Update from the Director
Dear Faculty,
With a warm welcome to Fall 2008 semester, I would like to update you on some of the latest arrivals and highlights of technology at USD.
I realize that our ITS organization is getting bigger and more complex with services or support units that are not easily differentiated. While we are interdependent and interrelated, most faculty and student academic issues fall under the Academic Technology Services. In the event that your inquiry does not, your ATS team will work closely with other divisions of ITS (Network and Telecommunication Services, ERP, and Administrative Information Services) to bring you the best service and the most reliable infrastructure and support.
To learn more about Academic Technology Services (ATS), the best and the most comprehensive place is the ATS Web site.
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What is New?
Software
We have acquired a couple of new site licenses and campus agreements for your use:
GIS (Geographic Information System): allows faculty to view, question, interpret and visualize data to reveal relationships, patterns and trends in the form of maps or reports. This powerful product can be used by faculty of all disciplines.
EndNote: The next application is EndNote for campus use. As part of our licensing, students can also purchase EndNote from the USD Bookstore at a marginal price.
Microsoft: All Faculty and Staff computers, along with any computers in a Student Lab, are licensed to run the latest version of Microsoft Office. This includes Multi-Language and Work-at-Home rights for all Faculty and Staff.We have renewed the Microsoft Campus Agreement for another year. All faculty and staff computers are licensed to run the latest version of Microsoft Office. This includes Multi-Lnguage and Work-at-Home rights for all faculty and staff. The student agreement is separate and can be obtained from the USD Bookstore at reduced cost.
To learn more about software available to you or to submit a request, please visit: http://www.sandiego.edu/ats/software.
Hardware
Hewlett-Packard: To provide you with additional choices on computer hardware selection, in addition to the Macintosh, Dell, you now have the option of HP. We are working with our technical team to finalize the configuration of standards for laptop and desktop computers.
Printers: When you are making a selection for a printer in your department or office, please make sure that you consult with your area technician or visit this link for general information.
New Technology Room: As a result of a proposal submitted to the provost, we have been granted funds to renovate a lab in Serra Hall and convert it to a technology showcase/prototype room. We have collaborated with faculty, students, institutional designers, facilities management and many in the IT team to bring you a multi-function room. We are working on a last few arrivals to that room to complete the project. We will have an official unveiling announced so that you can give us your feedback. This project was the first after the formation of the provost committee to help us build innovative learning spaces in support of teaching and learning initiatives. Please visit the Innovative Learning Space Committee site.
Coming Soon! Projects for Fall 2008
24/7 Help Desk at USD
To better provide you with professional and timely support, we have spent significant amount of time to revise, improve and expand the technical support services.
On Wednesday October 1, 2008, we will be extending the help desk services beyond the current business hours of operation to 24/7 service. This extended service provides the campus community with access to IT-related support. You would call or contact Tech Support Center (TSC) by:
- Sending an e-mail to tsc@sandiego.edu -- this will generate a "ticket" automatically and a technician will call or respond to your request with a resolution or follow up.
- Submit a troubleshooting ticket on your own.
- Contact (619) 260-7900 and listen to the prompts for your choice.
Faculty Backup/Storage Solution
This will provide faculty with 20 GB of storage space on a network drive. We are in the process of piloting this project by contacting departments and faculty with already established AD accounts to begin the process. With this solution, you will have a reasonable amount of space to keep your important files stored for safekeeping. If you have any questions regarding your backup/storage concerns, please contact ats@sandiego.edu.
Podcast Server
We are working on the final stages of a USD podcast server. This server will bring us a solution for uploading and distributing high quality audio and video podcasts. This will enable faculty to upload lecture and presentation for students to view on their iPods, web browsers, or other podcast readers. If you have media files you'd like to use for podcasting and would like to take part in the beta test, contact websupport@sandiego.edu.
Save the Date! Spring 2009 ITS Faculty Open House
I know how busy you are, but I would like to ask you to mark your calendar and save the date for the our next Faculty Open House on Friday, February 13, 2009. More information to come!
Technologies:
Learning Management System (LMS) WebCT-CE6/Blackboard: This summer began careful integration with Banner. This methodical process brought along some changes in the way we deal with CE6 courses. But with your help and patience, we seem to have taken care of most glitches.
We have over 220 faculty members on campus using this system to manage over 550 courses and over 4,700 students just this fall alone. Of the courses on the LMS, the graduate programs utilized CE6 to deliver their courses online or in hybrid format. Of the courses taught on campus, we have over 35% that use CE6 to augment their face-to-face courses by uploading content (documents, presentations, audio and video and media) to this password protected evnironment.
CE6 usage has been increasing steadily each semester as many new faculty take advantage of this great resource. As a result, students have access to important course information from anywhere, anytime and CE6 continues to expand with the integration of other applications such as podcasting or voice recording faculty content.
If you haven’t attended an Introduction to CE6 training session and plan to use this system, please visit http://www.sandiego.edu/tutorials to sign up for the next training workshop to get you started with your online course development.
To see how you too can use this tool to enhance and support your course, please refer to the following Web site: http://www.sandiego.edu/ce6/
Clickers: eInstruction-Classroom Performance System (CPS)- Trying to gauge the class' comprehension, you can easily poll the entire class. http://www.einstruction.com/Training/Videos/
Wimba: Provides rich array of collaborative tools.Offering a robust Live Classroom environment suitable for virtual office hours and material delivery. If you wish to communicate with colleagues on other campuses, Wimba is also an easy solution.
