Teaching in a new classroom? Email classrooms@wellesley.edu to request an in-person tour of the classroom technology. Having any problems while teaching? Call xHELP.

Google Groups and Sakai Sites have been created for all Fall courses. In MyWellesley, faculty can choose to have a Google Site created for courses, if they wish, in addition to a Sakai site.

Google/Sakai LMS (Learning Management System) support is available by calling the Instructional Technology line at x4848 (xITIT), M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. For the start of the semester, from Tuesday 9/4 through Thursday 9/6 the line will be staffed from 8:30am-8:00pm.

Last semester’s course-related Google Groups are now in archive mode, which means old messages have been saved, but no one can send new messages. If needed, you can make them active again. More: http://bit.ly/TFeHm5

The circulating laptop collection at Clapp is expanding and longer renewals are allowed as long as laptops are available. Students in need of loans can fill out our online reservation form (http://bit.ly/TFefo2) and indicate the longer-term need and/or talk with a staff member at x2166.

Construction in Clapp is finished and the 3rd floor is open. The plotter has moved next to the main entrance. If you’re unsure where to find someone, ask at the desk.

The new Sound Lab, housed on the first floor of the Music Library in Jewett Arts Center, is both a classroom and computer lab, providing 10 state-of-the-art workstations with digital audio capability for computer music composition, keyboard harmony, and theory instruction. More: http://bit.ly/TFeQG0

We have a license to use Qualtrics, a cloud-based survey tool. For more info, contact Kenny Freundlich, x2801.

A new non-linear editing suite added to accommodate the increased use of digital video on campus. Training /access and more info on audio/video software available in campus lab locations: Jim McLean, x2938.

Interactive whiteboards (SMART Boards) have been added to additional classrooms: JAC 106, FND 128, SCI 257,  and SCI E111 (coming soon to Clapp Library Lecture Room and SCI 264). These boards allow instructors to teach at the board instead of at the podium, to write on top of or next to project images, and to capture what’s been written to a file that can easily be distributed to students. For more info, contact Kenny Freundlich, x2801.

CrashPlan Pro is automatic backup software available for faculty and staff office computers.  Reliably, conveniently backs up all computer files and let’s you easily recover files that were accidently deleted or were the victims of hardware failure. Peace of mind! Requests: email helpdesk@wellesley.edu

ArcGIS has been upgraded to an ArcInfo site license — we have access to more tools (details: http://bit.ly/NlvpnR) and the software may now be installed on students’ computers. The college community can take any of the online courses (http://bit.ly/TFf53Z) offered by ESRI at no cost. More: http://bit.ly/RwCkzN or contact Carolin Ferwerda, x2386.

Excellent Windows 7 and Office 2007/2010 training is available through vBooks, plus there’s a huge catalog of offerings through lynda.com. Details and account requests: http://bit.ly/RwDvPz

Computer kiosks (email/printing stations) have been replaced with new virtual desktop machines with basic software (web browsers, printers, Office, etc.), have faster login times, use less energy, and have a longer lifespan than our standard desktop machines.

There are faculty profiles (http://bit.ly/TFflQo) for nearly every faculty member in Drupal. If faculty want to edit or add to their own profiles (or if there isn’t one for them and they want one), email drupal@wellesley.edu for assistance. Almost all academic and administrative department web sites are now in Drupal. Sites that cannot be moved to Drupal will be moved to a new web server; more info to come.

We have turned on Google Voice and Google Analytics in Google Apps for Education. In other Google news, Google is mapping Clapp Library using Google Indoor Maps. If it works well, we anticipate mapping other interiors. More info coming soon.

To: Faculty, staff, students
From, more info: Veronica Brandstrader, LTS, x2171