Welcome to this edition of Inside ITS! Inside ITS keeps users informed about technology services available at Weill Cornell.
In this issue:
- Updated technologies for an updated curriculum
- Learning to use Lync: Hands-on demos at the Wood Library
- Treasure Hunt introduces new students to Library services
- Updated WCMC document templates available
- WCMC begins transition to new desk phones
Updated technologies for an updated curriculum
The launch of WCMC's new curriculum this fall required a large number of technology upgrades to support this initiative. The college's focus on greater integration of science teaching with clinical teaching places a bigger role on our use of technology. ITS' Education Technology Group (ETG) has worked hand-in-hand with faculty and students to develop solutions on how to best incorporate IT services into this curriculum.
Multiple systems will support the new curriculum, including our Learning Management System, Apple TV, iTunes U, Student Information System, and others. As a result, more than 200 faculty members will become users of 10 systems, with ETG providing training. To assist, ETG created a self-service website for faculty including information on instructional design, glossary of tools and resources, and details on support.
Additionally, ETG and several other divisions of ITS were instrumental in upgrading technologies in the newly renovated Education Center, which opened on August 18. Twenty classrooms now feature state-of-the-art technologies for a more innovative learning environment, including:
- Upgraded functions on iMac computer stations
- Flat panel screens available for presentation and collaboration
- Enhanced Apple TV setup allowing users to present on one or multiple screens in a given room wirelessly from a variety of iOS mobile devices
- Updated wired and wireless infrastructure for improved connectivity throughout the Edcenter
- Wireless audio systems for combined small group teaching rooms
- Digital projection in combined small group teaching rooms
- Easily movable desks allowing for multiple setups to work and collaborate
Inside one of the teaching rooms at the Edcenter, which features computer workstations and flat panel screens for presentation purposes via Apple TV.
Students can easily access help documentation on how to use these updated features by accessing one of our Mac workstations in the Education Center and locating the "WCMC Resources" in the dock.
For more information on educational technologies, please email edweb@med.cornell.edu.
Learning to use Lync: Hands-on demos at the Wood Library
Faculty, staff, and students stopped by the Library Collaboration Room to learn more about Lync, the new college-wide collaboration tool. ITS trainers held short demonstration sessions from August 8-21, allowing users to play with the tool on different platforms and ask questions about how Lync could be utilized in their work. Approximately 60 users attended the demo, representing various WCMC departments.
One of the most well-received features was Lync's integration with Outlook, allowing a user to easily set up an online meeting and conference bridge with the push of a button. Incorporation with Exchange also allows you to see whether someone is available, away, or busy. Moreover, participants liked the ease of searching for colleagues and engaging in chat sessions with one or multiple people to assist with their work.
Diana Delgado (left) of the Library gets a quick one-on-one session from ITS trainers Kevin Johnston (center) and Jason Goodman (right) on Lync's basic functionality.
These demonstrations are just the start of a new ITS initiative called "Tech Tuesdays," which will proactively bring demos and helpful tips on different services to users. Stay tuned for more news about these events in the future.
Lync, which is replacing Spark, is the fast and secure way to communicate across campus. It features instant messaging and desktop sharing, and you can even make and receive phone calls using your WCMC phone number from your mobile phone. We highly recommend downloading the service if you don't already have it installed on your device. If you were unable to attend one of our Lync demos in person, feel free to visit our website for more information on how to download and use this application, or contact its-training@med.cornell.edu for training details.
Treasure Hunt introduces new students to Library services
Nine teams of first-year medical students scoured the Wood Library on Friday, August 22, as part of the annual Treasure Hunt orientation to the Library's services and resources.
The teams were given a map and an initial clue that allowed each of them to find a different station inside the Library. At each station, staff members told the students about a library service, resource, or policy and then provided them with the next clue in the form a of a QR code, scanned by the students on their iPads.
The first three teams to complete all the clues and score highest on the final quiz (this is medical school, so there had to be a quiz!) won prizes: lunch at the Griffis Faculty Club, Weill Cornell t-shirts, or secure flash drives. All the students won spill-proof Library mugs and gained an introduction to the wealth of knowledge housed in the Library's collections.
After a long week of orientation lectures, the students welcomed the chance to get out of their seats and race around the Library. As Dr. Joseph Murray, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, commented: "The treasure hunt has been a lot of fun... it's the last official activity we have planned for orientation week, so it sends them [the students] off on a high. Most importantly, it introduces them to the librarians themselves, which is the best resource they can find."
A tradition since 2006, the Treasure Hunt now involves not only all of the Library staff but also volunteers from the SMARTDesk and Duplicating Services. Thanks to all who participated this year, which was especially challenging with large areas of the Library closed for renovations.
First-year students put on their best pirate faces for the Library's annual Treasure Hunt.
Updated WCMC document templates available
Have a big presentation coming up? Our Web Communications team, in conjunction with the Office of External Affairs, recently launched an updated version of WCMC's official templates for faculty, staff, and students to use for all internal and external presentations. Included are templates for presentations (PowerPoint or Keynote), letterhead, business documents, and memos. Logo packages are also available, along with the WCMC style guide on proper logo use. Correct use of the WCMC logos and templates helps improve our institutional image through consistent branding.
Files can be downloaded at our WCMC Brand Information intranet site. If you're using a Virtual Desktop (VDI), these templates have already been installed as part of your session. Additionally, the Art & Photo team can assist you in designing a poster, presentation, newsletter, and other materials. Don't forget Duplicating can also help you print and professional poster or booklet at competitive prices.
Any questions related to the WCMC brand, identity, or logo usage can be directed to logo@med.cornell.edu.
WCMC begins transition to new desk phones
Starting next month, ITS will reach out to departments about the new Avaya phone installation. Our Network and Communications Services Group (NCSG) aims to upgrade 4,000 desk phones around campus by June 2015. This newer platform will allow WCMC to be better equipped for new functionality and technologies released by Avaya, our vendor, which acquired Nortel in 2009.
New Avaya phone model that will be installed at WCMC.
The new phones have some added features and a slightly different set up than the current Nortel phones you may have. To give you a sneak peek of the Avaya phone functionality, feel free to visit our IP Phones page on the ITS website. You'll find some great new additions, such as:
- Voicemails emailed to your WCMC account as .wav files
- Enhanced searching capability to find contacts in phone's directory
- Integration with Lync
Please note that this does not affect users who get phone service from NYP. ITS will be reaching out to your department soon, but if you have any questions, please contact support@med.cornell.edu.