Friday, February 29, 2008

Email Banking Scams

Be watchful for email banking scams.  Remember that banks do not provide
links in email so that one can update or verify account information.
Where there is such a link, it does not link to the bank's data, but
rather to the web site of someone who is trying to steal the information.

Don't be fooled.

I have seen some that pretend to be from the Bank of America, complete
with spelling mistakes and a link that goes to a site in Russia, that
look like this:

Customer ID : 000-5432-654386-PSI

Dear Bank of America customer,

During our regualry scheduled accounts maintenance and verification
procedures,
we have detected a slight error regarding your account.

This might be due to one of the following reasons:

1. A recent change in your personal information (i.e. address changing)
2. Submitting invalid information during the initial sign up process.
4. Multiple failed logins in your personal account.
3. An inabillity to accurately verify your selected option of payment
due to an internal error within our system.

Please update and verify your information by clicking the following link:

Verify My Account Information

*If you account information is not updated within 48 hours then your
ability to access your account will be restricted.

Thank you,
Billing Department, Bank of Americ

Always go directly to your bank's web site to change or verify any
account information. Do not use email for that. Email is not a secure
way to pass any sensitive information.

- Cal Coursey

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Thank You, Jess Hobbs

Jess Hobbs has won herself a free movie rental from Movie Gallery just by participating in the OIT Website Usability Survey. You can still enter for a chance to win, too!

If you haven't yet completed the survey, visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

There are still three chances to take home a free movie rental. Additionally, we'll be choosing one faculty, staff and student participant as grand prize winners. The grand prize is one of three $25 Play It Again, Sam gift cards, so don't hesitate to take complete your survey!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Next Week's Training

Instructional Technology will be offering the following training workshops next week:

  • Tuesday, 3/4 - Introduction to Photoshop from 2:30 - 3:30
  • Thursday, 3/6 - Photoshop for Photographers from 3:30 - 4:30

As always, these workshops are free and available to anyone in the Washington College community. To learn more about the courses and sign up, visit:

oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php

Bravo, Karen Smith!

Karen Smith is today's lucky winner of a free movie rental from Movie Gallery! Karen's name was chosen after she completed the OIT Website Usability Survey, giving us much-appreciated feedback on our online resources.

Have you taken the survey yet? If you haven't, please visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and your responses will go a long way towards further refining our site in the future. You will also be eligible for one of four more free movie rentals AND one of three grand prizes - $25 Play It Again, Sam gift cards!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Free Movie Goes To...

Cindy Gibson has won herself a free movie rental from Movie Gallery simply for completing OIT's Website Usability Survey. Cindy's feedback will make it easier for OIT to continue refining our web resources in order to better support the campus community's needs.

There are still five chances to win a free movie of your very own - if you haven't completed the survey yet! To do so, please visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d


OIT will also be awarding three grand prize winners - one each from the faculty, staff and students - who will take home a $25 Play It Again, Sam gift card.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Big Savings On Microsoft Software

Did you know you can save BIG on Microsoft's most popular software? How about $79 for Office Professional? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Washington College has teamed up with Microsoft to offer deeply discounted Microsoft software to faculty, staff and students. To start shopping right now, visit e-Academy at:

http://washcoll.e-academy.com

If you woul like to know more about software discounts and licensing at Washington College, be sure to visit the Software page:

http://oit.washcoll.edu/hd_software.php

Thanks For Your Feedback, John Leekley!

John Leekley is today's lucky winner of a free Movie Gallery rental! John won his prize simply by filling out the OIT Website Usability Survey. You could take home a movie, too for only a few minutes of your time and a few words of feedback. If you haven't participated in the survey yet, visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

There are still six chances to win in our daily drawings and a chance each for faculty staff and students in our grand prize, $25 Play It Again, Sam drawing!

Thanks for taking the time to fill out our survey! Your thoughts and opinions will be taken into consideration as we continue to refine the OIT website.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Laura Walter Wins A Free Movie

Congratulations, Laura, on winning today's free movie rental from Movie Gallery. Your feedback on the OIT Website Usability Survey is very much appreciated and will go a long way towards improving the OIT website in the coming months.

If you haven't taken a moment to complete the survey yet, please visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

There are still seven chances to win a free movie rental like Laura did today! There are also three chances to win the grand prize of a $25 Play It Again, Sam gift card. One faculty, staff and student survey participant will each win a grand prize, so don't delay!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Great Training Next Week

Instructional Technology is offering the following training workshops next week:
  • Tech Tidbits (12:15 - 12:45)
    • Monday, 2/25 - Crash Course on Facebook
    • Tuesday, 2/26 - Tips for Better Photos & Videos
    • Wednesday, 2/27 - Upload Videos to YouTube
    • Thursday, 2/28 - Post Photos to Flickr
    • Friday, 2, 29 - Crash Course on Facebook
  • Wednesday, 2/27 - Blackboard: An Introduction from 3:30 - 4:30
Remember, registration is free and easy. To learn more about the workshops and sign up, visit:

oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php

If you are coming to Tech Tidbits, we will be serving coffee and hot beverages, so come a few minutes early. We don't want you to miss lunch while on your lunch break!

