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ATRC Podcast Notes

Podcast for August 11, 2006 - Episode 27

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Play time 71 minutes  - Program Notes

 

"People who like quotations love meaningless generalizations."   ~Graham Greene (wiki) Aunt Augusta in Travels With My Aunt  

Graham Greene

Our technology and download news includes news of hardware failures and rebuilds, upgrades, new versions of Firefox, Respondus-StudyMate, Windows media components for QuickTime, and others.  We also have news of a Blackboard upgrade--a Service Pack this time, which means bug fixes, and new Google features.  Beginning with this show we start announcing the training opportunities for next week, the "plenary" week as it is now called.  We're back in the training business in a big way.  Dave in his Blackboard feature of the week will do a post-mortem on the Blackboard SP1 update, and make a couple of Blackboard announcements, pleas and reminders to faculty members.   Haydn is on hiatus this week, at the Grand Canyon.  Remember Haydn, when your wife says to step back just a couple more steps to get that photo, don't do it.  My tech-talk-topic is the Olympus WS-100 voice recorder in particular, audio recording in general, and how they relate to our new podcasting solution for faculty members.  The Gizmo of the week for the first time is a service, not a thing.  And what a service.

Palomar Tech and Download News

  • Our heavily used Windows media server had a catastrophic disk array failure over the weekend of July 29-30.  We discovered it Monday, July 28 and were able to purchase new drives (this time ATA serial interface drives), rebuild the system and restore the data from backup to have the system back up and fully functional by Wednesday, July 30.  The last good differential backup was made July 26, so if anyone loaded data July 27-28 it will have to be reloaded.  Kudos to Shay Phillips for quick action in restoring the WM server.  When the District SANS finally becomes available (Jose's latest guess is end of September) we will move the Windows media content there, and point to it from multiple front-end, fail-over servers to build redundancy into a system that has become critical, but was more or less exotic just a couple years ago.
     
  • On the topic of drive failures, the Blackboard database server experienced a drive failure Friday, July 28, but because data is stored in a RAID configuration, no impact was experienced by users.  After a restart the drive was recognized and rebuilt itself from the disk striping.  It is probably waiting to fail for good until the critical first week of school...
     
  • And on the topic of Blackboard, we took the Blackboard server down from midnight to 8am Friday, August 11 (this morning) in order to install Service Pack 1 to App Pack 1 to version 7.1, if you know what I mean.  David will have a bit of a post-mortem in his Blackboard Feature of the Week discussion today.  Service packs to not change the feature set of Blackboard (other than to make features that were supposed to work work in fact) they are generally a collection of bug fixes, and so it is with this service pack.
     
  • StudyMate has been updated to version 1.5.5d.  The primary reason to upgrade is to get a fix that addresses the new IE ActiveX Control which requires users to click on Flash objects before they will work.  After the fix, it is not necessary to click on StudyMate Flash objects before they will work.  Click here for a summary of the cumulative update features since 1.5.0.

    Respondus, the sister product of StudyMate, has been updated to version 3.5.1.

    The main reason you may want to upgrade either or both of these products is to add the new license key to your installed version.  We re-license StudyMate and Respondus each year (in August) and it is necessary to enter a new license key to continue using the program.  Obtain the license key from our Respondus/StudyMate web site (login required).  If this is your first install, use the new license key to install the program from the download installation files there.  Respondus and StudyMate are for the PC platform only.

    Here is a screen video on this topic:    How do I register or re-register my copy of StudyMate? 
     
  • Video Podcasts - Episode 2 of "PCOnline Exposed," or PCOX, for short, has been published.  If you subscribe to the vodcast, you will have received it through iTunes.  If not, click here to access the blog.  Click here for the web site.  We noted this week that the vodcast has already been picked up by Vodstock.
     
  • Firefox has been updated to version 1.5.0.5.  The upgrade is described as a "security fix."
     
  • We had the monthly security update from Microsoft on Tuesday the 8th.  There were a total of 12 security updates released, but, of course, your mileage will vary.  They addressed the usual new vulnerabilities.  Here are the ones installed on my system.  For more information, read this MSNBC article, and the official Microsoft summary, or the more detailed TechNet summary. Those really interested in the gory details can read the Knowledge Base articles and bulletins linked below:
    • A security issue has been identified in the Server service that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. (KB921883)
    • A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. (KB921398)
    • A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise your Windows-based system using a vulnerability in HTML Help and gain control over it. (KB922616)
    • A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise your Windows-based system. (KB920214)
    • A security issue has been identified in the Windows Kernel that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. (KB917422)
    • This update resolves a vulnerability in Visual Basic for Applications that could allow remote code execution. (KB921645)
    • A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. (KB920670)
    • A security issue has been identified in DNS Resolution that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. (KB920683)
    • This update resolves a vulnerability in the Microsoft Management Console that could allow remote code execution. (KB917008).
    • Winows malicious software removal tool (KB890830)
    • The cumulative security update for IE (KB918899)
    • A security fix for Office 2003: A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office 2003 that could allow arbitrary code to run when you open a maliciously modified Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 file. (KB921566)
    • And, if you are user of Windows Defender, a signature upgrade (KB915597)
       
