News for the IT Community from Information Technology Services at The University of Iowa

IT Security Day 2012 is coming in October

Ken — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:39:39 +0000

Please join your colleagues and panel of presenters on 17 October for IT Security Day 2012, to learn how to better calculate risks, layer defenses and increase efficiencies within your areas. Click here to register for IT Security Day 2012 to register and view the day’s agenda.

Funding available for faculty interested in teaching with technology

Ken — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:21:51 +0000

University of Iowa faculty members have a chance to pursue funding for technology projects through the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award program. Proposals will be accepted through Oct. 17, and a total of $100,000 will be awarded.

The program aims to raise the level of teaching and learning at the UI by supporting significant and innovative instructional technology projects that impact student success and retention. The Academic Technologies Advisory Council looks for proposals that use collaborative learning strategies and emerging technologies that are new to the UI.

Priority will be given to proposals with potential for replication across the university. Cross-disciplinary projects are encouraged, though not required. Proposals geared toward the instruction of undergraduates are also encouraged, though the program is not limited to undergraduate education.

The number of awards will be determined by the quality of applications. Applications can be made to support the costs of hardware, software, and personnel. Funding is not available for faculty salaries or for projects that are technologically sophisticated but not oriented toward participatory learning. The advisory council will select applicants to interview, and will request a detailed budget, project timeline, and milestones for the second round of reviews.

In addition to funding support, recipients receive resources and consultation time with instructional services staff members from Information Technology Services (ITS). For pilot projects with potential for a “Phase II” follow-up project, instructors have an opportunity to compete for a second award.

Award winners must assess the impact of technology on student learning in a particular course and make two presentations about the award to UI campus audiences. They are expected to contribute to a culture of teaching excellence by disseminating the results of their efforts through workshops, publications, demonstrations, mentorships, wikis, or other peer-to-peer learning opportunities.

Winning proposals from previous years can be viewed here, and a summary of proposals submitted and awarded since the program is available here. Additional details are available in the application guidelines.

For more information, contact Les Finken at 319-335-5467, or e-mail ATAC-ITTA-PROPOSAL-SUBMISSION@list.uiowa.edu.

ITS plays key role in transition to all-in-one ID cards

Ken — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:49:06 +0000

Information Technology Services is playing an important role in the transition to new university identification cards that will also serve as proximity cards to access buildings or rooms on campus.

“Prox cards” offer higher security than keys because when they are lost, or when the cardholder leaves the university, the cards can be deactivated remotely. The Directory and Authentication (DNA) team in ITS-Administrative Information Systems is heavily involved in the project, working in partnership with UI Police, Facilities Management, and the Treasury Office.

The new Iowa One Cards converge electronic identity (HawkID) and physical identity (ID card and prox card). DNA Team leader Chris Pruess co-led the identity convergence project and participated in planning the Iowa One re-carding project. She was also instrumental in the redesign of the card and reviewing the request for proposals for the banking relationship aspect of the card.

Last summer, the DNA team accepted technical support responsibilities that had previously been provided to the ID Card Office through the College of Engineering. As part of the transition, DNA upgraded the Iowa One Card management system to contemporary technologies and performed Social Security Number remediation. Since then, the DNA team has been steadily adding needed features and functionality.

To fully utilize the prox functionality integrated in the new Iowa One plastic card, multiple upgrade projects are planned in the ID Card system, electronic access control systems, and identity management tools and processes. The ITS DNA and Server Support Team (SST) and Facilities Management Key and Access Services are working hard on upgrades to the access-management systems, Millennium and AMAG. Going forward, DNA will continue to add major new support responsibilities for the data management in the access control systems.

“ITS and the University of Iowa appreciate the skills and expertise the DNA Team is contributing to the Iowa One Card project,” says ITS-AIS Senior Director Mike Noel. “This project accommodates the growth in use of electronic access control and is important to the security of our campus. The change should also add convenience for UI students and employees, who will now have one less card to carry.”

