• Sept. 18, 2007

Plans for future e-mail services at K-State

by Lynn Carlin and James Lyall, Information Technology Services
published Sept. 18, 2007

As many of you have experienced during the past few weeks, the university e-mail system has been unreliable for our students, faculty, and staff. Individuals from Information Technology Services (ITS) have been working with consultants to stabilize our current e-mail infrastructure, and therefore ensure this critical service remains available. While we have little choice but to rely on our existing e-mail infrastructure for now, we do not believe this technology is sustainable for K-State as the university moves toward the next generation of messaging and collaboration services.

ITS is committed to working collaboratively with our campus stakeholders to identify and understand the needs of K-State as we plan for the next generation of services. With the support of Provost Nellis, Vice President Krause, and Vice President Rawson, a diverse committee of constituents is being formed to conduct a needs analysis and facilitate broad input and participation in that analysis. This is not a technical committee, but a representative group that utilizes and depends upon e-mail and calendaring services. Establishing such a committee is not only important for improving these critical services, but doing so in a way that is closely integrated with the needs of the students, faculty, staff, and affiliates of a top ten land grant institution.

We plan to finalize the committee membership in the next week and to complete the needs analysis by December. The analysis will serve as a guide in identifying potential solutions to best address the comprehensive requirements of our users. These solutions may include the implementation by ITS of a new messaging and collaboration suite, contracting with an external provider to deliver these services, or a combination of both.

The past few weeks have created significant frustrations, and we apologize for the inconvenience experienced by many of you. ITS staff will continue to do everything possible to maintain a satisfactory level of e-mail service, but we know we must look to the future. We have a tremendous opportunity to bring a new and improved level of service, support, and integration to technology services such as e-mail to the students, faculty, staff, and affiliates of K-State. Thank you for your patience and support, and we look forward to working with the campus as we plan for the future.

New WebMail system available for preview

by Neil Erdwien, Computing and Telecommunications Services
published Sept. 18, 2007

A new version of WebMail is available for preview at webmail-preview.k-state.edu. The new version will replace the current one later this fall, after feedback from the user preview is taken into account. Send comments to webmaster@k-state.edu.

The new version adds several features, including a new look to match the k-state.edu style. Other features include:

  • Appearance/display: Left-side folder display; easier movement between screens; ability to customize display headers; more sorted-view options.
  • Message composition: Rich-text editor options; ability to append unqualified address of choice (@ksu.edu or @k-state.edu; use of HTML GUI for composing messages (if browser supported); dim signatures.
  • Attachments: More control of attachments; ability to add an attachment inline; control of attachment display.
  • Tools: Block images in HTML messages until requested; download folders in zip format; import messages into WebMail; better message-search controls; much nicer message-filter user interface.
  • Address book: Save recipients automatically to a user's default address book; ability to create additional address books; additional information fields for contact entries; additional options for exporting address books.

Both the current and preview versions of WebMail share the same e-mail messages. However, options are stored separately -- so changes in the new WebMail system will not affect options in the current production system, and vice versa.

TechBytes Sept. 20: Uploading and Sharing Videos/Photos via the Web

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Sept. 18, 2007

"Uploading and Sharing Videos/Photos via the Web" is 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in 501 Hale Library (Hemisphere Room). Have you ever wondered about the ins and outs of creating a video for YouTube or sharing your photos on the Web with family and friends? Come to this session to discover how to create and share photos and videos on Internet sites such as YouTube and Flickr.

TechBytes seminars are free and open to the K-State community. The series is also video streamed live for off-campus viewers and others who wish to view it from their desktop. See the TechBytes site for a link to the next live video, plus handouts, videos, and resources from previous seminars.

K-State Online/Axio Learning Community Conference Sept. 27-28

by Scott Finkeldei, Office of Mediated Education
published Sept. 18, 2007

The K-State Online/Axio Learning Community conference is next week, Sept. 27-28 (Thu-Fri), at the K-State Student Union, and attendance is free. Many great sessions are scheduled for instructors and administrators, including pre-conference workshops with instructional designers and a Sept. 27 keynote by Professor Roger McHaney on "If the World is Flat, Why Am I Trudging Uphill? Musings on How Distance Education, the Internet, and Globalization Impact Teaching in Kansas".

You don't need to attend the entire conference, but are encouraged to come to the sessions that interest you most. If you plan to attend the luncheon, even if you cannot attend the full conference, please register to ensure adequate food and drink.

The complete conference schedule and registration page are available at www.axioconference.org. Registration is accepted throughout the conference.

Free training on podcasting, iMovie, Dreamweaver, InDesign

by Betsy Edwards, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Sept. 18, 2007

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend free training seminars on podcasting, iMovie, Dreamweaver, and InDesign in the Media Development Center in 213 Hale Library. No enrollment is required; just stop by at the times below. For details on session topics, see the MDC's courses/training sessions.

