Hello Smart Board!!!

Over the summer the Computer Labs where involved with the installation and introduction of something called a Smart Board, an interactive whiteboard.

It was new to some of us and we where a bit hesitant at replacing the conventional whiteboard and classroom projector with this single device that complements the class room computer.

Traditionally a teacher would use the whiteboard/blackboard to write information for the student and the computer and projector to display PowerPoint or demonstrate something.

When the teacher is in front of the class writing, the students are connected and engaged with the teacher. But when the teacher steps away from “center stage” to a side desk or podium where the computer is, that connection is partially lost.

Some teachers use clicker type devices to cycle through PowerPoint without having to be behind a desk. This option is not available in every class.

In comes the Smart board interactive white board. It consists of a special whiteboard with a small projector sitting on top and cameras in the corners. This allows it to record something touching the screen like a pen or a finger.

It records these inputs and replicates them onto the computer as writing or drawing. This allows the Smart board to work like a regular white board. The advantage of doing this on a computer is that whatever you write can now also be saved and shared.

Also by using a Smart Board, since it is another input device, you can now do everything you would be able to do behind the computer on the screen itself. This keeps the student engaged on the teacher and the lesson.

Your finger becomes the mouse pointer and can do many of the mouse functions. If you need a keyboard, there is a button that brings up an onscreen keyboard.

Also it is not limited to one input. It can have a maximum of two inputs; so two people can be using it at the same time allowing for some interactive group work.

It definitely changes the classroom environment and makes it a more interesting and interactive experience. A welcome addition to any classroom.

What is “Cloud” and what does it have to do with my device or computer? - Part 1

Cloud computing has been around for awhile now in some shape or form. It’s basically the internet and storing user information online so that they can access it online.

Users already store information online with emails, photos, etc. It has only garnered interest in the public recently with big companies like Amazon, Google and Apple adopting the word for their services. They are expanding the service to include stuff like movies and music and allowing users to interact to their content online from multiple devices.

It is basically a large collection of your personal data, hosted and stored on a company’s online server, so that you can access it anywhere from any device you own that supports the service. The information is stored on secure data centers run by the company you choose to have the service with. It is protected and can only be accessed by the user.

So why are companies and consumers interested in Cloud technology? Big companies are adopting it because it makes it easier to access information or data, from anywhere and any device. And that is an impressive thing to have for something like music, pictures and software a user has bought. Itunes with Icloud will be offering a way to access your music from anywhere and any device, Ipod, Iphone, Mac, PC, etc. without any wires or connection to a computer, but by simply accessing your Icloud account and updating your last saved settings.

I will be posting more on this topic over the summer while introducing readers on how consumer companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc are using this technology.

OCC has expanded

This semester Open Computer Center has expanded the number of class rooms with computers that we are in charge of.

The old rooms consisting of AA155, AA156 and AA159 will continue to function the same way with 155 as an Open lab and 156 doubling as open lab and class room, while 159 remains as class room.

The hours of the open lab are Monday to Thursday 8AM - 10PM with Friday 8AM - 5PM and Saturday 9AM - 5PM. Sunday remaining closed.

Additional to these labs is the World Language Lab in room AA160 with Hours 2PM - 4PM Monday to Thursday and 9AM - 5PM on Fridays.

Another Open Lab is available in AA428 Monday - Friday from 9AM - 5PM. Other labs in that area that are monitored by OCC are AA414, AA415, AA444, AA446, AA447 as well as support for AA377 and AA477.

Over at the engineering building in room AE206 open weekdays.

Google Docs

Have you ever wanted to write a paper, work on a spreadsheet or even work on a presentation, only to discover that the computer you are using does not have the necessary tools you need. You may be using a public computer or may be using a computer that does not have the latest version Microsoft Office. Or all you have to work with on the computer is a stable connection to the internet.

Well Google has thought about this and part of Google’s work to expand its usefulness beyond being the best online search engine has developed many tools for online users. Google Docs is Google’s online solution to Microsoft Office.

