IRT Technology Update
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Contents:
1. Fifth Annual Regional e-Learning Conference to Be Held at Drexel
2. New Voice Mail System Coming Soon
3. When Purchasing New Office Computers, Choose Win XP
4. WinVista Testing Continues – More Testers Welcome
5. DrexelMed Email Addresses5
6. Resnet Re-Registration Begins March 26
7. Special Alert for Eudora Users
News and Notes for Online Learning
8. Bb-Vista-4 Is Coming in Summer Term
9. Online Learning Support During Spring Term
10. More Student Support Available
11. Trainings for Faculty and Staff
12. Qwik Tips for This Month
1. Fifth Annual Regional e-Learning Conference to Be Held at Drexel
The 5th Annual Regional e-Learning 2.0 Conference (formerly NEWUG) will be held at George D. Behrakis Grand Hall (32nd and Chestnut Streets) on Thursday, March 29, 2007.
e-Learning is evolving rapidly and advancing to the next level, version 2.0. New technologies (e.g., blogs, wikis, podcasts, Second Life), learning management system (LMS) evolution, escalating student expectations, institutional vision and new services are all stimulating this change. While exciting, this advancement to e-Learning 2.0 poses many new challenges.
The e-Learning 2.0 Conference will provide a venue to learn from what others are doing and to discuss ways of accessing the next level of technology integration in the e-Learning landscape. Susan Patrick, president and chief executive officer of the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) and former director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education, is a featured speaker.
Drexel faculty and staff - and faculty and staff from other eLearning venues in the Mid Atlantic region - are welcome. The schedule of presentations and conference registration is available now at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/eLearningConf2007.
Conference sponsors include: Drexel University (IRT and Drexel e-Learning), Bucks County Community College, Thomas Jefferson University, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium, Temple University, Villanova University, Eastern University, Gloucester County College and Raritan Valley Community College.
2. New Voice Mail System Coming Soon
Drexel’s new voice mail system will be installed sometime during spring term. As we notified the Drexel community in the IRT Technology Update of November 30, 2006, this change is necessary because the current system has been discontinued by its manufacturer and is no longer supported.
IRT is developing a variety of training aids and services to ensure a smooth transition to the new system's additional features and capabilities.
IRT staff will be available to provide in-office and other training. If you have questions, email IRT/Telecommunications at telephone-request@drexel.edu.
3. When Purchasing New Office Computers, Choose Win XP
Given the myriad of support issues associated with Microsoft Vista, Drexel’s Office of Procurement and IRT have strongly recommended that departments purchasing new computers should request that they have Windows XP installed, not Windows Vista.
Many departments routinely purchase Dell computers for their offices and have been alerted to purchase the business computer models, OptiPlex or Latitude. Windows XP is still available for these models. The consumer line of Dell computers, Dimension or Inspirion, may only offer the Vista OS option and are not as robust as office use demands.
IRT advises purchasing Windows XP as the University’s choice for operating system. MS Vista OS will not be supported for Enterprise applications at Drexel until sometime after July 1, 2007.
The website http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/winvista/index.html contains a link to the Guidelines for Purchasing New Computers.
4. WinVista Testing Continues – More Testers Welcome
IRT continues its program of testing for the new Microsoft Vista system. So far, eleven lab managers and staff members responsible for IT support at individual colleges and departments have requested to participate in testing Vista. In order to provide testing across the most representative sample of the programs and systems in use at Drexel, IRT would like to expand that number.
If you are a lab manager or IT staff person and would like to be part of the testing process, please send email to consult@drexel.edu with WINVISTA TESTING in the subject line. IRT staff will arrange to install Vista Business edition on a computer in your area.
We ask that you give us feedback from your experience, especially as it relates to systems/applications particular to your area.
5. DrexelMed Email Addresses
Everyone at Drexel - students, faculty, staff - is assigned an official email address. This is the address listed in Banner, and the address to which all official University e-correspondence is sent. Until recently, all Drexel official email addresses have been of the form name@drexel.edu.
Now, there are also addresses of the form @drexelmed.edu in Banner as official email addresses. The listings for College of Medicine employees in the central online directory (http://www.drexel.edu/search) display the new format.
If you have the old-style @drexel.edu entries in your address book for your DUCoM colleagues, don’t panic. You may wish to update these gradually to the newer versions, but the old ones should continue to work as well. (In most cases, the @drexel.edu address was already forwarding to the @drexelmed.edu address.)
6. Resnet Re-Registration Begins March 26
According to Drexel’s usual practice, Resnet ports in the Drexel residence halls will be turned off on Monday, March 26, 2007, so that new and returning residents can register their computers in their appropriate location for spring term.
When the computer is connected to the port, it is directed to a webpage on a proxy (restricted) network with instructions for disinfection and registration. Once the registration is complete, the Resnet port is enabled and the computer has full network access.
This is a once-a-term exercise at Drexel to ensure that your computers and our networks are safeguarded from viruses, worms, and other malware. It is especially important at the beginning of spring and fall terms when many students are returning from six-months off campus in co-op assignments where they may have been functioning in less protected environments.
