IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: June 05 2006

IRT will partner with the LeBow College of Business on a project to train all LeBow faculty in the use of WebCT Vista. The goal is to have materials, as well as collaborative and support tools, on line for each course.

Previous efforts at LeBow involved ad hoc and program-based use of eCollege. The new initiative will standardize on the campus-wide licensed WebCT Vista learning management system, and represents a comprehensive, college-wide effort.

IRT will provide extensive training and ongoing support for the project, which includes both undergraduate and graduate courses. Faculty will not only use WebCT Vista, but a host of other media technologies to enhance learning, including podcasting, video capture, voice annotated presentations, and others.

This initiative supports the new undergraduate curriculum that LeBow will be introducing to students this fall term.

02. Wireless Woes with Windows Waptops ... er, Laptops

IRT has received reports of wireless connection problems beginning in early May. In most cases, the issue is related to certain Intel wireless chipsets (the "chipset" is the actual wireless hardware inside your computer) that come in a wide variety of portable computers with integrated wireless support.

Installing the latest software for these chipsets from Intel appears to correct the problem.

For more information, visit http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/intel_wifi_probs_05262006.htm.

03. Windows Cisco VPN Client Updated

In response to a recently-exposed security vulnerability, Cisco has released an updated VPN client for Windows users.

The vulnerability affects every previous version of the Windows-based VPN client, and could allow an attacker to gain access to and full control of systems where the affected clients are installed. Drexel faculty and staff who use the VPN client with Windows are urged to install the new client as soon as possible. (VPN clients for non-Windows platforms - Macintosh, Unix, Solaris - are not affected by this vulnerability).

For more information on the vulnerability and how to download and install the new client, visit http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/support/vpn/win_sa_20060524.htm.

04. WebCT Vista Is Not Just for Classes

WebCT Vista is an online education tool, but its utility is not limited to formal, credit-bearing university classes. Many university divisions and departments have necessary training functions, for which WebCT Vista might be a convenient means of delivery. For example:

Human Resources Department could use WebCT Vista to help orient new employees.
Periodic upgrades or refreshers (e.g., harassment sensitivity training) could be delivered through WebCT Vista.
The library could post a WebCT Vista "course" to teach how to use the online databases.

There are many ways in which staff members can use WebCT Vista as well as faculty members.

Since opening a WebCT Vista course that is outside the Banner class list system will require intervention by the WebCT Vista Support Team, you should contact the team directly (webct@drexel.edu or 215-895-1224 or stop by Korman room 109). They'll be glad to discuss your needs and help you get started.

05. Email Quotas Expanded Again

As published by The Triangle in early March, Drexel has been planning to expand the space provided to student, faculty, and staff email accounts. The first round of expansions will happen over the summer months as faculty and staff who use the Exchange server will see their limits increase tenfold from 100 MB to 1 GB.

On the heels of that expansion, the limits on the basic email system will be increased from 100 MB to 250 MB for students, faculty, and staff. Additional expansions are still being considered.

06. Which Tools to Use When: The Step Approach to Educational Communication

Between 40 and 50 faculty and staff members attended the IRT Technology Showcase on May 19 to view a dramatic presentation on the use of new technologies. Members of the staff of the Faculty Development Center portrayed a faculty member and a student using new technologies to cope with a sudden blizzard that closed down the university.

An enthusiastic chorus of applause and "bravos" closed the performance, which was followed by a lively discussion between the audience and the IRT players.

One of the interesting points in the after-show question period was a heirarchy of technologies. Mike Scheuermann proposed a "step" approach, involving increasing levels of complication to meet evolving needs with ever sharper learning curves. His steps, ranked from easiest to most difficult, were:

PowerPoint - simple slide show
PowerPoint with voiceover - adds audio to the slide show
Impatica - turns PowerPoint into html
Camtasia - captures screens, including navigation, and produces a movie
Captivate - takes pictures of screens, enables introduction of Flash elements, and produces a Flash movie
MediaSiteLive - streams the "front of the classroom" and archives it for later viewing

Dr. Scheuermann explained that most users learn Impatica more easily than, say, Captivate or MediaSiteLive. In some instances, issues of hardware availability and software licenses need to be worked out.

FDC staff can help you select the right combination of products. Stop by the Faculty Development Center in Korman 109, call 215-895-1224, email webct@drexel.edu.

07. Course Supplementation Online: The Students Seem to Like It

Every Drexel course has a corresponding session in WebCT Vista. Many faculty members already utilize WebCT Vista extensively, as a supplement and back-up to their face-to-face courses. They find that the course management tools make assessment and grading much less time-consuming, not to mention the ease of distribution of course materials.

Computer-savvy students, however, often choose to use WebCT Vista for communication with fellow students even when the instructor has not assigned it. The student chat and discussion boards are active in many courses in the absence of faculty participation.

The bottom line: WebCT Vista can be a useful tool for faculty. And, for the convenience of their students, faculty members should consider posting at least the minimum materials for their courses (syllabi, etc.) in their WebCT Vista session.

