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IRT Technology Update

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Tech Update is an electronic bulletin is published by the Office of Information Resources and Technology (IRT) to inform users of the quickly changing panorama of technology policy, services and support at all Drexel University campuses.

Older Tech Updates can be found on the Tech Update Archive page.

Contents:

01. Register Today for IRT's Faculty Technology Showcase!
02. Just Released: Microsoft's Windows 7
03. Camtasia Relay Available
04. Camtasia for Mac is Here!
05. Need Computer Repairs? Call the Computer Fixer at Drexel

News & Notes from the Online Learning Team

06. Error Message in Bb Vista's Group Manager
07. Create Group Activities with the Bb Vista Group Manager
08. Link Directly to Your Course from Outside Blackboard Vista
09. Anonymous Discussions in Bb Vista
10. Mac Users: Snow Leopard's Java and Bb Vista
11. Java Runtime Crashes Bb Vista on Windows 64-Bit Systems
12. Upcoming IRT Workshops

1. Register Today for IRT's Faculty Technology Showcase!

The Online Learning Team in Drexel's Office of Information Resources and Technology (IRT) will be hosting a Faculty Technology Showcase on Friday, November 13th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Matheson 208. This annual event is an opportunity for faculty members to show their peers some of the unique ways they are using technology in their courses.

The Showcase coincides with National Distance Learning Week (http://www.ndlw.org), the purpose of which is to "generate greater awareness and appreciation for distance learning, including K-12, Higher Education, Corporate and Military, while recognizing leaders and best practices in the field."

Space for the Faculty Technology Showcase is limited and registration, which includes lunch, is required. To register, visit http://www.drexel.edu/irt/news/events/showcase. For more information, contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu or 215-895-1224.

2. Just Released: Microsoft's Windows 7

On October 22nd, Microsoft released its new operating system, Windows 7, to the public. IRT has been testing Windows 7 with various software and core systems used at Drexel. While IRT can support computers with Windows 7, users of administrative systems such as Banner INB, Hyperion, and Nolij are advised not to upgrade because their vendors have not yet been certified them for use with Windows 7 and/or Internet Explorer 8, which is part of Windows 7.

IRT is tracking system and service compatibility and will make that information available soon. While there are no specific plans for a campus-wide upgrade to Windows 7 at this time, the general response from the user community so far has been positive, and IRT is able to provide limited support. If you have feedback about Windows 7 that you would like to share, please send it to us at consult@drexel.edu along with the specifications of the computer you use, such as CPU and RAM, and the software and/or Web services that have yielded either positive results or errors. IRT is able to provide limited support for Windows 7; please direct any questions to the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020.

3. Camtasia Relay Available

Camtasia Relay is a lightweight desktop recording front-end for DragonDrop that is available for both Windows and Mac OS X. Relay allows you to video-capture your desktop, record audio, review your work, and then upload your recording directly to DragonDrop for encoding and publication. Once it is processed by the system, the file will appear on your Relay playlist in DragonDrop, and you will receive an email containing a link to the file and playlist.

All faculty and staff with existing DragonDrop accounts are eligible to use Camtasia Relay. To get started with Relay, you must first request a Relay account by sending an email to rmcp@dcollege.net. You can download the Relay software from http://relay.irt.drexel.edu.

For more information about Camtasia Relay, sign up for an upcoming "Desktop and Presentation Recording: Camtasia Relay" or "DragonDrop" training session. Training dates are available on the OLT Workshops page at http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/help/workshops. If you have any questions about Camtasia Relay, please email the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu or call 215-895-1224.

4. Camtasia for Mac is Here!

For years, Camtasia Studio has been the "go to" desktop recording application for Windows. For nearly as long, Mac users have clamored for a native Mac version of the product. Finally, TechSmith has released Camtasia for Mac!

While Camtasia for Mac has many of the same features and functionality as Camtasia Studio, it is an entirely different product; even seasoned Studio users will likely need some guidance in order to get started. To that end, we've created a new workshop entitled "Recording and Editing: Camtasia for Mac." The first workshop is scheduled for Thursday, November 5th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Korman 116. To register, send an email to olt@drexel.edu.

5. Need Computer Repairs? Call the Computer Fixer at Drexel has a new online repair request service.

http://www.thecomputerfixer.com

The Computer Fixer, an independently operated service located on the lower level of the Korman Center (http://www.thecomputerfixer.com/directions.php), is the University's preferred personal computer repair service. Computer Fixer can provide most of the warranty-covered work on deparmtneal equipment, thus eliminating the need to contact Apple, Dell, IBM/Lenovo or Sony directly.

The Computer Fixer can provide in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs, as well as basic repairs, on PCs, Macs, Notebooks and laptops, printers, and other peripherals. Other services include:

  • Data recovery and online backup via the Internet
  • Data transfer (from old to new computers and hard drives)
  • Computer installations and setup

Additionally, low-cost service plans are available that guarantee repairs for four years.

For more information, visit http://www.thecomputerfixer.com, email jpowell@thecomputerfixer.com, or call 215-387-5900. You can also visit them on the lower level of the Korman Center.