  • We announced this before, but now our counseling department has reviewed, given feedback, and largely approved our new "Are you ready to be an online student?" web site.  I think the most valuable suggestion came from Maria Miller, who said that the site could probably most effectively be used by online teachers as part of their student orientations to provide the students with a "reality check" on what it takes to succeed online.  With that in mind, we are re-mentioning its existence so that online teachers may do just that.
     
  • There was an update last week to IE7 Beta 3--if you are one of the ones running the Beta--which fixes an issue with the Yahoo tool bar.  (KB922880)
     
  • Microsoft also a couple weeks ago released a new Network Diagnostics Tool (KB914440) and what's new is a very helpful article by one of their MVP experts Charlie Russel on Using the Network Diagnostic Tools.
     
  • Because the Fall semester is upon us, we also wanted to provide a reminder about the Windows media components for QuickTime.  We in Academic Technology have decided to support only Windows media audio and video as a streaming format ongoing (abandoning our long-time support for Real media).  Of course, there is an enormous amount of legacy Real media content on our servers, and it will remain there until the servers themselves die. But if you are no longer supporting Real media, what about Mac users, you ask.  Good question.  That's where the Windows media components for QuickTime come in.  They provide a means for Mac users to seamlessly play Windows media through QuickTime.  Mac requirements are OS X 10.3.9 or later and QuickTime 6.5 or later.
     
  • According to the BBC, Google.com has started warning users if they are about to visit a web page that could harm their computers.  Apparently, most people visit unsafe sites as the results of a search.  Key words to be particularly wary of are:
    • Free screensavers
    • Bearshare
    • Screensavers
    • Winmx
    • Limewire
    • Lime wire
    • Free ringtones

    Read more about this one, and even elect to participate in the crusade, at StopBadware.org.

Training Opportunities

  • Academic Technology Training resumes next week, with orientations for new faculty on August 15, for part-time faculty on August 17, 7:15-9pm, and for full-time faculty on August 18, 10:45-11:45am in room LL-109.
     
    • David Gray and Haydn Davis will be presenting a pre-plenary workshop for part-time faculty on August 17, from 3-5pm in room LL-109 on Blackboard Essentials.
       
    • Haydn Davis and Terry Gray will be presenting a What's New in Academic Technology workshop, apart from the plenary sessions, on August 24, from 2-4pm in room LL-109.
       
    • David Gray and Haydn Davis will be repeating the Blackboard Essentials workshop on Wednesday, August 30 from 2-4pm in room LL-109.
       
    • Terry Gray will be presenting a workshop on Windows XP Essentials on Thursday, August 31 from 2-4pm in room LL-109.
       
  • Register for all Academic Technology workshops through the Professional Development web site Click here to access our entire training schedule, here to access the new "competencies" approach to our workshops, and other training information.
     
  • Free 1-hour, live online training from Horizon Wimba on Voice Tools and Live Classroom.  Select from a range of dates from August 15-Sept 1.
     
  • For those just beginning to look at their Fall 2006 Blackboard course shells, and perhaps staring at the vacancy, there are a series of screen videos created by the Academic Technology department which will help you along your way.  Access them at the PCOnline Faculty Services page.

Blackboard Feature of the Week - David Gray

David has a multi-part Feature of the week this time:

  1. A post-mortem on last night's update of the Blackboard Learning system to version 7.1 App Pack 1 Service Pack 1.  The new part of that formula is the Service Pack 1 part.  That is what Dave will be speaking to.
     
  2. A call to archive summer courses from summer 2005.  They will be pruned from the system next Wednesday, August 16.
     
  3. An announcement of a new "Teaching with Blackboard screen video and vodcast dealing with loading publishers' course cartridges.
     
  4. That ever popular reminder:  Don't forget to make your Fall courses available so your students can login to them.

Listen to this segment only [mp3 - play time = 12:32]

See the index of Dave's previous "Blackboard Feature of the Week" segments.

Teaching with Technology - Dr. Haydn Davis

Haydn is vacationing this week.  See an index of previous "Teaching with Technology" segments.

Tech-Talk-Topic - Terry Gray

The WS-100 and Audio Recording

My topic this week is the Olympus WS-100 digital voice recorder in particular, digital audio recording in general, and their relation to our new podcast solution for faculty members. 

If you do not already have a digital voice recorder, or a means of digitally recording your audio content, check out an Olympus WS-100 digital voice recorder from Academic Technology.  The WS-100 is small, easy to use, and is also a USB device, making transfer of audio files to your computer simple.

