• Feb. 19, 2008

CDs, DVDs, flash drives no longer auto-play in university labs, InfoCommons, tech classrooms

by Nick Brown, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

Over the winter break, ITAC staff disabled the Windows AutoPlay feature to improve security on computers in the university computing labs, K-State InfoCommons, and technology classrooms. This was done due to the outbreak of a virus that spread through the use of USB flash drives during the fall semester. By disabling AutoPlay, the USB virus and similar viruses can no longer be spread through these computers.

This also means that CDs, DVDs, and USB flash drives will no longer automatically play when they are inserted into computers in the university computing labs, InfoCommons, and technology classrooms. To access your data, double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop, right-click on the device you would like you use, and select Explore. (Double-clicking may cause problems with some USB flash drives.)

Questions about the AutoPlay feature on Windows computers can be directed to the IT Help Desk, helpdesk@k-state.edu, 785-532-7722.

Webcast Feb. 27: Strategic Case for Online Learning

by Rosanna Vail, Division of Continuing Education
published Feb. 19, 2008

"The Strategic Case for Online Learning: Access, Engagement and Success" web conference will be 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Waters 137. No registration is required. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee, tea, and brownies will be provided.

Peter McPherson, president of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), will share views about the important growth of distance education in higher education. Short video cases will focus on increasing diversity, growing continuing education and professional education, developing strategic partnerships, financial/cost models, and increasing student retention and success.

The webcast is produced by the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) in cooperation with NASULGC and Sloan-C. More information about the program and speakers can be found at www.adec.edu. Questions can be directed to Janice Nikkel, Division of Continuing Education, jnikkel@k-state.edu, 785-532-2548.

TechBytes Feb. 21: Zoho

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

Kevin Champion and Gerry Snyder will present "Zoho" at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in 501 Hale Library. Zoho provides free, online applications including word processing, presentations, wikis, spreadsheets, and a unique Creator tool. Come learn how to use some of these applications. Of particular interest is the Creator tool, which allows you to easily make online forms and provides a more transparent and effective way to create, manage, and share online databases. Zoho Creator can have a revolutionary effect by increasing efficiency and productivity.

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. Use the "View live video" link on the TechBytes homepage to watch the next live video as it's being recorded. The TechBytes archives contains a wealth of information on IT tools and topics. It includes programs, handouts, videos, and resources from seminars in 2003 to the present.

eTips Feb. 25: Firefox add-ons

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

Scott Finkeldei will present an eTips session on "Firefox Add-ons" at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, desktop webinar via Wimba. Learn how to extend the capabilities of Firefox by using Firefox add-ons. Add-ons allow you to customize the features you would like to be available for a personalized web-browsing experience. Some examples of add-ons are Secure Password Generator, Nuke Anything, PDF Downloader, Forecast Fox, displaying RSS feeds, utilozing web-developer tools, and much, much more!

Reminder: Sarah Silva will present an eTips session on "Creating multi-level lists in InDesign" at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, desktop webinar via Wimba.

eTips registration is required at least 24 hours in advance to allow time to add you to the session and ensure your workstation is configured properly for accessing the session.

Preview of new K-State Online features Feb. 22

by Sarah Silva, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

All K-State faculty/staff are invited to attend a demonstration of the new features being planned for the Student Groups tool in the next release of K-State Online, which is scheduled in August. The session will be 11 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 22, in Union Staterooms 1, 2, and 3. This is a great opportunity to provide feedback and help refine new features to be added in the next release.

CHECK call for proposals on IT topics in higher education

by the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
published Feb. 19, 2008

Play an active role in the 2008 Conference on Higher Education Computing in Kansas (CHECK) by submitting a proposal on one of the many important IT topics in higher education. The deadline for submissions is April 4. This year's conference is May 21-22 at Emporia State University. All Kansas higher education institutions -- 2-year, 4-year, public, private, and technical -- are encouraged to participate. Suggested topics include:

  • Course management systems and integration of information resources
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity planning and testing
  • Emerging trends
  • Enterprise architecture
  • Library services
  • Network security registration and access control
  • Portals:extending campus services
  • System security: OS, database, and application security
  • Videocasting, podcasting, wikis, blogs, video conferencing, instant messaging
  • Wireless architecture and standards

Presentations can be lecture-style, a panel discussion with multiple speakers, or perspectives presentations of several (two to four) institutions dealing with the same challenge. Include the following when submitting a proposal to check@emporia.edu:

  • Title presentation style (see above for descriptions)
  • Abstract, 75 words maximum. If your proposal is accepted, the abstract will appear on the CHECK website and in the program guide.
  • Name(s) of presenter(s) and title(s)
  • Requested equipment (i.e., Internet connection, projector, etc)
  • Contact information: Name, title, phone number, and e-mail address

To send questions about submitting proposals or to find out more about CHECK 2008, see www.check.gen.ks.us (under construction), or e-mail check@emporia.edu.

