Instructional and Research Computing Emerges
by Michael Lieberman
Effective 1 July 2003, UCit has reorganized its "Educational Services" unit. Renamed Instructional and Research Computing, the unit consists of five areas: Academic Technology Services, Electronic Classroom and Support Services (ECSS), Exam Grading and Survey Scanning Services, the Presentation Technology Services Group (PTSG), and a Joint Research and Computing Center.
ECSS, Exam Grading and Survey Scanning Services, the Joint Research and Computing Center, and Academic Technology Services are located on the third and fourth floors of Zimmer Hall, while the PTSG is located in CCM.
Academic Technology Services includes the Faculty Technology Resources Center (FTRC), Blackboard Development, Student Computer Labs on campus, ResNet, Software Distribution, and OZ Services. The FTRC aids faculty in utilizing technology for their teaching and research needs, and provides the bulk of Blackboard support for both faculty and students. The Blackboard Development team updates and modifies Blackboard to work better with our students and faculty, and to develop items which integrate with Blackboard and are of use to the University. There are eight UCit student computer labs across campus, with the one in 031 McMicken Hall open 24 hours per day. Students can use the computers in the labs to run a variety of software, including word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics programs, as well as course-specific applications. They can also access various online campus resources, including Blackboard, One Stop Student Services, Bearcat Online email, and other services. ResNet Services provides assistance to students living in the residence halls with configuring their computers to work on the UC network (UCnet). The Software Distribution Program allows students and faculty to obtain software at reduced rates. OZ provides services such as web space, a variety of programming compilers, and easy access to a Unix system.
ECSS is responsible for supporting close to 100 electronic classrooms on campus. Support includes providing orientations for using equipment, repairing or replacing items which become non-functional, installing software on the classroom computer which is required for teaching a class, and delivering equipment to non-electronic classrooms. Information concerning all of the University's classrooms, the equipment within each room, and how to contact ECSS is available from the ECSS web site.
Exam Grading and Survey Scanning provides PC based scanning systems for self-serve scanning of exams and for surveys, using a Scanmark 2800 scanner. Services include one-on-one training of faculty or designated representatives to learn to use the scanners and generate reports, and survey design and printing, which includes surveys that are deployed and analyzed by hard copy, email, and the web.
The PTSG will digitally record and webcast presentations on campus, are available to develop digital media projects for faculty, set up and service videoconferencing on campus, and plan and design electronic classrooms. Recent projects completed by the PTSG include the webcasts of a world-premiere opera performance in CCM, graduation events at the University and local high schools, and a Neurosciences conference on Alzheimer's Disease.
The Joint Research and Computing Center will be initiated this fall with a competition for gigabyte gigabit access to desktops for researchers, and the offer of data storage space on UCit servers. The Research Center, in collaboration with the PTSG and Network Services, also obtained funds from the Ohio Board of Regents to track data transmissions over various network lines to improve the reliability of videoconferencing facilities.
The new IRC will be holding an open house midway through fall quarter. All faculty and students are invited to see the changes being made in this group within UCit. Stay tuned to these pages for more information.
You may send email to the author at Michael.Lieberman@UC.Edu.
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