Read more about the Iowa One Card’s new look and functionality in this Iowa Now story.

UI joins global wireless network eduroam

Ken — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:46:51 +0000

If you’ve traveled to other schools to visit friends, collaborate in research, or take part in a conference, you’ve probably had to track down a guest ID for wireless service. You’ll have to do that less often thanks to a recent enhancement to the University of Iowa wireless network. Find the full story here.

A platinum record: Information Technology Facility is UI’s first building with top LEED certification

Ken — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:18:47 +0000

The new University of Iowa Information Technology Facility (ITF) has become the first building on campus to earn LEED Platinum certification—the ultimate standard for green design.

The LEED Platinum-certified Information Technology Facility will house and protect computing and network equipment that is vital to the operations of the university and its hospitals and clinics.

Completed in December 2011 after three years of construction and seven years of planning, the 43,000-square-foot, $30 million facility will house and protect computing and network equipment that is vital to the operations of the university and its hospitals and clinics.The facility provides a secure and reliable home for the university’s IT systems. Its “hardened” outer shell is built to withstand severe weather, and backup electrical and cooling systems are designed to keep essential technology up and running if the primary utility systems supporting them were to fail. Two 7,200-square-foot data halls meet the ventilation and air conditioning requirements for servers and provide space for high-performance research computing.

“Data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities you’ll find on a campus. To build ours to LEED Platinum standards speaks volumes about the UI’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainability,” says UI President Sally Mason. “Our goals for a sustainable university are stated in our strategic plan and 2020 Vision sustainability targets, and this major accomplishment significantly helps to bring those aspirations to reality.”

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system measures sustainability in site selection, water efficiency, energy sources and consumption, materials and resources, air quality, and other environmental considerations. The ITF is believed to be the first educational institution data center certified as LEED Platinum. In 2011, only 20 higher education buildings in the country achieved LEED Platinum status, according to a report in Scientific American.

Full story in Iowa Now: http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/06/platinum-record

ITS seeks courses for e-textbook pilot project

Ken — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:32:08 +0000

This fall, University of Iowa students in participating courses will have a chance to try out electronic textbooks free of charge as part of a pilot project to examine the effectiveness of etexts.

Information Technology Services (ITS)-Instructional Services is teaming up with vendors Courseload and McGraw-Hill on the etext pilot project. The Courseload electronic reader and McGraw-Hill textbooks will be made available to students in participating courses at no charge during the fall semester. Students also have the option to purchase a print-on-demand version of the e-textbook.

ITS-Instructional Services, in collaboration with the College of Education, will investigate the relationships between etext usage and student learning, as well as whether etexts are more convenient and economical for students. The team was awarded a $20,000 CCUMC Donald A. Rieck Research Grant in support of the study.

The UI is one of 50 institutions participating in the pilot, which is sponsored by two higher education technology consortiums, Internet2 and EDUCAUSE.The benefits of the project include:

Free etext access for all students enrolled in the course
Full text available through print on demand (additional fee required if ordered from the vendor)
Easy access to the etext through ICON
Online or offline access to the etext
Availability of the content on most browsers
Ability for faculty and students to annotate or take notes within the textbook and to share with others in the course
Opportunity for the UI to assess use of etexts on our campus and help set direction for future use of etexts

Participation in this pilot is limited. Instructors interested in having their courses participate should contact Maggie Jesse, senior director of ITS-Instructional Services, at maggie-jesse@uiowa.edu by July 1.

Data center infrastructure work scheduled for June 9, 2012

Ken — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:32:11 +0000

On Saturday, June 9, 2012, data center updates are planned between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

There will be a minimal impact to routing and files service links will not function during the upgrade.

See http://its.uiowa.edu/apps2/support/article/3877 for a list of frequently asked questions about this work.