Winners of K-State 2008 IT awards

by Aimee Hagedorn and Betsy Edwards, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

IT awards and recognitions for 2008 were presented at a Feb. 14 ceremony at the Beach Museum, followed by a reception. Lynn Carlin, interim vice provost for Information Technology Services, handed out the awards. Scott Finkeldei served as master of ceremonies. The ceremony was dedicated to Brad Harwell, an OME staffer who passed away Jan. 31 due to complications from a genetic liver disease.

The winners in each category are listed below, with links to the award criteria. For more about K-State's IT awards, see the IT awards website.

  • IT Innovator
      Chris Casey, Computing and Telecommunications Services
  • Spirit of IT
      Laurie Amrine, Information Systems Office
  • Rising Star Student
      Amanda Watkins, Office of Mediated Education
  • Customer Service
      Ben Ward, Office of Mediated Education
  • IT Gold
      John Letourneau, Information Systems Office
  • Meritorious Achievement
    • Beth Alloway, Information Technology Assistance Center
    • Gamage Dissanayake, K-State Research and Extension
    • Russ Feldhausen, K-State Research and Extension student
    • Eddie Gadson, Computing and Telecommunications Services
    • Jason Hammett, Office of Mediated Education student
    • Gary Kepka, K-State Research and Extension
    • Karen Linn, K-State Research and Extension
    • Josh McCune, Information Technology Assistance Center
    • Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
    • Dylan Zehr, Office of Mediated Education
    • K-State TV: Doug VonFeldt (team lead), Susan Jagerson, Jim Mock, Robert Nelson, Traci Taylor, Tyler Traxson (all from Educational Communications Center)
  • Team Gold
      Person Database 10
        --Office of Mediated Education members: Loren Wilson (project manager), Matthew Baxa, Rob Caffey, Angela Chauncey, Mark Grinter, Teresa Hammett, Brad Harwell, Dusty Herrman, Priyatham Porika, Bryan Rall, Daniel Rucker, Jeremiah Shirk, Sunil Varghese, Lloyd Walker, Dylan Zehr
        --Information Systems Office members: Vance Baker, John Letourneau
  • Don Hogg IT Lifetime Achievement Award
      Fred Damkroger, former director of Computing and Telecommunications Services
Security tip of the week

Trend Micro quarterly meeting Friday, Feb. 22

by Harvard Townsend, IT security
published Feb. 19, 2008

Since adopting Trend Micro products for Windows antivirus protection at K-State, quarterly meetings have been held so campus system administrators and other interested people can discuss issues and share ideas about the operation and management of Trend Micro security products. The next meeting is 9-10:30 a.m. this Friday, Feb. 22, in Union 207.

Topics include (and will be facilitated by person named in parentheses):

  • Overview of the Storm worm and the challenges of protecting against it at K-State (Josh Ballard)
  • OfficeScan 8.0 Service Pack 1 beta release (Shea McGrew)
  • Antivirus protection for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Shea McGrew)
  • Features and value of K-State's new Silver Premium Support contract with Trend Micro (Shea McGrew)
  • Open discussion about your concerns with Trend Micro products (Harvard Townsend)

As always, these quarterly meetings are open to anyone at K-State, but they are targeted more toward those responsible for supporting Trend Micro products. Please plan to attend to share your knowledge and experience and to learn from one another.

K-State Online

How to round assignment points to a whole number?

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

I have assignments where the points are coming out to 89.3 percent or 97.2 percent. Is it possible to round these to a whole number?

Yes. Add the rounding grading rule.

  1. On the Course Tools page under Assessment Tools, click Assignments.
  2. Click the Gradebook link.
  3. Click Grading Rules and then click Assignment Rules.
  4. Click the Add button next to Round Rule. The default is to round to the nearest whole number. You can also choose to round to one or two decimal places.

How to add YouTube video into PowerPoint?

by Cathy Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

How do I embed a YouTube video into my PowerPoint presentation?

Embed YouTube Video into PowerPoint is a 4-minute video on YouTube that provides the answer for PCs.

Spotlight

K-State victory over KU posted on Wildcat Watch, YouTube

by Traci Taylor, Educational Communications Center
published Feb. 19, 2008

For those of you who missed the big basketball victory or if you want to witness the game-day energy of Jan. 30, visit the K-State TV website to relive the moment. The Wildcat Watch segment features powerful dunks and big plays, rocking crowd shots, and all the excitement of the Cats' big win over KU. This Wildcat Watch segment, and two others, are finding their way around the globe as they've been posted on YouTube and numerous K-State fan sites -- see www.youtube.com/user/KStateTV.

Wildcat Watch is produced by the video production unit at the Educational Communications Center. The taped segments catch K-Staters in action at various campus events. Tune to K-State TV cable channel 8 to see the latest Wildcat Watch segment between local programming, or visit the K-State TV website, www.k-state.tv.

Win a free K-State TV T-shirt! If you see yourself, or someone you know in a video segment, e-mail ecc@k-state.edu and tell us your name and when you saw the Wildcat Watch segment. Be sure to include a mailing address to receive your free shirt.