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20080125 Friday January 25, 2008

 Getting started with Elluminate Live! (web conferencing)

You've probably heard (if not participated) about Elluminate Live! web conferences.  Elluminate Live! is a great way to be in two places at once.  If you've heard about it or just want to see what all the buzz is about, the best way to learn is to dive in.  I'll be teaching several sessions of "Intro to Elluminate Live! for Participants" and "Intro to Elluminate Live! for Moderators" classes during the next month.  To register,  go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/xlms or http://jdorner.notlong.com/calendar.html (for my Extension friends outside of NCSU, just send me an email and I'll send you the link to join us).

Note: if the sessions aren't listed in the LMS, you can register by following the links in my training calendar.

Potential Uses:

Replaces telephone conference calls.
+ FREE
+ Give and receive non-verbal feedback (i.e. laughter, confused looks, raise your hand, applause, thumbs down)
+ Take polls
+ Show applications on your computer (or your entire desktop)
+ Brainstorm on the white board
+ Record the session for those who were not able to attend
+ Text chat with other participants without disrupting the speaker
+ Ask your questions in the chat window without disrupting the speaker
+ Share video (one video camera at a time)
- Requires that you are sitting at a computer connected to the internet (no cell phone access)

Computer Help (visit my virtual office from my home page)
+ Show someone exactly what problem you are having
+ Let them control your computer (if you like)

Take and Teach Classes
+ NO TRAVEL TIME
+ NO TRAVEL EXPENSES
+ Can use "break out rooms" for small group discussions.
+ Lots of seats

Virtual Office
+ Just like a real office, except accessible by anyone from any place (on the internet)
+ Bad hair days just don't matter
- Difficult for people to bring  you coffee and donuts

Staff Conferences for a geographically distributed staff

Bring in a guest speaker to a meeting
+ Project speaker's presentation onto screen
+ NO TRAVEL EXPENSES
+ NO TRAVEL TIME for the speaker
+ Speaker could be presenting to several locations simultaneously
- Requires special microphone for best results
- Speaker cannot see the audience and them see him simultaneously




Posted by jdorner ( Jan 25 2008, 03:32:08 PM EST / Jan 25 2008, 03:32:04 PM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/getting_started_with_elluminate_web

20071212 Wednesday December 12, 2007

 Do you have a blog?

I'd like to create a collection of Extension Blogs.  If you have created a blog to enhance your Extension Programming or know of another agent or specialist's blog, please share it - either by commenting to this article or emailing me at john_dorner@ncsu.edu.  I've started a PageFlakes page with blogs of interest to Extension, but thought it would be good to have one with just Extension produced blogs for current and future Extension Bloggers to look at for ideas and inspiration. 

[UPDATE] - I've started posting these at: http://www.pageflakes.com/extension/

Also, since it is getting close to "evaluation time", please let me know if I played a part in getting you started blogging and if so, what part (awareness, motivation, initial setup, etc.).

If you haven't started blogging or want to learn more about it, in my Scouting Around blog, I recently wrote an post titled "Do you Blog? or Why Blog?"  If you don't blog, that is a good place to go if you want to know why. 

If you want to get started blogging, I'll be teaching a class on starting a blog (via Elluminate Live!) on Monday 12/17 from 9-11 at  http://slms.delta.ncsu.edu/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1193259183867 (NCCE staff, please register at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/xlms/event_display.php?event_id=1142)




Posted by jdorner ( Dec 12 2007, 03:56:56 PM EST / Dec 12 2007, 03:55:23 PM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/do_you_have_a_blog

20071202 Sunday December 02, 2007

 Soil Sampling Video

Here's a great use of YouTube to share educational information.





http://youtube.com/watch?v=3YuA20kZ1EA

This video demonstrates how to take a sample for a soil analysis. For more information about the South Carolina Master Gardener program vist http://www.clemson.edu/sandhill/page.htm?pageId=2303

For more information about gardening visit http://hgic.clemson.edu

Posted by jdorner ( Dec 02 2007, 03:01:59 PM EST / Dec 02 2007, 03:01:08 PM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/soil_sampling_video

20071008 Monday October 08, 2007

 NCSU Symantec Antivirus Problem

If you were running Symantec Antivirus (SAV)10 for Windows on October 2, 2007 and getting your updates from NCSU, your SAV may not be getting updated.

To find out if you have this problem, open SAV (On PCs: Start -> All Programs -> Symantec Client Security -> Symantec Antivirus) and look at the Virus Definition File's Version.  If it is 10/2/2007, then follow the instructions at: http://help.ncsu.edu/solutions/all/3513.php.

