The Technology Service Center, a section in Computing and Network Services, provides maintenance, repair, and upgrades for desktop computers, monitors, and printers. It also provides server design, setup, and support and multimedia design specifications.
The center services all PC brands and Apple equipment, some Unix equipment, and all Mac OS and Windows workstations and servers. Electronics repair is also provided for multimedia equipment, TVs, VCRs, NTSC monitors, various projectors, Elmos, and specialized computer systems.
For more information or to submit a work request, contact Anthony Phillips at 532-6314 or send e-mail to techservices@k-state.edu.
The Division of Continuing Education assists faculty in developing courses for mediated delivery as it meets its mission to extend Kansas State University s intellectual resources through quality degree programs, lifelong learning, and professional development opportunities. The Division has continued to expand offerings, improve services, automate business processes, and increase the IT support for mediated instruction (both on and off campus).
Staff in the DCE Information Systems Office are available to assist faculty interested in creating mediated courses whether for students at a distance or those on campus. Faculty may use upgraded workstations in the College Court Building to facilitate the development of these courses. In addition, a 50unit CDROM burner and streamed audio and video systems are in operation, and 3D systems are available for the creation of courseware.
For more information about DCE services, call 532-5566 or send email to info@dce.k-state.edu.
The IDEA (Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment) Center provides assessment and evaluation support for Kansas State University and other colleges and universities across the country and supports the assessment of distance learning and mediated instruction at K-State. It serves as the evaluator for various grants related to distance education, coordinates the initial evaluation stages of multimedia courses, and conducts pilot work on survey instruments for web-based courses.
For more information, call 532-5970, send e-mail to idea@k-state.edu, or see the web site at http://www.idea.k-state.edu/.
iTAC is the first point of contact on the campus for computer-related needs or questions. This unit assists in the development of mediated instruction, conducts campus training, and administers the technology classrooms. See the sections below for a more detailed description of iTAC functions. iTAC has hardware and software available for faculty use, as well as staff with which to consult concerning the development of instructional materials. All services of iTAC are free to faculty and/or the GTAs who do the production work.
iTAC is divided into four units: Instructional Technology and Design Services, the Instructional Assistance Center, Innovative Learning & Information Environments, and the University Information Technology Help Desk .
For more information contact Jeanette Harold at 532-4918 or send e-mail to itac@k-state.edu.
Instructional Technology and Design Services staff work directly with faculty to assist them in mediating their courses. Some of the activities and services provided include:
The Instructional Assistance Center provides assistance to the faculty in a variety of ways. A faculty member, staff, or faculty graduate assistant can contact the Information Technology Assistance Center for training, to check out equipment, to use equipment in the iTAC, to get assistance with the technology classrooms, or to inquire about special events on campus involving information technology.
Faculty may check out equipment for use on the K-State campus by contacting the Information Technology Assistance Center at 532-4918 or by walking into the reception area in 509 Hale Library. Advanced reservations and a short orientation to the equipment are recommended. The equipment may be used in a classroom for presentations by the faculty or students presenting special projects. A faculty member must be responsible if students are using the equipment for class projects.
Equipment available for checkout includes projectors with 640X480 resolution, a pentium portable computer, black and white LCD panels, a high lumen overhead transparency unit, an SVHS camcorder with tripod, an SVHS VCR, a VHS TV/VCR combo unit, and a digital camcorder. General software installed on the portable computer includes Corel WordPerfect Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers , and the CNS Toolkit.
For equipment checkout, contact Ann Haycock at 532-3190 or send e-mail to ahaycock@k-state.edu.
Equipment is provided in the iTAC for faculty use in developing multimedia files. Advanced reservations and a short orientation to the equipment is recommended. Staff is available, by appointment, to demonstrate how to use the equipment and to answer questions.
Equipment available: CD-ROM burner, video and audio recording and editing, slide scanner, color-flatbed scanner, and ZIP drives. All of this equipment is connected to the World Wide Web. A mirror system of the technology classrooms is also available for testing and practice.
