Current Issue

Archive

About

Contact the Tech Brief

Subscription Info

     Also see:

     OIT Newsletter

     OIT 1-HELP,
     Technology Help

OIT Home

Archive: December 6, 2006

No contacts? No links? No problem: send your inquiries and comments to oitbrief@umn.edu.

The UM Tech Brief is a resource for University of Minnesota technical support staff and department and unit decision makers.

Security and
Internet Services

Security home

SPAM AND VIRUS STATS
SPAM AND VIRUS STATS.
2006: up to 2006-12-04

Total accepted 177 Million (34%)
Total blocked/rejected 350 Million (66%)

Because of our greylisting/rate-limiting, this is somewhat misleading.

Factoring in greylisting/rate-limiting:

Total accepted 177 Million (27%)
Total blocked/rejected 350 Million (54%)
Total deferrals 124 Million (19%)

Note that a large percentage of the deferrals are re-tries for the same message and recipient (by design).

Network and Telecommunication
Services

NTS home

GOPHER MESSAGING NEW FEATURES:

FIND-ME-FOLLOW-ME CUSTOMIZING.
Customized greeting is now available for the Find-Me-FollowMe feature! If Find-Me-Follow-Me is enabled, you may record your own greeting via your phone. Check out the web instructions at http://uttc.umn.edu/training/tutorials/go4msg/index.html, or contact Live Help.

AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION.
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is now available for all users. To enable, go to the online Gopher Messaging interface, select the "User Profile" screen, click "Edit," and click the "ASR enabled" checkbox. This feature allows the mailbox to accept verbal commands for commonly utilized functions (reply, play, and so on).

HOW TO OBTAIN GOPHER MESSAGING ACCESS.
If you need to access Gopher Messaging Web features, please phone 1-HELP (612-301-4357) to set up your account and password.

EXTENDED ABSENCE: NEW OPTION.
When Extended Absence is activated for your voicemail, you may also have copies of each of your messages sent to another mailbox in the Gopher Messaging system (a co-worker, for example). This feature can be activated by phone or via web access. Select "Other Greeting options" in the personal set-up and follow the instructions. See More details: http://www1.umn.edu/nts/go4msg/.

MOZILLA FOR GOPHER MESSAGING ACCESS.
Web access issues for Mozilla-based browsers have been corrected (example: scroll bars that disappear) with the recent upgrade of the system. MS Windows and Mac Safari work well with the web interface.

Academic and
Distributed
Computing
Services

ADCS home

NEW UTTC COURSE! PHOTOSHOP CS2: FOR THE DESIGNER IN YOU.
Looking to take your Photoshop skills to the next level? Learn to design unique graphics by creating a brochure using textures, vector shapes, and silhouettes in this advanced hands-on course. Find out more at http://uttc.umn.edu.

COMING SOON! UTTC'S SPRING SCHEDULE.
Look for UTTC's spring schedule online in late December. As usual, we will have new and updated courses, as well as returning favorites. Check http://uttc.umn.edu to see "What's New...COMING SOON!"

ACTIVE DIRECTORY UPDATE.
25 Academic Units/Colleges are currently participating in the Central Active Directory. Basic services include: Kerberos (Internet ID) authentication using U of MN Central servers, OIT-Security-approved computer management policies, file storage with 20-30 day on-line backups and 90-day disaster backup, 24x7x52 infrastructure monitoring, distributed management for Academic Unit/Collegiate administrators,
and a listserv for administrator collaboration. We will soon offer workstation management for OS X/linux platforms and certificate services as well. For more information, see: http://www.umn.edu/umnad.

ACTIVE DIRECTORY TRAINING.
OIT and ADCS have partnered with New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Minnesota to offer a two-day on-campus session focused on the University's Central Active Directory deployment. Demand has been strong and the class has been offered twice each semester. Additional questions are welcome; write to: umnad@umn.edu.

Digital
Media
Center

DMC home

DEC 4: DMC ST PAUL OFFICE TEMPORARY RELOCATION.
The St. Paul DMC office will be moved temporarily to 50 Coffey Hall starting December 4, 2006 while 69 McNeal Hall is renovated. If the remodeling proceeds on schedule the office will reopen in 69 McNeal Hall on January 16. See: http://dmc.umn.edu/facilities/.

DEC 13 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGISTS FORUM MEETING: NETFILES.
Paul Honsey from Academic and Distributed Computing Services will discuss NetFiles, a file storage and collaboration application providing an alternative option for file-sharing: Dec 13, 3 - 4:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library.
See: http://dmc.umn.edu/etf/schedule06.shtml.

DEC 17, 24: TECH TALK EPISODES.
Host Susan McKinnell and guest experts will discuss "Gadgets" and "The Changing Face of Libraries": Sundays, 9 - 9:30 p.m., TPT Channel 17. QuickTime and Real Player video and podcasts of the episodes will be available the day after airing. See: http://techtalk.umn.edu.

JAN 8-FEB 19: APPLY FOR 2007-08 DMC FACULTY FELLOWSHIPS.
Instructors can receive $20,000 for release time to explore
technology/learning/teaching issues, share project outcomes/research findings, and develop leadership/scholarship skills at events and biweekly meetings. The CFP will be online January 8 and proposals due
February 19. See: http://dmc.umn.edu/fellowship/.

JAN 16-FEB 13: APPLY FOR 2007 TEL GRANTS.
Instructors can receive substantial financial support to develop, implement, and evaluate a substantial educational technology project and attend several meetings and events in 2007. The CFP will be online January 16 and proposals due February 13. See: http://dmc.umn.edu/grants/.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION.
One of the biggest concerns about distance learning is that the types of relationships that develop in face-to-face settings may not be possible in online settings. Web 2.0 and other communication tools provide new opportunities for instructors and students. Learn more:
http://dmc.umn.edu/spotlight/support-community.shtml.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ ABOUT MOODLE?
Gillian Roehrig and Joel Donna are delivering an online induction program for non-tenured teachers in Minnesota with Moodle software. "I couldn't imagine doing an online induction program without Moodle," says Donna. Moodle is designed to support social constructivistm teaching and learning approaches. Learn more:
http://dmc.umn.edu/projects/roehrig/index.shtml.

SUPPORTING PEER REVIEW AND
SELF-ASSESSMENT.
Self-assessment and peer review activities can foster students'
cognitive transition from neophyte to expert by providing
metacognition and elaboration opportunities. Instructors can use the Moodle Workshop tool to support these activities. Learn more: http://dmc.umn.edu/activities/peer-review/.

WIMBA VOICE TOOLS.
With Horizon Wimba Voice Tools, instructors can easily incorporate synchronous and asynchronous voice recordings into teaching and learning activities that traditionally are text-based. Four of the tools are available as "PowerLinks" through the WebCT Vista course management system in use on campus. Learn more:
http://dmc.umn.edu/technologies/wimba.shtml.

The URL of this document is http://umtechbrief.umn.edu/06/tb01106/tb1106.html
E-mail UM Tech Brief website comments to oitbrief@umn.edu