Technology changes that affect teaching and learning continue to be undertaken this academic year. You may wish to be mindful of the following recent updates:
 

 Gradual Phaseout of VHS Players in Classrooms:

Classroom Technologies will continue to support and replace existing DVD/VHS players in the classrooms, and will install DVD/VHS combo units in new electronic plus classrooms starting Summer 2008 as long as practical, and only if the equipment is still available at a reasonable price in the marketplace. Audiovisual manufacturers have begun to limit and scale back production of DVD/VHS combination units. All classrooms will have support for DVD playback either via a standalone unit or via the installed computer in the classroom. Beginning in the Summer 2008 semester, Classroom Technologies will also make portable VHS players available for checkout in our support offices. Classroom Technologies will continue to support VHS technology in this manner through the end of the Fall 2012 semester. Some, but not all, VHS materials may be converted to digital format. Faculty interested in exploring the possibility of converting VHS to DVD may contact the STAR lab at (703) 993-8990.

 The Future of Slide Projectors in Classrooms:

Classroom Technologies will no longer support Slide Projectors in classrooms or as checkout equipment at the conclusion of the Spring 2009 semester. This decision is being made as many major manufacturers of slide projectors and slide projector parts have ceased production. If you need assistance with converting slides to digital, please contact STAR for information at (703) 993-8990. In addition, some departments may have their own procedure for conversion of slides to digital media.

 Phaseout of WebCT 4.1 :

Last spring and through the fall semester, Learning Support Services advised faculty, staff, and students of Blackboard’s announcement to discontinue supporting older versions of its learning management systems, including WebCT 4.1. In response, Mason decided to upgrade its central Learning Management System to Blackboard Campus Edition 6 (CE6). Courses began using CE6 in pilot during the fall and this semester, and all courses using Mason’s central Learning Management System will be using CE6 beginning this summer.

What does this mean for you?

1. No need to request course folder creation
   
   Faculty desiring to use a learning management system for their Summer 2008 courses will not need to request WebCT 4.1 course folders but will have course folders automatically available to you in CE6 system by accessing http://courses.gmu.edu/.
2. How to use my content from WebCT 4.1
   
   In order to retain course content that you created using WebCT 4.1, ***Please Backup Your Course*** Directions to do so may be found at http://www.irc.gmu.edu/coursetools/webct/CreatingBackup.pdf.
   
   In addition, you may migrate your course content from WebCT 4.1 to CE6 by using the directions at: http://irc.gmu.edu/ce6transition/. If you need assistance migrating your course content, please contact Learning Support Services at 703-993-3141 or email courses@gmu.edu.
3. Availability of course content from WebCT 4.1
   
   Because course content you placed in WebCT 4.1 will not be accessible after December 31, 2008, courses created in Fall 2007 need to be backed up before the end of the Spring 2008 semester; courses created in Spring 2008 in CE4.1 need to be backed up before the end of Summer 2008. Please follow the instructions above to backup and/or migrate your course materials before these deadlines.
4. To learn about CE6
   
   We are offering workshops, consultations, and online materials to assist you in using Campus Edition 6 and to transition your course to Campus Edition 6. Please consult http://ittraining.gmu.edu for upcoming workshops or contact bwadams@gmu.edu to arrange an individual or departmental consultation. To review materials about Campus Edition 6 at your own convenience, see http://www.irc.gmu.edu/ce6transition/.

Other technology changes that have also occurred recently:

• an upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007 in technology classrooms and open computer labs
• the availability of new equipment in eight technology classrooms on the Fairfax campus
• the availability of overhead projectors in technology classrooms, upon request

 Microsoft Office 2007 (MSO 2007):

Classroom and lab computers will continue to save MSO 2007 documents as 2003 documents throughout the Spring semester. This will allow for some flexibility for faculty and staff who have not upgraded to MSO 2007 yet. ITU recommends that faculty contact the ITU Support Center at 3-8870 to request an upgrade from MSO 2003 to MSO 2007. Faculty can purchase a “home use” copy of the MSO 2007 at Patriot Computers 3-4100 for $15. Please see the web page http://transition.gmu.edu for help with transitioning to the new version of MSO 2007.

 Overhead Projectors:

Overhead projectors are removed from classrooms after document cameras are installed. Faculty who would like to continue to use an overhead projector in a technology classroom may contact Classroom Technologies at 3-3456 (Fairfax), 3-8226 (Arlington) and 3-8499 (Prince William). Faculty who want to learn more about how to use a document camera in their class may contact Learning Support Services at 3-3141 to schedule a consultation.

Rooms in which faculty teach change from semester to semester. Therefore, Mason’s limited supply of overhead projectors is restocked to a central location at the end of each semester. If you want to use an overhead projector for your spring semester class, please advise Classroom Technologies, even if you used an overhead projector last semester and are scheduled to teach in the same room. Contact Classroom Technologies at 3-3456 (Fairfax), 3-8226 (Arlington) and 3-8499 (Prince William).

 Change in Classroom Type Nomenclature:

In coordination with the Registrar’s Office, Classroom Technologies has worked to clarify room “types” based on technology installed in the classrooms. These classroom types will allow the Office of the Registrar to more effectively match faculty need with rooms available. All room types denote minimum functionality. Some rooms may have additional equipment or expanded functionality.

• General:
  Projection Screen, TV, DVD/VCR, Overhead Projector
• Smart:
  Projection Screen, DVD/VCR, LCD Projector, Overhead Projector
• Electronic:
  Projection Screen, DVD Playback (via Computer), LCD Projector, Instructor Computer, Overhead Projector
• Electronic Plus:
  Projection Screen, DVD/VCR, LCD Projector, Instructor Computer, Document Camera
• Computer Classroom:
  Projection Screen, DVD/VCR, LCD Projector, Instructor Computer, Document Camera, One Computer per Student Seat

 Technology Classroom Upgrades Over Winter Break

During the winter break, eight classrooms at the Fairfax Campus were upgraded to electronic plus classrooms. They are:

• East Building, room 122
• Krug Hall, room 5
• Krug Hall, room 7
• Robinson Hall, rooms A111, B111, B113, B104 and B201

These new electronic plus classrooms will contain an instructor computer, LCD projector, projection screen, document camera, and DVD/VCR.

 New Microphones in “Electronic Plus” Classrooms

Classroom Technologies introduced a new type of microphone into the electronic plus classrooms starting with the technology classroom upgrades done during the Winter 2007/2008 break. The Revolabs Solo Desktop microphone is rechargeable and will save the university a significant amount of money from battery replacements. For more information, see: (http://www.revolabs.com/products/solo/desktop/). The use of rechargeable batteries responds, in part, to Mason’s commitment to reduce energy consumption. A single charge will last the entire instructional day. The microphone can be used either as lavaliere or handheld microphone. Classroom Technologies will continue to install two microphones per classroom.

 Podcasting

In response to requests to be able to create and distribute audio and video files electronically (aka "podcasting"), the Division of Instructional Technology has been working with faculty to determine what support will need to be made available as well as cost-effective ways to provide that support.

A task force that included faculty evaluated a variety of in-class audio recording devices for audio podcasting and recommended a digital audio recorder and a lavaliere microphone to support the recording of class content. These portable recording units are available for faculty evaluation and may be checked-out from Classroom Technologies. Faculty desiring a course site for their podcast materials may contact Learning Support Services at 3-3141, for assistance.