Tegrity updates to include new features

Information Technology will perform Tegrity updates this summer which will bring many new features and further improve reliability. For a complete list of enhancements, please visit a techfaq article, at http://techfaq.smumn.edu/index.php?action=artikel&cat=23&id=307&artlang=en.

Some of the new features include:

    • The ability to create recordings from Android and iOS devices

    • Clicking the Tegrity Classes link within Blackboard while on a mobile device will now launch the Tegrity mobile app

    • Kindle Fire support

    • Improved Mac OSX recorder

This will result in two Tegrity outages. The first outage will be the longest and will occur starting July 30 at 8 p.m. until noon on July 31. A second phase of this upgrade will occur during the early morning hours of Aug. 13.

To view recordings during either of the outages listed above, please follow these directions located on http://techfaq.smumn.edu/index.php?action=artikel&cat=28&id=126&artlang=en to download them to your device in advance.

Instructors will still be able to create recordings by launching the recorder from the system tray; however they will not upload immediately. Please contact the HelpDesk at Ext. 7800 if you plan on creating recordings during either of these upgrades.

Next Chat and Chow to address use of iPads, Nooks

In the next Chat and Chow session, “You’ve Got the Magic Touch,” you'll see how faculty at Saint Mary’s are teaching minds and touching screens. Eric Heukeshoven, Music Department, and Dave Jackson, Education, will demonstrate how they use iPads and Nooks to create magic in the classroom. Want the glow of new technology under the Christmas tree? Come and get a first-hand look from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in the McEnery Center.

Chat and Chows are brought to you by the Fitz, IT and Instructional Technology. Lunch is provided. An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary. For more information, contact Jason Spartz, jspartz@smumn.edu.

SMU going Google

The SMU iT Department is continuing the process of the university “Going Google.” All employees and students have Google accounts created, and several employee areas of the university have been migrated to using GoogleApps exclusively for e-mail and other features of GoogleApps.

Undergraduate students will begin having new e-mails delivered to their SMU GoogleApps account based on the following schedule:

Oct. 18 — credited seniors and “super” seniors
Nov. 1 — credited juniors
Nov. 8 — credited sophomores
Nov. 15 — all other undergraduate students

SGPP student schedule has yet to be officially determined.
Once e-mail delivery is switched over to Google you can move your e-mails from Office-Logic (WebMail) to your GoogleApps account.

For instructions, go to http://techfaq.smumn.edu/index.php?action=artikel&cat=6&id=249&artlang=en.

Be on the lookout for further notices during the next few weeks.

The current WebMail system, Office Logic Interchange, currently does not have an end- of-life date set. E-mails, for students, will still be available on the Office Logic system unless moved to Google by the student him/herself. The Office Logic system will still be syncing passwords for all users when Changing SMU Passwords in WebTools.

HelpDesk and iT staff appreciate everyone’s patience during the changeover to GoogleApps.

Saint Mary’s is ‘Going Google’

During the last year, the university has been running a pilot of GoogleApps to assess its use for the university. The pilot process has been a successful one with 250 students, faculty and staff from across the university participating.

Pilot users enjoy the new user experience, especially the greatly increased e-mail storage, collaboration, calendaring and connecting to mobile devices. In late July, the final step of having university counsel review the GoogleApps contract for compliance with needs for security, privacy and e-mail retention was completed.

Information Technology will start the transition process to move all current staff, faculty and students to the SMUMN GoogleApps system this fall.

Please watch for information from Information Technology in the HelpDesk Newsletter and e-mails for details on when your account will be migrating to the new system. The intent is to have all current faculty, staff and student accounts with existing @smumn.edu addresses created on the GoogleApps System by the end of August to allow for immediate use of the collaboration tools. Additionally, the process for transitioning e-mail to the new system will be started, with the intent of having all current faculty, staff and administration e-mail migrated by Thanksgiving and current students receiving new messages by January 2012.

Spartz presents in Chicago

Jason Spartz, director of Instructional Technology - Winona campus, presented at the 2011 EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference in Chicago, Ill. His presentation sessions, focused on “Cloud Collaboration with Google Apps,” took place as part of an Experience IT series and a Technology Boot Camp event. The sessions were designed to provide attendees hands-on opportunities with technology tools. Spartz was also fulfilled his commitment as a member of the 2011 program committee and was actively involved with the development of the teaching and learning track.

Online iT HelpDesk Request form now available

Have you ever needed to submit a technology issue to the iT HelpDesk at SMU but did not have access to a phone or WebMail?

There is now another option — the Online iT HelpDesk Request form.

Visit courses.smumn.edu and:

• Click the SMU Services tab.
• Click the “Submit a HelpDesk Request” link in the HelpDesk Services box.
• Fill out the appropriate information on the form for type of customer, username, type of issue. (Choose one option that best fits your situation.)
• Type in a detailed description of your issue or request. The details are critical to an effective resolution. Please provide an alternate email address and a contact phone number to allow us to contact you more efficiently if necessary.

As with any incident logged to the HelpDesk, you should receive an e-mail confirmation that your request was created (logged) and assigned to an iT technician along with the description you provided.

iT and HelpDesk staff review HelpDesk incidents daily and strive to act on each one within 24 hours. You may be contacted for further details as necessary.

HelpDesk Tips:

• Try the “Click here…” link on the WebTools login screen if you have a password issue.
• WebTools password changes effect Webmail, Blackboard, MED website, and Library or network login. Not all users have WebMail or MED accounts. The password changes for all SMU accounts you have. WebMail may take a few minutes to process.
• Initial Blackboard password is not the same as WebTools. Please “Change SMU Passwords” in WebTools to set your SMU passwords to be the same.
• Contact the HelpDesk 800-635-5987, Ext. 7800 or email helpdesk@smumn.edu if you do not receive the confirmation e-mail within a day.

Educause conference can be viewed online

Saint Mary’s Information Technology Department hosted a viewing room for the 2010 Educause Conference Online Edition Oct. 13-15.

Twelve members of the university participated in a combination of 16 sessions offered over the two and a half day conference.

The Information Technology Department registered for the event and invited members of the Winona campus to participate in an effort to continue awareness of what’s going on in the industry.

For those who were unable to attend the event, the conference can be viewed online at www.educause.edu/E2010/EDUCAUSE2010OnlineAnnualProgra/PrivateSessionRecordings/214842.

These recordings will be available through Jan. 6, 2011.

IT Department to host online Educause conference

The Information Technology Department has registered for the annual Educause conference “online edition.” The online conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in Saint Mary’s Hall, Room 8 (training lab). Stop in to view the conference at any point.

The conference agenda is located at www.educause.edu/E2010/Program/Online?tz_select=America%2FChicago

For more information, or if any particular sessions catch your interest, contact Sarah Bearbower at Ext. 457-1635 or sbearbow@smumn.edu.

IT Department to host online Educause conference

The Information Technology Department has registered for the annual Educause conference “online edition.” The online conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in Saint Mary’s Hall, Room 8 (training lab). Stop in to view the conference at any point.

The conference agenda is located at www.educause.edu/E2010/Program/Online?tz_select=America%2FChicago

For more information, or if any particular sessions catch your interest, contact Sarah Bearbower at Ext. 457-1635 or sbearbow@smumn.edu.