UNMC Educational Technology Update
Spring 2012
3/16/12

Contents

• Mobile
  • BBMobile
  • UNMC mobile site – m.unmc.edu
• Blackboard
  • Issues
  • BBMobile
  • Latest Version
• Campuspack – Blogs and Wikis
• Campus Classroom and Cluster Computers
  • Recent Updates
  • Summer 2012 Planned Updates and Changes
• Echo360 – classroom recording system
• 2012 Educational Technology Presentations, Training and Seminars

Mobile

BBMobile
The Blackboard Mobile free edition is available for use at UNMC.  It can be used using the following methods:

• WiFi connection for I-devices including ipad, iphone, etc.
• Using a device connected to the Sprint network provides full access to BBMobile for all smart phones and tablets.

The app is freely available for download and installation on the above devices.  We are interested in feedback about this app and its usefulness.  To make it available to non-sprint or IOS devices, a campus annual license would be needed so feedback on its usefulness would be very helpful.

The following services are available via the Blackboard Mobile app.  It is possible to access to courses and organizations, view documents and items in a mobile device specialized window, and link to and take exams via the browser.  The app provides  the quick loading of items and the course via the devices browser to provide a near desktop experience, this is most useful on the ipad.

To Use the Blackboard Mobile App please follow these steps:

• Download Blackboard Mobile app for particular device, usually available from the device app store.
• Install and open the app
• Blackboard Mobile begins with a selection screen
• Choose UNMC to access the UNMC Blackboard system
• Login with your id and password
• Your courses and organizations should be available for use.

Based on initial experience, the best uses of the app include general access to blackboard on small form factor devices and with the Ipad as a quick check of course material which is then used through a browser or downloaded for off-line use.

UNMC mobile site – m.unmc.edu
A campus mobile site is now available to the campus mobile users at m.unmc.edu.  This site provides news, events, maps, tools, contact us and easy access to www.unmc.edu.  On most portable devices it can bookmarked and have a quick link added to a phone or tablet using the normal device methods for creating shortcuts.

Blackboard

Mobile – see above

No Known Current Issues

Latest Version Testing and Plans
The latest software update for Blackboard (Version 9.1, Service Pack has been released.  Normally these updates are bug fixes and minor changes, this one while not fundamentally changing the components of Blackboard, does introduce a new and redesigned interface.  Preliminary review has been positive but we would like to offer the opportunity for more of the campus to review this release prior to installing it as the campus blackboard active version at the beginning of the summer.

Currently the test server (oldbb.unmc.edu) is  housing the previous release of Blackboard with copies of UNMC courses and organizations as of May 2011.  To update this server to the latest release, all courses and organizations will be archived and stored to allow retrieval of these courses if needed by faculty or programs. If you want to archive any courses yourself or delete them from the planned archiving, please visit (http://oldbb.unmc.edu) by Tuesday, April 10, 2012 and archive or delete desired courses.

Anything still on the oldbb.unmc.edu, the morning of Wednesday, April 11, 2012, will be archived. After the archive, you can request course restores from the academic 2010/2011 year by contacting Joe Ziskovsky at jziskovs@unmc.edu or Melissa Diers at mdiers@unmc.edu. 

After Friday, April 13, 2012, we urge faculty to login to oldbb.unmc.edu and view/interact with the new version of Blackboard 9.1 Service Pack 8 to prepare for the Summer upgrade of the production server (my.unmc.edu).  Comments and suggestions can be sent to leis@unmc.edu.

Campuspack

Campuspack is an online resource for protected social media activities such as blogs, podcasts, group and instructional class work.  It links to blackboard but can be used in standalone configuration.  It is available through blackboard and at unmc.campuspack.net and requires use of a UNMC campus id and password to access and use.

The campuspack software company updated Campuspack on Jan. 1, 2012.   Using with classes and individual students has been improved.  It is now easier to setup assignments and work areas for the whole class, groups or individuals, see below.  The following features were enhanced or added:

Campuspack User Interface Changes
Most of the changes are minor and will not interfere with the user experience. However, in some cases if users are to take advantage of the new features they will be exposed to new screens. Users will notice the following changes in the user interface after the Campus Pack 4.4 upgrade.

Updated Icons: The Campus Pack content icons have been updated. These changes should not interfere with the usage of Campus Pack and are similar to previous icons.

Authenticated RSS: Users will see a grayed out RSS icon  on the header of all content that is not shared with everyone in the world (public content). Users are not required to subscribe to authenticated RSS feeds.

Batch Creation of Content: When a user adds new content to a course they will see a new Assignment Type option that enables them to create content either for the entire class or separate content items for individuals or course teams. Note that a user will be exposed to other new screens only if they choose the Group or Individual option. If the Class option is chosen then the user experience is same as before.

Note: The new screens related to the Batch Creation of Content feature are off by default. If you would like to use the Batch Creation of Content feature please email support@learningobjects.com.  This feature will be turned off by default only until the next upgrade which will be available in Summer 2011.

