IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: October 04 2004

You've been away for three months or six months or maybe longer. You've been using your computer off campus. You probably don't know - and Drexel definitely does not know - how clean and risk free your computing environment has been. Even with all the server-side precautions that IRT takes on your behalf, some malware still slips through on the Drexel network. And not all IT centers and ISPs are as pro-active about security as Drexel is.

Thus, security is everybody's responsibility. Here are some steps you need to take for your own and your neighbors' protection.

Access the online tutorial on security procedures at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/security. This is a basic how-to page.
Watch for information on new infestations, and the tools to combat them, at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/virusinfo.

IRT keeps these pages updated throughout the year.

If you need a little advice, bring your laptop in to the Korman Center. If you have major problems that you cannot handle yourself, we'll send you downstairs to the Computer Fixer (see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/comfix/).

2. Warning! Check Before Installing Symantec AntiVirus

IRT has had several reports of users having difficulties when installing Symantec AntiVirus software from the Drexel CD.

Some computer vendors have pre-installed Norton Internet Security, which includes Norton AntiVirus 2004. Installing Symantec AntiVirus software on top of this software can cause major problems. It is necessary to de-install the NAV 2004 segment from Norton Internet Security before installing Drexel's Symantec product.

Everyone needs to have the Drexel version of Symantec AntiVirus software so as to benefit from the free Live Update feature under Drexel's corporate license. Symantec AntiVirus Version 9 is available online at ftp://software.drexel.edu. [The software on the Drexel CD (version 8, which is what was available in early summer) is now out of date.]

Students in the residence halls will have installed version 9 from the Resnet registration pages. Commuter students, faculty, and staff should install the new version from the software server mentioned above.

For more information and instructions, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/tips/norton/navuninstall.html, or bring your computer to the Korman Center for help.

3. More Security - Windows XP Service Pack 2 Now Available

For Windows XP users, the Service Pack 2 became available in late August. This installs a large number of security updates at one time, and is recommended for all Drexel users who have Windows XP. Those whose computers are configured for automatic updates probably have this already.

Anyone who doesn't have SP2 may download it from the Drexel server (ftp://software.drexel.edu). Or go to Internet Explorer > Tools > Windows Update (http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us); the News box on the right takes you to SP2.

To read about SP2 issues peculiar to Drexel, and what to do about them, check http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/sp2.html.

4. SPSS Available for Limited Distribution

Is statistical analysis part of your work, your research, your teaching? SPSS, one of the premier applications for statistical analysis, is available to the Drexel community.

For faculty and staff, SPSS is available for download at ftp://software.drexel.edu, choose FacultyandStaff > PCSoftware > SPSS. This full version of the SPSS application includes the modules for SPSS Base, Advanced Models, Regression Models, as well as Tables, Trends, Categories, Conjoint, Exact Test, and Missing Values.

For students, Drexel has a license for the use of 250 copies per term, of a version containing the SPSS Base, Advanced Models, and Regression Models modules. Disks may be checked out at the library by students in classes requiring the use of SPSS. Instructors of such classes should contact Tom Pugh at Hagerty Library (215-895-6839 or thomas.s.pugh@drexel.edu) to make arrangements.

Advisors of thesis or dissertation students needing to use SPSS should also make arrangements with Tom Pugh.

5. Coming Soon: Rent-A-Program

You've heard of rent-a-car? You've heard of rent-a-cop. Now try rent-a-program!

Members of the Drexel community can participate in a pilot program to rent three top-of-the-line Adobe software programs by the month. No need to send for disks, no need to install stuff on an already crowded hard drive. Simply log on to https://streaming2.endeavors.com and use your Drexel email address to register.

The programs available, and their 30-day fees, are Photoshop ($8.95), Illustrator ($2.95) and Acrobat ($4.95). Be ready to pay by credit card.

You do need a high-speed connection (ISDN or higher) and Windows 2000 or XP (sorry, nothing yet for Macintosh users). The application lives on the server, and you use it when you need it.

Seems like a cost-effective way to do a short-term class project. And extremely economical access to these high-end industry standard programs.

6. DrexelOne Adds New Features Now ... and More Later

DrexelOne, your single sign-in portal for many Drexel computing services, has some new features, and more in the works.

First, incoming freshmen now have their own customized "Welcome" page, displaying prominently the services they need the most. The balance of the Drexel community will notice a slightly redesigned Login page. In addition, you can customize your own front door. Stay tuned for the whens and hows!