Software available for use in the library: Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office Suite, Corel WordPerfect Suite, CBT training, graphic and video editing, and authoring software.
The Information Assistance Center provides workshops to introduce faculty to the equipment in the technology classrooms. A specific room orientation will be held two weeks before classes begin to orient faculty to location of items and setup in each classroom and to make special announcements for the semester. A mirror setup of the technology equipment is available in 509 Hale Library for faculty to use in development or practice. Orientation to both the equipment and the room is required before keys are issued to the room and podium. Twenty technology classrooms are available for the fall 1999 semester.
In collaboration with the CTS Technology Service Center , the Information Assistance Center provides troubleshooting and other technical assistance to faculty who teach in technology classrooms. For emergency service, a hotline telephone number to the CNS Technology Service Center is available in each room.
General seminars are provided each semester on the use of K-State's central computing system. These sessions are available to anyone associated with the university.
Instruction is also available for a faculty member's class. Topics covered are operating systems; electronic mail; how to use a LISTSERV mailing list; presentation package applications; file transfer; and World Wide Web browser capabilities, web-page creation, and design.
Staff provide individual support to the faculty for development work, and will discuss software and hardware options to aid faculty in product selection. Tutorials in the form of CD-ROMs and videos are provided to enhance and speed up the learning process.
Faculty workshops are provided specifically for faculty in the areas of multimedia. Individual or group sessions are held on slide scanning, digitizing images, presentation software applications, animation,K-State Online, World Wide Web page creation and design, and file transfer. Group sessions are offered in image preparation, Photoshop, K-State Online, and LISTSERV Management. More topics will be added in the future. Watch the iTAC web site at http://www.k-state.edu/itac/ for announcements.
The iTAC provides a summer workshop for faculty in an area relevant to use in a classroom presentation. The workshop is a concentrated time period and each day will address a specific topic that can be used to develop an entire course. The workshop provides a way for faculty to enhance the topics they already teach or are preparing to teach.
This summer the workshop focused on K-State Online. Five consecutive afternoons were dedicated to the development of a web course or web modules. Topics included: creating my K-State Online course, digitizing and modifying images, digitizing and capturing sound and creating a slide show including images and sound, adding online tests, and creating an online PowerPoint presentation. The last day was spent sharing presentations and/or ideas.
The iTAC assists in the coordination of the Vice Provost's Annual Information Technology Presentation given in May each year. Examples of faculty work developed in collaboration with iTAC are demonstrated or displayed to help other faculty see how they might use technology to develop and enhance classroom presentations or group projects.
Each fall the iTAC holds an open house to familiarize faculty with the services it provides. The iTAC has hardware and software for faculty preview to see if they would like to purchase products or use these products in the iTAC area as they create programs and/or files for use in the classroom. Technical assistance in learning how to use the hardware and software is available by scheduling an appointment. Demonstrations of beta products are highlighted. Faculty can also see how online class modules or entire classes may be created for use on the Web using K-State Online.
Many tools are available for faculty use, such as non-linear editing, Photoshop, slide and flatbed scanning, and other more powerful tools, i.e, Authorware, AutoCad 14, Avid MCXpress, and Dreamweaver to name a few. Information will also be available about special faculty workshops, sessions, and free computing instruction.
For more information about iTAC services, call 532-4918, send e-mail to itac@k-state.edu, or see the iTAC web site at http://www.k-state.edu/itac/.
Currently there are more than 110 LANs (Local Area Networks) on campus. LANs support the university computing labs, various college and departmental semi-public labs, and building, departmental, or college faculty and office activities. The benefits of a LAN environment include consistent application versions, shared application licenses, concurrent access to shared data, and centralized printing resources.
CNS LAN Technologies has developed a working model for a centrally administered LAN, which is currently being used on campus. Lessons learned and methods developed from this model are expected to be applied more widely on campus to provide LAN service for units not yet involved in LAN development themselves, and for those wishing to relinquish support duties to a central agency. All such centrally supported LANs are expected to provide a standard office suite of software, mail service, Internet connectivity, and some allowance for installation of local discipline- or mission-oriented software.