New Features and Enhancements

Campus Classroom and Cluster Computers

The workstations in campus classrooms and student computer clusters are administered centrally using Citrix software and servers.  When a computer is rebooted, the operating system and software applications are reloaded onto the computer.  This allows for consistent computer setup and easy updating of the computers with new software.

Recent Updates
The most recent changes and additions that have been deployed to classroom and cluster computers include:

• A McKesson Update to selected rooms in the vicinity of clinical areas or known to be used by clinical physicians.
• Epic OneChart access has been added to Sorrell 1010 and 1012 computers and will be added to other classrooms and clusters as it becomes generally available.
• Outlook Email – Icons for access to Outlook email have been added to the cluster workstations and will be added to classrooms in the next few weeks.

Planned summer 2012 updates
The planned updates and upgrades for Classrooms and Educational Technology include the standard software updates and refurbishment of equipment in educational technology enhanced classrooms throughout campus.  Of particular note are the following:

• Computers are being upgraded in the Sorrell 1010 lab, the Sorrell clinical skills center, the Sorrell and student center computer clusters, and the instructor workstations in Sorrell 1010, 1012, 4053 and 22 Sorrell small conference rooms.
• Upgrading video in Sorrell 3002 to HD quality
• Adding additional echo rooms, locations to be identified.
• Upgrading of existing echo units to hd echo units.
• Testing a campus collaboration server.

For more detail, visit http://blog.unmc.edu/edtech/educational-technology-updates-and-upgrades-spring-and-summer-2012/

Echo360 – classroom recording system

The Echo360 classroom recording system is now installed in over 25 classrooms and conference rooms across campus.  Over the past few months the server was upgraded to a new enhanced server using 64bit architecture to provide increased speed in the adding of and playing back of lectures and other video recordings.  The ability to provide a podcast and vodcast format on requested recordings has also been added.

A new feature is now available that allows viewers to collaborate, comment and bookmark recordings. Collaboration between viewers of videos, allows the addition of personal notes and responses that can be added by students and faculty in a shared environment or only used for private notes and bookmarks. This feature can be individually controlled by course or event.  Faculty who would like to test this with their students can request this option when requesting the scheduling of Echo for course lectures or events.

A new version of the Echo360 software has been announced that will include live streaming as well as the current recording method and reviewing of material.  It also will allow more ways to record session without requiring the use of Echo360 appliances to record basic video in the room being recorded.  The ability to live stream from a class or event is expected to be available sometime this summer.

Upcoming 2012 Educational Technology Presentations, Training and Seminars

• April 12, 2012 − 11am to 1pm, SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTH SCIENCE EDUCATION
• Summer session (Date TBD) – Proposed Presentation on Educational Simulation
• For other IT training sessions please visit – http://www.unmc.edu/its/training.htm

Educational Technology Update 9.21.2011

Classroom Educational Technology

During the past year, UNMC has seen a significant expansion of technology enhanced classrooms with the addition of the Center for Nursing Sciences (10 new classrooms/conference rooms) and the Maurer Center for Public Health (12 new classrooms/conference rooms) buildings.  Additional areas across the multiple campus sites in Nebraska have seen technology upgrades and enhancements, as well.  The two new buildings located on the Omaha campus have added innovative technology enhanced classroom spaces that include Video (IP) conferencing, web conferencing, and a classroom allowing simultaneous multiple group work spaces as well as instructor presentations.  The technology enhanced classrooms range from basic presentation capabilities, large venue presentations and video presentation, to web conferencing and advanced distance education systems with full 2 way video and audio capabilities.

• Microsoft Windows 7 was installed on classroom and cluster computers during the 2011 summer.
  • As noted in previous updates, Microsoft Windows 7 has been installed except in selected in locations that need to use McKesson software, in those locations the computers are still running Windows XP.  Windows 7 has primarily improved computer performance and changed the look and feel of the computer desktop.
  • Note: One difference that will be noticeable is that the systems will default at the login screen to login into the UNMC campus domain, individuals with a TNMC ID and password will need to change the domain to the Nebraska Medical Center domain.  This is a change in Windows 7 that requires a different way to switch between login networks.
• CPS – Audience Response System
  • The software to run the CPS audience response system has been installed in requested rooms (MSC1005, MSC 3001, MSC3002, CNS3030 & MCPH2001). Contact classroom support at 402-559-7665 to request the software installation in another location.
• Classroom computer requests for updates and software installs
  • In general if a computer provides a notification that an update is available, it is recommended to indicate ‘no’ or cancel the request.  If that does not work, one can allow the update to occur and let the classroom technicians know what was requested.
• The Citrix computer image and streaming system upgrade to the current Citrix supported system from the previous version UNMC was running has continued with the addition of the third computer image server, now giving us a three server system with redundancy to minimize system down time.

