Category Archives: TechNews

Improving Public Access Computers Through Virtualization

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vdi_public_pcDuring the Spring semester, Simmons Technology will be working on a pilot program to virtualize some public access computers in the library and other select locations throughout campus. Virtualization is a process by which all of the tasks that normally run on a single, stand-alone computer are shifted to a powerful, centralized computer called a server.

There are several advantages to virtualization. It allows you to access the same resources by logging into any computer, reduces the traditional issues that slow down stand-alone computers, and provides us with real-time stats so we can keep all of our public access computers online and functioning at a high level twenty-four hours a day. This means that virtualized computers should have reduced login times and improved performance compared to the computers that are currently in use.

From a practical standpoint, this change should not have a negative impact on your ability to use public computers at Simmons. The login screen will look slightly different, but you will still use your Simmons username and password to access the computer. Once you’re logged in, the desktop should look the same as it does now, and you’ll have access to the same software you currently use, as well as your storage space on the Y drive.

We’ll be sending out periodic updates about this project during the Spring semester, but if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Service Desk.

Video Content Management: Defining the Options

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video-iconWithin the last decade, the barrier between consumer and academic technologies has crumbled, and we now use more devices, apps, and other tools than ever before in our teaching and learning. While these changes provide numerous opportunities for innovation in higher education, they also present an array of options that come with very little guidance as to when and how to use appropriate technology.

Currently, Simmons Technology is working on several projects that aim to assist our faculty and staff in making informed and beneficial choices about technology. One such project is our guide to video content management, which covers the major products in use for video creation, storage, and dissemination, and provides an overview of our current environment as well as our strategy for the future. It should serve as a starting point for faculty and staff who are currently using, or plan to use, video content in their classrooms or as a component of other projects. The guide is, of course, a living document, and we will be updating it to reflect changes in the global marketplace and the environment at Simmons.

Get Your Events Noticed with Digital Signage

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Whether you’re a student, faculty member, or Simmons staff, digital signage is the easiest and most effective way to advertise your upcoming events and activities.

Students
To announce an event on digital signage, submit your message to the leader(s) of your student organization.

Faculty and Staff
Each school and administrative department has designated representatives who can submit content to digital signage. To find out who to contact in your area, please refer to this list.

What to Submit

• Student, faculty, and staff events and activities

• Information about accessing Simmons’s services and reminders about important deadlines

• Announcements about new programs and opportunities at Simmons or other Colleges of the Fenway

Things to Remember

• Keep messages short

• Remember to include what the events is, when it’s happening, and where

• Let people know how to find more information about the event

Resources

• Interactive guide to using digital signage

• Complete digital signage instructions

Access Google Drive Even When You’re Offline

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google_drive_logoBeing offline when you need to get work done can be an anxiety-filled experience when so much of what we do is created and stored in the cloud. Fortunately, you can set up offline access to Google Drive so that important documents (or spreadsheets or presentations) will always be available whether you’re in class, in your office, on a flight, or enjoying a vacation in some remote destination*. When you enable offline access, Google Drive will sync your files to the device you’re using so they’re available when you’re offline. If you edit files while offline, Google Drive will sync them to the cloud once you’re back online.

To find out how to set up and use Drive offline, click here.

* – Please note that Simmons Technology does not encourage or endorse working while on vacation.

FEATURED ARTICLE: Lynda.com Recommended Courses and Playlists

TechNews,

Since the rollout of lynda.com last spring, members of the Simmons community have watched almost 11,000 tutorial videos! With over 2,000 courses to choose from, we know the options can be a little overwhelming, and quite a few people have asked us for advice on where to get started.

Below, we’ve listed some popular topics for faculty, staff, and students at Simmons. If you have additional suggestions, or playlists you’ve watched or created, please let us know so we can share them.

Technology Skills

• Microsoft Office Playlist

• Adobe Creative Suite Playlist

• Intro to Programming Playlist

Business Skills

• Public Speaking Fundamentals

• Project Management Playlist

• Management & Leadership Playlist

• Conflict Resolution

• Time Management Fundamentals

Creative Skills

• Become a Better Photographer Playlist

• Creating & Editing Videos Playlist

• Graphic Design Basics Playlist

 

Coming Soon: New and Improved Off-Campus Network Access

TechNews,

In the Technology department, we’re always looking for ways to improve services while also reducing costs. Sometimes, those changes are large (like Google Apps for Education), but sometimes, opportunities are found in less obvious places. One not so obvious area is our network. Members of the Simmons community access the network in many different ways: wired and wireless, on campus or from home, via a computer or a mobile device.

In an effort to improve one aspect of our networking services, Technology will be introducing a new Virtual Private Network (VPN) after the semester break. VPN is the service that many people use to connect to the Simmons file server and other secure services from off campus. The new service, called Check Point Mobile Access, will come with enhanced features, including improved security and availability on mobile devices.

Currently, the Simmons VPN is available through vpn.simmons.edu or by using AnyConnect, a desktop application. Once Mobile Access is active, the VPN will still be available at vpn.simmons.edu or through the new Mobile Access desktop application and mobile apps.

