On Thursday, Jan. 10^th, 2013, Truman welcomed Paul D. Callister, professor of law and director of the Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, to present information on the key copyright issues encountered by faculty and staff in higher education. The workshop was sponsored by Pickler Memorial Library and Information Technology Services in an effort to continue to provide opportunities for faculty and staff to discuss and further their knowledge on this important topic.

Diane Richmond, Director of Learning Technologies at Truman shared, “Copyright law is dynamic.  It is a topic we frequently receive questions about.  As faculty members build course content, and as more and more information is being disseminated via Blackboard, professors have a heightened awareness of their responsibility to respect copyright law and review their materials.  In education, we use the guidelines of Fair Use as our ‘litmus test,’ but this is not a law, it is a set of principles by which we make our decisions about what is ethical to use in our courses.  Needless to say, the discussion of copyright is not straightforward.  There are many factors that weigh into the decision-making process.”

During the workshop, a variety of prevalent topics were covered, including aspects of copyright related to Fair Use, the TEACH Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Blackboard and use of media materials. This event was open to a diverse audience, including individuals who had prior knowledge regarding copyright who were looking for a refresher, as well as individuals looking for an introduction to copyright law.

The workshop was interactive in format and provided attendees with the opportunity to work in small groups to discuss and provide resolutions to typical copyright problems.  Janet Romine, Head of Public Services at Pickler Memorial Library reflected, “the workshop really drove home that with copyright the answer to ‘can I use this’ is never a simple yes or no.” By using a scenario-based presentation, Callister showed faculty how to work through a series of questions about licensing and possible copyright exemptions that might apply to their particular situation. Callister also the stressed the importance of keeping up with recent court decisions regarding copyright cases.

As classroom technology becomes older it is often replaced by newer technologies providing better services at a lower cost. Video cassette recorders (VCRs) have largely been replaced by digital video discs (DVDs). DVDs are simpler, more durable, with higher video quality and better long term storage characteristics. All Truman classrooms with a console computer system currently have a DVD player. This plan will outline the process for phasing out and removing the VCRs from all Truman classrooms.

ITS will support the current classroom VCRs until December 2014. During the 2014 Winter Break the classroom VCRs will be removed. Until December 2014 any classroom VCRs that fail will be replaced with used VCRs as long as a spare VCR unit is available. No new VCRs will be purchased.

Pickler Media Library has been replacing many of the educational and feature film VHS titles it holds with DVD format media. Please contact Sharon Hackney at 785-7366 or shackney@truman.edu to make arrangements for the Library to purchase DVDs or other media for your classes. Replacing the older media with new media like DVDs is much better than trying to convert old media.

The ITS Helpdesk and the Learning Technologies office can also provide guidance and assistance to anyone needing to make their VCR based academic materials available in DVD format. The recent copyright workshop hosted by the Library and the Learning Technologies Office covered many of the issues present when dealing with copyrighted materials; copyright law, the TEACH Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act etc. We will work with you to help you find the best legal solution for your existing VCR based materials.

Please review your academic media materials and discuss your needs with your department head. Replacing your academic materials could take some time and the operational life of the VCRs is counting down; we recommend you start working on upgrading your academic materials soon.

ITS will provide additional status updates on the VCR support plan as we approach December 2014.

If you have any questions please contact the ITS HelpDesk at x4544.

Thank you.

Information Technology Services is working on the computer lab software for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The computer lab operating system will be Windows 7 with Microsoft Office 2010.

If you have computer software you would like made available in the computer labs please send an email to LabSoftware@truman.edu with the following information:

• Title of software
• Version
• Number of licenses
• Company information

To allow sufficient time to install and test please submit your software requests by April 1st 2013.

Software packages that were previously in the computer labs will not be available unless requested.

To see the list of software packages that have been requested for 2013-2014 click here.

To see the list of software packages that were available last year please click here.

If you would like training on classroom technology please contact the IT Helpdesk at x4544.

Lunch-n-Learn Series for Faculty

 Session 1 – GOOGLEAPPS FOR EDUCATION:  Feb. 6^th, 2013 from 12:30pm to 1:20pm in PML103

This session will focus on two GoogleApps used here at Truman:  Google Docs and Google Sites.  Learn how wikis like Google Docs can be used in the classroom to facilitate deeper learning.  Spend time creating a free and easy website using Google Sites that you can share with your students to help them stay connected outside of the classroom.

 Session 2 – AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MULTIMEDIA LAB: Feb. 13th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103 & PML204

Join Diane and Susan to learn more about the many features of the Multimedia Lab in the Library.  From Adobe Captivate and Photoshop to iMovie and GarageBand, the Multimedia Lab offers special software for use in education.  The workshop will begin in PML 103 with a brief presentation of available software, then the workshop will move up to PML 204 for a brief orientation of how the room is used.

Session 3 – A Faculty Perspective on MOOCs: Feb. 27^th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses) certainly are getting a lot of attention in higher education these days.  Will they change the landscape of higher ed in the future, or will they wind up being a lab experiment from which we can learn? Join us as Professor Shirley McKamie shares her personal experience from the perspective of a student in a MOOC to learn more about the experience of participating in one.

Session 4 – PROVIDING STUDENT FEEDBACK:  Mar. 6^th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

In this workshop, we will discuss the use of EyeJot to provide feedback to students in a more personal way.  Participate hands-on and learn how to create feedback using text, voice, and video to improve online communications.