This is the second of four Infrastructure Days scheduled for 2012. Our next Infrastructure Day will occur on August 4, 2012. See http://its.uiowa.edu/apps2/support/article/1509 for more information about Infrastructure Days.

Mac attack Flashback illustrates that Macs are not impervious to viruses

Ken — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:18:42 +0000

Get out the iKleenexes; contrary to popular belief, Macs are not virus-free. Photo illustration by Tim Schoon.

As Macs become more popular with computer users, they also attract more attention from cyber-criminals. Don’t buy into the myth that Macs can’t get viruses; do buy into security measures offered by Information Technology Services.
Story: http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/05/mac-attack

UI Wireless is now part of eduroam

Ken — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:07:08 +0000

The UI-Wireless-WPA2 network will still be available through the summer, so you can re-configure your wireless device anytime before then.

To configure your device for eduroam, visit the following site when you are on campus: http://wireless.its.uiowa.edu.

NOTE: In order to connect to eduroam, you will need specify your wireless username as “hawkid@uiowa.edu.” Just using your Hawk ID will not work.A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available at: http://its.uiowa.edu/apps2/support/article/3876.For more information on eduroam in general (including a list of participating institutions), please check out the following URL: http://eduroam.org.

If you have any issues configuring your device to connect to eduroam, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 319-384-4357.

UI recognizes ifolio and e-COI teams with IOWA Awards

Ken — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:05:15 +0000

The University of Iowa honored Information Technology Services and Research Information Systems staff members with Improving Our Workplace Awards this spring. IOWA Awards recognize UI employees who demonstrate initiative and innovation that has a positive impact in their workplace.

ITS recognized the recipients at a reception April 19. Associate Vice President and CIO Steve Fleagle thanked and congratulated the winners, noting that ITS and RIS are proud of the staff and partners involved with the projects, and that their hard work and accomplishments will benefit many people.

The ifolio team created an electronic portfolio for students. The University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa partnered on the project, and the efficiency of this collaboration saved the state thousands of dollars. The UI had developed and deployed ifolio just as UNI was looking to replace its vendor-supported product. UNI found that ifolio was customizable, included more features, and saved the school about $20,000 per year in licensing fees. The two universities worked together to provide appropriate integrations to identity management systems, training for support staff and faculty, ongoing support for students, and local branding for each of the schools and departments.

Members of the ifolio team were: Annette Beck and Sue Almen-Whittaker of ITS-Instructional Services; Andrew Rinner of ITS-Enterprise Services; Chris Pruess, Nick Roy, Gary Rogers, Greg Nims, and Rebekah Ahrens of ITS-Administrative Information Systems; and UNI staff members Aaron Thompson, Lori Seawel, Jason Vetter, Jeffrey Ries, and Donna Vinton.

“The ifolio project involved collaboration within the university community and across boundaries to UNI,” said ITS-Instructional Services Senior Director Maggie Jesse, who nominated the ifolio team. “This was a nice way to start that collaboration. It exemplifies cross-Regent communication, careful long-term planning, and measurable results. Congratulations to the staff from both universities.”

The eCOI Applications Team developed a consolidated electronic system to disclose potential conflicts of interest. Many faculty and staff face internal and external reporting obligations, and a new regulation increased the time involved with meeting federal-level reporting requirements. The Conflict of Interest in Research Office reached out to other university units responsible for complying with the reporting obligations, and together the team developed eCOI. The solution will eventually impact about 10,000 faculty and staff members by standardizing the process and saving them time.

Members of the eCOI team were: Charlotte Talman of the Conflict of Interest in Research Office; Jose Jimenez, Gayle Elliott, and Ashok Vijayendra of Research Information Systems; Denise Krutzfeldt of UI Hospitals and Clinics’ Conflict of Interest Office; Diane Finnerty of the Provost’s Office; and Susan Zollo of the Continuing Medical Education Office.

