The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
Being Resourceful in Challenging Times
Educause SW Regional Conference
Cathy Pierson
A report to the Academic Services Team
March 3, 2004
Organization &
Conference
I attended Educause SW Regional Conference. The conference was held
February 25-27, 2004 in Dallas, Texas.
Southwest Regional Conference - http://www.educause.edu/conference/swrc/
The mission of EDUCAUSE is to advance higher education by promoting the
intelligent use of information technology.
EDUCAUSE programs include professional development activities, print and
electronic publications, strategic policy initiatives, research, awards for leadership
and exemplary practices, and a wealth of online information services. The current
membership comprises nearly 1,900 colleges, universities, and education
organizations, including more than 180 corporations, and more than 13,000 active
member representatives. EDUCAUSE has offices in Boulder, Colorado, and
Washington, D.C.
What’s New at EDUCAUSE
Free Web seminar with Internet2's Douglas Van Houweling
ECAR's publicly available research studies and bulletins
Effective Security Practices Guide
ECAR bulletin on globalization's impact on campus networks
Resources on IT funding, security, and spam
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
Sessions
#1 Overview
General Session
Wed. 1pm
The Condition of the Community: IT Leadership in Higher
Education
Richard N. Katz, Vice President, EDUCAUSE
Abstract
In the summer of 2003, the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR)
undertook an unprecedented study of information technology professionals and
leaders. This presentation presents the results of this study of nearly 2,000
members of our community focusing on leadership style, the innovation
environment, labor mobility, mentoring, leadership continuity, and other issues.
Key Concepts:
 Archtypical CIO
 Sr. most IT leader
 Aspirants
 Non-aspirants
 Central IT <->local IT
Key Findings – Leadership Continuity
 Rich deep interesting community
 True calling – very rewarding
 Aging & leaving soon
 IT leaders are good at leadership
 Mentoring is very effective – more transformational abilities emerge
 CIO’s in general are being redefined
Next generation is in their 30’s and it appears their will be shortages in leadership
in the next 10 years. CIOs in industry are seeing more salary cuts and less direct
involvement in operating decisions. 2nd level experts are making decisions.
“Technology is woven into the fabric of all services”
#2 Dealing with the
Dark Side:
Managing Malware
Menace
By Jenifer Jarriel, VP
for IT & CIO Baylor
College of Medicine
(BCM)
Abstract
An increasing number of worms, viruses, hoaxes, and spam continue to bombard
university and other organization networks, resulting in billion dollar productivity
loss. In response, Baylor College of Medicine's IT department developed a
comprehensive program involving people, processes, policies/procedures, and
technology. The program accommodates the decentralized nature of a university
by leveraging department and enterprise IT resources and has diminished the
frequency and impact of malware on the college's IT infrastructure.
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IT Asset
Management &
Planning Initiative

