News 01-08-2002
Texas Instruments Unveils Educational Handheld
Texas Instruments last week announced the launch of an educational handheld
computer, dubbed the Voyage 200 personal learning tool (PLT). The company said
the unit combines the functionality and three times the Flash memory of the
TI-92 Plus, a graphing tool for college advanced math. The computer comes with
an icon desktop, which enables users to navigate among handheld applications,
a large display with 128 by 240 pixel imaging, and a QWERTY keypad. Other features
of the unit include Cell Sheet, a spreadsheet application; StudyCards, an electronic
flashcard application; Notes, an application for taking notes; and Statistics
with List Editor, an analytical program that can be used with data collection
for performing inferential and advanced statistical analyses.
For more information, visit: <http://education.ti.com/voyage200>.
Fla. College Launches Sample Online Course
St. Petersurg College in Pinellas County, Fla., launched a sample online mini-course
that is accessible from the home page of the college's campus web site. The
sample course, titled "Introduction to Online Learning," includes
a video welcome from the instructor, a course syllabus, brief reading and writing
assignments, a group discussion board, chat rooms, email, and a quiz visitors
can take. The navigation of the site is based in WebCT, the software system
that the school uses to deliver online courses. By exploring this sample class,
prospective online students can get a feel for what online learning is like
and whether they're comfortable with it, according to SPC provost Dr. Jim Olliver.
For more information, visit: <http://e.spcollege.edu>.
Mount Saint Mary's College Automates HR Processes
Mount Saint Mary's College said it experienced a significant reduction in human
resources and payroll operating costs since implementing UltiPro, a Web based
employee management application, two years ago. Pauline Engelstatter, executive
director of human resources at the Maryland college, said the software helped
the school generate key reports, "in minutes instead of hours ... We used
to spend three hours a week manually pulling data to complete a workers' compensation
report. (Now) we can run that report in minutes and have reduced overall report
preparation time to a fraction of what it once was." Ultipro was developed
by Florida-based Ultimate Software.
Gift Endows Photonics Lab at Worcester Institute
IPG Photonics Corp., a manufacturer of high-performance fiberoptic lasers and
amplifiers, donated $360,000 to establish the IPG Photonics Laboratory in the
Physics Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mass.-based WPI's faculty
and students will use the gift to develop new laboratory programs in the areas
of optics, diode lasers, and fiberoptics. IPG and WPI said the gift recognizes
the need for greater photonics research given the burgeoning job market in photonics
and the University's strength in optics-related sciences.
For more information, visit: <http://www.wpi.edu/+photonics>.
KnowledgeNet, EMC Sign E-Learning Agreement
KnowledgeNet Inc., a developer of e-learning software, signed an agreement
to provide EMC Corp. with access to its entire product line, including content
and authoring tools and services, to use as part of EMC's technical education
offerings. Under the agreement, EMC will use KnowledgeNet's e-learning formats
to support its global e-learning initiative, which encompasses worldwide internal
training and EMC's professional certification program. "We chose KnowledgeNet
to support our e-learning initiative because of their total service offering,"
said Bill Dacier, EMC's Vice President of Global Technical Training.
Adult-Ed Provider Starts Online Sports Management Program
Adult-education powerhouse National University will offer an online bachelor
of business administration degree with a concentration in sports management.
The program, to be accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges,
will also be offered in the classroom, beginning in March. The San Diego-based
school said the program responds to an estimated 25 percent growth in demand
for sports management professionals in the next decade. The program is targeted
for coaches, athletic directors, team administrators, and professional athletes
whose work hours, frequent travel and schedules prevent them from attending
traditional university classes.
For more information, visit: <http://www.nu.edu>.
Verona U. Uses CA Tools for Infrastructure Management
The University of Verona has signed a deal with Computer Associates to use
its enterprise software Unicenter to manage the school's distributed IT infrastructure.
Using the software will enable the university to centrally control its mixed
Windows, Linux, and Unix IT environment. In the first phase of integrating the
Unicenter system, the university wanted to monitor all the systems on its network,
which were interconnected at speeds ranging from 34 to 155 Mbps. It then moved
ahead with other functions, including gaining systematic control of its software
licenses, up-to-date tracking of all hardware and software assets across the
network, end-to-end virus protection, and centralized management of backup processes.
Lectora Updates E-Learning Authoring Software
E-learning authoring software developer Trivantis Corp. released an updated
version of its Lectora Publisher Enterprise LMS Edition 2002. The company said
the update includes a number of enhancements for educators and students, inlcuding
the ability to print hard copies of work both during development and after publishing;
the ability to save courses as templates; and the ability to divide tests into
an unlimited number of sections. Lectora can be used with a number of learning
management systems, including Blackboard, Saba, KnowledgePlanet, Learnframe,
and GeoMetrix.
Wireless Hacking Demo Highlights Webster Software Deal
St. Louis-based Webster University's School of Business & Technology next
month will host a series of live computer hacking demonstrations using wireless
technology. The demos will be offered to a group of business and IT professionals
to kick off a partnership between the school and Systems Advisory Group Enterprises,
Inc., a Texas-based web security firm. The partnership includes the use of two
SAGE servers to tighten website security for Webster's online graduate-level
course offerings and extended campus network. Benjamin Akande, dean of the School
of Business & Technology, said the partnership would "provide our IT
students with the most current thinking in the IT field as well as give students
hands-on experience with the most current technology available in web security."
For more information, visit: <http://www.webster.edu>.
