New Classroom Desk Pilot Project
The number of faculty who want to teach their courses in a computer-based classroom has been slowly rising over the past few years. This fall six courses are scheduled in RML477 (the IIT's computer classroom) for the entire semester; a number of other courses are scheduled to use this lab periodically throughout the semester and RML 250 on a periodic basis. MSCS also has a computer-based lab that is heavily scheduled. This past year, Statistics had a pilot project to use laptops for courses scheduled in Science Center 182. While the concept worked from a curricular standpoint, the technology concept was less than desirable because of battery life (the laptops were in use most of a day and a typical laptop battery lasts about 2 hours,) account set up issues, shared wireless bandwidth limitation, etc.
IIT approached MSCS about trading in the laptops for desktop unit set up in a new classroom computer table set up. IIT purchased and installed “Hideaway” tables by Computer Comforts. These new tables give the classroom the flexibility to be used either in a traditional classroom setting without the computers/monitors on top of the desktop or in a matter of moments the room can be converted to a computer-based classroom. The computer is located in a stand underneath the table. The monitor, however, is on a matriculating arm that pops up from within the desk.
This new furniture technology may be a key to future computer-based classrooms. While computer use within the class period is on the rise, the computer/monitor installation is problematic for some of the non-computer-based courses. With classroom space at a premium we hope that these new tables will give the community the best of both worlds.
Helpdesk Changes to Improve Service
IIT struggles to keep up with the demand for our services. While we are confident that without the addition of new staff FTE we will continue to operate on a support shoestring, we have made some changes over the summer in an attempt to improve the quality of the services we provide to the community through the Helpdesk.
Whenever possible, IIT professional staff will handle all incoming faculty/staff calls. Once the rush of the school year is over, you can expect that the professional staff member on-duty will ask you if you are willing to be put on speaker phone so that we can use the call as a training experience for the student staff. Our hope is that after six months to a year of one-on-one training we can transition some of the calls to the senior student on duty—we will continue to have a professional staff member on duty during daytime hours. Student staff will concentrate their time on assisting other students with network connection problems and basic computer questions.
IIT Administrative staff “out in the field” will now carry IIT radios. The Helpdesk staff will have the capability to reach the IIT staff assigned to support the administrative staff whenever they are outside of the IIT office area. This should eliminate the scenario where a staff member is in the administration building, complete their work, walk back to the IIT office area only to find out that they need to immediately return to the administrative building because of a problem in another office.
Last year, the Helpdesk was swamped with calls and requests for assistance with personal computer virus and spyware problems and the related network disconnections. This year, these calls will be directed to a new and separate help service. If a computer is infected, we automatically disconnect the computer from the network. The student cannot reconnect to the network until the computer has been cleaned and verified that it is clean by the IIT student staff. John Campion, Student Computing and Network Consultant, has organized a team of highly skilled students (aptly called the IIT Special Forces) to assist the students. Students will be referred to these students for advice and guidance; IIT does not work on personally owned computers. This change in service should reduce the chances that you receive a busy signal when calling the Helpdesk while, at the same time, funnels the student virus and spyware problems to a group of students appropriately trained to assist with these types of problems.
In addition, IIT has ramped up our student-training program for all of our students, but in particular for our Helpdesk students. The new training program will focus on the core skills we identified while reviewing the calls to the Helpdesk last academic year: troubleshooting network and wireless connections, spyware and virus detection and cleaning, network connection troubleshooting, the Netware servers and drives, key operations for classroom technologies, setting up network printers, e-mail client configurations, web browser configurations, Moodle, MS Office, the basics of Dreamweaver and Photoshop Elements, how to set up a personal web page, and then core information about the IIT operations.
These are just a few of the changes we have made to improve service. As always, we welcome your feedback on the service you received from the Helpdesk.
New Technology in Rolvaag Library
Rolvaag Library has received and is receiving some cool new spaces. First, there is a new group viewing room. RML 145A now has the ability to display multi-standard and multi-regional DVD's and VHS videos. In addition, there is a Macintosh and a PC to practice presentations. All are displayed on a large LCD TV. The room is also equipped with comfortable chairs and beanbags for a more relaxed, homey environment. The room is open for all to use. A key for the room and equipment is available at the circulation desk in the lobby.
The Media Lab, located on the main level of the Library in room 330 has been upgraded. There are even more PCs and Macs then before. The room will have three group computing stations (2 PC and 1 Mac) so that small groups can work collaborately. We have added additional video editing stations that now have large external hard drives to store your projects. Digital card readers will be added soon. This is the perfect place to produce your video projects. Everything you need to produce high quality videos or DVDs is there for your use. Soon, in October, the Lab will be staffed by student help in the evenings. Please remember that IIT will remove projects when the semester is finished and reserves the right to remove files, if necessary.
In addition to the individual video viewing stations, group viewing room, and small group stations, the room now has a large LCD TV for group viewing connected to both a PC and Mac along with the ability to view DVD's and videos from around the world while sitting on comfortable furniture and listening on wireless headphones, obtained from the circulation desk.
Room 349A still has the ability to make your own videos and interviews with a built in recording system. It has an easy-to-use system which allows a person to film and star in their own video. A key to the room can be checked out at the circulation desk.
