UK faculty and instructors who need training in Blackboard can find seven (yes, seven!) new online training courses with resource materials and video demonstrations included. Developed through a collaboration among UKIT/Academic Technology Group, Distance Learning Programs, and Center for the Enhancement of Learning & Teaching, the courses incorporate materials that are continually updated by Blackboard’s training specialists.

The materials are available to any college, department, or group that would like to facilitate a Blackboard training experience. They are also available for faculty and instructors to use on their own, at their own pace, if they desire.

Participants will need a Development Course shell and a Practice Course shell (which will be populated with simulated students and data in the grade center) to complete the courses. Those who do not have one or both of those shells available can log in to an online form to request them.

The new courses in "Blackboard University" (BbU), include:

• BbU101: Getting Started with Blackboard Learn (introduction to Bb)
• BbU201: Building Courses (planning, course files, content)
• BbU202: Assessing Learners (assignments, assessments, question pools and sets, and more)
• BbU301: Building Online Communities (discussions, journals/blogs, wikis, groups, evaluation)
• BbU302: Designing Engaging Content (preparation, customization)
• BbU401: Monitoring Student Performance (Grade Center, Early Warning System, settings)
• BbU402: Enhancing Communication (discussions, collaboration, chat)

After requesting (if necessary) your Development Course and/or Practice Course, log in to Blackboard using your link-blue login ID and password. Click on the "Courses" sub-tab, and then within the "Course Catalog" module, select ".Learning Systems Support."

To self-enroll, click once on the drop-down menu for any of the training courses listed and select "enroll."

For more information about these and other training materials, please visit the Academic Technology Training Library or email the Blackboard Scholars at Bbscholars@uky.edu.

University of Kentucky Information Technology (UKIT) has launched "clickblue," a new video learning module delivery system complete with credit card authorization and links to other learning materials.

Features of clickblue include:

• Click-to-purchase video selection
• Credit card authorization
• Instant enrollment
• Video delivery and the option of a learning management system tie-in

Content developers produce the video and other materials and retain the rights to their own content.

A collaboration with the College of Pharmacy has produced a beta test of clickblue that included 60 participants. The participants have courses with multiple video modules and ancillary materials provided via a learning management system. According to a January survey, participants found clickblue "easy to access, easy to navigate." The clickBlue team is working to develop an updated consumer interface and administrative tools in preparation for an April 1, 2012, launch of new Pharmacy courses.

UKIT is seeking partnerships with other UK colleges and departments to enhance and expand the use of clickblue. For more information, visit http://www.uky.edu/ukit/about/clickblue or contact Patsy Carruthers at pcarr3@uky.edu.

University of Kentucky Information Technology (UKIT) has developed the first images for the desktop virtualization project. These images provide access to general Windows student lab software for UK students on their personal devices (desktop, laptop, tablet). The ability for students to access student lab software on their personal computing devices will expand the use of the software and provide anywhere, anytime access to software that was previously offered only in the computing labs.

Testing on these first images has been conducted for the past 2 months and will continue as the images are enhanced and improved. Statistics about the use of the software were gathered, and feedback on these initial tests was available at the end of February. If you would like to use the virtual desktop, go to http://apps.uky.edu. The first time you visit, you will be asked to download the Citrix Receiver (if using a mobile device such as an iPad or Android device, you will need to go to the appropriate Store or Market and download the free Citrix Receiver beforehand). The next phase of the project will focus on bringing desktop virtualization to the computing lab classrooms and virtualizing individual applications.

Vince Kellen, Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the University of Kentucky, was selected as a "Dell Transformational CIO" and recognized at Dell's Field Readiness Seminar in Las Vegas on February 9, 2012. Kellen was one of four CIOs worldwide selected to receive this honor.

Kellen's achievement was highlighted on UKNow at http://uknow.uky.edu/content/uks-tech-chief-named-dell-transformational-cio.

University of Kentucky Information Technology offers web content management powered by Drupal (www.drupal.org). Drupal is built, used, and supported by an active, diverse community around the world. At UK, Drupal is supported and used by a growing and dynamic community across campus.

