01. Computer Security: Keep it Healthy and Safe
02. Integrity Firewall No More
03. New Cat in Town—Leopard
04. Sharing Documents in Office 2007
05. Office 2007 Brown Bag Lunch
06. Training for New MS Products
07. IRT Technology Tips in AskDrexel
08. New Telephone Prefix for Drexel Phone Numbers
News & Notes on Online Learning
09. Technology Showcase – Recap
10. eLearning 2.0 Conference ~ Technology Use in Teaching and Learning
11. Mac Browser News
12. Demo Sessions, Training, Workshops, etc
1. Computer Security: Keep it Healthy and Safe
During this end of year period that may bring new employees, new computers and new applications, IRT would like to remind everyone about general computer security. This is a great opportunity to check your systems for tight security by enabling the Windows firewall, verifying that AutoUpdate is set for your Windows operating systems and your MS Office and that automatic Live Updates for Symantec AntiVirus definitions are scheduled at least weekly. It is also a good time to run Spybot or Adaware searches to remove malware and unwanted tracking cookies from your systems. Both Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware are free downloads from CNET's www.download.com. If you need any help fortifying your computer, IRT Help Desk staff can advise you. Contact us at 215-895-2020 or consult@drexel.edu.
2. Integrity Firewall No More
Previously, Drexel IRT installed the Integrity Firewall on many administrative computers across the campuses. The Integrity Firewall is no longer needed nor supported because your Windows computers should be utilizing the MS Windows Firewall instead (see item #1 above). Integrity Firewall should be removed from your computer if you have not already done so to prevent possible conflicts. IRT staff visiting your offices for routine and scheduled desktop support calls are checking to be sure your computer no longer is running the Integrity software. If you would like help removing the Integrity Firewall completely or are unsure whether your computer is running this utility, contact the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 or at consult@drexel.edu.
3. There's a new cat in town: Mac OS X Leopard
Apple recently released the newest version of OS X: 10.5, a.k.a.: "Leopard". As with any new operating system release, there are some great new features (like Time Machine and Spaces) and some significant, if undesired, changes (such as the loss of Classic mode for pre-Intel Macs). IRT is currently evaluating these features and changes as well as assessing the Leopard-compatibility of the software and services which we provide to the Drexel community. We have set up a website, http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/mac_support/leopard_info.html, as a means of communicating the results of our testing and other information pertaining to Leopard. If you're thinking of upgrading your Mac or buying a new one (all new Macs now come with Leopard), please review this information so that you can make an informed decision. The Winter Term Tech Update will include details on the best options for obtaining Leopard.
4. Sharing Documents in Office 2007
Those of us who have upgraded to Office 2007 cannot assume that everyone else has, and many students and colleagues continue using Office 2003.
You may remember, Office 2007 documents are saved in an XML format not previously utilized by MS Office. Office 2003 will not open the XML files without some assistance. If you use Office 2007, we recommend that when you save files you use the SAVE AS [filetype] Office 97-2003 option rather than saving in Office 2007 format. Under the File menu choose SAVE AS and when the dialogue box comes up put in the correct file name you have chosen and then beneath that in the FILE TYPE box choose Office 97-2003.
In addition, users who continue with Office 2003 should download the MS Office Compatibility Pack, commonly referred to as the File Conversion tool, to prevent problems in accepting and opening files that have been saved in Office 2007. The conversion tool accepts Office 2007 documents into Office 2003 by converting the new file format back to the old one. Users can then choose to save their accepted document into the Office 2003 format.
The MS Office Compatibility Pack is available from the Drexel IRT software server and from Microsoft's website. To locate the conversion tool, log in to the Drexel software server via http://www.drexel.edu/irt/services/comp_mark/software.html and choose Login to Download Software. Follow the links for PCSoftware and choose MicrosoftOffice2003. Inside the 2003 directory you will find and download the FileFormatConverters.exe file. From Microsoft directly, go to http://office.microsoft.com and search for 'compatibility pack.' Choose the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.
There is no need to upgrade to the new version of Office until you are ready. IRT will offer overview Brown Bag lunches in December and during Winter term to point out new features and differences. (see items 5 and 12)
5. Office 2007 Brown Bag Lunch
While there is no urgency for everyone on campus to move to Office 2007, there are some who have and others who are wondering what to do. IRT will host a Brown Bag Lunch presenting an overview of Office 2007 on Friday December 7 at 12 noon in Korman Room 116. The presentation will highlight new features found in the new version of Office and will point out differences which may be significant for some. Bring your lunch and let us know you are coming (olt@drexel.edu) so that we will have dessert and a soda for you! More Brown Bag lunches and face to face workshops are listed below under News from the Online Learning Team.
6. Training for New MS Products
Online training is, for many, the preferred way of getting help with new software applications and learning new technologies. IRT leverages the availability of high quality, professionally-produced training materials whenever possible. In addition, IRT staff develop online materials for Drexel specific systems and services. To access MS-developed training materials go to http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/tutorials.html#office and select the training modules you need.
IRT is always happy to provide customized training for a group of 8 or more individuals and will work with a contact person to address specific needs, but please check out the online materials first. They may be just what you need.
