Sitecore 8.1 Upgrade Update

SitecoreSince the release of our current version of Sitecore in 2008, Sitecore has grown from a platform that provides simple web experiences to one that enables users to become truly engaged with their customers. The upgrade to Sitecore v8.1 comes with a completely updated user interface and API that make the system more efficient and extremely extendable. This update enhances our ability to support, promote and leverage the application to meet the needs of the campus community. Continue reading Sitecore 8.1 Upgrade Update

Teaching & Video/Audio Conferencing with Zoom

ZoomAvailable now, Southern Methodist University has expanded services for Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing and web conferencing service, as the primary eLearning tool for delivering easy-to-use,  high-definition video/audio conferencing capabilities to faculty and students.  Brought to campus in January 2015 as part of a pilot initiative, Zoom has proven a reliable, future-forward and cost-effective collaboration tool which is easy to use on just about any device (even Linux!).  As Zoom transitions from pilot initiative and into a supported service, Zoom will also be replacing SMU’s current GoToMeeting conferencing service.

Over the next few months, OIT’s Academic Technology Services team will be integrating Zoom within Canvas and will be configuring Zoom for use with SMU’s single-sign-on technology so that you can use your SMU login credentials for access.  Short-term Zoom Webinar licenses are also available but limited–please contact the IT Helpdesk for more information about webinars.

Suggested Uses for Zoom

1:1 Meetings with Students

Schedule meetings with students that you would normally meet face-to-face by using a Zoom meeting. If you have distance students, or when bad weather prohibits travel to campus, meetings and/or classes can still be held over Zoom (up to 50 participants).

Virtual Office Hours

With Zoom you can offer virtual office hours from any location anywhere in the world (with Internet accessibility). Send your students or collaborators an invite through email or post the meeting information on your Canvas course site as to the “office hours” that you will be available.  Scheduled Zoom office hours create an active virtual “office” where students can come and go as needed.

Paper & Research Reviews

Using the Zoom Share Screen feature, you can have students or colleagues submit work for real-time review during a live Zoom session. Share Screen allows you to provide real-time feedback on work and to allow for any synchronous clarification as needed.

Exam Review Sessions

Launch a Zoom session and allow students to enter as necessary. Faculty members can choose to either moderate a student led review or to lead the review on their own.

External Research Collaboration

Need to host a research discussion or virtual seminar with up to 50 attendees? No problem!  Create a Zoom session!

Recording Lectures, Meetings, & Sessions for Asynchronous Playback

Using Zoom’s recording functionality, all Zoom content can be recorded directly to your hard drive for future reference or future use in creating content for hybrid teaching.

Getting started with Zoom

  1. Submit a Zoom account request to the IT Help Desk by calling 214.768.HELP or by emailing help@smu.edu. You will receive an email notification when your account has been created.
  2. Once you’ve created a Zoom account, simply navigate to smu.edu/zoom to log in and host a meeting!

Zoom Requirements

System Requirements

  • Internet connection
  • Speakers & microphone—built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth
  • Webcam or HD webcam—built-in or USB blug-in
  • Or, an HD cam or HD camcorder with video capture card

Supporting Operating Systems

  • Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later
  • Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7
  • Linux

Supported Tablets & Mobile Devices

  • iOS and Android devices
  • Surface Pro 2 & 3

Appspace upgrade is nearly complete.

AppspaceThis month, OIT upgraded the Appspace (formerly Nexus) software that runs the various digital displays on campus. The vendor has installed our digital signage solution on a more robust server with the latest version of Appspace. The vendor also provided training to current users of the software.

In that training, we discovered some issues with the permissions. Some users were not able to create new signage applications but were allowed to edit already created ones. We are working with the vendor to resolving this issue and hope to have a resolution soon.

One feature our team was able to implement was an improved login. In the past, you would have to use a unique password, and not your SMU one, to log on to the system. On the new system, you will log in using your SMU ID and password for edit content on the digital signage.

The new system will also have a new URL – appspace.smu.edu. Our next task will be to join all of the existing players to the new server, which is done by launching the Appspace player application on each player PC. We will be contacting the signage owner to arrange a time for the switch. Once we make the configuration switch on each player, we will ask the owner to verify with the signage is functioning and the editors can log on to the system and edit content.

SharePoint Online Update

SharePoint OnlineThe upgrade from Inside.SMU to SharePoint Online continues. OIT recently transitioned their site to the cloud effortlessly. Site migration will happen at departmental levels with the Central University Library team sites and SMU Library sites over the weekend of June 24th. After the library site migration, other departments will be scheduled with tentative dates in June and early July. A representative from OIT will contact site owners prior to the migration. You can watch a preview of the new SharePoint Online after the break. Continue reading SharePoint Online Update

New In-Depth Canvas Sessions Announced

Canvas LMS LogoNeed some more assistance with the finer points of SMU’s new Canvas LMS? OIT has scheduled additional training sessions over the summer that cover advanced topics ranging from grade books to modules. Just like the basics sessions OIT has given through the spring semester, these summer sessions are walk-in only, so stop by on any of the dates!

Below is a list of the upcoming sessions, their locations, and their dates and times. For any questions regarding these sessions, please contact your academic technology liaison in your department.

Schedule of Courses

June 3, 1PM Intro to Canvas (Condensed) Crow 186
June 3, 2PM Assignments & Grade Book Crow 186
June 6, 10AM Quizzes Hughes-Trigg
June 6, 11AM Mastering Modules Hughes-Trigg
June 13, 2PM Intro to Canvas (Condensed) Webinar
June 23, 10AM Intro to Canvas (Condensed) Webinar
 July 11, 3PM Canvas Course Set-Up Workshop Crow 186
 July 11, 2PM Assignments & Grade Book Crow 186
 July 20, 10AM Quizzes Crow 186
 July 20, 11AM Mastering Modules Crow 186
July 28, 10AM Assignments & Grade Book Crow 186
July 28, 11AM Canvas Course Set-Up Workshop Crow 186
August 5, 1PM Intro to Canvas (Condensed) Crow 186
August 5, 2PM Assignments & Grade Book Crow 186
August 8, 2PM Quizzes Crow 186
August 8, 3PM Matering Modules Crow 186
August 8, 4PM Assignments & Grade Book Crow 186