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Category: Data management

Working in FreeMind, a brainstorming tool (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

(Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series on the FreeMind software tool for creating “mind maps” of data.)

After a FreeMind mind-mapping (.mm) native file has been properly saved, it may be opened again for updating.

To see what the working interface looks like in FreeMind, a branch from an existing mind map is captured here.  This branch shows some of the tools introduced in the E-Learning and Teaching Exchange wiki (ELATEwiki) that originated at K-State.  Below is the opening screen of this mind map, which leaves the text highly readable but with some content flowing off the top and bottom of the screen.   Continue reading “Working in FreeMind, a brainstorming tool (Part 2 of 3)” →

FreeMind brainstorming tool: Getting started (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

(Editor’s note: This is Part 1 of a three-part series on the FreeMind software tool for creating “mind maps” of data.)

There are a number of open-source and freeware software tools that enable individuals or groups to brainstorm ideas in a spatialized way.  This is useful for identifying  concepts, interrelationships, and knowledge structures.

FreeMind is one tool that is easy to use, has a clear layout, and enables online interactivity (all its branches may be activated as HTML links).  Continue reading “FreeMind brainstorming tool: Getting started (Part 1 of 3)” →

Database upgrade on Friday, Nov. 23

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

By Angela Chauncey

Several K-State services related to eIDs will be unavailable this from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, during a planned information technology services database upgrade. These services include:

  • eProfile system (eid.k-state.edu)
  • eID registration, including when completing an undergraduate application for admission
  • searching the K-State directory for a specific person
  • PDB Support Tools
  • KEAS Support Tools

Continue reading “Database upgrade on Friday, Nov. 23” →

Faculty Day at K-State Libraries Nov. 7

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

By Donna Ekart

K-State Libraries will host Faculty Library Day from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7. All K-State faculty are invited to attend. Concurrent sessions are offered over the course of the afternoon, structured like a conference and led by library and research experts.

All sessions focus on faculty research and technology needs as well as highlight multidisciplinary resources. Participants are welcome to come for just one session, attend several or stay all afternoon. Registration is not required. A schedule including room locations and full session descriptions is available online.  Continue reading “Faculty Day at K-State Libraries Nov. 7” →

Improved searching on university directory

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

By Division of Comm. and Mktg., Office of Mediated Education

Finding an email address, phone number or office location for K-Staters just got easier because of improvements to the people directory, the online searchable database of K-State faculty, staff and students. You can search the people directory by entering a person’s name or eID in the K-State search box, which is in the top right corner of all K-State webpages.

The improved people directory takes into account middle names, initials and hyphenated last names when searching for a person. Another significant improvement is searching for a person using a nickname. Continue reading “Improved searching on university directory” →

“New to IT at K-State” includes wireless printing, backing up data, designated access

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Faculty, staff, and students who are new arrivals at K-State will find essential IT information and resources on the “New to IT at K-State” webpage, which covers  eIDs/passwords, computer networks, email, labs, printing, software, buying a computer, computer repair, and more.

The webpage is updated at least twice a year to cover new IT services and resources, and  changes in procedures, websites, and contacts. Recent updates include:

Leaving K-State? A technology checklist and money-saving tips

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

It’s that time of year again, when people leave K-State. Students are graduating, transferring to other universities, or just need a break. Faculty/staff are retiring or moving to new jobs. Whatever the reason, all can use the technology checklist on the Preparing to leave K-State webpage prior to terminating affiliation with K-State. And the money-saving tips below can help both students and employees.

The Preparing to leave K-State page covers what steps you should take to manage your electronic communications, files, and access to resources (and what happens if you don’t).  Here’s the highlights:

  1. Forward your email by signing in to eProfile and setting email-forwarding options. Note that students who were last enrolled at the university during the Fall 2011 term or later will have their email account continue at K-State for a year from the time they leave.
  2. Review your mailing list subscriptions. Unsubscribe from those you don’t want. For those you want to keep, subscribe from your new email address and  remove your K-State email address.
  3. Copy email and folders to other storage devices or services. (You can also export your calendar data to other calendar services.) Continue reading “Leaving K-State? A technology checklist and money-saving tips” →

IT solutions: How to share files that are too large to attach to emails

Posted on by IT Help Desk

Have you ever wondered if you were the only person on campus with a particular computer problem? Got a quick technology question and don’t know who to call? Contact the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722, e-mail helpdesk@k-state.edu.

