Sensitive Secrets?

Recently from ECU Technology news

“Do you work with sensitive information? Do you email that information from your computer or a copier to parties outside the ECU network? Then take note: Encryption is a simple two-step process that keeps sensitive information out of the wrong hands.

Email is never secure as hackers can, with the appropriate tools, steal a message while it is in transit between the sender and recipient. Therefore, it is required that email containing sensitive information sent outside the ECU network be encrypted”

Click here for more information

Summer 1 is done, Summer 2 starts tomorrow and . . .

Fall Semester 2018 starts in just 2 months!!!!

Fall classes are available on Blackboard, rooms have been assigned.

Have you been thinking of trying something new?  Flipping the classroom, using clickers, webconferencing, or something really different.  Perhaps just a remodeling of your past course is something you would like to explore.

Contact this office to help get you started

 

So what version are you?

Back in March I posted some reasons for upgrading to Windows 10 specifically for security reasons.  Now that a new update is coming out this may be the time to just bite the bullet and upgrade.  You will have to contact ITCS to upgrade.

The “Our Photos app is totally reimagined in the Fall Creators Update, so you can easily convert photos into memories and stories with personalized 3D effects, Ink, transitions, and video – no editing experience required. You can take photos from your vacation and simply and easily edit them into a collage of photos and videos with a soundtrack, theme, Ink, and cinematic transitions. And with 3D, you can make objects dynamic, like a soccer ball bursting into flames as it passes the goalie and soars into the net.”

A tip you will appreciate!

I am often asked how to convert a PDF to Word if you don’t have Acrobat Pro (which I do).  I found a very easy way to accomplish this task and it works quite well.

Open Word, click File, Open and locate the pdf file, acknowledge the pop up message and the file gets converted!

Full instructions can be found here, go to the Word conversion Method 2 section.  Try it out!

Under Construction

Recently I was asked if there was a specific site, link, etc for Adjunct Instructors providing them with information on teaching resources available, blackboard, web conferencing etc.  Since I often work with adjuncts and know that one of the biggest hurdles is getting access to Blackboard I am creating a blog with information and links to help them get started and which will not require having any ECU credentials.  Please let me know if you have any requirements or policies for adjuncts that I could include in this blog.

Happy Anniversary! A week late!

To this blog, as it has been publishing now for 9 years.  Through Blackboard, SABA/Centra, Mediasite, Turning Point and more upgrades as well as hurricanes, ice and flu and many changes over the years.

Today I will highlight some of the features available after our most recent upgrades.

Blackboard – Accessibility rating with Ally, multi column deletion in grade center and student receipt of assignment submissions, Collaborate availability.

Mediasite – Quizzing feature has been added, new interface with ability to favorite folders, Annotaton and we also have available a new software lecture capture system in classrooms without hardware.

Turning Point – better grade center integration

SABA to WebEx – a change to come by next year

Want to see any in action?  Just contact this office.

Something Different this Week!

I get this weekly posting on Sundays from “Escape Adulthood” by Jason Kotecki and decided to share as this week’s blog!

Happy Sunday!

I want to change the world. I want to make a dent in the universe. I want my legacy to last for generations after I die.

Talk about an oversized ego.

I believe that my motives are pure, but the trouble is, I often forget that the best way to change the world is in simple ways, starting today. After all, even if the sun is shining outside, we encounter people every day who are in the middle of a dark time.

My wife is great at taking advantage of the small ways she can bring light into the lives of people around her. Her thoughtuflness results in small actions, but they make a real impact. Baking Valentine’s Day brownies for a widow next door. Sending a funny gif to a friend having a rough day. Complimenting and engaging in a meaningful conversation with the grocery delivery guy.

These small rays of sunshine don’t generate standing ovations or front-page headlines, but they might be more meaningful. And they can be repeated day after day, for as long as we live. If you did one random act of kindness every day for the next 30 years, you could make a difference in the life of 10,950 real human beings. Of course that little bit of kindness is likely to spread beyond just that one person, and then the potential impact increases exponentially.

Changing the world for the better is a nice sentiment and a worthy pursuit. But it’s too big and unwieldy to be a practical goal.

It’s better, I’m learning, to look around for small ways to brighten the lives of the people around us. They are usually not difficult, or time consuming, or expensive.

But what a difference they can make in someone’s life.

To that person, on that day, the sun came out and the world changed.

and all things must change

At least in the tech world that is and here at ECU we will be seeing changes in Blackboard, My Mediasite, Turning Point and Saba.  To highlight a few of the changes –

Blackboard – Blackboard Ally, Collaborate and Submission Receipts are some of the changes

My Mediasite – brand new interface and the ability to add quizzes to recordings both classroom and desktop lectures.

Adding quizzes to recordings –

https://training.mediasite.com/Mediasite/Showcase/mediasitetraining/VideoSearch#VideoSearch/0/quiz/2/null/null/0

My Mediasite Upgrade tutorials – https://training.mediasite.com/Mediasite/Showcase/mediasitetraining

Turning Point 8 – new software to download includes auto sync of course rosters and notification of when to re-upload grades.

Saba – Text chat included in recordings. Agenda Builder provides all features from previous Java-based version. Number of attendees who can speak at once has increased from 4 to 10.

As we enter the final days of Spring 2018 Semester

Already????  You might say but yes only a few days left and here are some reminders to close the book –

Review your Gradebook – are there any missing grades, do you want to set up extra credit, weighting, now may be the time to get this in order before final exams and speaking of

Final Exams – have you written it, Respondus Test Generating tools helps make test creation in BB easier and remember if using Blackboard for a timed test Forced Completion should not be checked.

Assignments – if using Safe Assign make sure you check the correct options and have submission settings correct.

Make up work – if any are allowed make sure the correct options are available to students.

Reusing content – for summer course or future semesters make note of broken links or anything that did not work and correct it.

OR want to redesign, summer is the time to do just that, contact this office if you want to explore some new options.

Latha math

That would be good day in Scottish Gaelic and so I will be heading to Scotland and Ireland Wednesday 4/4 and return to the office on Monday 4/16.

My assistant Pete Eischens, eischensp16@students.edu.edu will be in the office most days (744-1106).  Additionally you can contact the following resources if you need assistance.

Help Desk (Michael Davis, davistr@ecu.edu and Billy Igoe, igoew@ecu.edu ) for this building 744-2903.

Blackboard – Matt Long longm@ecu.edu , Adam Brewer brewera@ecu.edu , Paul Lamere, lamerep@ecu.edu

SABA/Webex – John Southworth, southworthj@ecu.edu

Mediasite Troubleshooting –  Jarrett Shafer (252) 328-9141, shaferj@ecu.edu , Josh Brown, (252) 328-9617, brownjos@ecu.edu

My Mediasite – Jarrett Shafer (252) 328-9141, shaferj@ecu.edu , Allen Dennis, (252) 328-2841 allend@ecu.edu

Tegrity/Voice Thread – Perceival Murphy, (252) 737-5166, murphyp@ecu.edu

WordPress Blogs – Helpdesk

Academic Technologies – Ginny Sconiers, Wendy Creasey