“The award is well deserved, and I am thrilled that the group won,” said nominator Jim Walker, an associate vice president for research. “It’s a challenge to coordinate IT and personnel components of a project of this scope at a large institution. We were under a tight time frame, and I was impressed by how smoothly the team moved forward to create a consolidated system that meets diverse needs.”

Walker noted that the project could not have been successful without contributions from many other employees in Health Care Information Systems, ITS, and RIS. He thanked them for their efforts.

IOWA awards are given out each fall and spring. A committee of staff members from across the university reviews the nominations. Many excellent people and projects are nominated for IOWA Awards, and the nomination process is rigorous. Two ITS efforts won in the fall. Chris Pruess won an individual award for her work developing campus IT communities at the UI, and the Bus on the Go (Bongo) project won a team award. A campus-wide IOWA Award reception will take place May 22.

Debunking the Myth: Macs Don’t Get Viruses

Ken — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:30:33 +0000

For the second time in the past year, the Mac operating system has been the target of widespread malware attack. (See Debunking the Myth Part 1 from May 2011.) A recent article from the Sophos Security Blog asks and answers the question “Are Macs safer than PCs?“, in light of the recent “Flashback” malware outbreak.

Learning Commons to provide ‘intellectual hub’ for UI students

Ken — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:38:09 +0000

The layout of the proposed Learning Commons

In fall of 2013, University of Iowa students will have a tech-infused, 24-hour, comfy study space and one-stop academic help center … with good coffee.

Designed with significant input from students, the new Learning Commons will provide an “intellectual hub” with space for 500-plus students. The 37,000-square-foot space in the UI Main Library is the product of a unique partnership among Information Technology Services (ITS), University Libraries, and the Office of the Provost.

“The Learning Commons is focused, first and foremost, on furthering the academic success of students,” says University Librarian Nancy Baker. “The staff will provide students with a ‘concierge’ experience. They’ll answer common academic, library and technology questions and point students to the resources they need to succeed, like help with their research, writing, or tutoring.”

Features of the project include 18 group study spaces, 200 desktop and laptop computers, a 45-seat TILE (Transform, Interact, Learn, Engage) classroom with glass walls and sliding doors, printers and scanners, TVs and projectors, and multimedia resources.

“Our design team spent a lot of time watching how students study, and particularly noticed how much they leveraged technology in their daily work habits. This space, with its multimedia resources, collaboration technologies, and wall-to-wall wireless, is reflective of the way today’s students integrate technology into their lives,” says ITS Learning Spaces Director Chris Clark.

Of course, the design team also considered students’ stomachs, because students can’t concentrate on their studies when they’re hungry. The Food for Thought café will offer an expanded menu that includes hot Panini sandwiches, fruit, and other snacks as well as espresso and gourmet coffees.

“We want to create an ambiance that welcomes students,” Clark says.

According to Associate Provost Beth Ingram, the most important feature of the space is its flexibility.

“The Learning Commons is many different kinds of study spaces and services rolled into one,” she says. “With technology, information, and expertise combined in one location, it’s a space where students can study with a group or by themselves; where they can have a coffee with friends and then go to a workshop on stress management; where they know they can get answers to questions about information resources, technology, or tutoring services.”

Of course part of the challenge in creating such a massive space for students is minimizing the impact the construction process will have on daily student life. Associate University Librarian Hope Barton says the impact on current study spaces will be minimal. The area being remodeled was office space, and most of the construction will take place during the summer.

The total project cost is estimated at $14.5 million. The primary funding source is the UI General Education Fund, but that doesn’t cover the entire cost of the renovation. Private support is also critical to creating learning spaces for students. For more information about how private support benefits students, contact Randy Rumery, UI Libraries liaison for the UI Foundation, at randy-rumery@uiowa.edu, 319-335-3305 or 800-648-6973. You also may visit www.uifoundation.org/libraries.

“This will really be a fantastic resource for University of Iowa students,” Ingram says. “We’re excited to see the project come to completion so students can start making the most of the new space.”

