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Issue 39, Winter 2008
by John Farquhar
In addition to welcoming our new Director, Dr. Frank Roberts in September 2007, ATUS also filled two positions in the Instructional Development work group.
Our Instructional Designer, Peter Agras, has moved from his former position as a web developer primarily supporting Blackboard to the role of Instructional Designer for ATUS. In this new role, Peter is available for faculty consultation on the use of technology for online as well as in-class instruction. Peter came to us from Boise State University where he provided instructional design assistance and led a computer-based testing center.
We have also been fortunate to hire Kevin Dixey to provide Application Support and Training. With professional experience in multimedia development and a degree in environmental education, Kevin previously filled many training needs for faculty and students through the Student Technology Center, and will continue to do so. Kevin successfully led our inaugural Tech Tonic Technology Expo and will be managing that effort again this coming year.
by Linc Nesheim
As part of the continued effort to unify Desktop Support Services behind the Help Desk (both organizationally and physically) we've moved some offices around.
The Software/LAN support workgroup - Dave Lowe, Laurie Yeager, Tim Place, Glenn Herlinger, and Brian Bowker, formerly located in Haggard Hall 155, have moved to Haggard Hall 146. This location is nearer to the Help Desk, the Computer Maintenance workgroup, and Software Services. The ever-so-friendly Susan Monson is the reception for all of these workgroups.
This relocation allows us to create a more consistent workspace should you ever need to stop by for assistance. No more wandering around the basement of Haggard tracking down 'who is where' - the ATUS Help Desk (HH123) and Susan Monson are both ready to assist.
As a result, the Classroom Media Maintenance workgroup has relocated from Haggard Hall 146 to Haggard Hall 155.
Next time you're in Haggard Hall please take the opportunity to stop by for a quick visit and check out our new offices!
by John Farquhar
Recent and upcoming equipment acquisitions in the Student Technology Center are increasing our ability to assist students with video capture and production needs. We have implemented our own innovative capture station appropriate for capturing small video segments that do not need further editing. This "quick capture" technique is available at a computer kiosk integrated into our video duplication system. The system, specifically designed for those wanting to integrate video into their PowerPoint slides, is very easy to use.
Additional newly-installed equipment has expanded the number of fixed video capture stations. These systems will improve our ability to train and support students working in Adobe Premiere Elements or Premiere Pro. Most of the new equipment is being installed in the Tech Center's teaching lab which is open 24x7. For more questions on how to use this equipment, stop by the Student Tech Center at Haggard Hall121 or contact David Hamiter at 650-4976.
by Andrea Peterson, Head of Library Systems and Kim Marsicek, Library Circulation Services Manager
WWU is part of the Orbis Cascade Alliance, a 35 member consortium of Pacific Northwest academic libraries that uses a unified database named Summit, which is linked from the WWU Libraries' homepage.
The Summit catalog brings together in one place an incredible wealth of library materials at universities and colleges throughout the region. It is a remarkable achievement created by a diverse grass-roots coalition of public and private institutions over a two-state region."
Search the WWU Libraries online catalog for any book, video or other material. If WWU doesn't own it, click the "Repeat search in Summit" button near the top of the page. If the item is available at another library, just enter your name and WWU ID number, and it will be sent out from that library within 48 hours. The prompts on your request will provide options or instructions for obtaining the material when it arrives.
You can also visit any of the Alliance libraries in person and check out materials with your Western ID card, or ask that items from one library be delivered to another if that would be convenient while researching away from campus.
When searching Google Scholar on campus, a direct link to the full-text is available through the library through the link that says "Full Text! @ WWU." This handy feature is actually available anywhere with any browser simply by configuring your browser to look for full-text at Western Libraries. Within Google Scholar, select "Scholar Preferences," and in the "Library Links" section, look for WWU and select Western Washington University Libraries.
LibX is a Firefox browser extension that will indicate whether the WWU library has a title from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, New York Times Book Review, and more with a single click. When LibX is installed it inserts a WWU "cue"
near the description of the book. Clicking on the cue redirects your browser to search for the item in the library catalog. It also uses the WWU cue to repeat a Google or Yahoo search in the library catalog with a single click.
But wait, there's more! LibX embeds a search box to the library catalog directly into your browser. You can search by title or keyword directly from your browser no matter where you are on the internet. In addition, as you browse the internet, anytime you see an isbn, LibX turns it into a hyperlink which you can simply click to search the library catalog.
Similar functionality exists for articles as well. If you come across an article on the web and wonder if it's available through the library, LibX allows to you select the article information, right-click and choose search "via Scholar" for any article or item you find anywhere on the web. If the article is available through Western Libraries, the WWU cue will appear next to the article description and a single click on the cue will bring you to the article.
To begin using LibX or to find out more about linking to library resources in Google Scholar, look in the Help Box on the Libraries home page, click on "more help" and look under the section "Using the Library."
In the near future Western's Blackboard application will include a new feature designed to aid in detection of student plagiarism. Paired with Blackboard's existing Assignment tool, the new tool, called SafeAssign, will generate an originality report after comparing the submitted document to numerous online document databases.
ATUS invites faculty participation in evaluating this new feature during winter quarter 2008 for possible release in the spring. If you wish to be a part of the early adoption team, please contact Web Services at webhelp@wwu.edu.
by Linc Nesheim
ATUS Desktop Services Help Desk Manager Rick Nichols deserves a special round of applause from the campus community.
