Get Signed Up for Campus Gaming

OIT has created a new microsite, all about Campus Gaming.  Get the latest information about how to get signed up, who to contact, what to bring and more by visiting:

oit.washcoll.edu/gaming/

You can also use this web resource to download the contract you'll need for registering your computer to take part in online gaming.

Zimbra Security: Password Lockouts

As part of Zimbra's in-built security measures, a password lockout will occur automatically after 5 unsuccessful attempts to login to any account.  To prevent this from happening, be sure to keep track of your password when accessing the web client at https://zmail.washcoll.edu.  If you have recently changed your password, be sure to update any desktop applications you may use with Zimbra like Thunderbird, iCal, Mail, Outlook, etc. as well as any mobile devices that might be using Over-the-Air Sync.  These login attempts will also count against your five total attempts and can cause repeated lockouts.  Instructions for setting passwords vary by application or device, so visit http://oit.washcoll.edu/zimbra/ for more information.

If you are having difficulties with logging in to Zimbra or think you account may be locked out, contact the HelpDesk at 410-778-7777.

H1N1: Sustaining Your Classroom with Blackboard 9

To assist you with supporting your classroom during a mild Pandemic Flu outbreak, Instructional Technology is offering an advanced Blackboard workshop entitled H1N1: Sustaining the Classroom with Blackboard 9. This one-hour workshop focuses on using the features in Blackboard that help faculty create an interactive and collaborative online experience for students. This workshop will cover creating tests and quizzes, using the Collaboration tools (e.g. Discussion Boards, Virtual Classroom, Chat, Blogs and Journals), managing Groups, iTunes U, and lecture capture with Echo 360. While this hands on workshop is designed to prepare you to extend your classroom beyond its physical space, the skills you will learn are also effective in a traditional teaching environment.

The H1N1: Sustaining the Classroom with Blackboard 9 workshops will be offered on:

• September 15 (T) from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
• September 17 (R) from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• September 22 (T) from 10:00 am - 11:00 am
• September 23 (W) from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

All workshops are held in the Beck Instructional Lab. Please feel free to bring your personal notebook computers or USB flash drive to the workshop.

To register for one of these sessions, visit http://oit.washcoll.edu/trainingandtutorials.php. If you have questions about these workshops, please contact Nancy Cross, Nick Smerker or Sharon Sledge.

Faculty: Blackboard 9 Overview Hands-on Workshops

Instructional Technology is holding four Blackboard 9 Overview hands-on workshops on Thursday, 9/10 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, Wednesday, 9/16 at 11:30 am and Thursday, 9/17 at 10:00 am in the Beck Instructional Lab. Come to one of these 60 or 90 minute sessions to discover all that Blackboard 9 has to offer. During the workshop, you will learn how to upload and manage course materials, work with the Blackboard 9 homepage and course modules, create, collect and grade assignments and learn about Blackboard's collaboration tools. The last 15-30 minutes of each session is reserved for one-on-one project assistance and questions. Please feel free to bring your personal notebook computers or USB flash drive to the workshop.

To register for a Blackboard 9 Overview session, visit:

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

If you have questions about these workshops, please contact Nick Smerker or Nancy Cross.

Zimbra Tip: Clear Phantom Drafts

Does your Zimbra Drafts folder claim that you have messages saved, but none are visible when you click on it?  You could be haunted by phantom drafts!

No need to call the exorcist just yet, though.  Instead, right-click or control-click (Mac) on your Trash folder and choose Empty Trash.  Your Drafts folder should return to normal.  If it doesn't immediately, refresh your browser or click the Get Mail button.

The ghosts of drafts past should now be purged from your Zimbra sidebar.  If you are still seeing phantom drafts, contact the HelpDesk at 410-778-7777.

Attention Snow Leopard Users

It's come to light that the currently installed version of Snow Leopard on many computers may have been downgraded to a less than recent version of Flash player in the process. If you have recently installed Apple's latest and greatest, make sure you visit this link:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/155/tn_15507.html

If your result is version 10.0.23.1, you need to upgrade to a more recent (and more secure version.) To get the upgrade to version 10.0.32.18, just follow this link:

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Please contact the HelpDesk at 410-778-7777 if you have any difficulties upgrading.

(Hat tip to Gene who caught this story on ZDNet today!)