ITS connects artists in transnational theatrical performance

Ken — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:35:10 +0000

Information Technology Services recently partnered with the University of Iowa’s Department of Theatre Arts, International Writing Program, UITV, and the Moscow Art Theatre to present a live transnational theatrical performance. Technology and the expertise of ITS staff members brought together actors for a collaborative bilingual performance – despite the fact that they were on two separate stages, 5,000 miles apart.

The first performance took place on March 9, and more events of this kind will be arranged as the three-year Book Wings project continues. Funded by the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Book Wings is a creative exchange among American and Russian writers, actors, directors, and new media professionals in a virtual environment. The project aims to foster a cross-cultural conversation, spark new literary and dramatic ideas, and create an enduring body of work.

Les Finken, innovation strategy manager in ITS-Instructional Services, is leading the tech aspects of the project, utilizing high-speed IP networks, high-definition video projection and cameras, professional-grade microphones, and external audio and video mixing consoles. Audio and video signals are captured into DV format for web streaming, and videoconferencing brings performers together in a virtual environment.

“High-speed IP networks are creating opportunities for new types of real-time applications that connect artists and audiences across the world,” Finken says. “These networks were initially used almost exclusively by researchers to collect, process, and share large data sets. Now, more and more academic institutions are using professional audio and video technology integrated with high-definition videoconferencing to create high-performance virtual learning environments.”

Finken says projects like these have significant implications for teaching and learning. People who are not directly involved with a videoconference can still benefit by accessing the live stream to observe the learning exchange. During the March 9 Book Wings event, UI students were able to witness the performance at the Theatre Arts Department’s Theatre B while classes at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, and Columbia College in Chicago watched online.

Other fine and performing arts fields are taking advantage of HD video conferencing as well. Much broader audiences are able to participate in public lessons or classes in a concert hall setting. The technology also opens up opportunities for musicians and dancers who can audition affordably from their home state or country. ITS implemented this capability for the UI Department of Dance in 2011.

For more information on the project, contact les-finken@uiowa.edu in ITS, or nathanael-brown@uiowa.edu in the International Writing Program.

New web-based survey tool fuels spike in usage

Ken — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:25:54 +0000

A new web-based survey tool deployed by Information Technology Services last summer is proving to be a successful solution for the University of Iowa. Using Qualtrics, over 130,000 people have responded to more than 4,000 surveys since last June. Since the transition to this new online survey software, the number of web survey users at the UI more than doubled, from 600 to nearly 1,500.

The UI uses online surveys to conduct research, evaluate faculty and staff members, and gauge customer service. Event organizers create Qualtrics surveys for registration, and service managers use it to gather information from customers as they assess demand and preferences.

Ben Earnhart, who handles technology for the Department of Sociology and the Iowa Social Science Research Center, has worked with Qualtrics on a dozen or so projects, including one that garnered about 1,400 responses.

“For the most basic functionality, it’s really simple to use. For more advanced users, the flow control, randomization capabilities, and presentation of questions can be incredibly powerful,” he says.

Earnhart says Qualtrics meets researchers’ needs for security and compliance, and that collaboration capabilities allow them to easily edit surveys. He can maintain control over the technical aspects of the survey but still allow clients to view results in real time. Another plus is the presentation options, which range from built-in templates to custom colors, spacing, and graphics.

UI technology experts say in most cases, people can create, test, and deploy a survey in less than 30 minutes. Users can log in using their Hawk ID, and Qualtrics is hosted and fully supported by the vendor. Users receive help directly from Qualtrics by phone or e-mail, Qualtrics provides a wealth of support information, and training is available in a number of formats at no additional cost to users.

Prior to Qualtrics, the UI had used WebSurveyor since May of 2005. The Survey and Desktop Applications Group in ITS-Enterprise Services investigated what the market had to offer and guided the transition once Qualtrics was selected. The Directory and Authentication Group hooked Qualtrics into the university’s Shibboleth to allow enterprise authentication. By January of 2012, everything was shifted over and ITS was able to retire the old tool.