UK departments, colleges, and organizations are invited to explore using Drupal by attending the next Drupal Lounge event Tuesday, April 17 from 2pm to 4pm in the Niles Gallery of the Fine Arts Library. This session will offer an overview of Drupal and a discussion of current trends. In addition, participants are encouraged to ask questions and receive answers from other users and the Drupal support team.

Questions can also be submitted after the session by posting questions on the Discussion Forum at http://uky.edu/cms. The support team encourages users to join the Drupal listserv by going to http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/drupal-users.html. Listserv members will receive regular updates on campus training dates and future Drupal Lounge dates.

Additional information on how Drupal is used on campus is available at https://www.uky.edu/cms.

myUK's Employee Self-Service (ESS) provides UK employees the ability to update personal information, monitor absences and leave balances, track professional development training, and view payroll results and benefits elections. The functionality of ESS will remain the same, but beginning Wednesday, April 18, 2012, the myUK portal appearance will change in several ESS applications. These changes will improve navigation and the overall user experience in the myUK portal.

For questions concerning the ESS upgrade, please feel free to send an email to SAPHRSupport@email.uky.edu.

The new web-based application now available through myUK streamlines the processes for staff to request Information Technology (UKIT) services. This application replaces old forms for phone, data, and CosmoCom requests with a consolidated, "wizard"-based experience. The application is the foundation of a new system to provide users with a common interface, to increase efficiency, and to expedite the workflow of all UKIT service requests.

The requestor, business officer, and UKIT fulfillment team receive a confirmation e-mail with request details after submitting information via the new web-based application. Requestors also have the option to include multiple, and same-type requests on a single request.

UKIT went to great lengths to share the news of the application through presentations across campus, newsletters, and word of mouth. In addition, a diverse group of beta testers used the application for six weeks prior to the campus-wide announcement.

A few comments from beta testers:

"The new UKIT Service Request Application is another great representation of the inclusive and collaborative product development process that is now the UKIT standard.User feedback was solicited at an early stage in development. The product team was engaged and responsive to our concerns and considerate of how the application would be used in our respective areas of responsibility."
– Christopher Canjar, UK Agriculture Data Center

"I was really impressed with how much thought and effort the CNS and IT staff put into making the form user friendly."
– Gail McAlister, UK HealthCare IT Services – Business Services Division

In the first week after the announcement, over 25 percent of UKIT service requests came through the new application. For the weeks beginning September 19 and October 5, over 50 and 85 percent of requests, respectively, were submitted via the new process. On October 4th, an automated notification to business officers based on department was implemented. UKIT will release additional features soon which include request history reporting by department, date, requestor, and cost center.

Since implementing the application, there have been some questions related to help tickets or trouble tickets also referred to as incidents. An interruption of service or problem with existing hardware, software, systems, services, etc… should be reported through the respective customer support (help) desk (ex. UKIT Service Desk for campus and UKHC ITS Help Desk for healthcare areas). The UKIT service request web application is primarily used by business officers and facilities staff to request new UKIT services such as phones or network ports or to change the options/settings on an existing service.

Additional information and screenshots of the new Web-based application are available at www.uky.edu/ukit/UKITServiceRequests.
For other questions, please contact the UKIT Service Desk at 859-218-HELP (4357).

UKIT has a new policy on the local Exchange system for University of Kentucky employees. UK Exchange accounts not accessed for a year or more will be deleted from Exchange to conserve storage. The email in the deleted accounts will NOT be recoverable. Simply log into your UK Exchange email to reset the access date. UK employees are requested to check their UK Exchange email at least once a month. Please share this new policy with co-workers.

University of Kentucky's student email service is provided by Google Apps and Windows Live. These providers fall into the category of "cloud computing" meaning that applications, file storage and email accounts are housed on off-campus servers and can all be accessed through a variety of devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets. The email services offer students expanded mailboxes, additional collaboration and production tools while costing the university less money than the previous email service.

All students have been migrated from Exchange, the university’s former email provider, to "the cloud." Students have the option to choose either a Google Gmail or a Microsoft Live account, but their Universal Email Address "John.L.Doe@uky.edu" remains the same.

