May 21, 2013

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Higher Education Meets eBay: An Online Marketplace for Course Notes

April 23, 2012 by

Instructors and students have been sharing course materials online for over fifteen years.  In the early years of the Internet and web browsers, instructors posted course materials on a personal web page or a file transfer (ftp) site.  In recent years, web-based learning management systems have replaced these personal course web pages.  Products such as Blackboard Learn offer an online site with a common interface for instructors and students to interact as well as a document repository for course materials.

Today, several new document marketplace sites have emerged including notehall.com,  sharenotes.com,  collegenoteshare.com,  notelog.com, coursehero.com, notepig.com and noteutopia.com to name a few.  Simply put, these sites provide students with the ability to buy and sell course materials.   For example, a student taking Econ 403 might take exceptional course notes.  Using a document marketplace site, the student can upload his/her course materials, advertise the availability of these notes and then get paid by the document marketplace site when other students purchase the materials.   Unlike eBay, document market sites can charge buyers a premium while paying the seller a smaller percentage or royalty from the sales.   There is no guarantee the seller will receive payment from all transactions.

Responsibilities of Students

Before choosing to become a member of a document marketplace site, students must remember to follow the IT Appropriate Use Policy. Student sellers are not permitted to upload material written by others, including, but not limited to, professors, students, textbook authors and University administrators.  Regardless of information from the document marketplace representatives, students cannot advertise or agree to allow a company to advertise on University of Mississippi managed systems such as Blackboard.  Student buyers should also take precautions to protect themselves.  These document marketplace sites will not guarantee the accuracy of the course notes.  And as always, review an online site before making purchases to ensure your personal and financial data will be properly secured.

Responsibilities of Instructors

These online marketplace sites are available to students nationwide. Talk to your students about their responsibilities to avoid violations of copyright laws and the IT Appropriate Use Policy.   In the event a student violates the IT Appropriate Use Policy, report the activity to the Dean of Students.   Also, the document marketplace sites publish guidelines for instructors to report policy infringements.  The information is typically found in the site FAQ or terms and conditions documentation.

Final Thoughts

With all the risks outlined above, the concept of sharing online course notes has been accepted on some university campuses.  The University of California at Berkeley (UCB) allows course notes online through a university sanctioned student group.   This course notes service is supported by UCB administration and approved by the University of California Board of Regents.

Browse safely.

Filed Under: Academic Technology, Classroom Technology, FTDC, IT Appropriate Use

Find Your Phone!

April 18, 2012 by

Have you ever misplaced or lost your phone? Maybe it was stolen? Was your device returned to you? In the wake of recent iPhone thefts, Apple’s free iCloud service, paired with their free Find My iPhone app, offers some peace of mind. The iCloud service and the Find My iPhone app work together to provide a mechanism to track lost or stolen iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches, and even Macs running Mac OS X Lion. You can sign up for the service on your iOS device or Mac. Locating and safeguarding your phone and computer devices requires a bit of setup, and here’s how it’s done:

Getting Set Up

Set Up on an iPhone or iPad

Setting up Find My iPhone is extremely easy in iOS 5.

  • Open the Settings app and scroll to iCloud (under General).
  • In iCloud, enter your Apple ID and tap “Sign In.” If you haven’t already setup iCloud, this will ask you to accept the service. The default settings include Find My iPhone so the system may ask you to allow use of Location Services, be sure to tap “OK.”
  • Just make sure Find My iPhone (or iPad) is turned on and you’re good to go.

Set Up on a Mac

On the Mac, you’ll need to be running MacOS X 10.7, Lion.

  • Bring up your System Preferences
  • Click the iCloud pane.
  • Check the box next to “Find My Mac.”
  • That’s it! You’re done!

How to Use It

On an iPhone or iPad

  • First, you need the App!
    • On your iPhone/iPad, go to the App Store and search for “Find My iPhone.” The App is free, but downloading may require you to re-enter your AppleID and password. Don’t worry, you won’t be charged anything. Your Apple ID is an essential part of the process; every device using these features will be registered in iCloud using your Apple ID – the thing that all of your devices have in common!
  • Once you have the app installed, simply sign in with the Apple ID used to setup iCloud on your missing device.
  • You’ll see a list of all the devices attached to that Apple ID, tap on one to see its location, play a sound, or remotely lock or wipe the data from it.