Congratulations, Dan Pierce!

Today's winner of a free movie rental from Movie Gallery is Dan Pierce! Congrats, Dan, and thanks for taking the time to fill our our OIT Website Usability Survey. We appreciate your feedback!

There are still eight chances to win a free movie rental of your own and a chance to win a grand prize - one of three $25 Play It Again, Sam gift cards. One faculty, staff and student survey participant will take home a grand prize, so if you haven't taken the survey visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

Your feedback will go a long way towards helping create a better OIT website in the coming months!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Today's Lucky Winner...

John Seidel is today's free movie rental winner in our Usability Survey drawing. John won his prize from Movie Gallery simply by completing the OIT Website Usability Survey. Have you completed the survey yet? If you haven't, you may do so by visiting:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d


Simply answer the 18 survey questions to enter into our daily drawing for free movie rentals. You'll also be automatically entered into our grand prize drawing for one of three Play It Again, Sam $25 gift cards. One faculty, staff and student entrant will each walk away with a grand prize.

We'd love to hear your feedback...and there are still 9 chances to win, so enter now!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Give Us Your Feedback & Win A Prize

OIT would like to know what you think of our website. We want to find out how you use the site, what content you like, what your favorite tools are and more! Please take a few moments to complete our short OIT Website Usability Survey. Your feedback will help with future development of our web resources.

After completing the survey, you will automatically be entered into our daily drawing for a free movie rental. You will also be entered into our grand prize drawing for a $25 Play It Again, Sam gift certificate. One faculty, staff and student participant will each win a grand prize!

Visit oit.washcoll.edu to view the OIT website and get familiar with what we have to offer. Click to the survey in the pop up box that appears on the homepage or click the "Take Our Survey" link in the left navigation menu on any page.

To complete the survey now, visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0hagxukfVt21ba8SBcyjMw_3d_3d

The first winner will be announced on Wednesday, February 20th!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Entries Due - Poster Design Contest

Don’t miss your chance to win a $25 iTunes gift card!

Just a reminder that your entries are due for the 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival poster design contest. Please submit your posters in person on disc to Nancy Cross in the Miller Library (lower level) or Nick Smerker in 111 William Smith. Additionally, feel free to email your submissions here.

Fame and (a small) fortune await you!

Not To Miss - I.T. Opportunities

Here’s a few Instructional Technology opportunities you don’t want to miss:

Get To Know Mac - Thursday, February 21st

The Get To Know Mac workshop returns to the Beck Instructional Lab at 3:30 pm. Have you met your Mac but you want to get to know it better? Ready to do more with your Apple computer but you are unsure of how to get started? Join Instructional Technology and Apple Campus Representative Alisha DiGiandamenico for Get To Know Mac, an hour long exploration of the Mac platform and how you can use it to get more done. Users explore the Finder, iLife and other Mac-only features. Learn more and sign up at http://oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php. Bring your Mac and your questions for hands on help, too!


Tech Tidbits - Monday, February 25 - Friday, February 29

Tech Tidbits offers you the chance to learn about very specific technologies and skills in a very short period of time. 30 minute sessions will give you step by step instructions and personal support with the tasks that you want to learn about.

This Month’s Tech Tidbits include

  • Crash Course on Facebook
  • Tips for Better Photos & Videos
  • pload Videos to YouTube
  • Post Photos to Flickr

Learn more and sign up at http://oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php. All Tech Tidbits sessions run from 12:15 - 12:45. Coffee, tea & snacks will be available, in case you skip lunch!

Blackboard: An Introductory Workshop - Wednesday, Feburary 27th

Blackboard: An Introductory Workshop is a 1 hour introduction to the use of Blackboard at Washington College. The workshop will cover the following topics:

  • What is Blackboard…how can it be used?
  • Your Blackboard account at Washington College
  • Organizing and adding content to your course site
  • Overview of key features such as the online gradebook, electronically submitting assignments, online testing, discussion boards
  • Tips and tricks for streamlining the process and removing clutter

Please bring your Blackboard projects to this workshop for one on one help and support, too! Learn more and sign up at http://oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Testing of Emergency Telephones Today

This morning there will be a test of emergency telephones that are capable of broadcasting voice announcements across wide areas of campus. The loudspeaker systems on the phones are powerful and may be heard inside buildings.