We’ll be sending out an email with more details after the semester break. In the meantime, if you have any questions about how this change will affect your access to the Simmons network, please reach out to us via the Service Desk at 617-521-2222.

Getting More from Google Apps

TechNews,

Google Apps is a constantly evolving tool and there are frequent updates to the service as Google rolls out small improvements. This month, we’d like to focus on two new features, as well as some tricks for getting the most out of your web searches.

Email Attachments

Gmail attachment preview

Recently, you may have noticed that your Gmail attachments look slightly different. When you receive an email with attachments, you now have three options. First, you can click anywhere on the small preview to open a full-screen preview of the attachment. This is a great time-saving tool if you just want to view an attachment quickly without having to download it. In addition, you can download the attachment or save it to Google Drive by clicking the icons in the small preview, all without leaving your email. The last new option, which can be helpful if you receive an email with a large number of attachments, is the ability to download or save all attachments to Google Drive. You can do this by clicking the icons on the right side of your screen. To see a visual guide to the new attachment options, click the preview image above.

Research While Creating

Google Drive research preview

Have you ever been working on a Google Doc or Presentation and needed to look up a definition or search for something? Now, you can do that without leaving Google Drive by clicking the Tools menu and clicking on Research. This will open a panel on the right side of your screen that you can use to do research while you work. To see an example of how this works, click the preview image to the right.

Search More Effectively

Finally, we’ve got 10 great tips from the blog Lifehacker on how you can make your web searches more efficient and effective. These include using reverse image search, searching within websites, and quickly finding downloads on the Web. Take a look at all of the tricks here!

Enhancing Teaching with Technology Day Recap

TechNews,

On Monday, November 18, the Kotzen Center played host to a day-long seminar focused on how and when faculty are using technology to supplement their teaching, and the impact it has on their students.

Sponsored by CASTL (a committee representing The Center for Excellence in Teaching, Assessment, Simmons Online, Technology, and the Library), the event featured a panel discussion of current trends in online education, and a roundtable discussion of the Horizon Report, a long-term study of technology adoption in higher education.

In addition, teams of faculty and staff members spoke about instructional technologies currently available at Simmons. The topics covered included using Tegrity to create videos, teaching with streaming content, hosting virtual office hours using GoToMeeting, and employing TurningPoint to gather feedback during lectures and presentations. The event was well attended and generated quite a bit of conversation about effectively incorporating new technology into the classroom experience.

If you weren’t able to attend, you can find out more about Tegrity, GoToMeeting, TurningPoint, and content streaming by clicking the preceding links. To find out more about how the Center for Excellence in Teaching can work with you to identify and employ new teaching tools and strategies, please visit their website.

 

Creating a New Digital Ecosystem at Simmons

TechNews,

As part of Strategy 2015, we have all been asked to identify opportunities for communicating the value of Simmons College and increasing the visibility of the characteristics that allow us to occupy a unique place in the higher education landscape. For the Technology department, this has meant focusing on how our community uses technology and looking for ways to improve core services. From a visibility standpoint, there is no platform more valuable than our online presence, which is frequently the primary source of information about Simmons for those outside of the College.

The platform we use to manage our website no longer meets the needs of our community and was not designed to handle the rich, interactive content (such as videos, social media, and apps) that have quickly become the backbone of the most successful websites out there today. The need to replace our content management platform has presented us with an opportunity not only to update the way we use our website, but to reassess the entire strategy for our larger digital ecosystem.

To accomplish this, Technology is participating in a College-wide initiative, with representatives from across campus, to create a strategy that focuses on organizing and sharing content, particularly the research of our faculty and the accomplishments of our students and alumnae/i.

Our goal is to have the first phase of the Digital Ecosystem Project complete by September 2014. We will be taking an iterative approach, beginning with a new website, a new mobile app for students, and a new way to manage content. Prior to these services going live, we will work with the community to develop policies to guide content creation, and focus on training stakeholders to use these new tools in order to maximize the visibility and impact of Simmons’s online presence.

In the coming months, we’ll provide updates on the Digital Ecosystem Project as it takes shape and moves forward. We also welcome your feedback, which is vital to the success of this project. Please contact Nephellie Dobie, Director of Project Management and Business Analysis, if you have questions or comments you’d like to share.

 

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

TechNews,

lock_icon_newsYou might not have had this circled on your calendars, but October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. NCSAM is part of an ongoing campaign to promote greater understanding of the threats to our computers, mobile devices, and data.

We would strongly encourage everyone to take time to make sure you’re studying, working, and shopping safely online. Here are a few resources to help get you started:

• Simmons College Information Security

• StaySafeOnline.org

• Google’s Guide to Online Safety and Security

• Microsoft’s Safety and Security Center

• McAfee’s Guide to Online Shopping (PDF)

These are just some of the many places to find information about staying safe and secure online. If you have any questions about cyber security, you can always reach out to the Service Desk and we will help you address your concerns.