IRT: News & Events: TechUpdates: September 26 2003

All new or returning computers must be cleaned and patched before being connected to the Drexel network. Attempting to connect an infected computer to the network will result in a disabled jack. The library and the commuter lounge have repair disks that may be checked out with the necessary disinfection tools.

DragonFly wireless network registrations must also be renewed to assure that devices accessing the network by that route are properly disinfected. This is not a new registration, merely a renewal of the registration from last year. To complete DragonFly registration renewal, go to http://inside.drexel.edu/networking/wireless/renew.asp. To register a new wireless device, go to
http://inside.drexel.edu/networking/wireless/register.asp.

When students in the residence halls plugged in to the network for the first time, they accessed a V-LAN (virtual local area network). This took them to the web page (http://www.resnet.drexel.edu/winfix or http://www.resnet.drexel.edu/av) where they could run and install the necessary fixes and patches.

Once the computer was patched and disinfected, the user was allowed to register for access to the main Drexel network.

2. A NEW LOOK FOR DREXEL-ONE

DrexelOne has a new look, but it continues to provide Drexel's students, faculty, and staff with access to Drexel online resources - both internal and external - all with one ID and password.

Those familiar with the old DrexelOne will find that things have moved around a little, but the same functionality is there and more. Bannerweb is now within the Academic Services link, which you will find behind either the Student Services, Faculty Services or Employee Services tab. Faculty and students will find WebCT within the My Courses link behind the same tab..

The clickable icons for email, calendar, and groups are now a bit more visible and are, as before, protected behind your secure log on.

The redesign comes as part of a software upgrade to the more powerful Luminis III platform, which is the software engine behind DrexelOne.

Go to http://one.drexel.edu.

3. HOT OFF THE PRESS - GUIDE FOR COMPUTING

Arriving soon in faculty and staff mailboxes will be the print version of the Guide to Information Resources and Technology for 2003.

This provides a compilation of many of the nuts and bolts of computing at Drexel, with lots of references to more detailed descriptions in IRT's web pages. Although designed as an introduction for newcomers to campus, it is also a ready reference for everyone.

Since Drexel's computing environment is constantly changing, the Guide has been posted to the IRT web page where it can be updated periodically throughout the year. Go to the IRT web page (http://www.drexel.edu/IRT) and look under Faculty Links on the upper right of the page..

4. A WORMY SUMMER - AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

It's been a long hot summer in the world of computing. Worms and viruses - each one more damaging than the one before - have spread like wildfire all over the globe. Drexel's IT personnel, who already had a full slate of software and equipment upgrades scheduled to improve performance, have also been kept busy by the repeated need for campus-wide fumigations just to keep things running.

To contain the contagion, IRT is asking new and returning faculty and students to disinfect and patch all computing devices. This is necessary even for machines that have been turned off and disconnected all summer, since some of the worms are so aggressive that they infect a device within seconds of its being connected to the Internet.

For instructions and downloads, go to http://www.resnet.drexel.edu/winfix (for Windows NT, 2000, or XP computers) or http://www.resnet.drexel.edu/av (for Windows 95, 98, ME or MacOS, Linux computers. Or you can check out a CD at the library and other locations on campus.

Meanwhile, once you are cleansed and online, we strongly urge you to run your Symantec AntiVirus Live Updates and Windows updates every day - at least once when you start up, more often if you hear that there's a problem. You can, if you choose, set both Windows updates and Anti-Virus updates to run automatically.

If you do not follow disinfection procedures completely, you may find that you jack has been turned off to prevent the spread of viruses from your computer.

And do keep in touch with the latest bad news via the Virus Information link on http://www.drexel.edu/IRT.

5. COMPUTER AIDS FOR FACULTY

Within the past year, Drexel has licensed several new software aids to help instructors present and manage their courses. These include:

Folio - an electronic portfolio program which enables you to store and share artifacts selectively. Students and faculty collect samples of their work for presentation in many different form, depending on their need. You have full control over security for sharing your own materials. For information, contact eportfolio@drexel.edu.

SAP Education Alliance - a collaboration between SAP and the education community. Drexel is a host school for other alliance schools. The program features state-of-the-art enterprise software for research and collaboration, with rich tools that cut across traditional management areas. For more information on this program, contact Jan Biros (biros@drexel.edu, 215-895-2667).

Bentley Microstation - a modeling, drafting, viewing, and printing tool to aid collaboration in engineering projects. This program is available on the Korman lab machines and may be downloaded from the Student Software folder (go to ftp://software.drexel.edu and log in, then choose Drexel SW, PCSoftware, and Students).

