Carolyn Thomas

There are many options at UT Austin regarding wikis and blogs.  Each option has advantages and disadvantages.  We will discuss those in today’s workshop.

Happy to know they’re here but which one to choose.

Students like the portability of small computers but historically they are too slow or too heavy or too big to truly meet the academic needs of integrating technology effectively into the classroom environment.

Here is a new computer from Dell that may meet the needs. The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 measures 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches and weighs just 2.3 pounds and costs only $349 for Linux version. Here are two reviews:

• http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/dell-inspiron-mini-9-linux.aspx
• http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3399

The University of Kentucky purchased a Coradiant appliance. That appliance can reconstruct a user’s web session and generate metrics. Here’s the type of information it can generate.

http://blog.uky.edu/Blackboard

Way to track down stolen laptops:

  Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: laptop. 1 Comment »

From Computerworld:

17 Greasemonkey scripts to turbocharge your browser

Firefox 3 add-ons: Must-have tools

I have added in Fast Dial which is my favorite, resizeable textarea, foxmarks to keep my bookmarks synchronized between my mac and pc.  I have downloaded several others but the browser started crashing so these are the only ones I currently have enabled.

This is something that I am currently investigating.  My concern is for the security of the authentication credentials passed through Facebook to Blackboard, Inc. then to local instance.

I’m sure that students would love this tool since they would get updated information on Blackboard without having to log in several times throughout the day.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/05/14/sync

Latest course case:  Contempt that new version 8.3 of D2L still violates Bb’s patent.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/18/d2l

It sounds like Bb is trying to force D2L into an unwanted takeover.  Blackboard attorney Matthew Small states:

“We have all along said and continue to say, and mean, that we don’t want to do anything that will disrupt D2L’s clients, so if D2L should be held in contempt or sanctioned or if it should go bankrupt … we would hate to see a D2L school inadvertently shut down unexpectedly because D2L does not survive, and we’re committed to working with the schools to help them find a non-infringing alternative that is on their budget and on their time frame and of their choice,” he said.

Wayne Twitchell - Grinnell University

http://web.grinnell.edu/individuals/twitchew/

Talks:

BBworld 07 conference:

• Secrets of the Webmaster (zipped ppt to include sound file) (ZIP)
• Blackboard Aqua buttons (zip file plus photoshop originals) (ZIP)
• List of @X@ commands

Survey resources (BB7.2 enterprise):

• PPT going over how to set up and deploy a survey (PPT).
• Excel Sheet with example uploadable questions. (XLS)

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Page updated by Wayne Twitchell ( twitchew at grinnell.edu)

Blog:  http://catalyticconversations.blogspot.com/index.html

1998 - 2006
Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member, Community College Leadership Program
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Web site:  http://www.markmilliron.com/