Internet bandwidth increase

Wireless network upgrade and improvements

Virtual desktop infrastructure pilot

Exchange server and Outlook Web Access 2013—now in place

User Services/Help Desk—help for faculty and staff

Residential Networking—help for students

Ellucian Colleague SQL conversion update

Adoption of Ellucian Recruiter

Ellucian Go—University of Redlands mobile application

Internet security—avoiding phishing

Password change process

Alertus and Bulldog Alert System

Moodle—our learning management system

Integration of library research guides into Moodle

Technology enabled classroom update

Skype-ready classrooms

Response cards (clickers) in the classroom

Document cameras in the classroom

Sustainability efforts continue with print quota

Off campus access

Spatial thinking expands with undergraduate minor

Connecting to e-mail on your smartphone

iPad loaner program for faculty

Employee update

Integration of library research guides into Moodle

With the addition of an HTML block in a Moodle course site, faculty members can now link their courses to the Armacost Library Research Guide for their course’s subject area. The complete process for adding the HTML block, along with the necessary HTML code, is documented in this handout: http://bulldog2.redlands.edu /ftc/moodlesupport/ FG_library_resources_block.pdf

The process begins with a faculty member adding the HTML block to their course site. With the block added, the contents of the block are modified and specialized code (from the handout) is copied and pasted in. Once the changes are saved, the block features a link to the subject area research guide, the assigned librarian’s name and phone number, and an option to chat with a librarian. With the chat function, students can ask questions and get information from the on-duty reference librarian.

For more information, contact Matt Waters at extension 8699 or Catherine Walker at extension 8321.

Technology enabled classroom update

The preference for teaching in a Technology Enabled Classroom (TEC) remains high. This summer, an additional six classrooms were converted to TECs: Hall of Letters 103, 200, 207, 217, 319, and 325. TECs provide a fully equipped instructor’s station complete with a computer and an easy-to-use push-button panel for controlling the projector, adjusting the volume and switching between projecting different sources such as the computer, a laptop, and a DVD/VCR. Hall of Letters 100 and Hornby 2 will be converted during the fall semester. Gregory 272 and 273 have been combined into a larger TEC classroom where the equipment has been purposely relocated to accommodate both computer projection and blackboard use. New technology will also be added to Hall of Letters 213 (Browsing Room) which will include a flat panel display, laptop connections, and Blu-ray/VCR player.

Enhancements were also made at the regional campuses. New projectors and cables for laptop connections have been installed in additional teaching spaces at the Temecula and Rancho Cucamonga campuses. The majority of teaching spaces at the regional campuses are now technology enabled.

A complete list of TECs can be found at http://www.redlands.edu/6122.asp.

For TEC support or training needs, contact Eric Chaffin. Eric can be reached at extension 8459. He can also be reached by e-mail at tecsupport@redlands.edu. Support hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Skype-ready classrooms

Priya Jha, Associate Professor of English, knew she wanted to do something special to enhance her spring 2013 class titled Theories of Popular Culture. Priya wanted her students to have an opportunity to converse with the Sweden-based journalist, Urban Hamid. Urban is renowned for the work he has done throughout the Middle East. His recent experiences in Libya and Egypt made him the perfect guest speaker for Priya’s class. Due to travel costs and scheduling issues, having Urban physically come to campus was not possible. After a discussion with ITS regarding technology capabilities, Priya decided to bring Urban to Redlands “virtually” via Skype, a video conferencing tool.

Using Skype, Priya was able to quickly establish a connection with Urban and begin her virtual session. At first, being “on camera” created an air of affectedness, Priya explains. Although it was clear that the students |were riveted by his story, they were initially reticent to converse. However, that feeling quickly dissipated as Urban related events that led up to his arrival in Libya. Fortunately, Priya had asked her students to watch some of Urban’s televised interviews and to prepare comments and questions. Within minutes into the Skype session, Priya’s students began to engage in a conversation with Urban about the changes in his personal life, his move back to Sweden, and the challenges of being an independent journalist. Urban's sense of humor came through on the screen and the students warmed up to him enough so that they overcame their nervousness and asked him questions. Priya’s story showcases the successful use of Skype in the classroom. Video conferencing allows students to interact with people who would otherwise be unavailable due to distance, time, and cost.

There are now seven Skype-ready classrooms: Gregory 270, Hall of Letters 209, Larsen 227, Duke 109, Hentschke 201, North University Hall 112, and Fletcher Jones Foundation Computer Center 112. Each Skype-ready room is equipped with a camera, ceiling microphones, and a speaker system. Skype-ready rooms also function as technology enabled classrooms. Faculty members wanting to schedule a Skype-ready room should work through their department’s administrative assistant to make a room reservation. Instructions for using Skype are available in each of the designated rooms.

For technical assistance using a Skype-ready room, contact Eric Chaffin at extension 8459.