tinyurl.com/ocnjj

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13. Exemplary Online Courses in WebCT

Faculty members frequently ask about examining well-designed online courses.

In fact, the corporate owners of the WebCT Vista program have a set of exemplary online courses, which you can view at http://www.webct.com/exemplary.

The six courses posted there were recognized and applauded this year. There are also archives of previous years' exemplary courses. Take a look at what online teaching and learning is all about.

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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