On a Mac or PC

  • Bring up a web browser, like Safari or Firefox, and go to http://www.icloud.com .
  • Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
  • Click “Find My iPhone.”
  • You’ll see a list of all the devices associated with your Apple ID, displayed in the upper-left corner of a map. Devices that are located have a green dot next to them. Those that have not been located (usually because they’re turned off) are identified with a red dot.
  • Click on any located device in the list; its location will be displayed on the map, like this:
iCloud displays the location of my iPhone, using the
Find My iPhone App.
  • See the blue circle with a white ‘i’ in it? That’s an info dot, and it leads to the rest of Find My iPhone’s features. Click it, and you’ll see the following:
Clicking the info icon brings up the commands you
can send using Find My iPhone.
  • Playing a sound is helpful if you’re sure the iPhone is nearby, but you can’t see it. For example, maybe it’s under the couch. A 2-minute tone will be played whether the phone was muted or not, allowing you to zero in on it.
  • If it’s dark, for example, and you lose the phone while camping or at a concert, you can display a message on the screen causing it to light up so you can locate it. This could also be used to display a reward for the phone’s return, or show a phone number that someone could call to let you know they’ve found it. The message will be displayed even on a locked screen:

    The "Send Message" feature will show up even if the screen is locked.

  • If your phone was lost someplace that it will take you a while to reach, you can remotely lock the phone. So, if someone finds it, they can’t access your data.
  • Finally, if you’re sure the phone has been stolen, you have the option of remotely wiping it, thereby preventing access to any of your information.

Recovery Apps for Android

There are several Android apps similar to Find My iPhone, but Lookout is probably the most popular. The free version can quickly locate a lost or stolen device online via Google maps and assist in protecting your private data. Lookout also has a sister-app named Plan B that can locate a device after it is stolen, even if Lookout was not installed.

Recovery Apps for Windows

The University provides a laptop recovery application called Front Door Software for free to any student or department. It also features (IP based) location tracking via Google Maps and has advanced tools to lock the screen, display messages to the thief, blast out sirens and more.

For More Information

As a general reminder, you should always write down ANY Internet-enabled device’s MAC address and serial number and store them in a safe place. This is essential if the device is stolen and you need law enforcement to assist with recovery. For assistance and questions, contact the IT Helpdesk at (662) 915-5222 or helpdesk@olemiss.edu.

Special thanks to Scott Davis and Mike Hall for their contributions to this blog.

Filed Under: Academic Technology, Blogs, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Standing Desks in the Workplace

April 15, 2012 by

Pub Table

In recent years, we have seen continued publicity about the health benefits of a standing desk environment. Health web sites such as WebMD cover the possible problems of sitting too long. If you and your doctor think a standing desk configuration is right for you, below are some alternatives to consider.

Choices to Consider

The adjustable aluminum laptop desk is a cheap solution that allows the use of an existing desk, where individuals can switch between a standing and a sitting position. While designed primarily for a laptop, this desk can be used for writing or reading tasks as well.  For those with a desktop computer or if space is a concern, several alternative models can be found at Ergodesktop. Like the laptop desk, these sit on top of an existing desk.

A pub table is an additional desk worth considering. Various retailers carry pub tables in a variety of shapes and sizes. Heights for these pub tables are typically fixed, so be sure to shop around in person. Another option is the Safco Alphabetter. Unlike most pub tables, the height on the Alphabetter desk is manually adjustable in some Safco models. For individuals that need to keep moving, an added feature is a footrest bar that swings. While targeted at school children, the Alphabetter standing desk can be used to hold up computer equipment.