Streaming Media Server: The streaming media server is capable of hosting your audio and video files.
Video Production: In support of your classroom curriculum, if you wish to have video of your presentation captured and posted on the streaming media.
Video Conferencing: Available from many locations across the campus.
Classroom Technology Request: In an effort to standardize some of the technology for better support and training, we have upgraded technology and AV systems in some of the classrooms across the campus. If you have any questions regarding the dual-boot Macintosh computers that are replaced to give you maximum flexibility, please contact the Instructional Media Services or tsc@sandiego.edu for help.
Recording and Capturing Lecture: We have a recording room set up in the Instructional Media Services area equipped with camera and tools to record your lecture for online delivery. If you would like to learn more or to reserve the room, please contact iteam@sandiego.edu.
SMART Technologies: We have many of our classrooms equipped with SMART Sympodiums. Sympodium is not simply a large monitor! It enables you to control your presentation and brings them to life with use of the interactive pen. Like any new tool, there is a need for training so that you could take full advantage of this robust tool. We offer training on this classroom technology as part of IT-Training program, and we also have a SMART representative coming to campus on scheduled time for advance training. Please send an email to iteam@sandiego.edu to schedule training.
Services:
IT Training: Our IT Training calendar is now in your campus
mailboxes. Please check out the courses and training sessions available. We
support a wide array of products for which we offer training sessions. We
also have training materials for some applications posted online and offer
one-on-one appointments for your specific needs.
Student Technology Assistant (STA) Program: The STA program is back for fall. If you have a technology project and would like to be paired up with a student to assist you in bringing it to fruition, please visit the STA site and submit your proposal. We train students with technology needed for the classroom and they are here to help you get your projects off the ground.
CE6 Course Improvement Program: Whether you are delivering most of your course material via this learning management system already or simply using it as a support tool, there are a number of things that are now available to you that will help you to create a more robust and media rich environment, and also make your life a lot easier.
Web Development Assistance: Web space is available for posting your syllabi and class information online. Get started by enabling your MySanDiego account for the Web and use one of our recommended Web editing solutions for creating or updating your site. Resources and documentation for beginning and updating your Web site are located on the home page of the Web Services site.
Reserving Computing Labs: Computing labs across campus are available for your use. If you ever need to reserve a lab for your class, visit our Web site and complete a request form.
Check for plagiarism: Turn-it-in and safe assign can help. You can also view more on "Copyright" by visiting: http://www.sandiego.edu/legal/documents/CopyrightBasics.pdf
The People Behind the Technology & Services
Many people work together behind the scenes to bring you the technology, provide services and support. Please take a minute to meet the team!
http://www.sandiego.edu/ats/team.php
Instructional Design and Training: The iTeam has provided faculty support support throughout the last year, helped improve online course developments, assisted with WebCE/CE6 (Blackboard) as well as the integrated software to help improve the use of technology in classrooms. This teamwork has paid off and has yielded success, making it easy for faculty to seek help using technology in their classrooms. We also have a designated instructional designer to provide user services consulting and instructional/training information as a point of contact. The iTeam professionals, Cyd, Jeff, and Arthur, can help you add rich media to your online courses as well as features to enhance your online course delivery.
Instructional Media Services: IMS provides video production, print and non-print graphic design services. IMS working with the desktop team brings you the classroom technology. Jim Straub and the entire Instructional Media Services staff are ready to assist you with all your audio and video production and graphic design. They are the team in charge of setting up the lecterns in the classrooms, videoconferencing, and when you need to check out equipment at the circulation desk.
IT Policies and Standards: Need to know more about Responsible Use, software licensing policies, or technology standards across campus?
Web Services: This unit consists of a team of web developers, coordinator and programmer in support of the university. This talented team provides workshops on how to create a Web site, enhance your current Web site, or answer any questions or issues you encounter with your site. This unit is in charge of departmental site maintenance and directly involved with the university web site redesign. See our Web Services pages for a variety of documentation or contact us at websupport@sandiego.edu.
Tech Support Center: The TSC staff are available to answer your computer hardware and software questions and resolve your technology problems. To request service or report a problem you can generate a ticket online by visiting http://www.sandiego.edu/tsconline (click on Submit Request), e-mail the Tech Support Center at tsc@sandiego.edu, or call (619) 260-7900 or visit them in UC 117. Please contact the TSC with your requests to help us ensure that the proper support is provided each and every time.
We welcome and encourage your feedback and comments about any of the technologies or services provided by ATS. We are always looking for ways to improve our support and satisfy the technology needs of the campus community. But we need to hear from you!
If you have any questions on issues not addressed here, and you are not sure who to contact, please send an e-mail to our general e-mail address at ats@sandiego.edu or to meshkaty@sandiego.edu.
We know you may have many technology needs for your classes and research. Chris Wessells, USD’s CIO and Vice Provost, and I are committed to working closely with you to meet these needs and to providing the entire USD community with technology and service befitting our institution.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or to stop by for a visit.
Sincerely,
Chris Wessells, Vice Provost and CIO
Shahra Meshkaty, Senior Director of Academic Technology Services