The test unit will be moved to various locations on campus so that coverage areas may be ascertained. The testing is part of emergency planning.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Saving Files - Office 2007 & 2008

With the release of Office 2008 for the Mac, Microsoft has now updated both of its office suites. Office 2007 and Office 2008 both bring a new set of file formats to the computing environment on campus.

By default, these new versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint save in .docx, .pptx and .xlsx, respectively. These formats are not backwards compatible with previous versions of Microsoft Office on the Mac or PC. In other words, if you send a file saved in a new version of any of these applications to someone with an older version, they will not be able to open it.

Unless you follow these simple steps to make your new version of Office save to the older file formats by default:

On the Mac:

  1. In Microsoft Word 2008 and PowerPoint 2008, choose the application menu from the menu bar
    1. Word > Preferences...
    2. PowerPoint Preferences...
  2. Click the Save button
  3. From the Save [...] files as: menu choose
    • Microsoft Word 97 - 2004 Document (.doc)
    • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 - 2004 Presentation (.ppt)
  4. Click OK
  1. In Microsoft Excel 2008, choose the application menu from the menu bar
    • Excel > Preferences...
  2. Click the Compatibility button
  3. From the Save files in this format: menu
    • Excel 97 - 2004 Workbook (.xls)
  4. Click OK
On the PC:


  1. Click the Office menu and choose [...] Options
  2. Choose Save
  3. From the Save files in this format: menu
    • Word 97 - 2003 (*.doc)
    • Excel 97 - 2003 (*.xls)
    • PowerPoint 97 - 2003 (*.ppt)
  4. Click OK
If you have any questions about setting your default save preferences, contact the HelpDesk at 7777.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Postponed - 24 Hour Digital Video Challenge Awards

Unfortunately, Brian has fallen ill today and will not be able to host tonight’s 24 Hour Digital Video Challenge Awards. The awards ceremony will be postponed until further notice. Please check back here to find out when the awards have been rescheduled. If you have questions today, please contact Nick or Nancy.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Have A Video Project? Need A Tape?

The technology shop at the OIT HelpDesk sells MiniDV tapes for only $3.50 each! If you are working on a video project for your class or department, the technology shop is the perfect place to get the blank media you need. Visit the HelpDesk between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm to buy one.

To learn more about items for purchase at the HelpDesk, visit the Shopping page.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Super Tuesday Comes To Beck

Last night, Dr. Andrew Oros and the Political Science department brought interested Washington College community members to Beck Instructional Lab for the Super Tuesday election returns.


Dozens of students, faculty and staff members arrived, ready to take in six screens worth of political commentary from across the internet and cable television.


With sodas and snacks in hand, participants discussed the projections as each set of polls closed and viewed up to the minute maps from The New York Times to keep their conversations current. Republican, Democrat or anywhere in between, everyone had a great time in the media-saturated Beck Lab.


And, of course, Nancy and I were on hand to offer technology support. And occassionally color commentary from the corner.


Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Design The Winning Poster – 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival

Design the winning 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival poster and win $25 on iTunes!

Instructional Technology within OIT and the Center for Environment & Society announce the kick off of the poster design contest for the 4th Annual 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival.

The theme of this year’s festival is green, so we are looking for stunning designs with an eye toward the organic. Create a poster that advertises the 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival while also exemplifying your idea of sustainable graphic design.

The winning artist will receive a $25 iTunes gift card and their work will become the festival poster. The look will also inform the design of the 60 Seconds or Less website and festival winners’ t-shirts.

Entries are due on Monday, February 18th at 12:00 pm. The winning design will be announced on Thursday, February 21st at 4:00 pm at the Toll Atrium. All participating designs will be featured at a public exhibit when the winner is announced.

To learn more about the contest and sign up, visit www.wcmc.tv You can download official logos, graphics and more and read all of the official rules before you enter.

Friday, February 1, 2008

First Photography Club Meeting Tonight - 6:30 pm

Join Instructional Technology tonight in the Beck Instructional Lab at 6:30 pm for the first ever meeting of the Photography Club. Brian Palmer will be leading the gathering as photo buffs discuss their interests and possible topics and activities for this semesters Photography Club meetings.

Bring your best and brightest ideas and prepare to meet other photographers tonight!

Visit oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php to learn more about Photography Club.

24 Hour Digital Video Challenge is Tonight

The MPC is excited to announce that the 3rd Annaul 24 Hour Digital Video Challenge will be held tonight, February 1st beginning at 5:00 pm!

This MPC Challenge is unique, only allowing participants a 24 hour period to plan, shoot and edit their video. The topic of the video is your call, but there will be some key elements to be included in your production that won't be announced until the start of the event.

To learn more and sign up, visit mpc.washcoll.edu/24hour.php