It's official.  Incoming First Year students will each get a "New iPad" as the digital foundation for the new GC Core curriculum.  As IT Director for Goshen College, I'm *very* excited about this development because it puts the college on the vanguard of one of the most significant technology shifts since the advent of the PC itself.  Furthermore, the iPad is still largely undefined as a pedagogical device and this puts Goshen College in a position to play a leading role in defining the iPad as a tool for teaching and learning. That's going to make GC a very exciting place to be for the next few years, for students and profs. This announcement is really just the beginning.  For more information on the iCore Initiative, check out:  http://www.goshen.edu/icore/

Technology is integral to your education here at GC.  Here's a brief summary of what you need to know to make the most of it:

• Get started:  Your GC computer account is like your toothbrush--don't share it with anyone.
• Get smart:  ITS will NEVER ask your for your password via email. Don't give it away. If in doubt, contact the helpdesk.
• Get connected:  GC provides wired and wireless connections in the dorms and wireless campuswide. You need to register your computer on both the wired and wireless networks. It's quite simple--like logging on at a hotel or coffee shop.  Just use your GC ID and password.
• Go faster:  Use the wired network for intensive work and whenever you don't need mobility. We'll even give you a free ethernet cable. Just ask for one at the helpdesk in Schertz Lab.
• Get help:  If you have difficulty registering or have other technology-related questions, contact the help desk at x7700 or
• Get legal.  When you register your computer you agree to respect copyright, which means no illegal downloading of copyrighted music or movies. ITS is obligated by law to respond to any complaints against students, which typically means revoking network access until the offending material is removed. EduCAUSE maintains a list of legal download services here.  Many of them are free.
• Get oriented:  Get the full handout for Technology at Goshen College. This orientation handout tells you everything you need to know about our technology services, accessing the network from on campus of off campus, printing, and software discounts.
• Get communicating:  Your GC email account is where academic and official communications will be sent. You can forward it if you want, but you must read it regularly.
• Get collaborating:  Most students end up using Zimbra for email because 1) it is tied into the campus email directory, 2) Zimbra calendar is auto-populated with room and course schedules, which facilitates setting up meetings and events.
• Get output:  ITS supplies you with $15 per semester of printing/copying credit ($7.50 for May Term). Duplex printing is 5 cents per side.  You must be logged into GC File to print.  For copying, you can use any of the publicly-accessible Toshiba e455 networked copiers on campus. Just log in with your GC ID and copy.  Color printing is available Schertz Lab and the Art Building.  All copiers print and copy 11 x 17 at no extra cost.
• Save paper.  All GC output devices (printer/copiers) now duplex by default.  Also, all copiers can scan documents to your GC File account. Scanning is free!
• Store:  iTS provides you with multiple gigabytes of storage on GC File and the Classes drive. If you need more, ask for it.
• Save:  GC students receive software discounts on Microsoft and Adobe products through e-academy.
• Get mobile:  Zimbra works well with modern smartphones.  Just tell your phone that mail.goshen.edu is an Exchange server.  GC WiFi has been updated to support registering smartphones from the major manufacturers.
• Get paid:  the online timecard is on GC Online along with numerous other useful services like the password changing utility, registration and advising tools, account balances, etc.
• Get informed:  read the Communicator daily so you know what's going on.

OK.  Public computing facilities and departmental labs have been upgraded to Mac Mini's running Windows 7.  Early returns? They're totally silent and blazing fast.  Eight seconds to a working desktop and Office 2010 opens instantly.  This means no waiting around at the beginning of a class or quick trip to the computer lab. People are ecstatic.  Oh, and they save the college thousands of dollars per year in electricity costs.  Could it get any better?

 

We're excited. GC is in the process of rolling out the coolest, greenest desktop upgrade in higher ed.  This spring ITS purchased 400 Mac Mini's which will replace all desktop PC's prior to our 2008 models with power-sipping, quiet, elegant Mac Mini's.  It's our green desktop standard and it runs either Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Windows 7.  On the Windows 7 front, GC has arguably the most aggressive Windows 7 rollout in the region, and we're going to 64 bit Windows 7 this summer. I couldn't find another college that wasn't going to 32 bit Windows 7 as an interim step. The attraction of going to 64 bit now, is that you avoid another painful migration two years out, or the scenario where you are maintaining 32 bit and 64 bit templates. So, tip of the hat to Dan Stutzman and rest of the ITS team--they're making it work

 

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Over break, ITS installed five LaserJet 5200tn wide format printers across campus. These printers replace aging LaserJet 5000 printers in Schertz Lab, Newcomer 12 Lab, and the Visual Arts building. Also, the Communications Hub, home of the Record, received an upgrade from a standard 8.5 x 11 printer to a tabloid printer which allows them to print 11 x 17 layout proofs. The new printers are rated at 35 pages per minute--more than four times faster than the earlier models.