Question: I need to send out a portfolio for an internship, but the files are just too large to attach by email. How can I get this project out?

IT Help Desk: As discussed in a recent article, email attachments are a fast, simple method of sharing smaller files, but file-size limitations can complicate the process. When sharing large files, such as for projects or portfolios, consider using the “Briefcase” sharing feature of Zimbra webmail. Sharing allows you to give other users permission to view and save large files, even if they do not have a K-State account. (For external guests, the file owner must create a password to access the shared briefcase and then give the password to non-K-State users who need to view the files. They cannot make changes to files. Continue reading “IT solutions: How to share files that are too large to attach to emails” →

“Communication, collaboration, and publishing” demos at technology showcase March 13

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

(Author’s note:  This is the fourth in a series about the faculty demonstrations scheduled for K-State’s technology showcase March 13. Information is excerpted from the complete list of faculty demonstrations on the ksushowcase.wordpress.com website.)  

The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase is 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. All faculty/staff are invited to attend free and see demos, visit with vendors, and win prizes. Pre-registration is required at ksushowcase.wordpress.com/registration and closes March 9.

Communication, collaboration, and publishing are more important than ever in the age of technology.  These faculty demonstrations March 13 will show tools, techniques, strategies and resources to enhance information sharing and publication.

Using Digital Media for Collaborative Learning — See examples of tools and techniques for bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to the world. Topics include writing for a global audience, new media literacy, the impact of digital media upon traditional education and the workplace, and online digital ethnographic research.

Using Flexbooks to Supplement/Replace the Traditional Textbook — Open educational resources (OER) provide free or lower cost alternatives to textbooks, where prices are increasing and students are slower to buy. This demo will show K-State’s  Human Nutrition (HN 400) Flexbook (goo.gl/vOAnR) made in Google Docs. Learn what the flexbook is, how it was developed, students’ perceptions of it, and see this recent article.

Continue reading ““Communication, collaboration, and publishing” demos at technology showcase March 13″ →

“Data discovery, information management, and resources” demos at technology showcase March 13

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

(Author’s note:  This is the third in a series about the faculty demonstrations scheduled for K-State’s technology showcase March 13. Information is excerpted from the complete list of faculty demonstrations on the ksushowcase.wordpress.com website.)  

The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase is 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. All faculty/staff are invited to attend free and see demos, visit with vendors, and win prizes. Pre-registration is required at ksushowcase.wordpress.com/registration and closes March 9.

“Too much information” is a common lament, and no wonder with all the data that technology allows us to acquire.  These faculty demonstrations March 13 will show tools and resources for finding, using, storing, and retrieving information.

Digital Innovations in Research, Learning, and Discovery at K-State Libraries — K-State Libraries will demonstrate the newly created “Librarian” role within K-State Online and discuss ways to “embed” a librarian into courses; its new LibGuides platform for customizing course and subject-guide research; and its new discovery tool for finding articles, books, and more with a single search. Learn about instructional videos and other learning objects that can be created and embedded into courses.

Managing Institutional Data With Data Cookbook — The Data Cookbook provides a central, highly visible Web-based location to store and manage our institutional data knowledge. K-State administrators and offices are using the Data Cookbook to define core data in collaboration with partners on campus, to make  the reporting process more efficient and provide a central place to share terminology. See real-world scenarios of data requests for reports and the extraction of specific information for official reports. This tool is used by faculty to define the institutional data they need for their research and other work on campus.

Continue reading ““Data discovery, information management, and resources” demos at technology showcase March 13″ →