Campus IT partners such as Earnhart complimented ITS on keeping clients informed and seeking feedback about users’ needs. Qualtrics staff members were impressed by the smooth transition.

“I have never worked with a university that more effectively and efficiently rolled out a university-wide solution,” says Bryce Winkelman, a Qualtrics representative. “It has been an absolute pleasure working with your university.”

Qualtrics is one of the first cloud-based services ITS has deployed for the entire campus. In evaluating future cloud possibilities, the UI will look at this as one of the successful transitions for campus.

For more on Qualtrics, including training and support information, visit http://its.uiowa.edu/apps2/support/qualtrics.

ITS upgrades webcam to provide live HD view of Pentacrest

Ken — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:30:36 +0000

If you’re curious what’s happening on the University of Iowa Pentacrest at any given time, you can now tune into a live high-definition view at http://webcam.iowa.uiowa.edu/. Information Technology Services upgraded the camera to HD this month. It features a wide-angle view of the iconic Old Capitol and neighboring buildings, with west-campus structures in the background.

The UI installed the first Pentacrest webcam on top of Phillips Hall in 2000. Alumni, prospective students, and others check in to see what’s happening or to get a feel for the campus. It’s also used to view rallies and other events. Weather events are a big driver of traffic to the site; on Feb. 1, 2011, a record 2,692 people logged on to view a major snowstorm. Thousands of people followed the feed on Nov. 20, 2001, the day of the Old Capitol fire.With the camera upgrade, ITS also changed the behind-the-scenes technology so the site will be able to handle more traffic. The feed typically attracts 300 hits per day and more than 100,000 per year.

SITA program helps launch ‘Ignite a Dream’ blog

Ken — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:11:42 +0000

The Daily Iowan recently featured a story about the “Ignite a Dream” blog, which grew out of support from the ITS-Instructional Services-based SITA (Student Instructional Technology Assistants) program. As the DI reports, Ignite a Dream allows students to post their dream job or long-term goals in an open forum where people can respond with relevant advice.

SITA James Bechtel took the lead on the project, working with David Gould, a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences associate director for student professional development.Gould was referred by another client who had worked with SITAs on online content and publishing. He has been a frequent user of SITA services for media and web projects. The conversation began with a paper pile of students’ dreams; the idea was to enlist people with UI connections to help students fulfill those aspirations.

Gould and Bechtel settled on WordPress.com space as the engine for the proof-in-concept. It was selected for its simplicity, configurability, openness to the campus and general public, and affordability. They incorporated clean design standards to give the site an uncluttered look, but the bulk of the effort took place behind the scenes to establish a framework for sustaining engagement.

“Because it is a new idea, there was very little culture of connecting campus individuals in a forum like this,” Bechtel says. “David did a great job of connecting people to gather experience and advice from both alumni and people who are currently on campus. He also identified students to advocate the site to their peers, and the combination of those efforts really helped spur interest in the project.”

Moving forward, Gould and Bechtel plan to evaluate what worked with the pilot space and which features would be key for the future of the “Ignite A Dream” concept.

“I fully encourage anyone who is interested to stop by the space and browse the dreams,” Bechtel says. “New dreams are released throughout the semester, and anyone is welcome to leave comments that could contribute to making dreams a reality for the students. I’m amazed with the comments and connections that have already been made and am excited for those to come.”

SITAS are UI graduate and undergraduate students who combine technology resources to create forward-thinking solutions for ITS clients. They are innovative problem-solvers who work individually with instructors and departments to enhance student learning, and provide training and support to larger groups. Currently, 12 UI students are employed as SITAS through ITS.

For more information on the SITA program, visit its.uiowa.edu/sita.