The Virus Definition File Version should always be current  - within a day or two.  If not, then run Live Update.

If you have any problems, please contact your Area IM Agent.



Posted by jdorner ( Oct 08 2007, 11:30:50 AM EDT / Oct 08 2007, 11:20:51 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/ncsu_symantec_antivirus_problem

 Google Docs

Google Docs is a GREAT way to share documents (word processing files, spreadsheets and now presentations) and work with other people.  If you haven't used it yet, you owe it to yourself to take a look!  All you need is a Google account.

The key to working smarter is working together.  Today, there are lots of tools that can help you do this more efficiently and Google Docs is one of them.  I'll write about others I use in future articles.

I have been using Google Docs for about a year now. Now, I save very few, if any, documents to my hard drive.  They all go into Google Docs. The straw that broke the camels back and pushed me into using Google Docs for just about everything I do happened one day this spring.  I needed to see the budget my secretary kept on her computer and she was out of town for a week. There was no way I could get to that file (legally).  When she got back, we put that spreadsheet into Google Docs where we could both access it and work on it. I've heard of many such problems in the county offices. 

Reasons I love Google Docs:
  • I can access my files from any computer connected to the internet. Very nice if you use more than one computer.
  • Other people (I choose who) can be allowed to edit - this is the REAL power
  • Other people (I choose who) can be allowed to view
  • Documents can be published to the web to share with a lot of people with two clicks
  • Every change is recorded - along with who made the change
  • Integrated with Google Mail (if you use gMail)
  • FREE
  • EASY
  • FAST

Reasons Google Docs is not perfect:
  • It is not a desk top publishing (DTP) application.  For the rare occasion when I need to format a document for paper beyond the capabilities of Google Docs, I save it to my computer and use the appropriate application for DTP. I use Google Docs to create, get others' input and help and then do any final layout using a DTP app on my computer.
  • I find it easier to move around and edit a spreadsheet using Excel or Calc.  So, if I'm going to be doing some major work on a spreadsheet, I'll work on it locally and then upload it when I'm done.
  • Presentations doesn't allow me to edit the background or add animatation.
  • Presenations doesn't allow me to save as a PowerPoint  file.
  • It does about 95% of what I need a word processor to do, about 90% of what I need a spreadsheet application to do and about 80% of what I need a presentation application to do. What I lose in functionality, I more than make up for in other ways.

Over the last year, Google Docs has made a lot of improvements and new features are being added at a fast pace.   If it doesn't do what you need today, keep watching. 

For a quick overview of Google Docs, see: Google Docs in Plain English.

If you have any questions or would like some help getting started, just let me or your IM Agent know.


Posted by jdorner ( Oct 08 2007, 10:12:53 AM EDT / Oct 08 2007, 09:24:17 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/google_docs

20071003 Wednesday October 03, 2007

 Time to review your website

Have you looked at your website recently?

Do you have "news" that is more than a month old on the home page?

Some counties are doing a great job posting news stories and keeping their site updated with fresh content. Some counties have only one program area with updated content and some counties sites haven't changed anything on their site since it was rolled out two years ago.

What should be updated on your county web site?

On the Home Page
  • Special announcements
    • Keep short to avoid pushing the rest of the content out of sight
    • If you want to share a lot of information, create a new page and link to it
    • Remove by deleting the content if there are no 'special announcements'
  • Message (gray box)
    • This is another place to put a brief message
    • Make sure it has current and correct information
    • Localize, Localize, Localize!
  • Image and Caption
    • A thumbnail image and a short paragraph
    • May have a link to another page
    • Great for grabbing visitors' attention
  • Events
    • Announce all of your meetings and activities 
    • The next two upcoming events will appear on the home page
  • News Stories
    • Write the articles you would if you had a column in a local daily newspaper
    • If you do write a column for your paper, post it here, too, to get more mileage out of it.
    • The last two edited stories will appear on the home page
    • These are syndicated through RSS feeds (or click on "RSS" at the bottom of your county pages) let your local papers know about your news feeds.  This may be an easier way for the news people to keep up on what you are doing and provide them with ideas for stories.
On the Category Pages (i.e. Field Crops, Community, etc.)
  • Message (gray box)
    • This is a place to put a message about what you do in your county in related to this category
    • Make sure it has current and correct information
    • Localize it!
  • Image and Caption
    • A thumbnail image and a short paragraph related to this category
    • May have a link to another page
    • Great for promoting an event or program
  • Events
    • Announce all of your meetings and activities in this category
    • The next two upcoming events in this category are displayed
    • Events can be assigned to multiple categories
  • News Stories
    • The last two edited stories in this category are displayed
    • To remove, you need to delete all the stories ever posted in this category or post two new stories
  • Featured Links
    • Links to other web pages or site related to this topic
    • Make sure they are appropriate for your county
    • Localize! Remove links that aren't apropriate for you county and add links that are appropriate.
Create NEW Content
  • You can create as many new pages as you like.
  • Link to them from any place on your county web site!
Permissions

