Technology Update - March 15, 2012
Table of Contents
Password Reset Service Updated
IRT recently updated the Password Reset Service in Computer Accounts Management Service (CAMS). With this update, IRT has improved security and has made it easier for you to recover your password (if forgotten) without having to call the Help Desk.
The Service now requires the setup of your security question and answer. If you haven't already set up your security question and answer for the Password Reset Service, you should do so by logging into CAMS at https://accounts.drexel.edu. Upon login, CAMS will direct you to the setup of the Service.
Even if you have already set up the Password Reset Service, you should log in at https://accounts.drexel.edu to review or change your security question and answer. (Existing security questions and answers were carried over during the update, but it is still a good idea to review your security settings from time to time.)
If you don't remember your answer to the security question you set up, or haven't set up the Service previously, you might need to call the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 during business hours to retrieve your forgotten password.
For instructions on how to configure the Service, see Solution 463 at AskDrexel; for instructions on how to use the Service, see Solution 462 at AskDrexel.
Only Two Weeks Left to Register for the e-Learning 2.0 Conference!
Register today for the tenth annual e-Learning 2.0 Conference! Hosted by IRT, the conference will be held on Thursday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building.
Every year, the conference draws more than 170 participants from over 35 regional institutions to share best practices for learning enrichment and student engagement in an e-learning 2.0 environment. If you would like to review this year’s list of speakers and topics, a preliminary conference program is available.
Our keynote address, "The Special Sauce of Social Learning," will be given by Dr. Marc J. Rosenberg, a leading figure in the world of training, organizational learning, e-learning, knowledge management, and performance improvement. A veteran with more than 30 years in the field of organizational learning, Dr. Rosenberg is the author of the best-selling books E-Learning: Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Digital Age and Beyond E-Learning: Approaches and Technologies to Enhance Organizational Knowledge, Learning and Performance. More information about Dr. Rosenberg can be found at http://www.marcrosenberg.com.
To register, visit the conference Web site. A registration fee of $20 for Drexel faculty, staff, and students includes welcome materials, access to the presentations and keynote speaker session, a continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshments, and a door prize drawing at the conclusion of the event (winners must be present).
Don't miss out—register today! For questions or more information, please email el2n@drexel.edu.
eLink and gLink Accounts Update
The eLink and gLink email accounts are back! Students who have had difficulty picking up these additional accounts can now do so by logging into the Computer Accounts Management Service at https://accounts.drexel.edu. Together, these accounts provide an additional 16 GB of email storage space for students (Note: These accounts are not available to faculty, staff, or alumni).
Browser Compatibility Update
During the past few months, IRT updated a number of key services, including Photo Class List, Webmail, the Password Reset Service (see "Password Reset Service Updated," above), and more.
Drexel Webmail, in particular, was recently upgraded for compatibility with Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 10, and Google Chrome.
However, while we are in the process of transitioning to Blackboard Learn, the new Learning Management System, Blackboard is not releasing any updates for Bb Vista that include support for the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome. When we transition to Blackboard Learn in the summer quarter, major browsers that currently lack support will become usable. Until then, please continue to use a supported browser to access Bb Vista. For a full list of browsers that can be used with Bb Vista, please visit the Supported Browsers page on Blackboard's site. More information about browser compatibility with Drexel's systems can be found on IRT's FAQ page under "Support" > "What browsers do Drexel services support?."
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020 for Webmail or accounts support, or the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu or 215-895-1224 for Bb Vista or Learn support.
Moving to Blackboard Learn
With Blackboard Inc.'s support for Blackboard Vista and Blackboard Classic nearing its end in late 2012, Drexel will be transitioning to the new Blackboard Learn platform this summer. All courses at Drexel and its partners that begin on or after June 25, 2012 will be taught in the new Learn system. (Courses with start dates before June 25, 2012 will be completed in Bb Vista or Classic.) Learn will be linked to the Banner system and to the DrexelOne portal. Banner courses will flow over to Learn just before the summer term begins.
Blackboard Learn includes a number of new features: Wikis, email and messaging (within-course notification) tools, an Early Warning System to notify students of course deadlines, a Performance Dashboard for improved instructor monitoring of student performance, customizable grading views, simplified content management with thumbnail views, improved accessibility features, "in-context" grading, drag-and-drop reordering and file uploading, an integrated search for textbooks, "mashups," which incorporate rich-media content using Web resources such as YouTube, Flickr, and SlideShare, and per-course email notifications.
IRT is already offering workshops on Learn, while Blackboard has made instructional videos and documentation available in their On Demand Learning Center.
Faculty should first confer with their specific academic unit(s) regarding the migration of courses, as they might have a specific migration process in place. Once you have conferred with your department, please complete this form to request the migration of an existing Bb Vista course(s) to the Blackboard Learn system: http://drexel.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6R8R27Xuky3nZIw. Only one version of each course will be migrated, so please choose the most complete version of each course you teach (e.g., ENGL-101, ENGL-102).
