News 01-21-2003
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College, Corporate HR Groups Unveil Careers Web Site
A group of college career center directors and corporate human resource executives
unveiled a Web-based, national college recruiting system intended to link colleges,
students, and employers. NACElink, a joint-venture of the Direct Employers Association
and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), includes job
postings, a resume database, and tools for career services administration and
interview-scheduling. Ted Glatt, manager of university relations and talent
sourcing for Lockheed Martin, said the service was "uniquely designed to complement
our on-campus recruiting efforts. It has an easy-to-use and efficient job posting
feature to communicate all types of employment opportunities." A total of 27
schools helped develop NACElink, including Yale University, the University of
California at Los Angeles, and Purdue University.
For more information visit: www.nacelink.com
Syllabus Radio: Log on and Listen! www.syllabus.com/radio/index.asp
Sponsor: Syllabus Radio: Log on and Listen!
Jeffrey L. Popyack and Nira Herrmann of Drexel University discuss pen-based
electronic grading of student work submitted online. The challenges and several
solutions to marking electronic text are presented in this interview with Judith
Boettcher. Syllabus Radio presents audio interviews with leaders in education
technology available 24x7 at www.syllabus.com/radio/index.asp.
UWV Tests Hand Geometry Reader for Campus Security
The University of West Virginia is testing a biometric hand geometry reader
at one of its residence halls that will allow students to gain access with a
simple hand scan. After further testing, the system will be installed at the
school's recreation center. The system was put together by Diebold Inc., which
makes identification and security systems for banks, hospitals, and government
agencies. With the system, students enter a five-digit identification number
and then place their hand in the reader. The scanner takes more than 90 measurements
of the hand in terms of length, width, thickness, and surface area in the span
of one second. If the hand is authenticated the door unlocks. UWV worked with
Diebold in 1995 to create a smart card program enabling students to make purchases
at retail outlets around the university.
U. Toronto Expands Visualization Supercomputer
University of Toronto's Molecular Design and Information Technology center
is increasing the computational power of its visualization supercomputer in
response to increasing demand for molecular modeling and visualization. The
center's graphics server, an SGI Inc. Onyx 3800, powers an immersive visualization
system at the center, which is used for research in drug design and delivery.
In addition to being used for computational chemistry, the system also delivers
stereo images of molecular models to a 5- by 12-foot screen, creating an environment
for group research. Investigators wearing stereo glasses interact with 3-D models
projected on the screen, using a projection system that is capable of displaying
three separate images or a single large image, as needed.
Flash Developer Macromedia to Acquire Presidia Inc.
Multimedia and Flash developer Macromedia has acquired Presidia Inc., a provider
of online presentation and eLearning tools. Presidia's flagship product, Express,
enables non-technical professionals to use office productivity tools like Microsoft
PowerPoint to annotate presentations with audio, and combine these two elements
into a streaming Macromedia Flash application delivered via a hosted or off-line
solution. The content can contain slides, audio, animations, quizzes, and surveys.
The system tracks and reports results, and can also be integrated with existing
learning management systems. "The solution enables companies to [deliver] eLearning
materials on the broadest range of Internet-connected computers and, in the
near future, PDAs and wireless devices such as cell phones," said Norm Meyrowitz,
president of products, Macromedia.
Microsoft Names Miami-Dade CC Training Center
Microsoft Corp. named Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) one of its regional
training centers, responsible for "train the trainer" education. Microsoft's
"IT Academy Program" supports schools preparing students for careers as network
administrators, technical support specialists, software and hardware developers,
and design engineers. The program includes training for faculty members at 17
regional centers across the U.S. and Canada, now including M-DCC. The designation
also makes M-DCC a local IT Academy, enabling it to offer credit and community
education courses in Microsoft programming and operations. Many of the classes
will be held at the Emerging Technologies Center of the Americas (ETCOTA) in
downtown Miami, which became fully operational this past fall.