Google Docs provides three of powerful applications for free named Document, Spreadsheet and Presentation. It also provides users with the option of sharing documents with other users who can also be allowed to edit them. This allows for faster work on group projects that require many people to edit documents.

Document is similar to Microsoft Word allowing a user to type and edit documents. It even allows the user to save as a Microsoft Word format or even upload Word documents to be edited in Google Docs.

Spreadsheet is similar to Microsoft Excel allowing users to work on spreadsheets from excel files or from new files created on Google Docs.

Presentation is similar to Microsoft Powerpoint allowing the user to make PowerPoint style presentations. Users can upload there existing PowerPoint files or even make new ones with some of the templates that Google Docs has.

Form is another tool that works differently from Microsoft Office tools allowing the user the ability to make customizable forms that can be shared or used in conducting surveys easily.

The best part about using Google Docs is that all the documents are stored online and can be downloaded if needed. Because they are stored online they can be easily shared with others or can be accessed from any device that has access to the internet.

Another good thing about Google Docs is that because it is a free online program there are online communities that work to help people. Google Docs Community is an online resource that has usefull youtube videos about Google Docs.

Also because Google Docs is online many user created Templates exist making it easy to get work done.

Anyway I hope this post has been useful.

Microsof Office 2010

The new Microsoft Office 2010 builds upon its predesesor but the biggest news to come out of Microsoft is that it will support a lighter version that is online only, that can be acquired for free.

So far they have previewed the software version but will be showcasing the online version soon.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10284280-56.html

PortableApps.com

USB/Flash memory drives are very useful for storing information. But did you know you can expand the use of a USB drives by adding programs.

Portable programs are designed with one thing in mind, the ability to run from portable devices like USB drives or flash memory without installing itself on the computer it is connected to.

PortableApps.com is one of my favorites tools to have on a flash drive. As described on there site: a portable app is a computer program that you can carry around with you on a portable device and use on any Windows computer. When your USB flash drive, portable hard drive, iPod or other portable device is plugged in, you have access to your software and personal data just as you would on your own PC. And when you unplug the device, none of your personal data is left behind.


Once I installed the ProtableApp menu here are some useful things to have on your USB flash drive:

• Web Browser and Email: Mozilla Firefox Portable is currently my favorite web browser. Having a portable version with me allows me to have all my bookmarks and Firefox settings with me everywhere I go. Any extension and add ons installed will also be available on any computer the USB drive plugged into. Mozilla Thunderbird Portable is my first choice for email program. It functions like outlook but has the added support of add ons and extensions, allowing you to customize it.
• Scheduling/Calendar: Mozilla Sunbird Portable is a great calendar and scheduling program and you can even get an add on that displays Sunbird information in Mozilla Thunderbird.
• Office Suite: Open Office is a complete Office Suite offered for free from OpenOffice.org but available on PortableApps you can get a portable version to carry with you on your USB drive.

I will be highlighting these tools in more detail in the future as well as other portable applications available on the site PortableApps.com

Announcing the new Open/Group Study Computer Lab at the Alexandria Campus

We’re pleased to announce the opening of the new open/group study computer lab located at the Alexandria Campus in Room AA161 which used to be the old Math Lab. We had a vision to add an additional computer lab since we are usually over crowded with students especially during exam time. We also had an urgent need for a computer lab that will be accommodating for group study and group project work space for students. We noticed that the Math lab although very usefully to students, the current space and number of workstations was being underutilized. Abid Mahmood a Supervisor at the Open Computer Center of Alexandria campus came up with a great idea to convert the Math Lab to an Open/Group study lab for students.

The new setup would provide students an informal work environment where students could perform group work involving computer resources including scanners, receive tutoring, and use available network drops for use with their laptop computers. This newly created lab will also support wireless internet access for students.
Thanks to Mr. Mahmood’s hard work and dedication, students now have a place to go to for group projects, group study and a place where they can also practice their group presentation. This room will also serve as an overflow backup computer lab during exam time and peak hours on first come first serve basis.
OCC Staff