ONLINE EDITION July 08, 2008

UA Learning Technologies

For the University of Arizona Faculty & Students

LTS changes name back to LTC

Sometimes the best-laid plans ...

After several months using the name Learning Technology Services, our organization has reverted to being called the Learning Technologies Center. We still offer the same great services for the use of instructional technology here at The University of Arizona.

We apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused by the name changes and we appreciate your patience as we reshuffle our services to better serve the UA community.

Continue reading "LTS changes name back to LTC" »

Tags: LTC LTS

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Jul 04, 08 | Permalink |

Green ICE discovered in the desert!

While it doesn't do much for the sweltering southwestern summer heat outside, The University of Arizona's high performance computer system is not only highly ranked internationally, but very cool. And green.

UA's SGI Altix ICE

Among supercomputing facilities worldwide -- including corporations, private research centers and universities -- the SGI Altix ICE system operated by The University of Arizona's Research Computing is the 237th most powerful computer in the world and the 50th greenest in the world in electrical usage. The June 2008 rankings are by Top500 and Green500.

Continue reading "Green ICE discovered in the desert!" »

Tags: green computing high performance computing

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Jul 04, 08 | Permalink |

New UITS organizational structure announced

University Information Technology Services (UITS) has announced a new organizational structure, developed as a step to better serve the campus community.

The names of the UITS units have changed, as have the names of those heading them.

Continue reading "New UITS organizational structure announced" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Jun 18, 08 | Permalink |

From Bench-Sitting to the Razor’s Edge

Creating YouTube Debates in a Large-Enrollment Freshman Gen-Ed Class

“We may not need to create ‘creativity’ so much as generate conditions in which it can flourish.” (Tosey, 30)

By Romy Taylor
visiting assistant professor, Russian & Slavic studies
The University of Arizona

Cultural anthropologist Kevin Birth finds that college students “describe[e] themselves repeatedly as 'just sitting there.'” (Summerfield, 10) In contrast, a jazz performance for Toni Morrison embodies “the excitement, the razor’s edge…” (Morrison, 41-2) This, for me, was the difference between students “just sitting” on the first day of my 150-student TRAD 103 class, and students huddling, exchanging phone numbers and whispering urgently, once we had begun a group-based interactive project, Russian presidential election YouTube debates.

Continue reading "From Bench-Sitting to the Razor’s Edge" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on May 12, 08 | Permalink |

Save the Date: 13th Learning Technologies Showcase

The thirteenth annual Learning Technologies Showcase will take place May 8, 2008 in the Integrated Learning Center (ILC). This year’s theme is Hands-On Instructional Technology and will focus on having attendees actively participate in sessions about YouTube, Podcasting, Second Life, D2L and more. Poster sessions will be available for informal browsing between sessions.

Continue reading "Save the Date: 13th Learning Technologies Showcase" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Mar 11, 08 | Permalink |

A New Name, Expanded Service

Learning Technology Services (LTS) is the new name chosen to represent the combination of the Learning Technologies Center (LTC) and Research Computing. The LTC, located in room 337 of the Computer Center building, remains the place to go for all faculty and staff interested in learning/teaching and research assistance. Our new name reflects an emphasis on service to the University community.

Continue reading "A New Name, Expanded Service" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Mar 11, 08 | Permalink |

High Performance Computing gets much-needed upgrade

The UA is upgrading its high performance computer (HPC) systems to enable researchers to accomplish more in a shorter period of time.

Continue reading "High Performance Computing gets much-needed upgrade" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Feb 19, 08 | Permalink |

UA's YouTube Enhanced Channel goes public

The UA's YouTube Enhanced Channel has gone public.YouTube's Enhanced University Channel is fairly new and there aren't that many schools participating, yet, but the UA has several videos in place already.

Continue reading "UA's YouTube Enhanced Channel goes public" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Jan 30, 08 | Permalink |

Take a Final Cut Pro 6 certification class

The Office of Student Computing Resources (OSCR) will host a four-day, hands-on Final Cut Pro 6 certification class in June. The class will be held on campus in the AME building and will be taught by Ms. Diana Weynand, who wrote the FCP6 training manual for Apple.

Continue reading "Take a Final Cut Pro 6 certification class" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Apr 22, 08 | Permalink |

Help Desk survey results are in

The Office of Student Computing Resources (OSCR), in the planning stages of opening a new 24-hour-a-day/7-day-a-week help desk this fall in the Martin Luther King, Jr. building at Mountain and First Street, is using student survey responses for what services will be offered and when.

Continue reading "Help Desk survey results are in" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Apr 22, 08 | Permalink |

Take the Help Desk survey

24-Hour Help Desk Survey and Chance to Win an iPod Nano

There’s good news for anyone who’s had a computer crash in the middle of the night, with a project due the next day, or had wifi conk out after business hours.

The Office of Student Computing Resources (OSCR) is working on a 24-hour-a-day/7-day-a-week help desk that will be open this Fall, to fulfill the 24-hour tech support the student body asked for when they voted for the IT Fee. OSCR wants to make sure the Help Desk features the services the student body wants.

Continue reading "Take the Help Desk survey" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Apr 01, 08 | Permalink |

Lawson named Sr. Director of Frontline Services

Limell’ Lawson has been named Senior Director of Frontline Services, a new position within University Information Technology Services (UITS.)

The Frontline Services position will oversee Learning Technology Services (LTS), the Office of Student Computing Resources (OSCR,) Workgroup and Network Consulting (WNC) and the Support Center (Help Desk.)

Lawson is currently director of OSCR. Her new duties will begin May 5, 2008.

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Mar 11, 08 | Permalink |

It's Digital Imaging month at OSCR

It's March and we've got Spring fever like crazy!

It's Digital Imaging month and that means Photoshop! We have been talking about redoing our Photoshop workshops for many semesters now. This semester, we are actually doing it.

Continue reading "It's Digital Imaging month at OSCR" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Mar 04, 08 | Permalink |

UA network security changes help

The University is increasing its network security measures to help ensure that your personal records and other important data don't get compromised. Beginning this semester, e-mail will have to be accessed through secure connections, and all NetID users will be required to change their passwords. Campus community members who haven't made the required changes may find themselves unable to access their e-mail or other network services.

Continue reading "UA network security changes help" »

Posted by Bruce Kaplan on Jan 30, 08 | Permalink |