Finally, there are alternative office desks. GeekDesk carries adjustable desks products. GeekDesk models are motorized to raise and lower at the touch of a button. If walking is what the doctor ordered, Lifespan carries a treadmill desk. A walk at a casual one mph pace may not sound like much. However, a one mph pace for four hours translates to a four mile walk!

Final Comments

The standing desk options are just a few alternatives. When deciding on a standing desk solution, remember to buy proper support shoes. Running shoes with cushion soles are great.  Also, you can shop at Shoes for Crews or similar retailers for formal, business or outdoor shoes that provide slip resistance and support.

Filed Under: Equipment, Technological Advances

Easy-to-Use Data Protection with Hardware Encryption Devices

April 13, 2012 by

Encryption is a technique to protect data by making it unintelligible to unauthorized users.  Historically, using encryption techniques to protect files has been difficult.  The process frequently requires the assistance of an IT expert.

Times have changed.  Over the last few months IT staff members have been testing the latest hardware encryption devices that provide ways to protect data with few hassles.  Two devices emerged that combine exceptional security with ease of use:  the Corsair USB Padlock 2 flash drive and the BUSlink CipherShield AES 256-bit external drive.  Both devices use USB to connect to a computer.  Both devices work with Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers without additional software installations.

The Corsair USB Padlock 2 device has built in 256-bit hardware AES encryption for locking the device from unauthorized access.    AES is an acronym for American Encryption Standard, an encryption standard adopted by the U.S. Government.   The 256-bit just means the encryption is the best you can get today.

On the Corsair flash drive, there are five buttons to create a four to ten character pin.    Initially, you create a personal pin and memorize it.  Then before plugging the device in to your computer, enter the correct pin to enable the drive.    This Corsair flash drive contains built-in hacking detection that locks the device for two minutes after five failed attempts.   Corsair USB Padlock 2 drives are currently priced at approximately $30 for the 8 GB model and approximately $50 for the 16 GB model.

The BUSlink CipherShield AES 256-bit external hard drive offers more storage capacity than a USB flash storage device, up to 6 TB of storage on some models.  Support for USB 3.0 is available for faster access.  Like the Corsair USB drive, the Buslink CipherShield drive uses AES encryption.  The convenient feature about the CipherShield models is the easy encryption method.  It uses a physical key.  Plug the key in to the drive and access is granted.   Remove the key and data is encrypted and inaccessible.

Two keys are delivered with the models.   Since the key is essential to accessing drive data, DO NOT carry, ship or store the key in the drive.   This negates the data security and would be similar to locking an office door but leaving the key in the door knob.   Second, the BUSlink CipherShield drive is just like any external hard drive and is sensitive to damage via water, dropping or any physical hazards.  The BUSlink CipherShield drives range in price based on storage capacity.  Drive sizes range from 160 GB to 6 TB.   Currently, a 1 TB CipherShield AES 256-bit Encryption External Hard Drive sells for $559.99 through Buslink.

If you have questions about these products, please contact David Drewrey, the University of Mississippi Security Coordinator and Director of Telecommunications.

Filed Under: Academic Technology, Equipment, Security

Announcing the Official Ole Miss App – iPad Edition

April 12, 2012 by

Photo of app team members by Robert Jordan

The University of Mississippi has unveiled a new iPad application designed to engage and connect the university community.  Over thirty UM employees have been involved in the project from many different areas including IT, University Communications, Athletics, the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, the Student Media Center, Student Affairs, Alumni Affairs, Human Resources, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. The app was developed in partnership with Mercury Intermedia, the current world leader for mobile news app development.

Included among the various app features are news stories, photo and video galleries, Twitter feeds, announcements, blogs, events, scores, and weather reports. A campus map and directory will be added in several weeks. The app even includes a feed from Rebel Radio, i.e., you can listen to Rebel Radio in real time from your iPad.

To download the Official Ole Miss App – iPad Edition,  go to olemiss.edu/ipad/.  You will also have the opportunity to take a survey for a chance to win one of the ten $100 Apple gift certificates to be given away.  The survey closes at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. 

Find out more in the press release and blog.

 

Filed Under: iPad, Mobile Tagged With: ,