Educational Online Systems

UNMC and the other UN campuses utilize Blackboard Learn as course information system.  Each campus maintains individual servers for campus courses and organizations.  At UNMC there are currently 968 courses and 84 organizations or groups on the UNMC Blackboard system.  Currently, two colleges (College of Nursing and College of Public Health) have developed unique college pages that are used for access to courses, as well as College and Departmental information.

Several components and applications are linked together to with Blackboard to create the online learning system at UNMC.  The core system is Blackboard (my8.unmc.edu), UNMC is running version 9.1.6.  The major components of this course information system include:

• Blackboard Individual course sites for each UNMC class, these sites include areas for
  • Files – embedded in course content and a file repository for easier management and sharing of course files
  • Announcements
  • Assignment creation, posting and submittal
  • Online Testing with over 15 question types, ability to import and export tests, timed and non-timed test taking
  • Course grade book allowing grade calculation and student viewing of their individual course grades
  • Email and notification capabilities
  • Online chat and meeting capabilities
  • Integrated blog and wiki
• Echo360 is the campus classroom and individual faculty presentation recording system.
  • Over 30 classrooms on the UNMC campuses contain the Echo360 recording device.
  • The system provides scheduled, automatic recording of classes including computer images and video camera input where available.
  • After the session is recorded, individuals can view and listen to the lecture using web enabled viewer that allows one to watch a complete session or jump to particular points in the lecture via a visual or timeline component.
  • Echo360 sessions can be automatically integrated into Blackboard classes.
  • Echo360 Version 4 Software: The most current version has added enhanced support for notebook devices including the IPad system.
    • Mobile use – Echo360 has added additional capabilities to allow viewing of lectures and podcasts while using mobile technology.  This is being explored and tested this fall; if you would like to participate in this review please contact Matt Rutledge at 9-4048 or mjrutledge@unmc.edu.
    • Media Ingest – The new version of Echo360 also includes the capability to ingest multiple video file types and formats and then present them similar to the way that class recordings are being delivered.  Initial testing of this provides excellent video quality and provides a way to easily incorporate video into classes for student review.
    • You can get more information on the Echo360 Version 4.0 software at http://www.unmc.edu/its/235.htm and http://echo360.com/echosystem/4_0/.  For access to a manual go to http://confluence.echo360.com/display/40/4.0+Documentation+Home
• Campuspack is a system linked directly to UNMC Blackboard.  This is an external to UNMC hosted system, which provides the capability for private blogs, wiki, discussion groups and portfolios to faculty and students and can be used in any course hosted on the Blackboard system.  An individual can access this system via Blackboard or directly log into the system via unmc.campuspack.org.
  • Provides password protected individual and group social media space for UNMC faculty, staff, students and courses.
  • Shares functionality with services such as Facebook but provides controlled, private service.
  • The most recent update has provided additional features and opened up the system to allow easier creation of additional functionality.
  • Individuals have unique home page that shows what groups, blogs, wikis, and portfolios that one has access to.
  • This service can be linked to directly from UNMC Blackboard inside of a class or organization.
• Respondus is a test creation software, UNMC has a campus license until July 2012 for this software that allows the creation of tests, test question libraries and local editing and updating of test questions.  Once a test is created it can be uploaded to Blackboard and then deployed for student to take. This software is available for download via http://ess.unmc.edu
  • Respondus includes a rudimentary test bank capability and test question editor.
  • Provides similar question types as Blackboard.
  • Tests created in Respondus can be used with most major course information systems if faculties are working with other institutions that do not have Blackboard as their course information system.
• Virtual Microscopy – UNMC has installed the Aurora virtual microscopy system that allows viewing and zoom functions for most image files. This system is available at mscope.unmc.edu.
  • A new advanced server running the Aurora software has been installed this year providing greatly enhanced performance for handing the increasingly larger clinical and educational images used in teaching at UNMC.
  • The Aurora system provides both generally viewing, annotations and quiz capabilities for high definition images.
  • This server provides on- and off-campus access for students to course microscopic and other high definition images.

Educational Technology Current Problems and Fixes

• Blackboard
  • Test Item creation – A test question creation error had been detected and reported to Blackboard for a fix. When one create questions for a test, the first question was added to the test and was visible once submitted. When a second or further questions were added, some individuals were seeing that the question had been added but it was not visible for a short time or not visible until the next day before it can be seen in the test. This was escalated to Blackboard Level 3 support, but no patch has been received yet.  This appears to be corrected as of September 21, 2011.
  • Timed exams – A bug has been reported in using timed exams where students are residing in multiple time zones; the system does not function correctly, and students may be kicked out of exams early or given more than the allotted time if they are in a different time zone than the Blackboard server.  We are awaiting a fix for this problem.
  • Personalization – At the present time, Blackboard personalization has been disabled because it is possible, when personalizing Blackboard for the main Blackboard sections to not display when changes are saved.  Once a fix is released the personalization will be turned back on.

• Classroom Educational Technology
  • Sorrell 2007 and 4058 projectors have been replaced with new projectors.