For more information, contact Chuck Gould at 532-4923 or send e-mail to lan@k-state.edu. See the LAN Technologies web site at http://lan.cns.k-state.edu/.
The RECC produces high-end video-based projects from its studios, electronic classrooms and videoconference rooms in Dole Hall, or from classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, and auditoria both on- and off-campus, through its remote location production facilities.
Services for faculty include the development, production and distribution of both face-to-face and asynchronous learning experiences, as well as video conferences, televised course review sessions, and a wide variety of special projects, documents, and training tapes.
Distribution systems include satellite, compressed video, desktop video, multimedia (CD-ROM and Internet-based), low-power broadcast television, Manhattan cable TV, and videotape.
Two grant programs announced in 1997 help faculty members gain access to RECC services for the production of multimedia courses for both on-campus and distance education uses: Vision 2020 Curriculum and Instruction Initiative and Instructional Resource Access program.
The RECC, in cooperation with the iTAC and the Division of Continuing Education, also helps faculty members produce single-concept modules and other less than full course experiences for both synchronous and asynchronous use by learners.
Operational responsibility for the RECC is assigned to Kansas State University. The facility is located on the K-State campus and basic operations are provided through the K-State budget, with additional support generated from various RECC revenue-producing products and services. The RECC operates within Regents policy, which is established and interpreted through the Regents Council system.
For more information about RECC faculty services, contact the RECC at 532-7041 or send e-mail to recc@k-state.edu. See the RECC web page at: http://www.k-state.edu/recc/.
SWAT (Strategic Ways to Acquire Technology) Teams are appointed by the Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology to assist selected administrative and academic units in assessing their technology needs, developing a strategic technology plan, and securing initial funding for the plan.
The main objective of the current SWAT Team process is to support innovative learning environments for designated courses.
Each SWAT Team is assigned specific goals related to a particular course or courses. Team membership consists of individuals who complement each other in the various curricular or technical tasks necessary to complete the desired outcomes for each course. The ultimate goal of each SWAT Team is to work toward moving a course to a new learning environment and to capture for reuse part of the intellectual efforts of the faculty member.
Courses are continually being identified that need SWAT Team assistance. For more information, contact Vice Provost Unger at 532-6520 or send e-mail to its@k-state.edu.
| Location | Building Code | Seating Capacity |
| Ackert 120 | AK | 196 |
| Ackert 219 (Biology use only) | AK | 80 |
| (when division of room is complete, 40 each) | ||
| Ackert 221 | AK | 92 |
| Bluemont 101 | BH | 253 |
| Cardwell 102 | CW | 112 |
| Cardwell 103 | CW | 176 |
| Eisenhower portable cart | EH | varies by room |
| Eisenhower 015 | EH | 79 |
| Eisenhower 228 (English use only) | EH | 22 |
| Justin 109 | JU | 203 |
| Kedzie 106 | K | 202 |
| King 004 | KG | 100 |
| Seaton 63 (no technology has sound) | S | 256 |
| Seaton 132 | S | 71 |
| Umberger 105 (Williams Auditorium) | UM | 484 |
| Waters 328 | WA | 68 |
| Waters 350 | WA | 47 |
| Willard 114 | W | 233 |
Each semester a Request for Technology Classroom Use form is required from faculty wishing to use a technology classroom. The Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology will review and approve the requests and work with enrollment services to accommodate as many requests as possible.
The Instructional Assistance Center within iTAC provides an orientation to the equipment and the technology classrooms and has an area set up in 509 Hale Library that mirrors the classroom equipment. Faculty who will be using the technology classrooms are encouraged to visit the Instructional Assistance Center to see the capabilities of the technology equipment and to learn how to use it before they enter the classrooms.
Each classroom has similar core equipment and software, and some rooms have additional equipment. Each system is multimedia-capable and Internet access is available in all rooms.