News & Notes from the Online Learning Team

6. Error Message in Bb Vista's Group Manager

Do you use group assignments in Bb Vista? If you try to add or remove students from a group in the Group Manager (in the lower left-hand pane of the Teach tab), you might see an error message stating that "the members that were selected already belong to another assignment group." This error message means that the members you are trying to add or remove belong to another group or groups that are already "linked" to an assignment. In order to edit members' enrollment in another group, you will need to "break the link" between the assignment(s) and any group(s) to which the users belong. (Note: You do not need to remove the groups themselves; you simply need to temporarily remove the "link" between the assignment(s) and the group(s) you are trying to edit.) To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Click "Cancel" on the error message to leave the members in their current group.

  2. In the Group Manager screen, identify the other group(s) containing the members you are trying to add or remove. Make a note of each group.

  3. Switch to the Build tab, click "Assignments" in the left-hand pane, then click on the name of the assignment(s) that are assigned to the group(s) you noted in step 2 above.

  4. Under the section for "Assignment recipients," select "Decide later."

  5. Click "Save" at the bottom of the screen, then "OK" to confirm.

  6. Return to the Group Manager in the Teach tab and edit the groups as necessary.

  7. Once the groups are correct, return to the Assignments tool in the Build tab, and click on the name of the assignment(s) for which you selected "Decide later" in step 4 above.

  8. Under "Assignment recipients," click "Groups of Students," then click the "Select Groups" button.

  9. Select your groups and click "Save."

  10. Click "Save" at the bottom of the screen, then "OK" to confirm.


7. Create Group Activities with the Bb Vista Group Manager

Small groups are often useful in face-to-face classes; they can provide a setting where students can have a larger voice, or a means for learning how to work more effectively with others. In a fully online class, small groups can also be crucial in building community. Bb Vista allows instructors to link groups to assignments, chat rooms, and discussion threads. When grades are given for group assignments, the grade appears in the Grade Book for each member of the group.

The main function of the Group Manager (located under "Instructor Tools" in the Teach tab) is to create and edit groups of students. The three options for creating groups are:

  1. "Create custom group." With this option, you create a single group and choose the members you want to add to it.

  2. "Create multiple groups." With multiple groups, you can create groups of randomly-distributed students, or empty groups to which you can add members later. Choose a base name for the groups, such as "Presentation Group," and Bb Vista will automatically name the groups "Presentation Group 1," "Presentation Group 2," etc.

  3. "Create groups with sign-up sheets." This option allows students to select the group they want to join. The instructor can determine the number of sign-ups allowed for each group and whether or not students can see who has already signed up. Students cannot remove themselves once they have joined a group.

No matter which option is selected, the instructor can always add or delete members later and edit the group names.

Suggestion: To get group members working together immediately, you can ask them to choose a group name, mascot, or color; then, you can change the group name from "Presentation Group 1," for instance, to "Blue Group." It is a good idea to assign a group facilitator/leader and then rotate that role among group members.

At the bottom of the Group Manager screen is a "Create Group Activity" control that allows you to create group discussion topics or chat rooms. This is a powerful tool! Check off one or more groups, select either the discussion or chat option, and click the green "Go" button. Bb Vista will automatically create the selected activity for each group and enable selective release (indicated by the word "Conditional") so that only the members of a group can participate in that group's activity space.

Note: If group membership is changed, any grades the student received while a member of the original group remain assigned to the student.

8. Link Directly to Your Course from Outside Blackboard Vista

Every course in Blackboard Vista has a unique Web link that users can access from outside the system. From either the Build or the Teach tab, click on the "Manage Course" menu option in the left-hand pane. The direct URL for the course is posted under the "Course URL" heading at the bottom of the screen. Although this feature is not new, recent upgrades have made it available for our implementation of Blackboard Vista.

The direct URL still requires a login to access the system, and only users who are enrolled in the course will have access to the materials.


9. Anonymous Discussions in Bb Vista

Instructors can create an anonymous discussion topic in Bb Vista by selecting "Authors are Anonymous to Students" under "Topic Behavior Options" within the Create Topic screen. However, the label for this setting can cause confusion because it implies that instructors can identify the authors of discussion posts—however, no one, including instructors, can identify anyone else who has created a message or replied to a message.

The Online Learning Team has notified Blackboard of this issue. Blackboard will consequently modify the label to more clearly describe the functionality of anonymous discussions.

We apologize for any confusion the current label has caused. If you have any questions about anonymous discussions in Bb Vista, please contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu or 215-895-1224.


10. Mac Users: Snow Leopard's Java and Bb Vista

Are you a Mac user who has already upgraded to Snow Leopard, or is thinking about making the switch? As a pure 64-bit operating system, Snow Leopard performs optimally with 64-bit applications and utilities, including Java, which is necessary in order for Bb Vista and a variety of other systems to function properly.