Sentient DISCOVER - an advanced online learning resource management system with a holistic approach that integrates existing print and electronic management systems. See http://www.readinglistdirect.co.uk/info/welcome.asp.

6. INTRODUCING - DREXEL'S POSTMASTER

Drexel's postmaster for electronic mail is a soft-spoken philosophical gentleman named Karl Barth. Since he is normally ensconced behind locked doors in the secure computing areas of the Korman Center, you may not see him from now until the end of term. He does a regular electronic bulletin, however, to keep us up to date about changes and challenges in email on campus. At the moment, in addition to notes about viruses, spam, and such, he warns about a site full of email abusers that is being blocked.

Read about it at http://inside.drexel.edu/systems/email/pmbullet.asp. He changes the message as needed, usually several times a month.

7. THE CORRECT ADDRESS FOR FTP

FYI. Anonymous FTP is not accepted by Drexel's Academic Unix server. If you need to upload files to your web page using Internet Explorer, you should point your browser to ftp://userid@dunx1.irt.drexel.edu.

8. SELF-SERVICE UNIX ACCOUNT ACTIVATION NOW LIVE

A new feature has been added to the Computer Accounts Management Service (http://accounts.drexel.edu). It has previously been necessary to call the Accounts Office to activate an Academic Unix account on dunx1.irt.drexel.edu. This can now be done by the user online.

Anyone who does not already have their personal dunx1 account now sees an extra blue line at the bottom of their list of accounts, saying "To set up an Academic Unix Services account ... click here." The button to be clicked is labeled "Set up new account." This leads into the regular account pickup process.

The Academic Unix account provides file storage and web page hosting, and in some cases Unix shell access as well. Everyone at Drexel is welcome to an Academic Unix account,, although we do ask that you wait to create one until you have a use for it. Also, IRT recommends that you not activate Unix shell capability unless you are using it, and that you turn off shell access if you won't be using it for a while. (Unused Unix accounts, especially those with shell access, open up vulnerabilities.)

-------WebCT News-----------

WebCT can be used to enhance face-to-face courses. IRT support staff is available to help you get started, no matter what your level of expertise. Let us know how we can help.

9. USING WebCT IN TRADITIONAL CLASSES

There are many ways in which WebCT can be used for a traditional class.
-- Posting the course syllabus
-- Posting handouts
-- Providing links to Internet resources
-- Providing an email address list
-- Posting discussion topics to engage learners between class sessions
-- Posting student grades (each individual student views only his/her own)

Moreover, WebCT maintains your class roster. Because Banner and WebCT are linked, adds and drops in your courses are recorded automatically.

10. WebCT BOOT CAMPS FOR FALL TERM

Boot Camps are scheduled for the following dates:
-- Friday, Sept 26
-- Friday, Oct 24
-- Friday, Nov 21
-- Friday, Dec 19

These Boot Camps will be held in Room A of the Korman Computing Center from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Lunch and laptops are provided. Reservations are required at webct@drexel.edu.

11. TIPS FOR THIS MONTH

* A novice to WebCT? Not to worry - WebCT v4.0 has wizards! They guide you through the process in the application's Course Design Center. There are wizards for:

-- Homepage
-- Syllabus
-- Organizer Pages
-- Content Modules
-- Discussions
-- Mail
-- Calendar
-- Chat

For additional help, we are building a series of How-to screens that will be available soon, probably in DES 101.

* The Designers' Forum - DES 101 - is a course where instructors find demonstrations of WebCT features and functions. Helpful materials is constantly being added. You are already enrolled if you have attended a WebCT Boot Camp. If you're not enrolled, send us an email to webct@drexel.edu.

* Going to miss a class session this term? Your typical options are to (1) skip, (2) reschedule, or (3) scrunch the material into the remaining class sessions. WebCT can offer some additional choices.

-- Use the Discussions tool to post key topics for the session. Require students to post on the topics, and to respond to each other's discussion.

-- Use the Chat tool to create a virtual classroom to discuss the assigned class material. If you use Room 1-4, the text is archived for later review and evaluation.

-- Record your lecture in advance (IRT will help). We then use WebCT to link your students to the lecture during the week when you must be absent. This is quite simple since you already know your subject matter and probably have slides or overheads to illustrate the lecture.

12. BOOK OF THE MONTH

"Facilitating Online Learning: Effective Strategies for Moderators"

Authors: Collison, Elbaum, Haavind, and Tinker
Publisher: Atwood Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 1-891859-33-1

This work is filled with useful insights on how to conduct asynchronous discussions (threaded discussions) effectively.

Modified: October 3, 2008

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