7. IRT Technology Tips in AskDrexel
Last year Drexel implemented a new online help service called AskDrexel (http://ask.drexel.edu). When implemented, AskDrexel was intended to provide extensive information and frequently asked questions (faqs) to students and their parents regarding financial aid, account status, and other important information.
Now IRT is using AskDrexel to provide information about using the technology resources at the University. AskDrexel has information about using all of the licensed Microsoft applications, including the new MS Office 2007. There is also information specific to Drexel, such as how to activate a computer account or how to register your computer on the wireless network.
A good example of one of these new tipsheets is "How to Customize Shortcut Keys in Word 2007." At the AskDrexel home page, click on Current Students, Faculty and Staff link. Once inside the Search utility, pull down the topic list and select IRT Help Central or simply type in your keywords, for example, "Office 2007 commands;" and you will find this "How to" tipsheet among a dozen or so others pertaining to Microsoft Office. To locate the method of connecting to free Earthlink wireless service in Philadelphia, simply type in the keyword search field the word "earthlink".
IRT's goal is to migrate all specific technical information currently found on the IRT website at Help Central into AskDrexel. That ambitious project will take place over the next few months. In the meantime there will be two sources of technical information at your disposal. Please take some time to try out AskDrexel if you have not had the chance to do so. Any comments or suggestions can be sent to consult@drexel.edu.
8. New Telephone Prefix for Drexel Phone Numbers
As mentioned in our last Tech Update, one of the challenges of the growth Drexel University is enjoying is that we are quickly running out of 895- telephone numbers. As a result, to accommodate requests for new numbers, we will be using 571 numbers which had been traditionally reserved for the Residence Halls. The first redeployment of 571 numbers was to the Drexel College of Law.
Starting immediately, requests for new phone numbers for new employees or new services will be accommodated by assigning a 571 phone number. However, 4-digit dialing between 895- and 571- phone numbers on-campus will be preserved for everyone’s convenience. For example, those with 571- or 895- prefixes can dial the same 4-digit extension, 2020, for the IRT Help Desk.
News & Notes on Online Learning
9. Technology Showcase – Recap
The Technology Showcase held on November 16th in The Living Arts Lounge was a wonderful success! More than 65 individuals attended, including representatives from seven other regional institutions. (We hope to continue and expand that outreach and inclusion approach for future events.) Those in attendance saw exciting presentations on such topics as integrating media-rich experiences into online and on-campus courses, the use of Impatica to incorporate active learning strategies in the classroom, benefits to utilizing online survey and assessment tools, as well as using iPods and incorporating multimedia elements in both courses and online communities, and the Internet Public Library
10. eLearning 2.0 Conference ~ Technology Use in Teaching and Learning ~
Save the date! Thursday, March 20, 2008 ~ Creese Center ~ Behrakis Grand Hall ~
Drexel and partners will host this event for the 6th time, featuring presentations on best practices, support, and administration. 180 individuals representing 50 institutions attended the event in 2007. See this Web site for updated info: http://www.drexel.edu/irt/eLearningConf2008
11. Mac Browser News
In the latest release of Mac OS X 10.5 (a.k.a. "Leopard"), the default web browser is Safari 3. This version of Safari (available for some time as a "beta" version for both Mac OS X 10.4 and Windows XP and Vista) has not yet been "validated" by Blackboard for use with Bb Vista. Some of us in the Online Learning Team have been testing the Safari 3 Beta and thus far have not found any incompatibilities or problems, aside from the notification in the Browser Check
Also, it appears that while Firefox 2.x has been validated, some functionality does not work. Most notably, the HTML Creator is not available in any of the tools where it normally would be present. If you rely on this function, we recommend that you stick with Safari for the time being. We have contacted Blackboard support regarding this issue and will pass along information as it becomes available. Also, in Firefox 2.x on Leopard, some dropdown menus have no functionality in eFolio. However, Safari 3 seems to work fine.
12. Demo Sessions, Training, Workshops, etc.
Bb Vista 4 Workshops for New Vista Users - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Korman 116
•Thursday, December 13
•Friday, January 28, 2008
Bb Vista 4 Refreshers for Experienced Vista Users - in Korman 116
• Tuesday, December 11, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
•Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 9 a.m. - noon
Brown Bag Lunch Sessions - noon to 1 p.m. in Korman 116
•Friday, December 7 - Office 2007 intro
•Friday, December 14 - PowerPoint 2007
•Thursday, January 24, 2008 - RMCP (The Digital Dropbox)
•Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - NetSupport (manage classroom PCs)
Impatica Demo & Training - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Korman 116
•Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - Impatica Fundamentals
Camtasia Demo & Training - in Korman 116
•Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - 2:45 P.m. to 3:45 p.m. - Camtasia 5Fundamentals
• Friday, February 1, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Camtasia 5 Intermediate
Dreamweaver Training - 2 P.m. to 4 p.m. in Korman 116
•Tuesday, January 9, 2008 - Basic Dreamweaver
PLEASE NOTE !!! Reserve a seat at any of these by emailing the Online Learning Team at: olt@drexel.edu. See the schedule here: http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops/index.html.
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.