Briefly, here are the specs on the WS-100:

  • Will record up to 27 hours in LP mode, 4 hours and 20 minutes in HQ mode (recommended);
  • Has 64MB internal flash memory;
  • PC interface is USB direct, 2.0 full speed;
  • Records in wma format;
  • Has a voice activated, built-in microphone (but we recommend the use of the ME15 tie-clip microphone, which we will check out with each unit by request);
  • Has an earphone jack as well as a mic jack.
  • Comes with earbuds and lanyard;
  • Powered by a single AAA battery (replacements will be provided by Academic Technology);
  • Battery life approximately 13 hours;
  • Weight 1.9 ounces;
  • Stores data in up to 5 pre-named folders, 199 files per folder max.

For more details about the WS-100 at the Olympus web site

  • Click here to request checkout of a WS-100 digital voice recorder.

Our intention is to check out these devices for use by those wishing to create academic podcasts or have need of recording academic audio in classroom or remote locations.

For those wishing to record audio in their offices, or sitting at a computer, we recommend directly recording from a Microphone attached to the computer's sound card to a free program called Audacity.  Audacity outputs in mp3, wav or ogg format. 

For those wishing a more controlled audio recording environment, we have an audio recording booth set up in the faculty technology center.

Our podcast solution involves posting your podcast to a blogger.com blog.  Briefly, here's the simple 1-2-3 overview:

Submit a request to Academic Technology to set up a blogger/feedburner podcast publishing point for you.  The publishing point will be a blogger.com blog.  The feedburner part provides the podcast subscription URL.  Don't worry about those details.  As I say, Academic Technology will do it all for you and email you your blog URL and provide a podcast subscription button for your web site.

Record your audio, convert it to mp3 format, if necessary.  If you use our WS-100 digital voice recorder, the file will be in wma format, and will need to be converted.  We recommend using the free WMA to MP3 converter from Jodix.  If you used Audacity to record your audio, it is already in mp3 format (or can be by re-exporting it from Audacity as mp3).  If you used our recording booth you will have used SoundForge 8 to record your audio, and, once again, it will be in mp3 format.

Upload your mp3 file to your web site, and link to the web site from your blogger.com publishing point (the one set up in step 1 above). 

  Click here for a screen video illustrating the entire process.

The only other thing to do is announce the podcast subscription URL to your students so that they can subscribe.  If they don't know how (and most probably will) we recommend they use iTunes:

  Click here for a screen video on how to subscribe to a Palomar college academic podcast using iTunes.  (Flash player required).

Listen to this segment only [mp3 - play time = 13:34]

See the index of previous Tech Talk Topics.

Gizmo of the week

Our gizmo this week is not a thing, its a service called "The Popularity Dialer."  The tag line from the web site says it all: "Fake a phone call easily and credibly!"  Yes!  At last, a convenient, anonymous way to impress that certain someone, or, for those of us who don't really consider popularity one of our goals any longer (or, perhaps, ever) a way to be called back to the office, or away from the office, on an emergency basis.  The service asks you to enter your phone number, when you want the call made, and what type of call you want to receive.  The choices are 1) popularity call; 2) female popularity call; 3) affirmation call; 4) return to the office call; 5) cousin in need call.  According to the web site "At the elected time, your phone will be dialed and you will hear a prerecorded message that's one half of a conversation. Thus, you will be prompted to have a fake conversation and will easily fool those around you."  You even have the ability to choose the type of voice on the other end--"the boss call" sounds about right to me.  Perhaps most interestingly, according to their web sites California leads the way--by a mile--on use of the site.  14% of the site calls go to California.

How much does it cost, you ask?  The site asks only for a $2.00 donation per call--as in donation.  They go on to say that only 5 free calls can be made to a particular number "...because we are paying out of pocket. We are currently looking for sponsors to defray costs. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor..."  Check the web site if you are interested.

(Source: Popularity Dialer - See also Pogue's Posts)

Music

The music for today's show was provided by Magnatune.com, and is used through their Creative Commons license for podcasts.  Today's album was "Suerte Somthing" by Arthur Yoria.  "His uncanny ear for melody, hooks, and arrangement is paralleled only by his captivating voice which seems to carry the weight of a thousand break-ups, but somehow manages to soar effortlessly to a place where joy, goose bumps, and repeated listens are unavoidable. "

We used tracks 1: "Suerte Mijo;" 2: "Encime de Ti;" 4: "Este Metodo;" 9: "Greek Archaic;" 5: "Hoy Bostece;" 7: "Only Me;" 10: "Places Everyone;" and 6: "Something Must Be Wrong."

Visit magnatune and reward them for their generosity, and if you like this album, buy it.  Magnatune is not evil!

"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going."  ~ Professor Irwin Corey

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