Second, there is now a custom channel to library resources under your (Student/Faculty/Staff) Services tab. The library channel displays those services to which each individual is entitled. Your log-in to DrexelOne authenticates you for your library resources.

Keep in touch with DrexelOne for convenient one-stop shopping for computerized services. And watch future editions of IRT Technology Update for news about added features.

7. Respecting Intellectual Property

Drexel University strongly endorses the right of members of the Drexel community - students, faculty, staff - to the products of their own intellectual creativity. The corollary is that this applies to everyone, inside and outside Drexel.

What are we talking about? Copyright. And copyright infringement. Copying (or sharing) someone else's work without permission, whether it be research, writing, art, or music, is copyright infringement and is contrary to university policy.

For a detailed, legal statement of the university's copyright policy, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/policies/copyright.html. When computers are used in the copyright infringement, it is a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy that everyone agrees to when picking up a Drexel computer account (see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/policies/acceptableUse.html).

8. Electronic Communication - a Way of Life

Electronic communication is well-nigh ubiquitous at Drexel. Email is the prevalent form of one-on-one communication; electronic mailing lists and newsletters are central to organizing activities; and many instructors use lists and electronic course management tools (e.g. WebCT, see below) to organize and present materials for their classes.

In all of this electronic noise, it is well to remember certain rules of behavior.

First, remember that there is a human being at the other end of the ethernet. Common courtesy applies, as well as the need for clarity of expression. For guidelines, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/policies/email.html#etiquette.
Second, be considerate. Will your communication seem as important to the recipient as it does to you? Nobody loves spam! If you send too much that the recipients consider trash, that's where they may send it automatically.
Finally, be mindful that electronic communication is not completely private. There are many clever snoops in this world, as the frequent virus scares demonstrate, and some of them are malicious as well as curious. Think of your email as a postcard. Postal workers (or sys-admins) can easily read it, but most of the time they're probably not interested.

The university itself uses email and electronic lists to convey important information to the community. Some of these (Official Mail) are considered vital for you to know. Others (Announcements) are for events and activities that you may choose to receive or not receive. To manage your Announcements subscriptions, go to http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/subscriptions/.

WebCT News

9. New Term, New Faculty, Prepare for New WebCT

There's lots happening in WebCT. Fall term is here, with new faculty and new students and much to do to get WebCT courses ready to roll.

Back-up and archive summer courses
Get parent courses up to date
See if your textbook publisher has a WebCT-ready ePack
Restore enhanced parent courses into fall term

10. Training for WebCT Vista

Fall term is the "transition term" during which we all prepare to move from WebCT Campus Edition to WebCT Vista. There will be two types of training.

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, have been scheduled for the following dates:

Friday, October 29
Friday, November 19
Friday, December 17

Laptops are provided for hands-on experience and, when the session is full (which is normal), we also supply lunch. Reserve your slot early at webct@drexel.edu.

For Old Users: WebCT Vista Workshops
If you have used WebCT CE in the past, there are four-hour workshops for you to learn about the enhancements in Vista. These workshops will be held in Room 116 Korman Center on the following dates:

Friday, October 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Friday, November 12, noon-4 p.m.
Friday, December 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

These workshops and boot camps are hands-on, with limited enrollment; IRT provides the laptops. To reserve a place, email webct@drexel.edu.

Departmental Training
If you would prefer to have a WebCT Vista 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 Vista Arrives This Fall - What's New?

WebCT Vista, expected to go live at Drexel at the beginning of Winter term, adds many features that faculty, students, and other users have been asking for. Here are some examples.

Enhancements to the Discussions tool: gradable topics, discussion topic categories, editable postings, students can view all their postings or all new posts at one time.

A true "student view" for instructors.
New assessment options.
Student self-enrollment in topics or groups.
Combined (or separate) chat and whiteboard.
Link annotations for explanatory information.
Roll-up reporting to aggregate student data from several course sections.
Printable versions of the Syllabus tool.

And lots, lots more!

12. Reading List Management

Not to be left out, there is a new "Tool" in WebCT CE.

"Discover" is a reading list management tool. You can aggregate electronic resources into a "resource list" and then create, share and publish views as reading lists accessible through your WebCT classes. This integrates with Hagerty Library databases for resource lookup and with SFX for persistent resource link management.

Stop by the Faculty Development Center for a quick tour, or make an appointment at 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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