IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: September 23 2005

This is a periodic email publication of the Office of Information Resources and Technology, intended to provide up-to-date information about services and changes in computing, networking, and other information systems at Drexel.

The IRT Tech Update is delivered to your Drexel inbox approximately once a month...more frequently if there is urgent news. There will be a mixture of short articles about new services and products, system changes, and general tips and tricks, usually with references to web pages for more detailed information. There will also be security information, although urgent security alerts will typically come to you as stand-alone mailings.

We hope you will all find this service useful. Back issues are archived at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/news/technews/. If you have special topics you'd like us to cover, please send suggestions to consult@drexel.edu.

2. Technology Checklist

New to campus? Returning to campus? Even old hands who might have missed some opportunities?

There's a checklist posted on the IRT web page with web references to electronic services you will or may need. Go to http://www.drexel.edu/IRT and click on either the New Student link or the New Employee (faculty and staff) link.

Use the links on those pages for information and access.

3. DrexelOne: It's a Little Bit Different

You may notice that things have moved around a bit on your DrexelOne Welcome page (http://one.drexel.edu). And...we now have a weather report.

Other new features of the DrexelOne single-sign-on portal include fewer clicks to verify your personal Banner information.

A few users who have Norton Internet Security on their computers (it comes pre-installed on some new machines) and possibly some other "privacy" software programs may have trouble accessing Banner. If you experience difficulties, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/bweb_blank_in_D1.htm.

For help, contact 215-895-2698 or consult@drexel.edu.

4. Registering Computers in Dorms

Students in Drexel's residence halls re-register their personal computers on the Drexel network each term. On September 16, 2005, all network jacks in the residence halls were switched to the Resnet Isolated Network.

This connection enables the user to download Drexel's anti-virus programs and run the necessary checks to ensure that the computer is not infected. Once this process is completed, the user registers the computer and is connected to the Drexel network and the Internet.

For questions, contact 215-895-2698 or consult@drexel.edu.

5. How to Get Drexel's Site-Licensed Software

To download Drexel's site-licensed software, go to http://www.drexel.edu/IRT and click on the Computer Marketplace link in the left-hand panel; then click on the Get Software link. Use your DrexelOne username and password for authentication as needed.

This site gives you the choice to download the software, or in some cases to purchase the media from e-Academy. Because of the size of many of the programs, downloading is only recommended if you are connected to the Drexel network. The cost of purchasing the media is extremely modest.

The direct link to the software page is http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/comp_mark/software.html.

6. New Name, New Look for Brio Reports

Brio Query, the tool enabling authorized Drexel personnel to generate reports from the data in the Banner system, has a new name and a new address.

Brio has become Hyperion. Users will now access the tool at http://www.drexel.edu/reporting. Download the new plug-in from http://www.drexel.edu/is/faq/hyperionupgrade/default.asp#.

The reports will be similar to what users are accustomed to from Brio, but Hyperion supports access through sub-folders grouped into functional areas - instead of one long alphabetical list.

Information about this change is available at http://www.drexel.edu/IS. For questions, send email to SA_Student@drexel.edu.

WebCT Vista News

7. WebCT Vista Overview

WebCT Vista may be used to augment face-to-face classes, to deliver classes completely on line, or something in between. All classes in Banner, the student registration system, exist also in WebCT Vista.

WebCT Vista offers content dissemination, linkage to online resources, interaction among course participants, and management of course assignments and assessments. Professors may use WebCT Vista to:

post the course syllabus
post course materials
link students to Internet resources
conduct asynchronous discussions
provide a digital dropbox for submitting assignments
administer quizzes and surveys
post grades

WebCT has been used on the Drexel campus for several years, with hundreds of courses making use of at least some of its features. The WebCT Vista application, representing a significant upgrade in features and capabilities, is new at Drexel this term.

8. Accessing WebCT Vista

To access WebCT Vista, go through the DrexelOne portal at http://one.drexel.edu, enter your DrexelOne username and password, click the Login button, click on the Student Resources or Faculty Resources tab, select the MyCourses link in the Course Services channel, and then the Section that you want.

There is a context-sensitive Help feature available throughout the application. The link is in the top right corner of the WebCT Vista window. You may also ask for help at webct@drexel.edu.

9. Configuring Computers for WebCT Vista

For the best experience with WebCT Vista it is important that your computer(s) be properly configured in these key areas:

using a WebCT-supported browser
having Java installed and properly configured
disabling pop-up blockers while using WebCT Vista
establishing http://vle.dcollege.net as a "trusted site" in your browser
having certain ports enabled/open in personal firewalls, specifically: HTTP = Port 80; HTTPS = Port 443; Chat/Whiteboard = Port 2304.

Note that corporate firewalls often present challenges to WebCT Vista users.

Make sure you follow the instructions in Helpful Information and Helpful Links at the bottom of your My Courses channel.

10. WebCT Vista Information Sessions for Students

Information sessions for students using WebCT Vista will be offered in Korman room 116 at the following times:

Monday, September 26 - 10-11 a.m. or 3-4 p.m.
Tuesday, September 27 - 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Wednesday, September 28 - 9-10 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.
Thursday, September 29 - 9-10 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.

Monday, October 3 - 9-10 a.m. or 4-5 p.m.
Tuesday, October 4 - 9-10 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.
Wednesday, October 5 - 8-9 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Thursday, October 6 - 8-9 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.

Just show up. No advance registration is needed. All of the sessions are identical.

11. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions for Faculty Members

Bring your lunch, share your experiences, and learn more about WebCT Vista and other academic technologies in informal sessions with fellow faculty members.

Brown Bag Lunches for faculty and staff are scheduled for noon-1 p.m. in Korman room 116 as follows:

Tuesday, September 27 - Highlights of WebCT Vista
Thursday, October 27 - Topic to be determined
Wednesday, November 30 - Topic to be determined
Tuesday, December 20 - Topic to be determined

To reserve a spot, complete with a soda and a dessert, send email to webct@drexel.edu.

Topics are invited. Use the same email address to suggest topics for future brown baggers.

12. Training for WebCT Vista for Faculty

IRT offers faculty members two kinds of training - Boot Camps for new users and Workshops for current users. As sessions fill up, more may be added, so watch for schedule updates on the IRT Web site 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. Boot Camps have been scheduled for the following dates:

Friday, September 23 - FULL
Friday, September 30
Friday, October 7
Friday, October 21
Friday, November 4
Friday, November 18
Friday, December 16

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

* For Current Users: WebCT Vista Workshops
These are four-hour workshops to enhance your knowledge in selected areas, and help to convert your courses from WebCT Campus Edition to WebCT Vista. These workshops will be held in Room 116 Korman Center on the following dates and times:

Friday, October 14, noon-4 p.m.
Friday, November 11, noon-4 p.m.
Friday, December 9, noon-4 p.m.

To sign up, email webct@drexel.edu.

* 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.

13. WebCT Tips for This Month

* The best way for a student to learn about WebCT Vista is to log in and go through the Student Orientation section. All students should be registered in this section. In addition, help is available at the IRT web site at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT.

* Each course section in WebCT Vista has a Home Page. The Course Toolbar, near the top right of the screen, displays any special tools and icons selected by the instructor for student use. Rolling the mouse pointer over the icon tells you what it is; clicking provides access to the tool.

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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