How can I get an article into PDF format for students to use?

There are two basic ways to get an article scanned to PDF in the College of Education, you can give materials to be scanned to the mailroom staff, and if they are not too big (not sure exactly how they define “big”) they can email the PDF versions directly to you, and then you can forward them right to students. You can sign into the Raiderlink portal (from our Quicklinks on the homepage) and from there access your faculty "RaiderRoster," which includes a customized mailing list for all the students in each one of your sections.

2nd option is you can provide the materials to a member of our faculty support staff (in Education 366), and they can scan them for you, and post them online to a website on our college site, your TLTC website, or a WebCT course site.

If they are too “big” to be emailed to you directly then the mailroom staff will have them scanned into a network directory, which you can access from your computer (your P drive) or a member of the faculty support staff can help you access them.

Where can TTU faculty get a website hosted and who can help with the setup and maintenance?

Faculty website hosting and updating options are detailed on the "Website Support Help and Guidelines" page.

Info is available for 3 types of faculty websites:

1. Faculty course websites using WebCT
2. Personal faculty websites
3. Organizational websites

The info for Personal faculty websites has been updated to include some info about using a weblog and setting up a free "team blog" with Blogger.com.

How can I get a copy of webpage editing software like Dreamweaver or Frontpage?

There are several options available for TTU faculty and staff when it comes to obtaining webpage editing software.

TTU has a campus site license for Microsoft software including Frontpage. To obtain a copy of Frontpage, you can:

1. Download and install it from the eRaider website.
2. Purchase a CD copy from the HighTech Computer Store in the Student Union. (for a nominal fee, approx. $5.00)
   
3. Request that a COE TNSS staff member (x319) install it in your office for you.

Frontpage can be installed on your office computer or home computer (including a laptop) as long as you are a TTU employee, as specified in the software license agreement that is available on the eRaider website under Software Downloads.

If you want a copy of Dreamweaver, you can:

1. Purchase a copy yourself from the High Tech Computer Store for $32.50. This is a special negotiated price for the TTU Community.
2. Attend free training at the TLTC about using Dreamweaver. TTU faculty attending this workshop receive a free copy of Dreamweaver.
3. Request that the college purchase a copy of Dreamweaver for you. This request should be made through your Department Chair.

More information about Dreamweaver is available from Macromedia.

How can I get something printed in color?

You can:

1. Bring your file to the faculty support office (Education 366) on disk or a keydrive
2. Save your file in the COE Public folder, in your folder
3. Email the file to support.educ@ttu.edu (if it is a small file)
   

Then tell a faculty support staff member what file you want printed, how you have sent it / saved it, and how many copies you want.

You can have files printed on regular paper or on transparencies.

PLEASE, HOWEVER, try to use a neutral background in your PowerPoint presentations to cut down on the amount of color printer ink used when printing.

Options for desktop videoconferencing with students

Dr Nancy Maushak is using iSpQ ("Eye-Speak") software this term to videoconference with her online students (www.ispq.com). It is relatively inexpensive and cross platform.

The TLTC is pilot-testing the use of Macromedia Breeze this summer, and we have a seat-license to participate in this process. Please contact me if you are interested in setting up a meeting with Breeze with your students online this summer.

The various instant messaging services (MSN, Yahoo, AOL) all offer the ability to use webcams when instant messaging, but don't currently offer the ability to have a whole-class sychronous videoconference as far as I know.

iChat AV software, under the new "Tiger" Macintosh operating system, now offers desktop videoconferencing with up to 4 people simultaneously. However, users must be all using Macintosh systems to videoconference.

oPhoneX is a free, open-source UNIX/Macintosh OS X videoconferencing software program that is compatible with the H.323 videoconferencing protocol we use in our iTV rooms. North Carolina State University's College of Education is using this program with their faculty and students, and has additional info as well as download links posted online.

If you know of other viable options for desktop videoconferencing please let me know.

How can I reduce the amount of SPAM I receive?

TTU IT Help Central has published an excellent new how-to guide on reducing SPAM.

If you are not using the most current version of Outlook for Windows (Outlook XP) or Entourage for Macintosh (Entourage 2004) you can contact a member of the College of Education Technology Network Support Services (TNSS) staff at x319 for assistance and a free software upgrade on your COE desktop or laptop computer.

Alternatively, you can download and install this software yourself from the TTU eRaider website, after logging in click the link in the left sidebar for "software download."

What is phishing and why should I care?

According to the Wikipedia, "phishing is the act of attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business with a real need for such information in a seemingly official electronic notification or message (most often an email, or an instant message). It is a form of social engineering attack."

It is important to be aware of "phishing" schemes so you do not erroneously give out personal information online that would allow others to steal your identity and do business virtually as you. For more information on phishing and tips on safecomputing, refer to www.safecomputing.ttu.edu.

Can we use Netmeeting in our iTV rooms?

From what I understand, the TTU Network is not currently setup to permit video multicasting using programs like Netmeeting or Macromedia Breeze unless special arrangements are made with the TTU Network Operations Center. It is possible to set this up, but it takes some prior arrangement and coordination.

My main question for someone wanting to use Netmeeting in an iTV class is, "What you are wanting to do with Netmeeting that is not possible already with our iTV equipment?"

My recommendation for students involved in group projects and group presentations is to use instant messaging to dialog with your group members during class. When students do the actual group presentation in class, you should be able to use the document camera and computer there at your iTV site for your portion, and the Lubbock-based students can do the same. I would recommend remote-site students test this equipment functionality well in advance of the actual group presentation date.

For document collaboration, your group may want to setup a free Wiki to use collaboratively at jot.com:

http://www.jot.com/

I did this in the Spring for my EdLaw iTV class and it worked very well:

http://edlaw.jot.com

What should I buy so I can use my laptop computer on long car trips?

A faculty member asked today about purchasing an adapter for her laptop computer that she can use in the car.

It is generally more expensive to buy a cigarette lighter to computer power adapter that is specific just to your laptop.

A better idea is to purchase an electrical "inverter" that will let you use any type of AC power supply in your car. An example is this $40 inverter from Wal-Mart. Using this device, you can charge your cell phone, laptop, or other electrical item using the same power supply you use at home. More expensive inverters are available that can power more electricity-hungry devices like refrigerators-- those are used by many truck drivers. To just charge a laptop, you should be able to get the least expensive inverter, which should cost you less than $50.

Purpose of this Blog

We receive a lot of questions relating to educational technology in the ISS (Instructional Support Services / Faculty Support) area, and many of these questions are ones that other faculty/staff may be interested in hearing our answers to.

This blog is created to provide a way for COE faculty and staff (primarily) to post questions related to educational technology issues, and allow our faculty support staff to respond / reply while simultaneously archiving the question and answer on this blog for others to view / read.