All campus iPad users are invited to attend the next meeting of the area user group noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 in Bluemont Hall Room 21. On the agenda this month:
iCloud and Holiday Apps/Ideas: We will discuss the new iCloud feature of iOS 5 and how to use it effectively. There will be a demonstration of some holiday apps, including books, activities, and making holiday cards. Please bring any questions you may have about your iPad and share your favorite apps with the group!
K-Staters who have iPads, are considering purchasing one, or just want to learn about this new technology are welcome to attend the IDT Roundtable presentation on “iPad for Beginners” 11 a.m. today (Tuesday, Nov. 15) at the K-State Student Union, Room 212. The event will be followed by the monthly iPad user group meeting noon-1 p.m.
Four presenters will be sharing their expertise: Mary Hammel, Matthew Heinrich, and Dennis Devenney from the College of Education, and Michael Raine from the College of Business Administration.
Beginner iPad users as well as experienced users will find these topics particularly helpful:
More details are in the iPad announcement last week.
The Information Technology Assistance Center has set up a Dell “ultra short throw” projector as a temporary demonstration model for faculty/staff to see the possibilities of this new technology. The Dell S500WI Interactive Ultra Short Throw Projector brings a new kind of interaction to the classroom.
iTAC encourages faculty/staff to come by and give this projector a test drive. The unit is available through Friday, Nov. 18, in the hallway next to the Media Development Center. No reservations needed; just walk in and ask the iTAC receptionist in Hale 214 for the interactive pen that works with the unit.
Questions should be sent to Ernie Perez, ern@k-state.edu.
For K-Staters not able to travel to Philadelphia, here’s the next best opportunity to attend the online EDUCAUSE Conference scheduled this Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 19-21. All K-Staters are welcome to attend the free, live-streamed sessions as time allows (length of sessions vary). No registration is needed. About 20 seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Additional information for each session is in the EDUCAUSE 2011 Online Program.
Live streaming for the EDUCAUSE sessions is being sponsored by the Information Technology Assistance Center. Questions about the sessions can be sent to Ernie Perez, ern@k-state.edu.
“EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.” — educause.edu
K-State’s All University Shred Day is in “full-shred ahead” mode today (Tuesday, Oct. 18) on the Manhattan and Salina campuses. Departments can securely dispose of documents with personal identity information (Social Security numbers, birth dates, credit card numbers, etc.) at these locations:
Departments may deliver documents to these locations above or contact iTAC (785-532-4918) to pick up. An authorization form (PDF) must be completed and submitted with all materials. See the Sept. 27 Free Shred Day article in K-State Today for a list of materials that can be shredded.
| K-State Shred Day, Oct. 18, 2011 | Information/Contacts |
| Authorization form to allow Document Resources to accept, destroy, and recycle materials provided |
Authorization form (PDF) |
| Pick-up service Tuesday, Oct. 18 (Manhattan campus only) | iTAC, 785-532-4918 |
| Policies on disposal of university documents |
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| Campus contacts |
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Kansas State University is moving to a new wireless system for laptops, mobile devices, and other wireless devices. The new “KSU Wireless” (for students living off-campus and faculty/staff ) and “KSU Housing” (for those living in residence halls and Jardine Apartments) will be the primary wireless systems for K-Staters.
The current k-state.net will be turned off Oct. 25.
To aid in the transition, Information Technology Services is hosting several “KSU Wireless” walk-up clinics on the following dates in the Union, just outside the Food Court.
All clinics are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. If you would like assistance getting your devices attached, please stop by with your devices. To try it on your own, go to wireless.k-state.edu on your devices and follow the instructions. For assistance outside the clinics, stop by the IT Help Desk in 214 Hale Library.
The Information Technology Assistance Center is offering a free, online course on “Connecting with Social Media.” This eight-week course is designed to introduce K-Staters to the fundamental concepts and uses of various social media tools. The course begins Tuesday, Sept. 20, and requires pre-registration.
The course will cover:
This online course will require approximately three hours a week in order to complete the required, assigned readings and exercises. As long as assignments are completed prior to the following Tuesday, students can work on the class at their convenience. Questions about the course can be sent to Cathy Rodriguez.
With the Wednesday, Sept. 14, eID password deadline a little more than a week away, email reminders were sent Thursday, Sept. 1, to all K-State eIDs with unchanged passwords.
K-State employees are ahead of K-State students on making their password changes. As of Friday morning, Sept. 2, about 2,851 (46.9%) of current employees have changed their password. About 10,368 (39.6%) of current students have changed their eID password.
Password statistics from Andy Wiens, in the Office of Mediated Education, also show how many K-State eID passwords haven’t been changed as of Sept. 2:
The above eID statistics include many eIDs for people, groups, or systems that are not students or employees, Wiens explained, and he noted that the “current student” subset of eIDs overlaps with the “current employee” subset.
Key tips about passwords
1. Email phishing scams abound, as hackers try to trick users into divulging their eID password. K-State will never ask for your eID password via email. Any email that asks for a password — or points to a webpage that asks for a password — is a phishing scam and should be deleted immediately.
2. Users of the new KSU Wireless network (which has WPA2 security) will need to also update their wireless password after they’ve successfully changed their eID password.
3. It’s easy to change your password online or by contacting the IT Help Desk.
4. After Sept. 14, eIDs with unchanged passwords will lose access to K-State webmail, the iSIS student information system, K-State Online, free laser printing, university computing labs, and other resources.
The Instructional Design and Technology Roundtable (IDTR) kicks off its fall series with “Tech Tools that Make Life Easy” at 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 212 K-State Student Union. Join us as we discuss and share tech tools that make our lives easier. We will be looking at software, apps, smartphones, and other devices that help us connect, be productive, or just have fun. Don’t hesitate to bring your own favorites, and don’t worry if you don’t have any yet!
RSVP to the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (catl@k-state.edu, 785-532-7828). Coffee, tea, and water will be available, and you are welcome to bring your lunch.
Mark your calendars for these other sessions in the IDTR series:
Registration is now open for the free, online Web Design training class being offered by the Information Technology Assistance Center this fall. The 12-week class begins Monday, Sept. 12, and is designed to introduce K-Staters to the fundamental concepts, terminology, and best practices of web design. The class is free; open to all current K-State employees and students; and requires pre-registration.
The class will be conducted online via K-State Online and will cover:
Each week, class members will be required to read articles and book chapters, view videos, and then complete and submit assigned exercises. The class will require purchasing a textbook and signing up for a free Dropbox account. Questions about the course can be sent to Sarah Silva (gr8ful@k-state.edu).