Following the migration to Learn this summer, access to Bb Vista will eventually be phased out. To ensure that you have access to the information you need from your Banner sections, you can archive items from your Bb Vista sections by saving them to your computer. Step-by-step how-to documents and videos on how to archive these items, which may include files, grade book entries, assessment reports, assignment submissions, discussion posts, and tracking reports, can be found on the Learn Tutorials page.
If you have any questions about the transition to Blackboard Learn, please contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu.
Changes to ArcGIS
ArcGIS for Desktop is a geographic information systems product available in three license levels. These license levels were previously known as ArcInfo, ArcEditor, and ArcView, but they have been renamed to Advanced, Standard, and Basic, respectively. Due to the naming update, faculty users of ArcGIS might need to upgrade from "Basic" (formerly "ArcView") to the new "Advanced" level.
Please note that the lowest license level, "Basic" (formerly "ArcView"), does not support advanced spatial analysis. To access this functionality, faculty users can upgrade to the "Advanced" license level by following these steps:
- Launch the ArcGIS Administrator from the Start Menu.
- Once the ArcGIS Administrator launches, click "Desktop."
- Choose "ArcInfo (Concurrent Use)" at the top of the product list.
- Confirm that the license server field points to "its-license."
- Click "Apply."
You might need to restart the software for the changes to take effect.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
Qualtrics: New File Upload Feature
IRT has recently added a new feature to the Qualtrics online survey application: the "File Upload" question type, which allows respondents to attach a file as their response to a survey question. This powerful feature has many potential uses, including application submission, event registration, and even quizzing in the classroom. When reviewing responses, the survey administrator can download file attachment submissions individually or all together in a .zip file. (Note: The most recent MS Office file types, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx, must be downloaded via a .zip file in the "View Reports" tab – they cannot be downloaded individually at this time.)
If you are not familiar with it, Qualtrics is a robust and intuitive application for creating, distributing, and managing Web-based surveys. It is available to all Drexel faculty and staff via the Qualtrics link in DrexelOne, which is located in the "drexel" tab under the "Technology Services" channel. With Qualtrics, it is easy to build surveys and analyze results collaboratively – just click the "Collaborate" icon (under the "My Surveys" tab) next to a survey to share it with your Drexel colleagues.
If you are interested in learning more about Qualtrics, please contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu.
Voicemail Email Scams
New scams, transmitted via voicemail or email, are targeting employees of organizations. Be on the look-out for ANY message informing you that your 2011 W-2 forms are available for review at a random Web link. This scam might ask for your Social Security Number and other identifying information. Remember that Drexel University employees' W-2 forms are available for Web viewing ONLY through the "employees" tab of DrexelOne (https://one.drexel.edu) in the "Tax Forms" link.
If you have received this type or any similar type of voicemail or email, DO NOT GO TO THE INDICATED WEB SITE AND DO NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION! These scams are designed to obtain your personal information for use in identity theft.
If you have any questions or concerns, or think you might have received a scam/phishing message, contact the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 or consult@drexel.edu.
Camtasia for Mac 2.0 Released
This past December, TechSmith released Camtasia for Mac 2.0. Some of the key enhancements in this new version include:
- Redesigned user interface
- New cursor and click effects
- New annotations and callouts
- Faster export performance
- HD-quality export options
To learn more about these features, visit TechSmith's Web site. If you're already using Camtasia for Mac, first download and install the free trial of version 2.0. Next, call the Online Learning Team at 215-895-1224 (during business hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday) to have the new product key entered for you remotely. This key will upgrade the free trial version to the fully-licensed version.
If you're not already using Camtasia for Mac (or if you'd like to learn about the new features in a classroom setting), our next Camtasia for Mac 2.0 workshop will be held on Monday, April 9th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Korman 116. After that, workshops will be held during every even-numbered month. Please email olt@drexel.edu to register, and be sure to specify that you want to attend the Camtasia for Mac workshop. You can also view the full listing of upcoming workshops here.
Configuring Junk Mail Settings in Email Clients
Occasionally, users find that emails from legitimate sources are mistakenly sent to their junk mail folder.
If you use an email client such as Outlook, Entourage, or Thunderbird, did you know that there are two spam filters at work? The email client you’re using has its own junk mail filter in addition to the filter your inbox provider uses. In nearly all cases, the local filter settings (in your email client) are at fault.
The client’s filter looks for keywords, phrases, and other data within the email to determine whether or not it’s junk. Sometimes, it incorrectly marks legitimate email as spam and places it in your junk mail folder. The best way to prevent this is to add legitimate senders to your "Safe Senders" list. This measure ensures that even if an email is flagged as spam by your email client’s filter, your client will still deliver it to your inbox. If you use Outlook or Apple Mail, instructions for adding safe senders can be found at AskDrexel, under Solution 2795.
Note: You might want to periodically check your junk mail folder just in case legitimate messages have been redirected there.
News and Notes from the Online Learning Team
iWebfolio Upgraded to Version 4.7
Drexel's iWebfolio accounts were recently upgraded to version 4.7. This new version gives portfolio owners and reviewers more control over the portfolio submission process. Some highlights include:
- Administrators can build templates that automatically submit e-portfolios to reviewers when an owner adopts the template.