Jan 03 - $4 Billion world wide in costs due to Slammer Worm; SoBig $300 Million world wide
o Out of 9000 PCs – 2100 were cleaned & remediated
o Helpdesk calls – Average 100 calls daily -> rose to 750 calls
o BCM costs of $2.4 Million
Aug 03 – BCM lost connectivity – cost $100, 000 in remediation
o 75 new viruses – average institution cost $18,000
04 – 64% of all email is SPAM
IT Asset Management & Planning Initiative
 Support diverse platforms of PCs, Macs & Unix boxes
 Policy Development
o Anti Virus – Norton Products
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
o
o
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Policies for Remediation of Infected Systems
Policies for Patch Management
 Review patches in 24 hours – implement in 74 hours
o Policies for Virtual Domains (anyone can create their own ones)
o Policies for Web Server management
Disaster Recovery Plan
Network Scanning Issues
Computer Life Cycle – 4 yrs for desktops
Enterprise Active Directory
Phase 1 – Costs - $769,000 for Patch & Asset Management Implementation
Phase 2 – Analysis of software & hardware Upgrades for Central Departments
(depts. have to budget for this)
Phase 3 – Upgrade machines
Summary of Funding
 Minimum of $ 4-5 Million
 Over 4 year time frame
 Cost savings:
o Reduced downtime
o Quicker resolution time
o Quicker setup times
o Reduced costs during virus outbreaks
 75% cost savings using standardized machines configurations
 5000 PCs need patches – savings of $34,000 with a patch management
system
# 3 Cost-Effective
Monitoring of
Classroom
Technology at UNT
By Maurice
Leatherbury,
Executive Director IT
and Academic
Computing,
University of North
Texas
- 31,000 students
- 332 classrooms
Equipment Podium
& Monitoring
System in 185
classrooms
Abstract
The University of North Texas has equipped its 178 general purpose classrooms
with a standard configuration of classroom equipment. A locally developed
system (demonstrated during the presentation) monitors the status of the
equipment in real time, providing fast response to problems as well as increasing
equipment security.
1996 Provost report on Classrooms indicated ‘poor support’.
 Problem:
o Chained equipment; obsolete projectors
o 180 classrooms with none unless cart system delivered daily
 Planning group studied – fund at central levels
 Approved new service – CSS – Classroom Support Services
o Evolved out of the Microcomputer Maintenance Shop
 CSS funded through a Technology Fee
o $1.70/per credit hour = $1.2 million
 8 fulltime and 5 part time; staffed 7am to Midnight
 Issues:
o Build a work order system & inventory
o Standardize equipment
o Build a simple standard equipment rack
o Build a remote Monitoring System
o Fix/Adjust Room Lighting in classrooms
 Took 4 years to rollout
Equipment Cart – Podium (all the same) - $7700 for equipment (does not include
Cart Framework)
 AMX standard
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
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Computer w/ DVD
Data jacks for laptop
VCR
NEC GT 1150 Project
CSS Remote Monitoring Software Program
o Developed in house using Visual Basic 6
o Computer Stats
 Software ghosted every night- multicast
 Programs running
 Date/version last HD image
 Network connectivity status
 Screen saver on/off
 Last reboot
 Change of disk space use
o Projector stats
 Model #
 On/off status
 Lamp hours used
 Temperature
 Error states (cover open etc.)
o Alert Conditions – Projector -> Computer -> Network
Contact: Jim Curry – jimc@unt.edu
- No web cams! – No Theft!!
#4 Pedagogical Value
of PowerPoint
By Trinity University
Good Handout on
Pedagogical
Recommendations
Abstract
Trinity University is conducting a qualitative investigation to assess the
pedagogical value of PowerPoint in the classroom. PowerPoint has been criticized
as a tool that "routinely disrupts, dominates, and trivializes content" (Tufte, 2003),
yet many educators consider it vital to their classroom activities. This study will
survey students about their perception of the value of PowerPoint and also
identify other indicators of outcomes (for example, grades and evaluations).
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PowerPoint is second in use next to Email
Passive Consumers of PowerPoint
Wanted evidence of learning
o Irrelevant content & visuals affects students exams
o Hard to make interconnected ideas between slides
o Simplifies complex ideas
Interesting Note: After the NASA Challenger disaster – NASA gathered
evidence to review; material submitted was often PowerPoint slides instead of
technical reports.
Deploying a Portal
Solution: An IT and
Academic Unit
Perspective
By Harry
Abstract
This talk presents both an IT and academic view of portal deployment. It
discusses the decisions and lessons learned from deploying a portal system and
the results of an academic unit to create custom channels within that deployment .
Koehnemann,
Associate Professor,
Arizona State
University East
http://myasuportal.asu.edu
Presentation slides
http://latitude.ease.asu.edu
Portal Definition

Access to Common services

A starting point for user
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
have excellent
visuals & charts of
project management
& lessons learned
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Frequent gateway
Single authentication
Personalized
o Allows end-user customization
o Add/remove/organize channel structure
Multiple applications/Channels
Reproduce campus experience in a Virtual Setting
uPortal – built by Higher Ed (Andrew Mellon foundation)
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Low cost entry
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Open source – many channels are free

Vendor Support (UniCom, SCT)
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Uses Apache-Tomcat
Good Visuals or Info in presentation on:
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ASU initial channel selection lists
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Lessons Learned
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Integration Technologies

