Office of Educational Technology
July 2015 OET Newsletter
VPN Users Must Convert to AnyConnect by July 28
Are you a virtual private network (VPN) user? After July 28, if you want to access your OET network files and certain UD business systems off campus, you must switch to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN. AnyConnect is available for Windows and Macintosh desktops and laptops or for iOS, Android, and Kindle mobile devices. AnyConnect is more secure and supports two-factor authentication which the University may use in the future. For assistance in installing AnyConnect, or if you have questions, contact OET.
SPSS 23 Now Available
If you use IBM SPSS 22, now’s the time to renew your license. Although it will run under a grace period until July 31, version 22 of SPSS expired on June 30. To purchase a license for SPSS 23 and any accompanying packages, complete IT’s Request for Service – Software Licenses web form.
All SPSS 23 licenses are good from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. A license entitles you to install on UD-owned systems or personal systems owned by UD faculty, post-docs, and staff. Students are not eligible to install copies on their personally-owned computers and must purchase SPSS through resellers such as OnTheHub.
This year, SPSS Sample Power is included with SPSS version 23 Premium for Mac and Window, the base bundle, for $70. IBM SPSS Amos is still sold separately for $50. Further information about the available packages is on UDeploy.
Office 2016 for Mac for Personal Devices
Office 2016 for Mac is now available under the Office 365 for Education link on UDeploy. This Office version is available for installation only on personal computers owned by faculty, staff, and students; it is not for use on University-owned systems. By September, a Macintosh and Windows version of Office 2016 for UD-owned computers will be available on UDeploy.
You Have Voicemail
When you are away from the office, it may be difficult to remember to check your University voicemail. To help save time and eliminate the guesswork, you can have an audio file of voicemail you receive sent to your email. As soon as the caller hangs up, you will receive an email with a .wav attachment alerting you to the new voicemail. Just click on the attachment to hear your voicemail message. You can delete this message, as you would any other email message. In addition, you still will have to delete the voicemail by calling extension 7000. To configure this option, email telephone services.
Voicemail Notification Appears in Your Inbox.
Increase Accessibility: Microsoft Word
Most of us use Microsoft Word regularly, but are the documents we create accessible? Microsoft offers guidelines, to help you make your documents accessible for people with visual impairments who use screen readers, as well as others with and without disabilities. Tips include how to:
- provide alternative text (alt text) to describe images
- create meaningful hyperlinks that describe the destination page
- specify header rows in tables that provide context.
After you save your Word document, you can check whether it is accessible with the built-in Accessibility Checker. From the Word File menu, select Info, Check for Issues, and Check for Accessibility.
Educational App of the Month: Kahoot!
No matter the age of your students, Kahoot! ignites enthusiasm and builds collaboration. Using this online response system in a gaming format, your students can test their knowledge or compete against other students in your class. The new ghost mode feature even allows them to compete against your past classes. To start, just create a free account at GetKahoot, create your quiz, discussion, or survey, and share a pin with your students. Students enter the pin at Kahoot!—no player accounts are required. Players can respond on any Internet-connected device. Use Kahoot! for an exam review, presentation feedback, peer-led discussions, or to assess subject understanding. More ideas on how to use Kahoot! are available on the Kahoot! frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.