There will be an Open House at the Usability Lab on Friday February 29 at 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Room B-26 Walter Library on the Minneapolis East Bank campus. Visitors may drop by anytime during the Open House. No registration is necessary.

Contact is: Alice de la Cova, Usability Services Manager. Phone: 612-624-9365. a-dela@umn.edu

The objective of the Usability Lab is to help web design project teams obtain the user's perspective on the way that information is presented in a web design on a computer screen. In the interest of making the user's experience as easy and intuitive as possible, the lab provides an environment in which teams are able to watch users try out a web site or other design. Screen capture, video, audio, and eye-tracking equipment are used to provide usability testing and other services. If you're interested in the lab for research or in usability consulting services for a web design, and you'd like to see a demo, please stop by anytime during the Open House. Everyone is welcome.

For more info: http://www.umn.edu/usability/

Posted 08:47 AM | Permalink

The University Technology Training Center (UTTC), a division of the Office of Information Technology, now offers e-learning courses from Microsoft.

Courses on Office applications and Windows end-user skills are available at no charge to University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students as part of the University's campus agreement with Microsoft.

Microsoft e-learning courses provide a simple and effective way to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. You'll improve your skills, or learn new ones, from the comfort of your office or home.

This self-paced learning environment includes a variety of multimedia tools such as audio, video, simulation, animation, games, hands-on labs, and assessments. The courses are accessed through WebVista, and are available only on the Windows platform using Internet Explorer.

Visit https://uttc.umn.edu/training/tutorials/elearning to view a complete list of course offerings and system requirements, and to request access to e-learning courses. Send questions and comments to uttc@umn.edu.

Posted 03:14 PM | Permalink

Instructors will discuss how online video can humanize learning content, illustrate concepts, and motivate students: March 5, 12-1:30 p.m., 101 Walter. Attend in person or online, get related resources, access recordings, and subscribe to the podcast: Read Spotlight Issues.

Posted 05:39 PM | Permalink

Second Life, a popular 3D immersive environment, recently has attracted the interest of educators. But can Second Life be successfully used for teaching and learning? DMC consultants Deborah Alexander and Cristina Lopez will address these and other questions as they provide a sneak peek into the University of Minnesota Second Life pilot: Feb. 21, 12-1 p.m., 69 McNeal Hall, St. Paul.

Posted 05:38 PM | Permalink

Sign up in advance for the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) Web Seminar, February 19 at noon, to hear Aaron Delwiche (assistant professor of communication, Trinity University, and cofounder, Elastic Collision) discuss "Powerful But Not a Panacea: Virtual Worlds as a Tool for Situational Learning." For more information and to register: Powerful But Not a Panacea: Virtual Worlds as a Tool for Situational Learning.

Posted 05:34 PM | Permalink

Due to declining usage, WebMail Pro and WebMail 3.0 will be decommissioned, and the scheduled decommission date is July 1. GopherMail will continue as a Web-based e-mail application for central e-mail accounts.

WebMail Pro for non-central systems mail used by departmental e-mail servers will be decommissioned by July 1, as well. GopherMail does not support non-central e-mail servers.

The number of active WebMail Pro and WebMail 3.0 users has declined considerably, and approximately 75 percent of those who utilize Web-based e-mail use GopherMail. In addition, mailbox sharing, a new e-mail feature, is compatible with GopherMail, but not WebMail Pro or 3.0.

WebMail Pro and 3.0 users can begin using GopherMail immediately. WebMail Pro users may need to copy their address book from their current application to GopherMail before the decommission date. More of GopherMail's features, as well as further information and instructions on copying addresses are found at www.umn.edu/adcs/guides/email/gophermail/faq.html.

The Office of Information Technology is working with Usability Services and the Computer Accommodations Program to enhance GopherMail's compatibility with screen readers and accessibility for the visually impaired.

Additional updates will be made available as the July 1 decommissioning date approaches. Questions and comments should be sent to webmail@umn.edu, or call 1-HELP at (612) 301-4357 (1-HELP on campus).

Posted 11:25 AM | Permalink

After Friday, Feb. 8, University students, faculty, and staff no longer will be able to purchase refurbished computer equipment and stocked parts from University Computer Services (UCS). http://www.umn.edu/ucs/

The U of M Office of Information Technology (OIT) on the Twin Cities campus currently is working with Purchasing Services on a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to find a vendor to outsource the recycling and resale of used computer equipment.

The vendors must present their standards for data deletion and recycling, and they must have an outstanding data security, physical security, and environmental record. The vendors must track all equipment from pickup to resale/recycling and must be open to audits at anytime. We have asked the vendors to offer a state-wide option, which would allow coordinate campuses and extension offices to participate as well. We have had some excellent vendor presentations to date and will keep you posted as the process evolves.

We will continue to use our current location for both Microsoft Software pickup and the U Rent-a-Guru Program. For the time being, UCS also will continue to pick up computer products from departments on the Twin Cities campus, free of charge.

For updates, check the UCS Web site at www.umn.edu/ucs/.

Posted 10:02 AM | Permalink