In general, the hardware and software items listed below are available in all technology classrooms. Hardware that is unique to a specific building is noted in parenthesis. IBM-compatible computer with monitor, 450 Pentium III, 128 MB RAM, 12 GB ultra ATA hard drive, 32 MG 3D video accelerator card, DVDr2/20/X CD-ROM, Sound Blaster Live sound card, internal ZIP drive, and 10/100base-T network capability, fully multimedia-capable Macintosh 8400 Power PC, 604 processor, multimedia capable (Available only in Cardwell 102 and 103, Kedzie 106, Umberger 105 and Willard 114)
Software: Windows 95/98, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Corel Office Suite 8/2000 (PC only), Microsoft Office Suite 97/2000, network connectivity tools, Netscape 4.06, Internet Explorer 5, Acrobat 4.0 reader plug-ins, Macromedia plug-ins.
For more information about the technology classrooms, contact Faye Kennedy at 532-4919, send e-mail to faye@k-state.edu, or see the web site at http://www.k-state.edu/itac.
Telecommunications provides the university with the following services:
Long-distance phone service for personal use is available to faculty, staff, and students. Subscribers contract with the Telecommunications office for this service. Rates compare favorably with those of national phone companies. Without added cost, the residence hall subscribers have access to telephone features such as voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, speed dialing, call transfer, call conferencing, auto re-dial, and auto callback.
For more information, contact the Office of Telecommunications at 532-7001 or send e-mail to telecom@telecom.k-state.edu. See the Telecommunications web site at http://www.telecom.k-state.edu/.
Five computing labs, open 24 hours a day, are available for use by K-State faculty, students, and staff. The labs are located in Dickens 1-1A, Durland 156, Justin 325, Nichols 21 (which is also used for classes), and Seaton 22 25. All are maintained by Computing and Network Services.
The lab equipment includes over 100 PCs and over 30 Unix workstations, plus high-speed line printers. The PCs are all multimedia-capable with CD-ROMs, sound cards, and microphone and headphone jacks.
The university computing labs are a 32-bit Windows NT environment. This operating system enhances the ability to support multimedia tools, and provides a solid foundation for the support of web-based course material.
A suite of software including word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet browser, and communications tools is provided in the labs. In addition to these resources, it is often useful to make course-related tools available for student use. Faculty can request that specific software be available in the labs. Requests must be made a semester in advance for testing and evaluation purposes.
Several labs on campus are extensions of the university computing lab environment:
Each of these labs has exactly the same software and hardware configurations found in the university computing labs, and the lab networks are administered by Computing and Network Services. Each is owned by a department or support unit, and use is restricted to certain segments of the K-State population. For information about these labs, contact the sponsoring department.
Many departments and colleges at K-State maintain their own computing labs to meet needs for specialized software and hardware. These labs are usually restricted to use by the unit's faculty/staff and by students in the unit's courses of study. For more information, contact the department or college's main office. For more information about the university computing labs, contact Royce Gilbert at 532-0547 or send e-mail to labs@k-state.edu. See the university computing lab web site at http://lan.cns.k-state.edu/labs/.
313 Hale Library, 532-7722, consult@k-state.edu
The University Information Technology Help Desk (InfoTech Help Desk) provides free consultations, computer information, and assistance to K-State faculty, staff, and students on a wide range of topics involving both hardware and software.
Consultants will make site visits to install and fine-tune software, check a system, aid in data recovery, provide hard-drive support, provide anti-virus services, and in general, provide the faculty with a full range of services. For on-site service calls and custom work, there is a fee of $40 per hour. Consultants are not allowed to make service calls to private residences.
Equipment is available to scan photos, graphics, and text. Color and black-and-white flatbed scanners are available for faculty, staff, and student use. Walk in or call for an appointment at 532-7722. Assistance with the scanning equipment is available on request. Slide-scanning is also available.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) database is maintained on the web at http://www.k-state.edu/infotech/faq/.
Faculty can access the InfoTech Help Desk in several ways: phone 532-7722; e-mail consult@k-state.edu; fax 532-6779; and walk-in at 214 Hale Library, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
For more information call 532-7722 or see the website at http://www.k-state.edu/infotech/helpdesk/.