UI scholars win Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards

Ken — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:52:02 +0000

Five University of Iowa scholars will receive a total of $100,000 in support of their innovative approaches to teaching with technology. The 2012 Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award winners are: Cornelia Lang and Robert Mutel (Physics and Astronomy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), David McGraw (Theatre Arts, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Ibrahim Ozbolat (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering), and Justin Sipla (Anatomy and Cell Biology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine).

The Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards help fund instructional technology projects that impact student success and retention. This year, the Academic Technologies Advisory Council encouraged applicants to focus proposals on collaborative learning and student use of emerging technologies for teaching and learning. The council selected four proposals from a pool of 13.“This award program, which is funded through student technology fees, has a longstanding history of putting innovative technologies into the hands of students in order to improve future opportunities for instructional technology,” said Maggie Jesse, senior director of Instructional Services at Information Technology Services.McGraw was awarded $17,000 to develop a stage manager calling simulator. The simulator enables students to improve their calling stamina and stay focused through possible disruptions during a performance. They will learn to recover quickly after errors, rather than dwelling on mistakes and missing additional cues. At the end of the lesson, the simulator will give extensive feedback and allow the student to go back and practice sections that caused them difficulty. More details…

Mutel and Lang were awarded $32,000 to revise the introductory astronomy laboratory curriculum to implement active learning methods and a more hands-on approach. Classroom technology will be updated with furniture and displays that are more conducive to team use. Standard box-type PCs will be replaced with iPads and notebook computers. More details…

Sipla was awarded $25,000 toward a major renovation of the gross anatomy lab. The project involves adding movable stainless steel workstations and installing digital video equipment. The workstations will serve as mobile workbenches for laptops and video cameras, with storage for teaching materials, anatomical models, and specialized dissection equipment. Video cameras will broadcast difficult aspects of live dissections to other students or the entire lab via monitors, enabling instructors to deliver content in ways that were previously impossible. More details…

Ozbolat was awarded $26,000 to develop an Internet-controlled bio-additive manufacturing system. An industrial dispensing robot and digital fluidic dispensing equipment, purchased using a grant from the Provost Office, will be used to develop the system in a clean-room facility. Students will use cameras remotely controlled through the Internet to enhance their process-visualization capabilities. The online system will alleviate safety issues, such as exposure to biological and chemical substances. IT will also serve as a tool for supporting classroom instruction. More details…

Proposals for the 2013 Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards will be accepted in the fall, but applicants are encouraged to get started on them now. The ATAC committee is willing to provide feedback and assist in development of projects. For more information, contact maggie-jesse@uiowa.edu or les-finken@uiowa.edu, or visit the award program’s website.

ITS staffer provides clues in ‘herdbook mystery’

Ken — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:50:35 +0000

Most UI faculty and staff members have heard of “the Herdbook” (AKA the university directory), but no one seems to know how it came to be known as the Herdbook.

As it turns out, ITS staff member Jason Wolcott has done some research on the topic and was able to provide a few clues in this unsolved university mystery. Read the full story in fyi.

UI recognizes Chris Pruess and Bongo team with IOWA Awards

Ken — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:29:31 +0000

The University of Iowa honored several Information Technology Services staff members with Improving Our Workplace Awards this fall. IOWA Awards recognize UI employees who demonstrate initiative and innovation that has a positive impact in their workplace.

Chris Pruess won an individual award for her work developing campus IT communities at the UI. The Bus on the Go (Bongo) project led to a team award for ITS staff members Mark Ahrens, Romy Bolton, Steve Tomblin, Brad O’Meara, Steve Troester, Mike Jenn, and Lance Bolton (now with CLAS IT); Parking and Transportation staff members Brian McClatchey, Janelle Beswick, and Pat Smith; and University Communication and Marketing staff members George McCrory and Christopher Clair. Additional project partners for Bongo were the City of Coralville’s Vicky Robrock and Jenn Coleman, and the City of Iowa City’s Chris O’Brien and Scott Amlong.ITS recognized the recipients at a reception Dec. 13.