Brad Mikkelsen Headed to Iraq; Welcome Steven Engle
Brad Mikkelsen, Desktop Services Coordinator, has 
been called to active duty in the National Guard. Brad has been down in Augusta, Georgia, going through Cisco and UNIX training. Once he completes this seven month training program he will undergo a few weeks of additional training and then will be deployed to Iraq with the HHC, 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT). Brad will serve as the Brigade Automation Officer. Brad will have a team of helpdesk soldiers and will control the routers and servers for the Brigade HQ. Brad will not return to his position with IIT until sometime in 2007.
Steven Engle ‘05 has joined the IIT staff as Brad's 
replacement. Steven may be a familiar face to many of you as he recently received a BA from St. Olaf, majoring in Mathematics and English with a computer science concentration. He worked for three years as a student worker in IIT as well as being a member of the Residence Life staff for two years while at St. Olaf.
Steven comes to the staff as a PC Specialist, but will also be working with the Macintosh machines on campus and has some experience using Linux. Besides working with PC software, Steven has spent plenty of time working with hardware, ranging from building custom computers to replacing laptop screens. Perhaps most importantly, Steven brings extensive experience of working with spyware, adware and virus removal. Steven is directly responsible for supporting the Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Family and Social Services departments, and will also help supervise Helpdesk operations. We are extremely excited to welcome him to the staff of IIT!
Virus and Spyware Problems Can Lead to Disconnections
As most everyone is aware by now, worms and viruses are spreading across the Internet and arriving on many college campuses along with student computers. To help battle against the spread of these vermin, IIT is providing Symantec Anti-Virus software to all college-owned computer and all student-owned computers.
Symantec Anti-Virus (SAV) is available for download from the IIT web site. Instructions and links can be found in the documentation section.
Spyware or adware is another growing problems on networks. Spyware is any data collection program that secretly gathers information about you and relays it to advertisers and other interested parties. Adware usually displays banners or unwanted pop-up windows and often includes spyware.
You may unknowingly install spyware or adware when you install new software, particularly freeware or shareware programs. Some of these programs can adversely affect your computer's performance, can clog the network with large amounts of traffic, or "hi-jack" your web browser to display other pages or prevent you from accessing particular web sites.
IIT requires that everyone have an up-to-date anti-virus program installed. Additionally, all users must install and periodically run Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware to combat spyware and adware. Instructions for doing so can be found in the Five Steps for Healthy Computing document .
Computers that are identified as being infected or generating abnormal amounts of traffic will be removed from the network to prevent it from trying to infect other computers or tying up needed resources. This includes staff and faculty computers. Computers that get disconnected more than once are subject to IIT's disconnection policy.
Internet Upgrade and Internet2
This fall we will dramatically increase St. Olaf's Internet bandwidth. We more than doubled our commercial Internet bandwidth (from 9mbps up to 20mbps), and we will join the ranks of Internet2 (www.internet2.edu), a very high-capacity Internet that supports research and education. Traffic between St. Olaf and other Internet2-connected institutions can reach speeds as fast as 1 gigabit per second. Our Internet2 connection is made possible by cooperating with Carleton College to build a substantial fiber plant from St. Olaf, through Northfield, onwards to Carleton Carleton, and finally a splice point connecting us to Owatonna and onwards up to the Twin Cities.
This fall, IIT is once again offering a wide variety of computing seminars for faculty and staff. The seminars include such topics as using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, how to create web pages, image editing with Photoshop, using different e-mail packages, and Microsoft Access.
Complete seminar descriptions and schedule are available online. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your place online if you plan to attend.
Wireless Access
The wireless network access has been expanded this summer. New areas with wireless access are:
- Kildahl Hall
- Thorson Hall
- Old Music Hall
- Dittmann Center
- Science Center (was limited before)
During the year, IIT will be adding more residence halls to the list of wireless networks. Wireless access is already available in:
- Rolvaag Library
- Buntrock Commons
- Green space between Buntrock, Science Center, and Mellby
- Most Honor Houses [see the list]
- Holland Hall (limited)
IIT will be increasing the number of areas where wireless is available throughout the year. Areas that have wireless coverage are marked with signs like the one above.
It is important to remember that information sent over the wireless network is not secure and is not automatically encrypted. We do not recommend using wireless for financial transactions or for items of a personal or confidential nature.
In order to keep our wireless network secure and as functional as possible, personal wireless access points are not allowed. You can view the full policy on the IIT web site.
Classroom Technologies Reminders
As technology continues to advance, so does IIT's quest to keep our classrooms up-to-date. The following rooms underwent significant changes this summer:
- Old Main 15 is piloting the Sympodium by Smart Technologies. The Sympodium is an interactive pen display (similar to a graphing pad) that uses the same software as the SMARTBoard. See SMART Technologies for details.
- Rolvaag Library 420 has received a standard rack-based technology installation, including a Mac, PC, document camera, projector, DVD player, and VCR.
- Steensland 1 now has a permanent teaching station complete with a Mac, PC, document camera, projector, DVD player, and VCR.
Before the fall semester begins, you should go through the checklist below.
- Visit your classrooms early to insure that you understand how to operate the technology and that the equipment in those rooms will meet your teaching needs. The classroom technology in select rooms was updated or modified this summer.
- All classroom computers were rebuilt or replaced this summer. If there are any specialized software programs (not including MS Office) that you use on a classroom computer, let us know! We need to know who is using specific software to ensure that it is installed for Fall semester.
- If you notice any technology issues, please report them directly to Timothy Frederick (frederic@stolaf.edu).
New and not-so-new faculty may be surprised at the different tools and technologies that IIT provides for instructional use in and out of the classroom. For a complete overview of the various tools available to you for teaching, check out the Instructional Technologies document on the IIT web site.
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