First, Rick recently received his Support Center Manager certificate from the Help Desk Institute. The Help Desk Institute (HDI) is a large membership association for the IT service and support industry. HDI focuses on promoting the customer service and technical support industry by sharing access to industry information, reports and publications; encouraging member collaboration through events and establishing standards-based industry professional certification and training programs. The Support Center Management certification process focuses on the best practice standards and skills necessary to successfully manage the strategic and tactical components of a support organization. This is truly a significant, valuable, and rigorous achievement.
Additionally, Rick recently returned from the national Help Desk Professionals Association conference in Phoenix. He was far more than an attendee at this conference. Rick is on the Strategic Advisory Board for this professional association. As a board member, Rick is involved in shaping the direction and goals of the group. Focus is on addressing current and future-thinking issues that can make immediate improvements in Help Desks and Call Centers.
Rick's value to ATUS and the University is second to none.
Next time you're near Haggard Hall 123, please take the time to wander through the Desktop Services area, and if you have a chance stop by to say 'hi' to Mr. Nichols.
by Robert B. Clark
WWU Psychology professor Dr. David Sattler, founder of The International Tsunami Museum in Khao Lak, Thailand, recently completed a 30 minute film documentary on the purpose and development of the museum. The video combines footage shot in Thailand by Dr. Sattler with images of the actual tsunami and its aftermath. The program also includes originally-produced introductions and interviews with Dr. Sattler; Dr. Juliet Crider, Associate Professor, Department of Geology; Dr. Dale Dinnel, Professor and Department of Psychology Chair; and Dr. Ronald A. Kleinknecht, Professor and Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Sattler took the first production step in early 2007 by writing a rough script based on his research into the tragedy and the materials he had filmed or gathered about the area's recovery efforts. Much of this material had been used in some fashion in creating the museum exhibits created by Dr. Sattler and Rochelle Parry, the ATUS Graphic Designer (see related article in ATUS News Online: Spring 2007), but re-ordering it into a script format was a new challenge. Dr. Sattler worked closely with ATUS Video Services staff to mold the script into a finished form.
Once the script was complete, Video Services provided editing support using Sattler's original footage. With oversight provided by Video Services Manager Robert B. Clark, two student staff members, Joey Swanson and David Wilhite, assisted Dr. Sattler by creating photo montages, special graphics, moving animations, and other special effects, finishing the project after more than 100 hours of editing.
"Tsunami - Hope, Resilience, and Recovery" will be shown in Dr. Sattler's classes and will be used as a key demonstration tool in the presentation of his disaster recovery research results. The video will also be shown locally on Bellingham's government and education cable channel, BTV-10 as well as on campus at special screenings in the near future.
For further information about creating video programs related to WWU academic programs, please contact Robert B. Clark at 650-6193 or email Robert.Clark@wwu.edu.
by Nancy Grayum
To ensure that your class technology needs will be met, be sure to make requests for computer lab software and reservations at least two months in advance.
ATUS makes every effort to schedule each class in a computer lab that will provide optimal resources for each curriculum; therefore, communications in advance regarding software licensing, hardware specifications and performance testing are critical components of meeting the needs of each instructor.
Software configurations for computer labs are prepared prior to inter-sessions and then deployed when lab closures do not impact availability for students.
Please send requests or inquiries to Nancy Grayum, 650-3572, email Nancy.Grayum@wwu.edu . Indicate the following details with your request:
Placement of a reservation request is affected by availability at a particular time, optimal use of seating capacity, and software/hardware availability.
by Nancy Grayum
During the summer of 2007, Western again increased the number of multimedia installations in general university classrooms and brought some of the older teaching stations up to current standards.
As of fall quarter 2007, WWU now utilizes 120 general university classrooms and 21 general university computer labs for all disciplines. Multi-media presentation stations provide 92 of the classrooms with "Level 4" technologies: computers, projector or monitor displays and document cameras; five more rooms of "Level 3" status have all but a document camera installed.
Classrooms which were added to the Level 4 category are Humanities 101 & 107 and Miller Hall 162 & 164. Existing Level 4 rooms that received teaching station upgrades include Haggard Hall 345 and Science Lecture Halls 110, 120 and 150. Miller Hall 61, a Level 3 classroom, was improved with the addition of a new display monitor.
The Engineering Technology 321 and Arntzen 1 computer labs were upgraded with new computers and printers, and all of the Haggard Hall computer labs were provided with new printers.
Wonder What's Where?
The ATUS Classroom Orientation web page www.wwu.edu/classrooms provides charts showing which classrooms are Level 4 (full media), Level 3 (computer and display but no document camera), and Level 2, just the basics. For the multimedia classrooms, orientation documents appear when you click on the classroom number.
John Farquhar and David Hamiter presented the poster: "Technology Training and Tutoring Services to Support Curricular Needs" at the EDUCAUSE 2007 Annual Conference. The session was very well attended with all 100 flyers being picked-up within the first 20-minutes. John and David fielded questions concerning the operation of our Student Technology Center. With its mission centered on delivering technology workshops and tutoring services provided by students for students, attendees found the Center unique among institutions of higher education. The poster is on display near the ATUS Help Desk, Haggard Hall 123 and just outside Classroom Services, Miller Hall 155.
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01.25.2008