Still not convinced? Come talk with our WebCT Vista Support Team in Korman room 109 and give them a chance to show you what it has to offer.

08. Reserve Computer Classrooms Now

The Korman Computing Center at the Drexel University City Main Campus has eight (8) computer classrooms that may be reserved by faculty members for single sessions or an entire term.

If you haven't reserved space for summer term, you need to do so immediately ... as in today! Also, think about reserving rooms now for fall term.

Faculty members reserve classrooms at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/classrooms - first come, first served.

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.

For summer term, the deadline for special software submission is Wednesday, June 7; for fall term, the deadline is Wednesday, August 30.

09. Dreamweaver Trainings Scheduled

Training workshops in Dreamweaver, a high-end web-authoring tool, have been scheduled in Korman room 116 at the following times:

Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 10 a.m.-noon
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 2-4 p.m.

Dreamweaver training is open to Drexel faculty and staff members, who receive a free copy of Dreamweaver software at the session.

To register for one of these workshops, email dreamweaver@drexel.edu. If these times are not good for you but you do want to take Dreamweaver training, please email dreamweaver@drexel.edu so we will know to schedule additional sessions.

WebCT News

10. Expanded Faculty Support Hours

IRT expanded faculty support hours in the FDC (Faculty Development Center) during spring term to include Saturdays. Faculty and staff members could call in, email the team, or stop in. The FDC in Korman room 109 has been staffed on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This has been a pilot project. Faculty usage will be analyzed to determine whether expanded coverage is warranted for future terms. Stay tuned.

11. TurnItIn - The Enforcer

TurnItIn, the plagiarism detection software that works as a PowerLink in WebCT Vista, has been improved. It now compares submitted papers to:

The live Internet
The archived Internet
TurnItIn's extensive database of written work
The ProQuest database
The Gale InfoTrac OneFile database

You can also specify a "post date" when you set up individual assignments. That enables you to define when grades will be posted for student viewing.

12. Training for WebCT Vista

As a larger segment of Drexel's faculty and staff becomes proficient in using WebCT Vista, the demands for training change. Starting in July 2006, IRT will offer a sequence of two-hour training modules, replacing the full-day Boot Camps (for newbies) and half-day Workshops (for experienced users).

The schedule for both the remaining Boot Camps and Workshops, and the currently slated Modularized 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 for the following dates:

Friday, June 16 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday, September 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.

* For Current Users: WebCT Vista Workshops
These are four-hour workshops to enhance your knowledge in selected areas, for experienced users of WebCT Vista. The last of the half-day WebCT Vista Workshop will be held in Korman room 116 on:

Thursday, June 8 from noon-4 p.m.

Reserve your slot at webct@drexel.edu.

* WebCT Vista Modularized Training
The two-hour WebCT Vista Modularized Training sessions, in Korman room 116, will be held as follows:

Wednesday, July 5, 1-3 p.m. - Introduction to WebCT
Thursday, July 13, 2-4 p.m. - Introduction to WebCT
Wednesday, July 19, 1-3 p.m. - Organization and File Management
Thursday, July 27, 2-4 p.m. - Organization and File Management

Wednesday, August 2, 1-3 p.m. - Managing the Course
Thursday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. - Managing the Course
Wednesday, August 16, 1-3 p.m. - Communication Tools
Thursday, August 24, 2-4 p.m. - Communication Tools
Wednesday, August 30, 9-11 a.m. - Evaluating Students

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

These workshops are shorter, more focused, and more frequent than the traditional full-day and half-day sessions. 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.

13. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions

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

The next Brown Bag Lunch for faculty and staff is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. in Korman room 116 as follows:

Wednesday, June 28 - Camtasia. Attenders can have a copy of Camtasia installed on a laptop or on-campus desktop, at their convenience.

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.

14. Tips for This Month

* One of the great new features in WebCT Vista is the Discussion "Category" concept. This new feature provides educators with the opportunity to create topic arrays and organize them effectively for student viewing and interaction. You can selectively release Discussion Categories to keep your students focused on the topics at hand.

* iPods are ubiquitous on Drexel campuses these days. Your students can use them to listen to or view your lectures. Use the Rich Media Conversion system to turn AVI files into MP4 or M4V file types; these will play on iPods. Students with video iPods can then use them to review your lectures, both video and audio. Contact the team at webct@drexel.edu to get started. You are the subject matter expert, we'll do the rest.

* Don't forget to describe it! The Description field in WebCT Vista exists for links that you place on an Organizer Page anywhere in your Section. This enables you to provide students with information about the links, set their expectations about what the links contain, and provide them with detailed direction. Don't just add links - describe them too.

* The Syllabus tool in WebCT Vista provides you with more power than you expect. When you link students to a Syllabus document, it becomes a document just like any other that you provide for them. But with the Syllabus tool, you can turn various elements off and on, making each section available - or unavailable - with a few clicks. Thus, you can create the Syllabus when you have time, and control it effectively throughout the term.

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: December 4, 2008

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