Technology on Your Own Terms – Fall 2013 Workshops

5 09 2013

Upcoming technology workshops — (reposting from UofSLibrary News):

Technology on Your Own Terms – Fall 2013 Workshops

On behalf of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we invite University of Scranton faculty and staff to our Fall 2013 Technology On Your Own Terms (TOYOT) workshops. Here’s what we’ve got planned for this semester:

Weinberg Memorial Library’s Reilly Learning Commons
Sheli McHugh (Cataloging and Metadata Librarian & Reilly Learning Commons Coordinator)
Bonnie Oldham (Information Literacy Coordinator)
October 15, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

Librarians Oldham and McHugh will talk about how the Library is developing its new Reilly Learning Commons. (Have you played with the Library’s new touch table near Java City?) They will define what a Learning Commons is and discuss trends within other Library Learning Commons. They will also explain why the Library decided to create one and share the ongoing collaborative process to design a space that is deeply responsive to our institutional mission and focused on student learning. A light lunch will be provided.

Wearable Technology: The Next Big Trend
Joseph Casabona (System Integrator & Web Developer)
November 13, 2013 – 12:00-1:00PM in WML 305

As more wearable devices (Google Glass, Jawbone Up, Fitbit, the Pebble Watch, etc) hit the market, it’s important to understand what they do and how they are being used. At this session, we will answer those questions plus explain how they are being used in higher-ed. There will be a live demo of Google Glass and more. A light lunch will be provided.

Sessions are open to all University faculty and staff, but seats are limited, so please let us know you are coming. You can register at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration – under Technology on Your Own Terms.


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Faculty input on Library Learning Commons

2 01 2013

Passing along a TAG-related request from my Library colleague Sheli McHugh:

In celebration of the Library’s 20th Anniversary, we have been doing fundraising toward future improvements. One of the goals is to implement a Learning Commons into the library, most likely in our 24 hour spaces. Learning Commons are collaborative flexible spaces often including a digital media lab with software, hardware, gadgets and more.

The Learning Commons committee will be conducting focus groups with faculty to gather information on technology that they need and want for themselves and their students and we’d like to invite you to attend.   It will be mainly a brainstorming session, so bring your imaginations! Don’t be afraid to dream big!

The sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

Monday, January 21 at 9:30 AM in WML305

Tuesday, January 22 at 9:30 AM in WML306

Wednesday, January 23 at 3 PM in WML305

Thursday, January 24 at 3 PM in WML305

If you’d like to sign up, please email Sheli McHugh. Feel free to share the invitation with colleagues who may be interested in attending a meeting.

Thank you for your assistance! We look forward to speaking with you!

Sheli McHugh

Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
Weinberg Memorial Library
University of Scranton
570-941-4004


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Mobile Apps Group update

13 11 2012

Updated 2012-11-26: Meeting minutes are available.

The University-wide Mobile Apps Group (chaired by Connie Wisdo from IR, with Ben Bishop and me as faculty participants) met yesterday. A few updates:

Blackboard Learn Mobile App for Angel

  • Now available for students and faculty.
  • Available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices in their respective app stores.
  • Once you install the app, search for University of Scranton and log in with your my.scranton credentials.

Student Services Mobile Page

  • A mobile web page for student services (m.scranton.edu/studentservices) went up in September.
  • Feedback from students seems to be positive, although we did not have any analytics to review.
  • One of the student representatives in the work group mentioned that the tools currently available on the web page (grades, schedule, channel guide, Library, Aquinas) aren’t compelling at this time of the semester. Grades will be more important as the semester ends.

University App (Straxis)

  • Straxis has scaled back/slowed down their plans to include a Dining Services module in the University app.
  • The next modules Straxis plans to release are Faith & Service module, Enhanced Twitter, and GPA Calculator.
  • Straxis will soon be sending out an update with iPhone 5 graphics and iOS6 enhancements.

Luminis Upgrade

  • We will be upgrading to Luminis 5 over spring break 2013, which will be a major update to the my.scranton portal.
  • Mobile access to my.scranton will likely be improved – testing will begin in January.

Next Steps for Mobile

  • We reviewed the results of last spring’s mobile survey to consider what other mobile functionality should be developed.
  • Ben suggested that mobile access to a list of faculty office hours or faculty schedules would be useful — it doesn’t seem like this data is available via an API, though.
  • Student suggestions (via CTLE) included a GPA calculator and easy access to financial aid information.
  • Students also asked if campus event feeds on mobile web pages could be iCal feeds (i.e., so you could easily add an event to your calendar on your phone.
  • Students were interested in mobile access to course registration, but this is not supported at this time.
  • Computer lab availability is a possibility due to the switch to thin clients in the Library and in Brennan.
  • When the Royal Card system is upgraded, students will be able to use a free (to them) app from Blackboard Transact to add funds and check their balance. There is a university subscription fee, so ITDA has requested funding to support that feature. Transact would interact with Royal Card funds, not Flex or meals.
  • No progress has been made on a LaundryView app.
  • A graduate student in Computing Sciences is doing a project to track usage of the Pilarz Hall gym — so that students could check their phone to see approximately how crowded the gym would be.
  • ITDA staff members met with Aramark to discuss mobile access to dining hall menus. Information from CampusDish (the web service Aramark uses) is not accessible to us via API. Aramark may be working on their own mobile app.
  • The Library is experimenting with a mobile study room reservation system. There will likely be a pilot in January and February using two group study rooms on the 2nd floor. The Student Services mobile page could simply link to this system.

I’ll post full meeting minutes when they come out. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!


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Categories : Angel and Desire2Learn, Announcements, Mobile

CTLE/Library Instructional Technology Refresher

12 01 2012

The CTLE and Library are holding a joint refresher training at the end of the month. The agenda includes brief sessions on:

  • CTLE Services
  • Library Services
  • Online Course Evaluation system
  • Email
  • ANGEL basics

From the all-faculty email announcement:

Dear Faculty,

In preparation for the Spring 2011 semester, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) and the Weinberg Memorial Library (WML) wish to invite you to an instructional technology refresher session. Click here for the agenda.

“CTLE/Library Instructional Technology Refresher”

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
St. Thomas Hall (STT) 590, Harper-McGinnis Wing

A light dinner will be served.

Although this orientation session is not mandatory, it will be very beneficial in introducing you to the technology tools and library resources that are available in support of teaching and learning.

Please register for the event (select Special Event) by January 17, 2012.

We look forward to seeing you.

 


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Foursquare and QR Codes, Coming Soon to Campus

8 12 2010

Two quick updates on campus technology:

  1. PR is thinking about a Spring 2011 campus implementation of Foursquare (the location-based game where you “check in” to different locations, become mayor of frequented spots, and win badges for different check ins).  Foursquare isn’t huge on campus, but there are students already playing.  The Library’s been a Foursquare location since February, and we’ve had 69 people check in a total of 498 times, without marketing that we were on Foursquare or offering a special.  This doesn’t have any direct impact on faculty, other than that we can use it to do some fun things if we’d like (e.g., students who complete the Earth Week downtown walking tour could win a badge for checking in at each location).  If anyone has questions about or ideas for Foursquare on campus, let me know and I’ll pass them along to Lori in PR!
  2. QR codes (2D barcodes that can be scanned by smartphones) are starting to show up on campus.  USPB has been using them on flyers; we here at the Library are experimenting with putting them around our building as well.  PR will soon be putting them on the back of brochures.  George Gomez and I have been thinking about putting QR codes throughout the new science building.  Again, no direct impact on faculty for the moment, but let me know if you’re interested or have questions.

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Technology on Your Own Terms Fall 2010

13 08 2010

Faculty members interested in learning more about emerging technologies might be interested in Technology on Your Own Terms, a training series offered each semester by the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE).  The series introduces University faculty and staff to emerging technologies in a hands-on environment, in order to encourage innovation in the workplace and in the classroom.  The Fall 2010 series is themed “Get to Know Google” and features workshops on four different Google services.  All faculty are welcome, but seats are limited, so please register for sessions you plan to attend at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (select Special Event).

Just Google It!
Tuesday, September 14 from 12pm – 1pm

One billion results in 0.27 seconds! When you need information, chances are you use Google™ to find it.  In this workshop, you will learn how Google’s Web search engine works.  You will also learn some tips to help you improve your search experience as well as some of Google’s special features, such as Google Books and Google Scholar. (Taught by Bonnie Oldham, Weinberg Memorial Library)

Google Docs: An Excellent Way to Create, Collaborate on, and Securely Store Documents
Friday, October 1 from 12pm – 1pm

This workshop will introduce you to Google Docs, a service that allows you to create documents that parallel Microsoft Office:  Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. It also allows for the creation of online surveys and the storage of any type of document in a very secure environment. Google Docs offers excellent collaborative opportunities for working on any supported document type with both peers and students, meaning that the tool can be used for course paper submissions, faculty feedback, collaborative student projects, club, or research purposes. (Taught by Dr. Tim Cannon, Psychology/Neuroscience)

Get Where You’re Going with Google Maps
Tuesday, October 12 from 12pm – 1pm

Many people know that you can use Google Maps to get driving directions from one place to another. But did you know that you can also use Maps to scope out a vacation destination, find the closest Italian restaurant, or make a custom map for a friend or a project?  In this workshop, you’ll explore specialized features and tools available in Google Maps to help you get where you want to go.  (Taught by Kristen Yarmey, Weinberg Memorial Library)

Does Google Give You A Voice?
Thursday, November 4 from 12pm – 1pm

In this workshop, we will explore Google Voice, a recently-made-public service of the search giant.  Google Voice offers one central phone number, which can be setup to call your other phones based on caller, time of day, etc.  Other features of the service include visual voicemail, personalized greetings, voicemail transcription, international calling, and a lot more.  It is easy to set up… Learn how! (Taught by Eugeniu Grigorescu, CTLE)


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