If you don't have access rights to edit your county site,  work with your County Extension Director.  All CEDs have the ability to grant staff members editing privileges to edit the county web site.

Getting Help

If you have any questions or need help updating or adding content to your county site, please contact your Information Management Agent.


Posted by jdorner ( Oct 03 2007, 10:00:48 AM EDT / Oct 03 2007, 09:37:37 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/time_to_review_your_website

20070921 Friday September 21, 2007

 Dealing with email quota

If you have problems running over your email quota on the NCSU mail server, I've started a wiki page with some tips to help you. Cleaning Up Your Mail When You Are Close To Quota.  Please feel free to add your own tips!

You can get to these from the Intranet.  Go to: "IT Resources".  In the "E-Mail" section, click on Cleaning Up Your Mail When You Are Close To Quota.

Quick summary:
  1. Maximize your Quota
  2. Get rid of your SPAM
  3. Empty your Trash
  4. Deal with the largest messages first
If you have any questions or need help, please contact your Area Information Management Agent.


Posted by jdorner ( Sep 21 2007, 10:39:26 AM EDT / Sep 21 2007, 10:37:27 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/dealing_with_email_quota

20070912 Wednesday September 12, 2007

 University Security Update

If you have a unity account, you probably recently received a message about the new University Password Policy. 

There are a couple of points I want to make sure you take away from this message.

1. MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you have not done so yet, update your UIA information.  (User Identification and Authentication (UIA) is an online verification procedure implemented by Resource Management and Information Systems and used by University Help Desks to identify customers who make telephone requests to those help desks to have their passwords reset.) Go to: http://www.acs.ncsu.edu/uia to select three questions that the helpdesk will use to identify you.  If you forget your password (or mistype it more than 8 times in a row), you will need to personally visit the University Help Desk with a photo ID - UNLESS you have previously updated your UIA information.  You can't do this after you have forgotten your password!!!


2. Depending on your security level, you will need to change your unity password every 365 days, 90 days or 30 days.  If you are accessing the Human Resources and Financial System (i.e. you enter your travel reimbursement requests), you will need to change your password every 90 days.  You will know when it is time because 14 days prior to needing to change your password, you will start getting a reminder when you log in.  When you see this reminder, go ahead and follow the instructions to change your password.


Posted by jdorner ( Sep 12 2007, 04:15:53 PM EDT / Sep 12 2007, 04:15:33 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [1]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/university_security_update

20070907 Friday September 07, 2007

 Change the look of a wiki

Did you know that many wikis are customizable? Some that are include the NCCE Intranet, eXtension wikis and even Wikipedia. 

You can change the way the wiki appears for you - not others, but first you have to be logged in. Why would you want to do this?  Some layouts look better on different screen resolutions or just personal preferences.

After  you've logged in, click on "Preferences" link in the upper right corner (usually - depending on how you've customized the wiki).

Then, click on the "Skin" tab.

Choose the "Skin" you like best - use the "Preview" to see how it is going to look on your computer first - and then "Save".


So, if you don't like the way the wiki is being shown on your screen, just choose a different skin.




Posted by jdorner ( Sep 07 2007, 11:19:26 AM EDT / Sep 07 2007, 11:17:38 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/change_the_look_of_a

20070711 Wednesday July 11, 2007

 Survey tools

CALS has a Survey Builder at http://ceres.cals.ncsu.edu/surveybuilder/ that we (NCCE) are welcome to use.

This is a very easy tool to use to create an online survey.

If this isn't robust enough to suit your needs, then check out some of the online survey tools like:

Instant Survey: http://www.instantsurvey.com/

SurveyMonkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/

Zoomerang: http://www.zoomerang.com/




Posted by jdorner ( Jul 11 2007, 04:34:00 PM EDT / Jul 11 2007, 04:23:22 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/trackback/techtalk/Weblog/survey_tools

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