The migration excludes Medical students in colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Nursing and Public Health due to health information privacy regulations. UK Student Employees will have the option to access an Exchange account for job purposes, but all other mail (general and course materials) should be sent to the student's "cloud" account.
Links to Student Email FAQs and the login pages for Google Apps and Windows Live are available at www.uky.edu/email.

To further secure the ukyedu wireless network, a change has been made to disallow the use of Remote Desktop (RDP) from the wireless network unless VPN is used. The user has to log in to VPN first, then access RDP. This change was made to further protect the information that flows across the network. A wiki site that details the instructions for installing VPN has been updated to include instructions for connecting to RDP through the ukyedu wireless network. That link is: http://wiki.uky.edu/vpn/Wiki%20Pages/Home.aspx. If you have any questions, please contact the UKIT Service Desk at 859-218-HELP (4357).

UKIT is pleased to announce the release of a new feature for current students, faculty, and staff: The ability to register your wireless device. By registering your wireless device once every six months you can bypass the wireless login page when connecting to our wireless network. For more information please see our wiki article: How to Register Your Wireless Device, or go straight to the Wireless Device Registration site to get started.

UKIT and UK Training and Development have created a Remote Access workshop for staff and faculty. Additional information is available on the UK T&D website at http://hr.uky.edu/TandD/classes/TT066.html

UKIT has renegotiated licenses to allow distribution to more academic users, with total costs of licensing increasing less than 10 percent. The new licensing replaces the previous system of individually authorized purchases and downloads. Funding for the licenses will now be collected at the Provost level. Software offered includes* SAS, SPSS, JMP, SigmaPlot, Matlab, and Qualtrics. All software will be licensed to the user on a yearly basis, and each license requires a brief registration form. During the coming year, UKIT will use this registration information to monitor usage of the software across the colleges, looking especially at teaching/classroom vs. research usage. Statistical software packages are now available for download from https://download.uky.edu.

*Noted exceptions:

• Administrative users are generally not covered under these licenses. Such users should contact Dan O'Brien at danobrien@uky.edu or 859-257-2641 for more information.
• The Matlab license cannot be installed on student-owned computers.
• STATA is still available for individual purchase.

All University of Kentucky faculty and staff members are authorized to use selected Adobe software products, thanks to a recent agreement that was recently signed by UK administrators and the software company.
Since the cost for these licenses has been pre-paid by the university, these software items should not be ordered through any other outlets. All departments can download the products to their UK computers by logging into https://iweb.uky.edu/MSDownload/.

An Adobe FAQ document is available to review at
http://wiki.uky.edu/software/Wiki%20Pages/Adobe%20FAQ.aspx
Acrobat X Upgrade FAQ:
http://wiki.uky.edu/software/Wiki%20Pages/Acrobat%20X%20FAQ.aspx

PowerPoint Slides from the November 15, 2010 Presentation:
http://wiki.uky.edu/software/SupportingDocuments/Adobe-UK%20Higher%20Education%20Agreement%20Presentation%
2011_15_2010.pptx

The following software products are included in the agreement:

• Acrobat 9 Pro WIN/Mac
• CS5 Design Premium WIN/MAC
• CS5 Web Premium Win/MAC
• Captivate
• Presenter
• Photoshop Elements
• Adobe Flex Builder 3
• Adobe AIR
• Adobe ColdFusion 8 (free to educators and students)
• Curriculum and Certification Resources

The agreement benefits the UK community by reducing the costs of acquiring, upgrading, maintaining and managing campus software. It authorizes faculty and staff to use the software on any departmental computer or a home computer for work-related purposes. Proof of the campus's license is maintained centrally to ensure compliance with copyright infringement laws.

Faculty and staff members who need more information or help downloading the software should contact the UKIT Customer Service Center.

Need help leveraging technology? UKIT is pleased to offer you access to Cutter Consortium. Cutter Consortium provides a comprehensive range of consulting, training and content by the leading expert practitioners in business and IT. Click here to sign up (use your UK e-mail address and subscription code: ryaRm)

Are you backed up? Click here to read about services available for desktops and servers.