When you upgrade to Snow Leopard, the 64-bit version of Java is set as the default. IRT is aware that this default setting will cause the "Browser Check" in Bb Vista to fail, and that it might cause other Web sites to function abnormally. Thankfully, there is an easy fix:

  1. Open Java Preferences (Mac HD > Applications > Utilities).

  2. On the General tab, drag "32-bit" to the top of the list under "Java Applet Plugin" and "Java Applications."

  3. Click the Network tab.

  4. Click "Delete Files" (this clears out any 64-bit applets that might have been downloaded inadvertently).

  5. Close the Java Preferences window.

  6. Restart your computer (this ensures that the changes made in "Java Preferences" take effect).
If you continue to encounter issues while using Bb Vista on a Mac running Snow Leopard, please contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu.

11. Java Runtime Crashes Bb Vista on Windows 64-Bit Systems

Certain versions of the Java Runtime Environment, e.g. Java 6 Update 13, can crash Web browsers on Windows 64-bit systems when users log into Bb Vista. This issue affects all Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) on 64-bit Windows systems. To resolve the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall all Java installations from the computer. To do so, go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, find entries similar to "Java 6 Update 13," and click "Uninstall."

  2. Restart the computer.
Go to http://www.java.com and download/install the latest 32-bit version of Java. Note that a 32-bit version must be installed, even though the operating system is 64-bit.

12. Upcoming IRT Workshops

All workshops will take place in Korman 116 unless otherwise noted. To reserve a spot at any of these workshops, email olt@drexel.edu.

Bb Vista

  • Bb Vista Full Day Workshop
    Tuesday, December 1, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Tuesday, January 5, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Aimed at instructors and administrators who are new to Bb Vista or who have not worked in Bb Vista for a while. Lunch will be provided.

Brown Bag Lunches

  • Brown Bag: Discussion Topics in Bb Vista
    Tuesday, November 24, noon – 1:00 p.m.
    There are three types of discussion topics: threaded, class blog and journal. What are the differences and why would you use something other than the traditional threaded discussions? This brown bag will explain the differences and provide examples.
  • Brown Bag: Using a Learning Management System for Face-to-Face Courses
    Thursday, December 10, noon – 1:00 p.m.
    This session introduces ways faculty can use Blackboard or Bb Vista to save class preparation time, conserve resources, and enhance traditional face-to-face courses.

Camtasia

  • Desktop and Presentation Recording: Camtasia Relay
    Wednesday, November 18, 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
    Tuesday, January 12, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Learn about the basics of screencasting, how to prepare yourself for the recording process, and how to use Camtasia Relay to record your desktop for publication on the web.
  • Recording and Editing with Camtasia for Mac
    Thursday, November 5, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Thursday, January 14, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Learn how to use Camtasia for Mac to record your desktop and presentations, edit your work, and produce media files. Recommended: Bring your Intel-powered Mac laptop (MacBook, Pro, or Air). Prerequisite: Desktop and Presentation Recording: Camtasia Relay
  • Recording and Editing with Camtasia Studio for Windows
    Wednesday, October 28, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
    Tuesday, November 24, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Thursday, January 21, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Learn how to use Camtasia Studio for Windows to record your desktop and presentations, edit your work, and produce media files. Prerequisite: Desktop and Presentation Recording: Camtasia Relay

DragonDrop

  • DragonDrop Basic Training
    Tuesday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    Thursday, December 17, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    Friday, January 22, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    This workshop will introduce you to the basics of working with DragonDrop, a web-based application for capturing, encoding and publishing rich media for web access.

Dreamweaver

  • Dreamweaver Basic
    Thursday, November 12, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Wednesday, January 13, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    In the basic course we create simple pages using Dreamweaver CS4, including headings, lists, images, and links.
  • Dreamweaver Intermediate
    Thursday, October 29, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Thursday, December 3, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Thursday, January 28, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    In the intermediate course, we create and modify stylesheets and apply styles including fonts, float positioning, and colors.

Impatica

  • Online Lecture Slides: Impatica for PowerPoint
    Wednesday, November 18, noon – 1:00 p.m.
    Impatica for PowerPoint packages a PowerPoint presentation into a file that can be viewed over the Internet without additional user software.

Respondus

  • Respondus and StudyMate
    Thursday, January 14, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
    Respondus products help us to easily import quiz questions/answers into Bb Vista, secure the online testing environment, and create interesting (and entertaining) learning objects.

SharePoint

  • SharePoint Basic
    Thursday, January 7, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
    Thursday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
    SharePoint is a powerful tool for collaborating on documents. This session provides an overview of SharePoint's key functions with step-by-step directions.

Snap

  • Snap Basic
    Thursday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
    Tuesday, January 12, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
    For new users of Snap, Drexel's survey software. A demonstration of the entire survey setup process will be presented.
  • Snap Advanced
    Wednesday, December 16, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Advanced users of Snap will learn how to create a survey, set up routing rules, and send automated survey invitation and reminder messages through Snap. Password-protected and iterative surveys will also be discussed.

Wimba Classroom

  • Wimba Classroom and Other Wimba Tools
    Tuesday, November 17, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
    Wimba Classroom is a synchronous, virtual classroom. Its features include multi-way audio and video, easy upload of PowerPoint presentations, application sharing, polling, and more—all designed to make the online classroom experience as robust as possible.