News Update 05-23-2003
SPONSOR: Capture Your Ideas with Camfire Whiteboard Camera
Capture every note, diagram and formula from your dry-erase whiteboard with
the Camfire whiteboard camera. See how the Camfire system can work for you by
ordering your free video CD-ROM. Reply before June 13 , 2003 and receive a FREE
12-disc CD case.
Visit www.smarttech.com/case
Save whiteboard notes to your computer or network effortlessly. A camera boom
installs quickly and easily above your dry-erase whiteboard. In one step, you’ll
instantly capture a high-resolution, color image of the entire surface of the
board, up to 4' X 8'. Print, e-mail or publish notes to the Web for your students.
www.smarttech.com/case
EDUCAUSE Study Explores Faculty Use of CMS
EDUCAUSE's Center for Applied Research has published a study on faculty and
instructional staff use of course management systems (CMSes). The research,
by Glenda Morgan, a learning technology analyst in the Office of Learning and
Information Technology at the University of Wisconsin (UW) system, looks at
how faculty members use course management systems in their teaching. It is based
on a quantitative survey of 730 faculty and staff, 140 qualitative interviews,
as well as usage logs of the CMSes in the UW system. The study focuses specifically
on faculty use of CMSes: the extent to which they use them, which features they
use, in which learning environments they use them, and what motivates them to
increase or decrease their use.
To download a summary, visit: www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ecar_so/ers/ers0302/ekf0302.pdf
SPONSOR: Sloppiness, Serendipity, and Openness in Educational Materials
www.syllabus.com/summer2003
James Boyle, Duke University Law School, Featured Keynote at Syllabus2003
Heated debates have taken place on campus about the role and extent of intellectual
property in education. Law Professor James Boyle of Duke University weighs in
with his thoughts in a keynote address at Syllabus2003, July 27-31 in San Jose,
Calif. Boyle argues that we are on the tipping point between two different economic
and technical systems for delivery of intellectual content, and two different
communications architectures. Don't miss out on five days of outstanding keynotes,
breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking, as well as a special day
of activities at Stanford University. Register by June 27 and save up to $200.
For complete conference details or to register, go to
www.syllabus.com/summer2003.
Survey: Social Work "In," Computer Science "Out"
The program interests of grad school-bound students has shifted recently, with
social work fields such as clinical psychology and mental health therapy gaining
interest and computer science losing popularity, according to gradschools.
com,
an Internet research site. The popularity of the fields was measured by how
often they were searched by prospective students from January through March
2003 on the site. Social work climbed from seventh on the site's Top 20 list
in the last quarter of 2002 to third in the current standings. At the same time,
computer science fell from second to thirteenth place. On the other hand, interest
in graduate business school has returned to first place on the list after falling
to seventh in the third quarter of 2002 as the wave of corporate scandals hit
the business world.
For more information, visit: www.gradschools.com
Philly Universities Join Team to Hike Area Tech Skills
LaSalle University and the Community College of Philadelphia have joined IBM
and a mix of area civic groups developing a computer skills certification program
called the International Computer Driving License (ICDL). The program, which
is recognized in more than 100 countries as the standard for basic computer
skills certification, aims to increase workforce productivity and spur business
growth. The Greater Philadelphia Computer Skills Collaborative (GPCSC), formed
to oversee the project, said it will establish test centers throughout Philadelphia
to certify thousands of candidates.
For more information, visit: www.icdlus.com
Deals, Contracts, Awards, in Higher Education
WIRELESS—Oakland University selected Modis Inc. to provide
a plan for a campuswide wireless network that will facilitate unlimited connectivity
for students, faculty, and administration. With more than 16,000 students, the
school is preparing for the future. Modis provided consulting services along
with a detailed service requirements definition and site plan. Services included
compatibility with pre-existing wireless technology and a full wiring and hardware
plan for each floor of every building on the campus.
NETWORK PERFORMANCE—UCAS, the UK central organization
that processes applications for universities and colleges, has selected Radware's
LinkProof, CertainT 100 and Web Server Director application switches to ensure
the availability and performance of its main student applications web site.
The Radware solution is being used in the network infrastructure that supports
the Web site, as part of a series of network enhancements designed and managed
by secure network integration specialist Peapod. UCAS, based in Cheltenham,
UK, has been taking student applications online since 2002 and has been successful
in achieving multiple operational efficiencies by doing so. To date, more than
45 percent of applicants for the 2003 school year have used Apply, the new Web-based
system, or the Electronic Application System (EAS).