If you have questions, contact consult@drexel.edu or call 215-895-2698.
7. Special Alert for Eudora Users
Educause, the nationwide educational computing organization, has alerted us to an imminent change for users of the email client Eudora.
As of March 31, 2007, Eudora versions below 7.1 (Windows) and 6.2.4 (Macintosh) running in Sponsored Mode will revert to Light Mode. This removes features such as spell check, multiple personalities, colored text, advanced filter features, in-line graphics, and more. This change apparently does not apply to Paid versions of Eudora that were purchased, licensed, and registered, and continue “in perpetuity” – but without support.
Some years ago, Eudora was the standard, recommended email client at Drexel, and some “old-timers” on campus are still using it – even though it was removed from Drexel’s “supported” list several years ago.
Those currently using Eudora in Sponsored Mode may need to update before March 31 so as not to lose functionality. Those operating in Paid Mode should note April 30 as the last date to update if they so desire, although any Paid version will continue to function. For information, see http://www.eudora.com/faq.
News and Notes for Online Learning
8. Bb-Vista-4 Is Coming in Summer Term
Drexel will be moving from the Blackboard Vista 3 (formerly known as WebCT Vista) application to a new version, Vista 4, during summer term. This new version features a number of enhancements that promote active learning, improve course management, expand student participation and allow users to personalize the environment.
The Online Learning Team is currently developing training materials to highlight the new environment and prepare for the transition. More information will be posted on the Bb-Vista page (http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/bbvista/).
Four introductory overview sessions for Vista 4 have been scheduled:
Tuesday, March 20: noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116
Wednesday, March 28: noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116
Thursday, April 5: noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116
Tuesday, April 24: noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116
And, the first two full Vista 4 Workshops are scheduled:
Thursday, April 12: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Korman 116
Wednesday, May 2: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Korman 116
Register via email to the Online Learning Team at OLT@drexel.edu.
Instructors can let us know about sections, templates, or course materials they would like migrated to the new system using the migration form on the Bb-Vista page above, as well as in the Campus Bookmarks section of your My Course List page within Bb-Vista.
9. Online Learning Support During Spring Term
Faculty members, teaching assistants and trainers using Bb-Vista or associated technologies may contact the Online Learning Team in person in the Faculty Development Center (FDC) in room 109 of the Korman Computing Center, by calling 215-895-1224, or via email at OLT@drexel.edu.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Online Learning Team can be called on to assist users in learning newer and emerging technologies. To schedule a special session for a department or group on a particular application or technology, email a request to OLT@drexel.edu.
10. More Student Support Available
The IRT web site (http://www.drexel.edu/IRT) contains a number of online learning resources especially for students. These include:
In addition, students have the following options for help:
- The Online Learning Team has scheduled ten walk-in sessions during the first three weeks of spring term. This is an open door with no set agenda. Students may come with questions at any time during the one-hour sessions in the Korman Computing Center. For the schedule, see http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/webct/walkInSchedule.html. Instructors, be sure to call these sessions to the attention of your students.
- The HELP function inside Bb-Vista is powerful and context-sensitive. Click the HELP link at the top right of the Vista window.
- Students can email the Online Learning Team (OLT@drexel.edu) with questions. Or even better, use the Report a Problem link that provides data to the Team so they can spot trends in problems, timeframes, tools, etc. Go to the Report a Problem link from the Bb-Vista section of the main IRT webpage (http://www.drexel.edu/IRT) or use the Report a Problem link at the top right of the Bb-Vista login page (http://webct.drexel.edu).
11. Trainings for Faculty and Staff
Workshops and demonstration/information sessions, both general and on special topics, are scheduled at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/services/workshops.
Some upcoming sessions, all in Korman 116, include:
Thursday, March 22, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Impatica
Thursday, March 22, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. – Beginning Camtasia
Wednesday, March 28, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. – Intermediate Dreamweaver
Friday, April 20 9:30a - 11:30a – Intermediate Camtasia
Sign up for training sessions via email at OLT@drexel.edu.
12. Qwik Tips for This Month
* Archiving your Gradebook at the end of a term is easy if you have been recording grades in Bb-Vista. From the Teach tab of your course section, enter the Grade Book and choose Export to Spreadsheet. This will allow you to save your Grade Book to your computer for easy review. Save your grade change comments by clicking View Audit History and exporting your Audit log.
* You can host Final Exam Review Sessions from the comfort of your own office using the Live Classroom tool in Bb-Vista. As your students prepare for your final exam, it is relatively easy to make yourself available for last minute questions or review sessions online. Just remember to schedule and publicize them with your students in advance. Members of the Online Learning Team can help you set up and plan these sessions. Contact us for more details (OLT@drexel.edu).
* Do you have trouble giving your final exam, grading it and recording your final grades, all in one week? In Bb-Vista you can deliver your final exam and the system will grade it for you as soon as each student completes it. Essay questions need to be graded manually, but most other types of questions can be auto-graded. Have your results available immediately and make grade reporting a little easier. Contact the Online Learning Team at OLT@drexel.edu for assistance.
To read previous issues of the IRT Technology Update, go to http://www.drexel.edu/irt/news/technews/
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