K-State IT this week

Here's what's happening in IT this week. K-State IT staff are busy:

• Putting the finishing touches on the draft strategic plan
• Testing a new upgrade for WebMail
• Planning the Summerhill Series (kickoff is next week) that will serve as a dialogue with the campus about IT
• Switching antivirus programs on campus computers
• Developing plans for new university and departmental tech classrooms

Those staff who have the opportunity are representing K-State at the annual EDUCAUSE conference in Dallas (see the conference program).

IT security remains a top priority with October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. We are promoting the EDUCAUSE video contest. Please encourage students to apply. If you would like to ask any questions about IT at K-State, send e-mail to TellTuesday@k-state.edu.

Microsoft Office savings now extended to faculty/staff

Select Microsoft products are now available at the K-State Student Union Computer Store at a reduced price for K-State faculty/staff. The faculty/staff option is a recent addition to the program.

The following Microsoft products are available for purchase at up to half off normal academic prices. The faculty/staff price is $79.95 each, and the student price is $69.95 each.

• Microsoft Office 2003 (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Publisher)
• Windows XP Pro Upgrade (with Service Pack 2)
• Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage)

K-State faculty/staff and K-State students must have a valid K-State ID to be eligible for the reduced prices. K-Staters can purchase one copy of each software product. When new versions are released, K-Staters are eligible to purchase one copy of the new version, regardless of any previous purchases.

This is an extension of a program started several years ago, when K-State signed a campus agreement with Microsoft and the student-purchase option became available. The university approached the Union Computer Store to be the on-campus entity to sell and distribute software for the student option. Recently, Microsoft opened up the program to faculty/staff, so they could receive similar discounts and products. These products are available to all K-Staters (with a valid K-State ID) for personal educational use. For details, see the Union Computer Store's website, 785-532-7319, computerstore@k-state.edu.

EDUCAUSE cyber security video contest for college students

For the second year in a row, the EDUCAUSE Computer and Network Security Task Force is hosting its computer security awareness video contest for college students. According to the contest rules, the videos must explain computer security problems and specific actions college and university students can take to safeguard their computers or personal information.

Cash prizes are awarded to individuals or teams ranging from $400-$1,000, as well as nationwide recognition with winning videos posted on the EDUCAUSE website. The deadline to enter the contest is March 15, 2007. For entry rules, see the Computer Security Awareness Video Contest 2007. To view previous winners, see the 2006 video contest.

As an added incentive for K-State students to enter the contest, the K-State Information Technology Assistance Center will award a prize to the best K-State video entry. To get started, students can check out video cameras for free from the Media Development Center (MDC) at 313 Hale Library. When they return with their taped footage, students can use the MDC editing software to perfect their video. See the MDC's equipment checkout for details. To be considered for the K-State iTAC award, a copy of the EDUCAUSE entry must be sent to Theresa Straub (tstraub@k-state.edu) no later than March 1, 2007.

TechBytes Oct. 13: Customizing the Firefox Web Browser with Extensions

The TechBytes session this week is "Customizing the Firefox Web Browser with Extensions" at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in 501 Hale Library. Scott Finkeldei will cover how to extend the capabilities of Firefox by using Firefox Extensions.

Extensions allow you to add features you would like to be available for a personalized web-browsing experience. Some examples of extensions are adding "sticky notes" to any webpage, displaying RSS feeds, utilizing web developers' tools, using a secure password generator, nuking anything, and much, much more!

TechBytes seminars are free and open to the K-State community. This series also will be video streamed live for off-campus viewers. Visit the TechBytes website for:

• additional details, handouts, and resources from previous seminars
• a downloadable schedule for this semester
• links to both live and archived videos of TechByte programs

Google Gadget contest for college students only

Google is looking for some new gadgets for its website, and you don't have to be an expert programmer to create one. The Google Gadget Awards is a contest for college students only to showcase their creative ideas. Whether it's a game, event tracker, or clock, Google wants to see it. The deadline for entering the contest is Nov. 1.

Winners will be announced worldwide on the Google Gadget Award page in December. For contest information, see these pages:

• Google Gadget Awards
• Google Gadget Award Winners
• Google Gadget Awards contest rules

New student organizations online

This week, the Office of Student Activities and Services (OSAS, at osas.online.ksu.edu) will begin offering K-State student organizations a new tool for communicating and collaborating with club members built using the K-State Online interface. K-State Student Organizations Online will be made available to each registered student organization and club on campus that sends in a request to bharlan@k-state.edu. The faculty advisor and one other organization member will have editing access to the collaboration tool. Training will be available for organizations that need assistance.

New workshop Oct. 17: Cascading Style Sheets Exchange

This hands-on workshop -- scheduled 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 17 -- is designed to be an informal forum for K-Staters to share tips, expertise, and techniques with their peers and to learn from other Cascading Style Sheet users at K-State. The moderators will share a few tips and encourage attendees to ask questions, share their ideas and techniques, or lead a discussion. Initial topics include:

• ID selectors
• CSS and div tags
• Changing colors on K-State's template with options.css

This workshop will be one to two hours, depending upon the discussion and topics being shared. See the registration form to register, submit ideas for discussion, or volunteer to lead a topic discussion.

