Syllabus IT Trends for September 11, 2003

Thursday, September 11, 2003

In This Issue

OPINION

"It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times . . ."

Terry Calhoun, MA, JD, FAIP
Director of Communications and Publications
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)

First, we had the budget cuts and were probably hitting this semester understaffed. Then, in many higher education-intensive parts of the country, the lights went out. Following that was the worm, Blaster. Then came, Sobig. And then the students came back, bringing with them their infected computers.

More than one CIO was quoted in the news media recently saying that this was the most difficult time ever to be IT staff on campus. And it was challenging, no doubt about it. But we think that, on campus after campus, the IT staff came through with shining colors. There was a lot to handle, but it was handled well!

So perhaps the most famous words of Dickens apply in all their discordant meanings: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so."
Read more


IT NEWS

Va. Tech Aims to Build World’s Most Powerful Computer

Virginia Tech is spending up to $5 million in its pursuit of assembling the world's most powerful computer. At the computer’s core will be more than 1,000 G5 Power Macs. (The New River Current)...

Read more

Computer Industry Working with USF on Wireless Chips

Through its Wireless and Microwave Technology Information Center (WAMI), several corporations are assisting the University of South Florida with technology for training students on wireless technology using Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits. (USF Oracle)...
Read more

Cal State’s Common Management System Dodges Bullet

The Common Management System (CMS) will be used throughout the California State University system. It and its $660 million cost were the subject of politicized debate during last year's gubernatorial election, but the heat apparently has been turned down. (The State Hornet)... Read more

What’s the Rush? U. Montana Upgrades Email After 17 Years

The University of Montana's Selway email system is more than 17 years old and it's finally making way for a replacement. (Montana Kaimin)...
Read more

College Instructor Completes Online Class with False Identity

A tenured business school prof at Chabot College was on sabbatical with the assignment to "evaluate the efficacy of online delivery systems." But now he's been reprimanded because, with their permission, he used a friend's identity and took and completed the course as someone else - to prove a point. (Oakland Tribune)...

Read more

Schools Imposing Tough Restrictions, Fines for Viruses

Networks are being shut down, students are being charged "clean-up" fees, traffic is being blocker to and from suspect machines – there's never been a tougher time to be an IT staffer on campus (CNN)...
Read more

Record Industry Sues 261 Accused of Illegal File Trading

Although the latest action by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) targeted home accounts, not campuses, those sued include many college students and even a professor at Yale University. A related RIAA "amnesty" program is being criticized by many. (USA Today)...
Read more

Apple "Coolest" Company to Returning Students

In a recent study the iMac and the iPod were named the most "extremely well designed products." Top three items on students wish lists: new sh'es, an iPod, and an iMac. (Wired)...
Read more


RESOURCES

Digital Equity Network

Addresses inequitable access to learning technology resources for all learners. Includes reports, studies, and papers that together paint the big-picture view of the issue of the "digital divide." Resources include opportunities for learner and educators to create their own content, as well as access to educators skilled in using these resources for teaching and learning...
Learn more

NSF Research Experiences for Undergrads, Educators

The National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program features information for students interested in identifying research opportunities and for faculty interested in obtaining support for undergraduate research students through either an REU Supplement or REU Site proposal. Via the program’s web site, students can examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. The site offers search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location...
Learn more

DEALS, CONTRACTS, AWARDS

U. of Pennsylvania Health Systems to Build Metro Network

The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) has signed an agreement with City Signal Communications (CSC) to provide a dark fiber network connecting six of its Philadelphia locations. The agreement covers the construction of the connections from six UPHS sites into the CSC existing 123-mile fiber optic network in Philadelphia. The UPHS network will encompass 8 miles and provide a private network connecting the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center - Presbyterian and other UPHS locations...
Learn more

WestPoint D'es Deal With Dell for Wireless Notebooks

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is installing a wireless network across its campus and equipping its entire cadet class of 2007 with Dell notebooks. Nearly 1,400 new cadets will tap into the new wireless network in classrooms and campus common areas using Dell Latitude D800 notebooks. The notebooks include integrated wireless cards, Pentium M processors, 512M of memory, 60-gigabyte hard drives, port replicators and removable 24-speed combination DVD and CD read-writeable drives. Each system has a four-year warranty to coincide with the cadet's education schedule.

Sponsored by:
Up-to-the-minute technology. Up to $2000 in rebates.
These days, you need to do more with fewer IT dollars. By providing you with the latest printing technology, HP can help you cut your IT expenses significantly. You'll also improve your productivity thanks to increased speed and functionality. That can add up to major savings for your school.

Click here for details

Events


TDWI World Conference
in Sunny San Diego,
November 2-7

SYLLABUS 2003
Dec. 8 - 10
Cambridge, Mass.


Sponsored by:
Innovative Furniture Solutions for the Electronic Classroom
Computer Comforts designs and manufactures furniture for computer labs and classrooms. Our many product solutions include recessed monitor tables, tech benches and multi-media carts. Make sure to visit our website to see the patented Hide-Away table, designed for the multi-use lab. When not in use, the monitor is safely stored below a flip-down lid for non-computer use. We recently added a video clip of this HOT product. Let us help with classroom layout and design.

Click here for details

POLL

Sponsored by:

Netopia

Is your institution leveraging the Internet to facilitate remote desktop support?
Yes
No

Poll Results


Sponsored by:
TDWI World Conference in San Diego, November 2-7, 2003
Join the featured SIG: DW in Higher Education at the TDWI World Conference in San Diego. Gather with your industry peers to discuss unique challenges you have encountered in your DW implementations and learn directly from the best practices of others. In addition to the SIG meeting, TDWI will offer several courses related to this topic.

Click here for details

NEW PRODUCTS

Macromedia Upgrades Studio MX for Education

Macromedia introduced releases of three web development tools with new curriculum and templates for higher education instruction and use. The new Studio MX 2004 includes new releases of its Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks tools.

Dreamweaver MX 2004 upgrades web site and application development, offering enhanced Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), support, cross-browser, validation, built-in graphics editing, and updated support for ASP.NET, PHP, and ColdFusion server technologies. Flash MX 2004 upgrades tools for creating interactive content with new timeline effects, easy import of Adobe Illustrator and PDF content, and CSS support. Fireworks MX 2004 delivers new design tools and effects. FreeHand MX, released in February, delivers new productivity tools and panels, and improved Mac OS X performance.
Learn more

Corel Offers Education Portfolio of Graphics Tools

Corel Corp. introduced three solution bundles for the education community, a "Creative Pack," a "Graphics Pack," and a "Photo Enhancement" package. The Creative Pack includes: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11, Corel Painter 8, Corel Bryce® 5, Corel KPT Collection and Corel KnockOut 2 for a suggested retail price of $109.


The Graphics Pack includes: Corel Designer 10, Corel Painter 8, Corel Ventura 10, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11, Corel Bryce 5, Corel KnockOut 2, Corel KPT Collection. The SRP is $179.

The Photo Enhancement Pack has Corel KnockOut 2, Corel KPT Collection and Corel Painter 8. The SRP is $85. All the education packs come with training CDs by Lynda.com, tutorials, demos and technical support options.
Learn more

Design Science Licenses MathPlayer to Microsoft

Design Science, an education software developer, licensed its MathPlayer software to Microsoft Inc. The license will provide MathPlayer software to MSN users. MathPlayer displays MathML-based mathematical notation within Microsoft's Web browser products, including Internet Explorer and the MSN client. MathML is the XML-based standard for encoding mathematics developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and supported by most popular Web browsers.
Learn more

Web Collaboration Software from Linktivity Upgraded

Linktivity released WebDemo 3.0, the latest version of its premise-based Web collaboration software. The software is available in three versions: WebDemo Express, WebDemo Professional and WebDemo Enterprise, the product is designed to offer a complete collaboration solution. Features include application sharing; improved keyboard chat; and "Viewport," which allows users to click and drag the ViewPort anywhere on their desktop to setup other apps without audiences seeing what they are doing; and WebDemo Reports for charting the number of active sessions.
Learn more



Sponsored By

Discussion of the Week:

How can prospective users differentiate between eLearning products and decide which product is best for them? -- posted by admin

Join the discussion now!

Be part of our growing online community. Want to post your comments or questions to the latest topics in higher-ed and higher-tech?

Click here to discuss solutions and more!


Subscribe to Syllabus


Featured

  • MathGPT

    MathGPT AI Tutor Now Out of Beta

    Ed tech provider GotIt! Education has announced the general availability of MathGPT, an AI tutor and teaching assistant for foundational math support.

  • stylized illustration of a global AI treaty signing, featuring diverse human figures seated around a round table

    World Leaders Sign First Global AI Treaty

    The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several other countries have signed "The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law," the world's first legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

  • stylized illustration of a portfolio divided into sections for career training

    St. Cloud State University Adds Four Tech Bootcamps via Upright Partnership

    To meet the growing demand for tech professionals in the state, Minnesota's St. Cloud State University is partnering with Upright to launch four career-focused bootcamps that will provide in-demand skills in software development, UX/UI design, data analytics, and digital marketing.

  • wind turbine and solar panels with glowing accents on the left and a digital shield surrounded by binary code on the right

    Educause Horizon Report: Sustainability Pressures Lead to Increased Cybersecurity Risks

    Educause recently released the 2024 Cybersecurity and Privacy Edition of its Horizon Report series, forecasting key trends, technologies, and practices shaping the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education.