Session 5 – PICKLER MEMORIAL LIBRARY’S DIGITAL LIBRARY AND E-CONTENT:  Mar. 20th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

If you’ve never perused Pickler Memorial Library’s Digital Library, then you’re in for a treat!  The Truman State University Digital Library features digitized objects from the holdings of the Pickler Memorial Library Special Collections & University Archives. These include manuscripts, photographs, glass slides, vintage sheet music, and other unique and rare items.  Join us as Amanda Langendoerfer, Head of Special Collections & Archives along with Janet Romine, Head of Public Services join us to explain and demonstrate how to access these rare finds.  Janet will also touch on the Library’s eBrary and Films on Demand that you can access and utilize as resources with students.

 Session 6 –BLACKBOARD DESIGN:  Mar. 27th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

Blackboard is a robust Course Management Tool that allows instructors to not only create and share content, but to design it in such a way that students are motivated and engaged with the content.  If you already use Blackboard, but would like to learn more about  the use of special features such as Adaptive Release, Customization, and Learning Modules, this workshop is for you!

Session 7 – ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CLASSROOM:  April 3rd, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

Addressing the special needs of students with disabilities is important to their success.  Join Vicky Wehner, Disability Services, to discuss the importance of universal design and learn more about what options are available to help students with disabilities to improve their learning outcomes.

Session 8 – ADVANCED SMARTBOARD USE:  April 10^th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

In this session, we will demonstrate some of the more advanced features of the SMARTBoard.  Learn how to work with these tools to create innovative and interactive activities in the classroom to increase successful learning outcomes and provide an engaging experience.

 Session 9 – Fun, Free Tools for Use in Education:  April 17th, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 1:20 pm in PML103

The final workshop in our series will focus on sharing additional free tools that you can use to amp up presentations using Prezi, to stay abreast of your favorite topics using StumbleUpon, and much more.  Please join us for a fun-filled hour of sharing our favorite “freebies.”  We’d like to have your participation in this final session – please share with us your ideas – or plan to take the floor for a few minutes to share your favorite “teacher technology”!

To register to attend any of these sessions, please go to eventmanager.truman.edu to sign up today!

Click the infographic to see a summary of the IT winter break projects completed across campus.

As computer equipment becomes older eventually it no longer provides acceptable services.  When old computer systems are replaced ITS evaluates the used computer systems.  If the used computers can perform other Truman services in a productive manner then ITS may reallocate them in a different role.

Truman new computer purchases usually take place during the summer.  Late summer and fall is normally when ITS is processing and evaluating used computer equipment.   Most used computers have reached their final end-of-life and are not suitable for reallocation but a few computers are still useful.

If you have a computer need that you believe could possibly be met with an older computer system please contact the ITS Helpdesk and submit your request.  We will evaluate your request and if we have a suitable used computer system available we may be able to reallocate it to meet your computer need.

Please keep in mind the number and capability of suitable used computer systems is quite limited.  Also, these computers are several years old and out of warranty coverage.  While they may still be useful in some secondary usage situations they should not be used for any Truman mission critical processes.

If you have any questions please contact the ITS Helpdesk.

Backing up your important computer files is a task sometimes overlooked until something has been lost.  ITS provides several locations where Truman faculty and staff computer files are automatically backed up.  We encourage you to take advantage of these locations to help protect your data against any loss.

Files stored on your Y: drive (your personal network storage area) or on your W: drive (your network storage area shared with others in your department) will be automatically backed up by ITS.

Email on the Exchange server is automatically backed up.  Note:  It is possible to configure your email client to download your email from Exchange so it ONLY resides on your PC.  This is an advanced email client configuration ITS does not recommend.  If you do this your email is not backed up on Exchange.  Email archives you create are not automatically backed up unless you store them on your Y: or W: drive.

Academic course materials faculty store in the Blackboard system are automatically backed up.

Faculty materials stored in the Truman Google Apps for Education system are automatically backed up.  Note:  Staff materials stored in the Google Apps for Education system are not automatically backed up.

If you have important files on your personal computer hard drive they are not automatically backed up.  Be sure you regularly copy your personal computer documents to your network Y: drive, an external hard drive or some other secure storage location to ensure your files are backed up and protected.

If you have questions about what locations are automatically backed up please contact the ITS Helpdesk.

ITS has completed replacing 600 campus computer systems with new computer technology.  The new systems were acquired at a 44% discount, an initial cost savings of $185,690.  The expected lifetime is eight years (double the lifetime of most PCs).  Our electrical power usage was reduced by 93%, saving Truman ~ $27,594 annually in electricity costs.  In addition these computer systems will not perform slower as they age, they will maintain their high level of performance throughout their lifetime.

October was National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but the threat to our identity and data is real every day of the year. With the Holidays quickly approaching, it is vital to protect information and not to fall for identity scams that seem to increase during these times of “giving”.

Please keep your systems updated with the latest security updates, be careful with online shopping (only use reparable companies you trust), and remember that no legitimate company will ever solicit your personal information by phone or email.

For further information, please checkout Truman’s Information Security Awareness website at http://its.truman.edu/isa , you can also checkout the Homeland Security site at: http://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month

The University’s total internet bandwidth has doubled. The total bandwidth has increased from 250Mbps to 500Mbps.  ITS has worked in coordination with Residence Life and Auxiliary funding to provide this additional service. This bandwidth increase is made available through a new secondary connection via a new provider and also provides failover redundancy if the primary University internet connection fails.  The additional Internet capacity is now on-line and in use by the campus.