  • Making a Podcast
    Tuesdays at 6 p.m. -- Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 13
  • Intro to iMovie
    Thursdays at 6 p.m. -- Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 15
  • Intro to Dreamweaver MX
    Sundays at 6 p.m. -- Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Nov. 11
  • Intro to InDesign
    Times and dates to be announced

New "eTips" webinar series starting Sept. 26

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Sept. 18, 2007

iTAC is starting an eTips series to provide short tips and overviews on a variety of technology topics. Each session will have a brief demonstration of a tip or tool (15-20 minutes) followed by question-and-answer. The best part is you don't have to leave your desk!

The sessions will be held via K-State Online's Wimba tool, which allows online collaboration and sharing through any networked or wireless computer. eTips registration is required at least 24 hours in advance. The registration form also lets you submit topics or volunteer to present. What topics are you interested in? Do you have a topic you want to tell others about? Please share that as well.

The first session will be "Conducting Webinars via Wimba" 3-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, and will be presented by Gary and Leigh Cunningham. Watch next week's InfoTech Tuesday for more details.

VPN access simplified to Libraries' licensed electronic resources

by Jamene Brooks-Kieffer, K-State Libraries
published Sept. 18, 2007

Users of K-State’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) can now access K-State Libraries’ licensed electronic resources without a second log-in. Simply sign on to the VPN from off-campus as you normally would. When you click on licensed content from the Libraries’ database webpages, your VPN connection authenticates you as a valid K-State user. If you have questions about using the Libraries' resources via the VPN, contact Jamene Brooks-Kieffer, jamenebk@k-state.edu.

Security tip of the week

Information technology security training Oct. 31

by Harvard Townsend, IT security
published Sept. 18, 2007

As part of the national Cybersecurity Awareness Month, K-State's Security Incident Response Team (SIRT) is hosting its annual IT security training event for the K-State campus on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the K-State Student Union. General sessions and breakout sessions on a variety of non-technical and technical topics will be offered 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is free (that's no trick!) and lunch will be included (a definite treat!), so mark your calendars now to learn more about how to keep the ghosts and goblins out of your computer. Watch InfoTech Tuesday for program details and how to register.

K-State Online

A tool for virtual office hours

by K-State IT staff
published Sept. 18, 2007

Consider holding virtual office hours. Use K-State Online as a communication tool to facilitate virtual office hours. Arrange times during the week when you will be available in the Chat Room to discuss the course, assignments, and exams, and post those times in the Course Calendar. Or arrange a specific time with a student or group to meet virtually in the Chat Room for a one-on-one discussion.

You can use Live Lecture to stream your voice to the student(s) in the Chat Room to allow for easy discussion. Call up the Whiteboard to show a slide or work on an equation. You can also log the Chat Room text so you have a record of what was discussed in the virtual office hours.

Bullpen of web developers for K-State departments?

by Aimee Hagedorn, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Sept. 18, 2007

Does K-State have a "bullpen" of Web staff who can help departments update or maintain their websites? Other than hiring students and then retraining new ones each year, is there a campuswide option for this support?

K-State does not have a group of web developers on hand to assist every department or unit on campus. There are numerous tutorials online about creating webpages, as well as web design classes such as HTML, CSS, and Dreamweaver offered through iTAC. Check out the following resources for more information:

Online tutorials

K-State training and resources

Spotlight

ECAR 2007 survey results on undergraduate students and IT

by Rebecca Gould, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Sept. 18, 2007

From March through April, more than 27,800 students from 103 institutions responded to the fourth Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR) study of students and information technology to understand use, preferences, and expectations of IT. Respondents tended to be female (62%) and full-time students (89%). And 233 K-Staters participated in the survey (2,700 were asked to participate).

Key findings include:

  • 98% of the respondents own a computer; 74% own a laptop; 61% a desktop. Laptop ownership increased from 53% in 2005 to 76% in 2007.
  • Average hours per week in spent in online activities were 18.
  • Online usage varies by major. Engineering students reported the highest overall usage at 21.9 hours per week. Lowest usage was reported by education majors at 15.9 hours per week.
  • Top five uses of IT in descending order include: e-mail activities (99.9%), developing documents for courses (98.6%), using the library services via the university website (94.7%), creating presentations (91.7%), and creating spreadsheets/charts (87.9%).
  • 82% of the respondents had used a course management system; common features used by 94% or more of the repondents included keeping track of grades, reviewing online readings and other text-based materials, and accessing the online syllabus.
  • 51% of the students agreed that "overall, instructors use IT well in my courses".
  • 55.5% indicated that convenience was the major benefit of IT.

To review the results and read the detailed findings:
Borreson Caruso J, Salaway G. (2007, September) The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2007. Volume 6. Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research.