ITS Coffee Break: 10/9/2006: Gamer Survey, Teaching & Learning, Course Podcasting, Web Surveys

Posted on by

This week's edition of the Coffee Break announces the ITS Gamer Server Survey, which looks at ways to improve network speed for gamers and non-gamers by deploying a game server on campus and then discusses the proposed Center for Teaching and Learning at Lafayette. In Tech News, Ken and Courtney look at Kansas State University's new podcasting initiative that plans to make 6,000 class podcasts available to students. In Help News, they discuss the upcoming "Design and Administer Effective Web Surveys" workshop being given via web conference by Stephen Porter, Director, Institutional Research, Wesleyan University.

Getting the Podcast

There are several ways to get the podcast:

Show Notes

ITS News

  • Gamer Server Survey:
  • Center for Teaching and Learning:
    • Lafayette is discussing establishing a Center for Teaching and Learning — Courtney Bentley offers some thoughts on instructional technology tie-ins. You can find a class setup to discuss the Center in Blackboard:
    • http://class.lafayette.edu

Tech News

  • Kansas State University Launches World's Largest Course Podcasting Initiative

    • The Kansas City InfoZine reports: "
      Kansas State University announced today its use of Tegrity Campus to convert an unprecedented 6,000 recorded classes to enhanced podcasts. K-State plans to have all 6,000 class podcasts available to its students this year, making it by far the education realm's largest podcasting implementation worldwide."
    • http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/18027/

Help News

  • Workshop: Design and Administer Effective Web Surveys
    • Time: 1-2:30 p.m.
    • Location: Kirby 10
    • Instructor: Stephen Porter, Director, Institutional Research, Wesleyan University
    • Register for the workshop: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~its/help/workshop/registration?workshop=129
    • As the need for inexpensive, accurate information increases, so too will the reliance on properly designed web surveys. Join us to review the fundamentals behind effective online surveys from both a technological and methodological perspective. This workshop is designed for those interested in moving from paper to web surveys, and will review the many aspects of designing and successfully administering a web survey with a high response rate.

ITS Coffee Break for 10/2/2006: Information Literacy, Alternative Publishing, CSS, eReader

Posted on by

The information literacy brown bag to be hosted by Skillman Library on October 6 leads off this week's ITS Coffee Break. A look at tech news beyond Lafayette's campus finds science fiction author Cory Doctorw trying out some alternative methods of publishing fiction, lessons for those afraid of cascading style sheets, news about Sony's new Reader product for viewing digital books, and a list of higher education podcast feeds. Finally, hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley look at ITS' upcoming workshop schedule, which includes “Acrobat I: Creating PDF Documents” and a host of training sessions for staff and administrators receiving new Lafayette computers.

Getting the Podcast

There are several ways to get the podcast:

Show Notes

ITS News

  • Discussion on information literacy led by information literacy grant recipients Paul Barclay (history) and Jim Dearworth (biology)
    • Location: Gendebien Room, Skillman Library
    • Date: Friday, October 6, 12 noon. Lunch provided.
  • Tweaks to the ITS web site

Tech News

Help

  • Workshops
    • Monday, October 2, 2006 – PowerPoint I: Introduction to PowerPoint
    • Thursday, October 5, 2006 – Acrobat I: Creating PDF Documents
    • Rollout training
  • Workshop Schedule:

Comments

ITS Coffee Break for 9/20/2006: Bytes & Books, Portable Apps, Podcasting Workshop

Posted on by

The latest edition of the Lafayette Libraries & ITS newsletter Bytes & Books and the launch of the College Archives Photograph Collection lead off campus news in the 9/20 edition of the Coffee Break. In Tech News, Ken and Courtney look at applications designed to be loaded onto portable computer drives such as USB Flash keychains or iPods, discuss science fiction author David Brin's essay “Why Johnny can't code” and then chat about Microsoft's own Soapbox. In Help News, they announce upcoming workshops on podcasting and adminsitrative computer training.

Getting the Podcast

There are several ways to get the podcast:

Show Notes

ITS News

Tech News

  • Portable Apps
  • Salon: Why Johnny can't code by David Brin
    • Science fiction author talks about his quest to find a version of BASIC that will run on a modern computer. As his frustration grows, he discusses what the implications are for computer science in the US when kids can no longer write simple programs in something like BASIC, which is an exceedingly limiting langauge, but very useful for learning how to program. His ultimate solution? Buying a vintage Commodore 64.
    • http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2006/09/14/basic/
  • Microsoft's Soapbox
  • commandN

Help

  • Podcasting Workshop on 9/25 at 4:10 p.m.
  • Series of administrative computer training sessions
    • Designed for those getting a new Lafayette computer this month
    • Registration requested
    • Handouts for training will be posted on the web site for those who want a sneak peek
  • ITS Web Site Evaluation Volunteers wanted: Email itsblog@lafayette.edu if you're interested.
  • Workshop Schedule