- Administrators can allow e-portfolio submissions to be controlled by owners, so that template-based portfolios can be submitted when owners are confident that their work is ready for review.
- Reviewers can opt to remove their access to a student's e-portfolio if they no longer need it.
- Support for additional MS Office file types (including Visio).
- Support for Google Chrome.
To learn more about the new features and fixes in iWebfolio 4.7, review the release notes on Nuventive's Web site.
Respondus Test Bank Network
Did you know that Drexel has a campus-wide license for both Respondus 4.0 and StudyMate? As part of our license, you can search the Respondus Test Bank Network and request publisher test banks for the textbooks adopted in your courses. Over 25 publishers participate in the Respondus Test Bank Network.
The test banks are free and are already formatted for use with Respondus and StudyMate, saving you hours of preparation time when you create exams and learning activities for your courses.
To use the Respondus Test Bank Network:
- Visit http://www.respondus.com/tbn to watch an introductory video (StudyMate Author users should visit this page for screenshots specific to that application).
- Search for your test bank at http://www.respondus.com/testbank/search.php.
- Submit the online form to request the test bank from the publisher.
- Allow five business days for the publisher to send you an email with the file code and password for the requested test bank.
- Using the file code and password, register the test bank directly in your Respondus and/or StudyMate application.
Respondus 4.0 and StudyMate Author 2.5 can be downloaded from the Designer 101 section in Bb Vista. If you need access to this section, or if you have any questions about Respondus or the Test Bank Network, please contact the Online Learning Team at olt@drexel.edu or 215-895-1224.
"Create Printable View" in Bb Vista
Blackboard Vista's "Create Printable View" button, which is available in both the Assignments and Discussions tools, creates a single-page view of all selected content, including attached files. It provides an easy way to archive student-contributed content and funnel content into an instructor's evaluation workflow.
When used with the Assignments tool, an instructor can download all of the submissions for an assignment in a compressed file. Each student's paper and/or text submission will appear in a folder with the student's name. To download assignment submissions, follow these steps:
- View the submissions for a single assignment. To do so, follow one of these steps from the Teach tab:
- Click on the Assignments tool and choose "View Submissions" from the ActionLinks menu next to the assignment title.
- Click on the Assignment Dropbox, select a single assignment in the "View by:" drop-down menu at the top right-hand corner of the Dropbox, and click the green "Go" arrow.
- Select all of the submissions by checking the box in the table header, or just check the box(es) next to the individual assignment(s) you would like to download.
- Click the "Create Printable View" button below the assignment submissions. A single-page view containing links to attached files will display.
- To download, click "Save to File" at the top or bottom of the screen. A .zip file is created and saved to your "My Files" area in the Content Manager.
- Click on the underlined link to open or save the .zip file to your local computer.
The "Create Printable View" feature works similarly in the Discussions tool, with a few differences. To archive every discussion post in a course:
- From the Build or Teach tab, go to the Discussions tool and click "All Topics" > "Expand All." Every post in the course is now visible.
- Check the box in the table header to select all posts.
(Note: Completing the next step will automatically change any unread posts to "read" status. You might wish to read or respond to unread posts before proceeding.)
- Click "Create Printable View" at the bottom of the screen. (If there are more than a few hundred posts, it is possible that the browser or session will time out before the view is created.) A single-page view will display.
- Click "Save as File" at the top of the screen.
- If any of the posts contain file attachments, Bb Vista will ask if you want to save the attachments with the messages:
- If you click "Cancel," a single text file will be created and can be saved to the local computer.
- If you click "OK," the files will be saved in a .zip file along with the complete discussion text, but not in sub-folders by student.
Note: Unlike the Assignments tool, neither the single text file nor the .zip file is saved to Bb Vista's "My Files" area.
Sign Up for OLT Workshops
The Online Learning Team conducts training sessions on Blackboard Learn, Camtasia, DragonDrop, Web Basics, Mac OS X, Respondus, SharePoint, and more. In addition, several brown bag lunches and workshops on technology products of interest are held each month. These training sessions are open to members of Drexel's community as well as the general public. Feel free to invite a colleague!
To reserve a spot at any of these workshops, email us at olt@drexel.edu with your name, institution (if other than Drexel), contact information, and the name of the workshop(s) you would like to attend.
Below is a sampling of workshops taking place in March and April:
SharePoint: Introduction to My Sites
Thursday, March 22, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
HTML Basics
Thursday, March 22, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Recording and Editing with Camtasia Studio for Windows
Friday, March 23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Blackboard Learn Full Day Workshop
Thursday, April 5, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Apple iBooks Author
Tuesday, April 10, 10:00 a.m. – noon
Visit our workshops Web site for our complete training schedule and workshop descriptions. Unless otherwise noted, all training sessions will be held in Room 116 of the Korman Center (off the Quad on Drexel’s Main Campus, 33rd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets).