Technology Training – Smartphones, Facebook, and EReaders

14 01 2011

If anyone’s interested in technology training, be sure to take a look at the Technology On Your Own Terms series schedule for this spring – brought to you by the Library and the CTLE. Let me know if you have any questions for suggestions for future training topics!

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Each semester, the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE) offer a faculty and staff advancement series called Technology on Your Own Terms. The series introduces University faculty and staff to emerging technologies in order to encourage innovation in the workplace and in the classroom. We’re continuing the series in Spring 2011 with three new workshops, all of which will be held in the Library.

The Insider’s Guide to Smartphones
Wednesday, February 16 from 12pm-1pm in WML305

In this session, librarian Kristen Yarmey and technology services analyst Diane Jachimowicz will discuss some of the technology behind smartphones like iPhones, Androids, and Blackberries.  We’ll talk about what terms like 3G, 4G, tethering, and jailbreaking mean in plain English, what sensors like accelerometers and compasses mean for average users, how operating systems like iOS and Android differ, and what phone features to look out for in 2011 and beyond.  A light lunch will be provided during the discussion. (Taught by Kristen Yarmey, Weinberg Memorial Library, and Diane Jachimowicz, IT Services)

The Changing Face of Facebook
Wednesday, March 9 from 1pm-2pm in WML305

If you are a Facebook user, you have probably asked yourself at least once, “Why does Facebook make so many changes to its site?” In this session, librarian Donna Mazziotti will present an overview of the latest wave of changes made to the Facebook user interface. She will also offer a rationale for why Facebook is an ever-evolving tool, as well as reasons why users should embrace Facebook’s mission to always improve its product. After this session, attendees will grow from passive to proactive Facebook users, able to educate themselves about changes made to Facebook as the changes occur. A light lunch will be provided during the discussion. (Taught by Donna Mazziotti, Weinberg Memorial Library)

E-Readers: The Hype and the Facts
Wednesday, April 6 from 11am-3pm in the WML 5th floor Heritage Room

Nook, Sony, Kindle, iPad, etc.  There are so many e-readers and tablet computers available that it’s getting harder to know which product to choose to fill a certain need.  Want some answers?  Drop in any time during a four hour showcase of e-readers and tablet computers in the beautiful Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. Best Buy will have many products on display and provide knowledgeable staff to answer your questions.  You will learn about the Weinberg Memorial Library e-books available for download as well as how to borrow e-books from the Lackawanna County public libraries.  Light refreshments will be served. (With representatives from Best Buy, the Weinberg Memorial Library, the Albright Memorial Library, and the CTLE)

All faculty and staff members are welcome, but seats are limited, so please register for sessions you plan to attend at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (under Technology On Your Own Terms).





Mobile Site on the Way

4 11 2010

Just a quick update on mobile access to University tools and web pages.

1. Mobile App

IR’s Mobile Applications Team (who invited me to join their meetings – thanks, guys!) has narrowed down their options.  You can keep an eye out for a vendor decision in the near future – I’ll post here as soon as it’s official.

2. Mobile Web site

PR is working on making some of the University’s web pages mobile accessible.  They’re using analytics to decide which pages to focus on – the priority goes to pages that get the most hits from mobile devices.  Admissions already has some very basic mobile-friendly pages that they’ve been showing (with an iPad) when they talk to students at events.  The new mobile-friendly pages will launch around the same time the University’s mobile app comes out.





Android mobile access to my.scranton

25 10 2010

I’ve heard from several students lately about not being able to access my.scranton from their Android phones.  When they try to log in, they get an error message that looks like this:

uPortal Error

Sorry, but uPortal encountered an error that is preventing it from rendering.  The error must be corrected by system administrators.  Try again later.

I asked Tim from Network Infrastructure about this, and he said that the problem isn’t the Android OS but Chrome — so if Android users download Firefox as their mobile browser instead, they should be able to get into my.scranton just fine.  Spread the word, Droid owners!





A Mobile UofS

27 09 2010

One of the new initiatives in IR is a mobile application for the University.  In collaboration with PR, IR will be planning and implementing a mobile presence for the University in the near future.

Over the summer, an IR Mobile Applications Team, led by Tim Meade, did some research on mobile applications in higher education and discussed implementation with two sister institutions.  As a result of this report, IR is looking for a middleware solution for the University’s mobile presence.  Blackboard Mobile has already been on campus to demo, and other vendors under consideration will be on campus to talk with the Mobile Applications Team in October.

I’ve asked to sit in on the demos to represent the Library and TAG – updates forthcoming.





IT Forum on Mobile Devices

30 08 2010

IR is hosting an IT Forum on mobile devices next month… here’s the ad:

Would you like to know more about using and getting support for mobile devices?

Come to the IT Forum on September 21st from 11:30 am to 1:00pm in BRN 509 and learn about purchasing, configuring and getting support for some of the latest Droids and the iPad.

Presentation by
Diane M.  Jachimowicz, Senior Technology Services Analyst and
Kathy Boock, Customer Support Specialist

Lunch will be served and there will be prizes!! All members of our community are encouraged to attend. Registration is required by September 17th, by emailing  ITServices@scranton.edu.

 

—-UPDATE: Slides for the Forum are here (.ppsx).