• Jan. 8, 2008

IT training site has new website, look, features

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Jan. 8, 2008

A redesigned K-State IT Training website is live at www.k-state.edu/infotech/training today. Update your bookmarks, check out the new site, and send feedback to cathyr@k-state.edu. The site includes:


K-State Online is more than a course management system

by Tina Deines, Office of Mediated Education
published Jan. 8, 2008

Course management is the most well-known use of K-State Online, but the application also has several other capabilities.

Group collaboration. For instance, faculty and graduate students might collaborate on a project or report by using K-State Online's Student Groups tool, which is a secure and private sharing method. Virtual collaboration spaces using Wimba can also be used to meet virtually in real-time.

Group space. For example, the Office of Student Activities and Services (OSAS) uses K-State Online to create a meeting space for different campus clubs and organizations.

Sharing large files that may be difficult to share through other methods such as e-mail. Tools such as Manage Files or Student Groups can facilitate large-file sharing.

Online training and professional development through K-State Online. For instance, the University Research and Compliance Office sent the Export Control Training to more than 6,000 faculty and staff on campus using K-State Online.

Go to online.k-state.edu to get started. If you need assistance or access, contact the IT Help Desk, helpdesk@k-state.edu, 785-532-7722.

iTAC Open House this Thursday, Jan. 10

by Information Technology Assistance Center staff
published Jan. 8, 2008

Join the Information Technology Assistance Center staff for an Open House and tour of their newly renovated space 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, in 214 Hale Library. Refreshments will be served.

Jan. 11 is deadline for IT award nominations

by Miriam Clark, IT Award Committee Chair
published Jan. 8, 2008

Final IT award nominations are due this Friday, Jan. 11. Take a few minutes to nominate IT staff and recognize their contributions to K-State. The IT Award website is www.k-state.edu/infotech/itawards.


Union computer store hours for spring semester

by Chris Loehr, K-State Student Union Computer Store
published Jan. 8, 2008

The K-State Student Union Computer Store's spring semester hours are below.

 Date  Store hours
 Jan. 7-10 (Mon-Thu)  8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
 Jan. 11 (Fri)  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 12 (Sat)  10 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 13 (Sun)  Closed
 Jan. 14-17 (Mon-Thu)  8 a.m.-7 p.m.
 Jan. 18 (Fri)  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 19 (Sat)  10 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 20 (Sun)  Noon-5 p.m.
 Jan. 21 (Mon)  11 a.m.-7 p.m. (MLK holiday)
 Jan. 22-24 (Tue-Thu)  8 a.m.-7 p.m.
 Jan. 25 (Fri)  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 26 (Sat)  10 a.m.-5 p.m.
 Jan. 27 (Sun)  Closed
 Jan. 28 (Mon) Resume regular semester schedule
        Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
        Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
        Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
        Sunday Closed
Security tip of the week

Security roundtable on passwords this Friday

by Harvard Townsend, IT security
published Jan. 8, 2008

Given that K-Staters have to change their eID password again, this month's IT security roundtable will discuss passwords and is geared toward a less technical audience. It will be 9:15-10 a.m. this Friday, Jan. 11, in Union 213 and is open to everyone at K-State. Topics include:

  • Tips for choosing a good eID password (a strong password you can remember)
  • Why we have to change the eID password twice per year
  • Threats to your passwords
  • Other policies concerning your eID password
  • Managing multiple accounts and multiple passwords
  • Can you write it down?
  • Should you let Windows or your browser store your passwords?
  • How passwords compare to other forms of authentication

This is largely a repeat of the breakout session on this topic at the annual security training given by Harvard Townsend Oct. 31 plus some updated information.

All SIRT security roundtables are open to the K-State public. Join us to learn how to make the required eID password change less frustrating and to share your ideas for effectively managing passwords.

K-State Online

Recycle your courses for spring

by Amanda Tross, Office of Mediated Education
published Jan. 8, 2008

Instead of deleting or starting a brand new course, reuse your old course. If you're teaching the same course this spring that you previously taught (even if it was two years ago), you can reuse your assignments, files, message boards, and other course work such as announcements.

A Course Recycle animated tutorial is available to assist you in reusing your course. The 15-20 minute tutorial walks through many aspects of course creation and updating.

You can also read and print the Reuse My Course help topics in K-State Online instructor help. Sign in to K-State Online and click the Help link in the upper-right corner on any page. From the Table of Contents, open the Reuse My Course book or search for "reuse my course" in the Search or Index.

For assistance, contact the IT Help Desk, helpdesk@k-state.edu, 785-532-7722.

How to have all junk mail go to one mailbox?

by Betsy Edwards, Information Technology Assistance Center,
and James Morrill, Computing and Telecommunications Services
published Jan. 8, 2008

Is there something we can do about e-mail going to our Junk mailboxes only accessible by WebMail? It would be so much easier if it all went to my Outlook junkmail. Why do I have to check two Junk mailboxes?

Spam/junk filtering is done on K-State's central e-mail servers before it reaches the Outlook e-mail program on your desktop computer. That's why a lot of junk mail ends up in your central Junk folder, where you have to use an IMAP client such as WebMail to see it.

To have ALL your junk mail delivered to your Outlook program:

  1. Sign in to your eProfile and click the Spam filtering enabled link.
  2. Click the Turn spam filtering off button. It may take 15 minutes or more before the e-mail filtering process is updated.

The disadvantage is that this method pushes all the junk-mail processing to your desktop computer. EVERYTHING has to be downloaded to your Outlook client, and it has to filter/process everything before you can view your e-mail.

If this processing takes too long when you're reading e-mail in Outlook, contact the IT Help Desk to discuss other alternatives.

Spotlight

The Metropolitan Opera comes to a theater near you

by Rebecca Gould, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Jan. 8, 2008

Last year, the Metropolitan Opera ("the Met") experimented with high-definition broadcasts to movie theaters around the country. In short, the Met is live at a theater near you. Impress your friends and say, "I went to the opera", without the expense of the airfare, hotel, and Met ticket -- all from a neighborhood theater while munching popcorn. (The closest ones to Manhattan are in Kansas City.)

The broadcasts are made possible by newer technologies and faster network speeds -- with the goal of reaching a broader public. Eight operas have been scheduled for this season to broadcast to 600 locations around the world. Next up is Verdi’s Macbeth on Jan. 12.

Cameras are strategically placed so that viewers can watch the performance, see the musicians, note the intricacies of the stage and backdrops, observe the audience, and more. Interspersed throughout the transmission are live interviews with the casts, a peek at backstage preparations, and other behind-the-scenes mechanics of a live production.

For more details, see: