Office of Educational Technology
August 2015 OET Newsletter
We’ve Moved!
We have moved our office from 203A to 133 Willard Hall Education Building. For those who need to drop off computers to our office, there is a convenient 15-minute drop-off parking space on the side driveway of Willard Hall Education Building near the Deer Park.
Windows 10
Windows 10 Enterprise is now available on UDeploy for installation on all University-owned computers. Microsoft’s latest operating system brings back a familiar start button and program menu that was lost with Windows 8. It also introduces a new browser called Edge (Internet Explorer is still included) and Cortana, a digital voice assistant that competes with Apple’s Siri. Before you upgrade though, visit Microsoft’s site to make sure that your current software and hardware is compatible. You also can contact OET or visit hardware and software developers’ sites to assess compatibility. As we recommend Windows machines for purchase, we will start to specify Windows 10 for an operating system, if it is compatible with the software you run currently. We plan to deploy Windows 10 on compatible machines we reformat within the year.
Changing Your OET and UDelNet ID Passwords
As an added computer security measure, we will require anyone who has not changed his or her OET password in the last year, to change it. We will introduce this new annual requirement on a staggered basis by unit, over the next few months. We will notify individual units and include step-by-step directions, when it is time to change your password. You can change your OET password on- or off-campus.
On a side note, you also have the ability to change your UDelNet ID password at any time by logging into IT’s network page and selecting the link Change your password. Currently, there is no requirement to change it nor time recommendation from IT on the length of time you should keep your UDelNet ID password.
New Arc Academy
Sixty-four 4th-7th grade students attended the New Arc Academy, hosted by OET, from July 21-July 31. The summer camp, which celebrated its 21st year, provided unique and challenging learning activities, revolving around the theme of simple machines. Students programmed EV3 Lego robots, assembled a chaos tower (a Rube Goldberg type machine), designed 3D printing projects, programmed apps using Scratch and were visited by the Delaware State Police bomb squad. Next year’s theme will focus on forensics when students will investigate the question, “Who did it?”
WordPress Users Group
In July, Chris Leonard, a web developer II for Client Support and Services (CS&S), discussed Google Analytics with the WordPress Users Group. All CEHD sites use Google Analytics to gain insights on who visits our sites, the information they look for, how long they visit, and what links they click on, among other factors. Resources from July’s meeting are available on OET’s website.
The next meeting of the WordPress Users Group will be held on Wednesday, September 16 from 12-1 p.m. in 205 Willard Hall Education Building. If you edit a CEHD WordPress site, we hope to see you there. Bring your lunch. Refreshments will be available.
PhotoMath: Educational App of the Month
If student math grades rise dramatically all of a sudden, maybe PhotoMath has something to do with it. PhotoMath, a camera calculator, is a free app available from the App Store, Windows Store, Amazon, and Google play. Point your smartphone camera to an unsolved, simple to more complex equation and PhotoMath solves it, step by step. PhotoMath only reads printed equations at this time, not handwritten ones. No more lamenting by students, as they prepare for exams or complete homework assignments, that only the answers to odd-numbered problems are listed in the back of math textbook. All we can ask is, where was PhotoMath when we were in school?
Check Out the Swivl
If you are thinking about recording video for instruction, consider the Swivl, available for checkout to students, faculty, and staff in the Education Resource Center (ERC). The Swivl, a robotic device that you use with your iOS or Android device, follows you as you move about a room and speak into a wireless microphone to record video. You can upload recorded video files wirelessly to the unlimited storage space that Swivl offers or save them to your computer. The Swivl works well to record video conferences using Skype of Facetime. A few secondary education students have already used the Swivl to record their lessons and to receive feedback from cooperating teachers.
Keep Calm and Teach On
The Faculty Commons is offering faculty workshops on more than 20 topics to “conquer pre-semester chaos” August 18 through 27. Topics include using Google Apps for feedback and to improve communication, setting up your course in Canvas, and using rubrics to assess student work.