Security tip: Phishing IQ online quiz

Can you spot a phish? Test your phishing knowledge by taking SonicWALL's Phishing IQ Test.

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Managing editor
     Betsy Edwards
Executive editor
     Rebecca Gould

Popular IT

IT events
and deadlines

Fall 2006
Doctoral students will be required to submit dissertations electronically.

Oct. 10 (Tue)
Dreamweaver Exchange workshop.
10 a.m.-noon. Registration is required.

Oct. 13 (Fri)
TechBytes: "Customizing the Firefox Web Browser with Extensions"
1:15 p.m. 501 Hale Library

Oct. 18 (Wed)
"K-State e-mail" will be the topic of the first session in the Summerhill Series. Open to the K-State community.
1:30-3 p.m. Union 212

Oct. 20 (Fri)
TechBytes: "Creating and Subscribing to RSS Feeds"
1:15 p.m. 501 Hale Library

Oct. 23 (Mon)
"The Evolving Internet" by Vinton Cerf, Google/Regus vice president and chief Internet evangelist. Time and location changes: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fiedler Auditorium, Fiedler Hall

Oct. 25 (Wed)
"Building Educational Games and Simulations" is the second session in the IDT Roundtable Series. Open to all K-Staters. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Union 212. Sign up by 5 p.m. Oct. 23.

Oct. 25 (Wed)
Last day for extended deep discounts on Dell desktop computers and monitors. See the article in this issue.

Oct. 27 (Fri)
TechBytes: "Computer Security at K-State"
1:15 p.m. 501 Hale Library

Oct. 30 (Mon)
Last day for K-Staters to use the university's Symantec AntiVirus license for PCs on personal and office computers. (Only Macs can continue using Symantec.)

Nov. 3 (Fri)
TechBytes: "Designing PowerPoint for eLearning"
1:15 p.m. 501 Hale Library

Nov. 10 (Fri)
TechBytes: "Getting the most out of Web 2.0 with Personalized Portals"
1:15 p.m. 501 Hale Library

Nov. 16 (Thu)
"Accessible Design: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities" is the third session in the IDT Roundtable Series. Open to all K-Staters. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Union 212. Sign up by 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

Nov. 30 (Thu)
James Neal, vice president for information technology and university librarian at Columbia University. 10:30 a.m.-noon Hemisphere Room, Hale Library

Fall 2007
Masters students will be required to submit theses and reports electronically.

How can I quickly post grades or an answer key?

1. Go to online.k-state.edu and sign in.

2. Click the Tools button next to the desired course.

3. Under Assessment, click Assignment Manager.

4. Click the Dates & Status tab just above the list of assignments for your course.

5. Click the Grade Posted or Key Posted check box for the assignment you want to post grades and/or a key. The grades and/or key will be posted immediately. You can also unpost both by clicking the check boxes to remove the checkmark.

When is a Wildcat ID number assigned?

Many questions have been asked in the last few weeks about the Wildcat ID number (WID). Specifically, some of these questions are about when a WID is assigned. A WID is assigned in one of two ways:

• First, when a student, employee, or affiliate of K-State visits the ID Center requesting an ID card, a WID will be assigned if one has not already been assigned.

• Second, nightly processes within the Wildcat ID System assign WIDs to anyone who is an admitted or enrolled student in SIS, an employee with records in HRIS, or who has fully registered an eID.

Fred Burrack, a K-State champion of technology

Fred Burrack, assistant professor of music education, is a champion of learning using technology.

What technology tools do you use?

"I am using low-end video conference technology (iChat) for student teacher observation. Not as a replacement for on-site observation but to provide additional feedback to the student. The observation is live and involves the same format as an on-site visit but occurs through the computer with iSight camera. This is a pilot project to eventually become integrated into our typical observations of field experiences."

"Another thing that has been developed is a web-based portfolio. This incorporates all of the contents of the paper-based portfolio presently required by the College of Education but with additional components to cover the Kansas Music Teacher Standards."

"Although not unique, we are using discussion boards to connect student teachers in the field to communicate issues involved in teaching. It is a forum where students can learn from each other and from the teacher feedback provided to individual questions."

What are your objectives and impetus for using the technology?

"I have altered all assignments to be submitted, graded, and returned electronically. I find it useful because I can provide feedback in a much more timely manner than waiting until the next class period to respond. Having all assignments in a digital form with the grading rubric incorporated, I am able to refer back to the quality of student work at any time."

"The purpose of the video conferencing is to provide additional observation opportunities and feedback to enhance the education of our students and preparation for teaching. I also will be using this technology this semester for online seminars with student teachers."

Burrack said the web-based portfolio "will eventually be integrated in all music education courses maintaining the progressive development of students' teacher preparations and instructional proficiencies."

What else would you like to share on how you use technology?

"Technology should not be used simply to use technology. It is no more profound than a pencil. It is a tool. If the use of technology will enhance efficiency of instruction, feedback that promotes student learning, or simply makes your job easier, by all means use it. After moving all course content, assignments, grading, announcements, etc., to electronic format, I find that my in-class instruction becomes more profound and interactive."

Do you have a technology wish list?

"I would love all classrooms to be equipped with smart board, Elmos, video projectors, and remote laptop capabilities. It makes instructional preparation and presentation much, much easier."