Kansas State University

search

IT News

Category: Resources and tools

The NodeXL Series: The NodeXL Graph Gallery (Part 1)

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

Intro Note:  NodeXL is an add-on to later versions of Microsoft Excel (on PCs, or virtual machine-enabled Macs), which enables the visualization of data in network diagrams.  It also enables the extraction of social media platform data from spaces such as Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and in a fairly limited way, Facebook.  With additional work, this may be used to conduct analysis of email networks, wiki and blog networks, and even Internet site networks.  This series highlights some of the basic functionalities of NodeXL.

In the spirit of Web 2.0, the NodeXL team sponsors a NodeXL Graph Gallery to showcase the work of its members.  These graphs show a variety of data sets. They also suggest at a variety of types of research around social networks and electronic social networks.

At the top level of the site, 24 graphs are visible (albeit with some required scrolling).

A basic perusal of this site shows a wide range of types of network graphs.  There is pagination at the bottom to view other sets of graphs.

Continue reading “The NodeXL Series: The NodeXL Graph Gallery (Part 1)” →

Wunderlist is a wonderful to-do app

Posted on by Eric Dover

Wunderlist is a neat, free to-do solution that is available for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OS X computers and devices through native apps as well as any device with a web browser. With the independent-platform approach, Wunderlist is one of the more flexible solutions available to those looking for a simple yet robust to-do list solution. One of the best features is the ability to sync between all of your computers and devices so your lists are up-to-date on all devices. For more information visit Wunderlist at https://www.wunderlist.com.

A little Caffeine for your Mac (so it doesn’t go to sleep)

Posted on by Eric Dover

Have you ever wanted to make sure that your Mac would not go to sleep on you during a presentation or in the middle of watching a webcast? A neat little free tool is available in the Mac App Store that does just that. The app is called Caffeine, and once installed it places a little empty coffee cup on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.  Continue reading “A little Caffeine for your Mac (so it doesn’t go to sleep)” →

Smart watches: Upcoming trend or dying fad?

Posted on by Austin Polley

Ever since James Bond demonstrated his high-tech multi-use watch specially made for him, kids and adults have dreamed of such a powerful device that could be disguised as a wrist watch. This dream device is sadly not yet a reality, but there are many companies who have attempted to manufacture different forms of “Smart Watches”.  Continue reading “Smart watches: Upcoming trend or dying fad?” →

Registration Open for the Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference

Posted on by Amanda Tross

Hosted by K-State’s Information Technology Services, the Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference (ITL) is now open for registration! This two-day conference, held on March 4 and 5 in the K-State Student Union, offers:

  • A showcase of more than 40 of your peers demonstrating their use of technology in the classroom
  • Two mini-presentations you don’t want to missITL Logo
  • Seven hands-on workshops about popular tools used at K-State
  • Keynote and digital photography workshop presented by the Emmy-award winning New York Times columnist, David Pogue

To learn more and register for free, go to http://theitl.org.

Questions? Contact Swasati Mukherjee at swasatim@k-state.edu or 785-532-2499.

QSR International’s Stacy Penna to present on “Using NVivo as a Research Tool”

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

Researchers, faculty, and graduate students are invited to a complimentary presentation on “Using NVivo as a Research Tool” 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18 (CST).  This tool enables qualitative and mixed-methods research.  The presenter, Stacy Penna, is the business development manager at QSR International (Americas) Inc., who wrote her dissertation using NVivo.

Continue reading “QSR International’s Stacy Penna to present on “Using NVivo as a Research Tool”” →

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)” →

Mapping the Twitterverse of K-State President Kirk Schulz

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

With the popularization of online social networks (OSNs), various software tools have been created to extract social data for research.  One open-source freeware tool is NodeXL, which is a plug-in to more recent versions of Microsoft Excel (Office 2008 and 2010 on PCs, and Office 2011 on Macs).

"Tweeting K-State University President"

Continue reading “Mapping the Twitterverse of K-State President Kirk Schulz” →

Call for proposals: K-State Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference March 5

Posted on by Swasati Mukherjee

K-State’s new “Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference” (ITL) is announcing  a call for proposals to showcase K-State faculty’s teaching, learning, and technology used in the classroom or distance course(s). The deadline for submissions is now extended to Jan. 22, 2013, and the proposal form is available on the InnovationsInTeachingAndLearning.org website. Possible topics include:

Accessibility, Assessment and Evaluation, Active learning, Blended learning, Cloud computing, Creative course design, Collaboration, Concept maps, Copyright, Digital Photography, Discovery learning, E-textbooks, Flipped classroom, Gaming, Google Analytics, HTML 5, iPad apps, Instructional video creation, Interaction, Lecture capturing, Lab classrooms, LMS, Mobile learning, Problem-based learning, Portfolios, Social media, Simulations, Software training, Student-centered learning, Teaching with the iPad, Technology classroom, Web2.0 tools, Wikis and Blogs

This conference is a merger of two K-State conferences from previous years: the Axio conference, and the Teaching, Learning, and Technology showcase. Scheduled 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, the conference will have several hands-on workshops with presenters and the guest speaker.  Continue reading “Call for proposals: K-State Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference March 5” →

Resources for submitting grades in iSIS

Posted on by Fred Darkow

‘Tis the season for instructors to give the gift of grades to students for the Fall 2012 semester. Fortunately, iSIS makes the process relatively simple and painless for all involved.

If you were unable to attend the Grading in iSIS training sessions the past two weeks, below are links to the deadlines and processes to use for submitting grades. Keep in mind that two new processes were put in place for Spring 2012 and carry over to the current and future semesters: Entering Participation Validation, and Requesting Grade Changes in iSIS.  Continue reading “Resources for submitting grades in iSIS” →