Flow charts
ASU Portal – able to seamlessly open the Blackboard Welcome Page info of
user’s course listing in a channel
Outlook – problematic – doesn’t allow single sign-on yet.
# 5 Blackboard Inc.,
An EDUCAUSE
Platinum Partner The Networked
Learning
Environment
Abstract
By taking a holistic view of the educational enterprise, Blackboard and many of
its pioneering clients are architecting an open, standards-based, networked
learning environment that seamlessly integrates diverse functions of the
educational enterprise. Please join us to learn more about how these innovations
will impact learner outcomes and institutional strategic advantage, and for the
unveiling of an exciting new offering within the Blackboard e-Education suite.
Blackboard had a poor rollout of Release 6.0!!
6.1 Fixes 6.0 – Feb 04 release
 Stable 6.0
 WYSIWYG
 Spell checker
 Quick Edit (avoid several page links to get to editing window)
 Login Module enhancement
Quarter 2
 Course Creation Wizard
 Internal Messaging
 Glossary
 Report Card Module
 Shibboleth Support (internet 2)
Discussion:
 Add value to Classroom Experience
 Blackboard moving to more pedagogical support – rather than ‘how to’
 Pier to pier mentoring concepts; simulation learning
 Publishers using Course Cartridge – now using web services
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
#6 PKI: A
Technology Whose
Time Has Come in
Higher Education
By Mark Franklin, PKI
Lab Project Leader,
Dartmouth College
Abstract
Public key infrastructure (PKI) technology addresses many of higher education's
increasingly urgent needs for cyber security. This session presents a vision for
PKI that enables strong and universal digital authentication, signing, and
encryption applications in higher education and describes Dartmouth's production
deployment as a practical example of PKI at work.
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PKI – 2 factor authentication – public <>private for managing user
passwords
Admin perspective – admin passwords have lots of points of failure
Costs $25 – $200 for USB tokens
Excellent for Digital Signature Forms authentication
OU uses:
o electronic forms – PAFs
o Blackboard Tests
o Software Downloads
o Wireless Network Connections
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For slides: Mark.J.Franklin@dartmouth.edu
Poster Sessions
Poster Session : Checkin 4.0: A Computer Lab and Facilities Management
System at the University of North Texas
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Check-in application monitors and reports use of the univ. computer
labs
o Check-out equipment to users(projectors, cameras etc.)
o Report downed equipment
o View usage & available resources for labs – w/ usage stats
Source code & web interface for Check-in4.0 was written in Perl5;
database is my SQL; housed on 2 linux servers (Redhat 8.0)
UNT may release Check-in 4.0 to the public under GNU General Public
License – contact Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner or Blake Elkins Broyles
Poster Session : Designing an Effective Organization
Poster Session : Dynamic Online Security Risk Assessments
Poster Session : Enhance Your Recruitment Through University-Wide Data
Collaboration
Speaker(s)
Melanee Hamilton, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications,
University of Oklahoma
Jeff Wall, Database Team Lead, University of Oklahoma
Abstract
University of Oklahoma's Targeting Outstanding Prospective Students (TOPS)
is a Web-based, data-driven recruitment application powered by Oracle and
Macromedia Cold Fusion MX. This poster presentation illustrates the benefits
of this highly successful internal collaboration, and will cover development and
implementation, including cost and feature scope.
Poster Session : Technology for Art's Sake: Interactive Pocket PC Portal into Art
Poster Session : The Academic Skills Campus: An Online Study Skills
Environment
Poster Session : The HbL4U Project: Improving Science Instruction Through
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The EDUCAUSE SW Regional Conference – February 04
Online Community
OSU Project - FREE–
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Hypothesis-based Learning – integrated science lessons, collaboration
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Offers Teaching Tips to improve pedagogical skills
http://www.HbL4u.org hgayla@okstate.edu 800-452-2787
Poster Session : The Need to Meet Accreditation Standards: A Systems
Analysis of Technology Integration in Teacher Education
#7 Digital Diversity:
Multi-institutional
Access to Distributed
Course Resources
By
Barry R. Ribbeck,
Director, Systems
Integration, University
of Texas Health
Science Center at
Houston
Abstract
Enabling student access to shared course resources across a multi-institutional
consortium is challenging at best. This session presents a case study in the use of
Shibboleth (open source software that supports Web-based, inter-institutional
authorization) and the Blackboard course management system and offers
suggestions to campuses facing similar challenges. This presentation is offered in
collaboration with the NSF Middleware Initiative-EDIT Consortium of Internet2,
EDUCAUSE, and SURA.
http://bb.uth.tmc.edu
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Share faculty & students between among multi universities/schools
Ability to have students take courses at other universities using single
authentication using LDAP -> Shibboleth (no further log ons)
Accept credit (get pass/fail grades)
Useful in the Houston area because so many universities are close to
each other
#8 Effective
Teaching with
PowerPoint
Learning Theory Approach
Events of Instruction – Gagne’s
1. Gain Attention
2. Inform Learner of Objectives (not just a goal)
3. Recall prior learning
4. Present the content – using visuals, examples, questioning (most lessons
start here!)
5. Provide learning guidance – summarize; make it meaningful
6. Elicit Performance – ask learner to perform
7. Provide Feedback – reinforcement; transfer
Active Learning
Techniques
Final Session
Finding Consensus
on File Sharing:
Legal, Producer, and
Consumer
Perspectives on the
P2P Phenomenon Sponsored by
Ruckus Network
Library has computers in the stacks
Abstract
Higher education is working with the entertainment industry to find win-win
solutions that are both viable and legal online alternatives to illegal peer-to-peer
file sharing. This panel will provide a discussion of P2P file-sharing issues as they
affect and play out in higher education today. Perspectives will include those of a
CIO/librarian, an intellectual property attorney, a practicing musician, and a
student.
Issues:
 Recording co. behind the times – making people by CDs with songs they
don’t want; profits more important
 Business environment not good for artists or consumer
 iTunes Philosophy has it right
 DIG – Digital Instant Gratification!
 Students don’t equate sharing with stealing
 Morality aspects of country are shifting
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