“We’re very proud of the ITS staff and our campus and community partners involved with these efforts,” said Associate Vice President and CIO Steve Fleagle. “This honor is well deserved. Their hard work and accomplishments have benefitted many people.”

ITS Senior Systems Architect Guy Falsetti nominated Pruess, noting that she developed a foundation for campus IT community that few universities have achieved. In 2002, the UI began deployment of its Active Directory. As the university moved away from Novell NDS, a significant amount of information needed to be shared with campus. Pruess took the initiative to form a group called the “OUADmins,” developed a regimen for the group, and provided constructive feedback to presenters during preparation sessions. The assemblage evolved to the group that’s now called ITADmins.

“Chris took a small group, gave it focus, and challenged them every month. Excellence in presentation was the standard. Covering timely IT events to campus was the hallmark,” Falsetti said. “Her leadership has grown the group from a few dozen people in 2002 to a packed seminar room with over 80 people at each meeting in 2011.”

Bongo is a mobile smart phone application that uses GPS to locate buses and to predict arrival times at bus stops. In an average week this fall, 30,000 users accessed the website, half from mobile devices. The project resulted in a 67 percent reduction in phone calls to transit agencies, along with increased or record ridership for all three of the transit agencies. You would be hard pressed to find a bus rider that doesn’t use Bongo on a regular basis.

Tim Evans, senior director for ITS Enterprise Services, nominated the Bongo team for the IOWA Award. He said the real innovation and uniqueness of the Bongo project was not in the technology. It was in the team that was able to get together and make this happen.

“They realized early on that to add the most value, this project could not be isolated to the University of Iowa, but had to include the whole community,” Evans said. “The team was able to bring together Cambus and the Coralville and Iowa City transit systems, along with UI folks from ITS, Office of Sustainability, and University Communication and Marketing to complete this project. This is quite an extraordinary accomplishment.”

The awards are given out each fall and spring. A committee of staff members from across the university reviews the nominations. Many excellent people and projects are nominated for IOWA Awards, and the nomination process is rigorous.

This fall, ITS performed exceptionally well. Across the entire university, only eight awards were given. ITS earned two of the eight. Fleagle noted that five of the eight IOWA Awards given out this fall went to IT-related projects.

“I believe this is a testament to the value of technology in the workplace, the university, and the community,” he said.

INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY AWARDS: Call for Proposals

Ken — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:43:11 +0000

The Academic Technologies Advisory Council is calling for proposals for the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards. The goal of the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards program is to raise the level of teaching and learning at The University of Iowa by supporting significant and innovative instructional technology projects that have the potential to directly impact student success and retention. Projects that call for the use of collaborative learning strategies and student use of emerging technologies for teaching and learning are encouraged. These projects should be considered “proof-of-concept” projects that are new to The University of Iowa.

Priorities: In the spirit of innovation, all new ideas are welcome, but the focus must be on instruction. Priority will be given to projects that, if proven successful, can be replicated throughout the University. Cross-disciplinary projects are encouraged, but not required.

Audience: Projects that primarily improve the instruction of undergraduates are encouraged. However, this program is not limited solely to undergraduate education.

Awards: A total of $100,000 is available for awards. The number of awards will be determined by the quality of the applications. A single award or multiple awards may be made. Applications can be made to support the costs of hardware, software, and personnel. Funding is not available to support faculty salaries.

Process: During the preparation of proposals, applicants are encouraged to contact Les Finken at 335-5467 or les-finken@uiowa.edu for assistance in determining whether your project is suitable for the funding program.

The steps for the 2011 Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards are as follows:

October 18: Applications uploaded to ITTA proposal submission website.
November 15 & 16: Interview selected applicants
Mid December: Award winners notified and funds made available

For more information on the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards program and awards granted in previous years visit Academic Technologies Advisory Council website.