Category Archives: IT Administration
New Resource Assists in Software Purchasing Decisions
February 13, 2013
How often do you or your department need to identify the best software to purchase? Or do you face situations in which you need to select the best option among several free versions of software? Accessibility to people with disabilities should be one of the criteria used in making a purchasing decision. However, many are [...]
Ed Tech Forecasts for 2013
December 21, 2012
Time for my annual crystal ball gazing into the future of ed tech for the coming year. Technology is notoriously difficult to forecast, and prognosticators are often forced to eat their words in the end (See Top Ten Bad Tech Predictions). Nevertheless, I’ll try to sweep aside the veil and peer into the new year [...]
Administration: The (Un?)Necessary Evil
June 11, 2012
You know the old saying: ”those who can’t do, teach?” In the world of higher education, it may be more accurate to say “those who can’t do, administer.” In all honesty, I don’t put much stock in either saying: the larger truth is that the best teachers are those who “can do”, and the best [...]
Get Ready for Windows 8
March 23, 2012
David Goldman reports that the new Windows 8, due out later this year is a game changer. It is essentially an attempt to combine the capabilities of a PC with the intuitive look and feel of a tablet. It has touch screen input but can work with a mouse and keyboard as well. The opening [...]
Interviewing Tips
February 12, 2012
As a hiring supervisor, I’ve filled more than twenty open positions in the past 8 years. These jobs report to the central IT organization of a large state supported university. They support faculty, staff, and graduate students involved in the learning mission of the university. These jobs require a bachelors or masters degree, and various [...]
Weeding out the job applicant pool with use-based scenarios
February 12, 2012
In 2008, we created two new positions within the department. Employee in these positions would be expected to answer incident questions (tickets) which the front line help desk had neither the knowledge nor access to resolve. They’ll be level two support partners in the ITIL model. Prior to the creation of these positions, everyone in [...]
Ed Tech Forecasts for 2012
January 4, 2012
I’m about to indulge in my annual prognosticating regarding educational technology trends for the New Year. Here is what some of the experts say is on the horizon for 2012: Educause reports that: Schools will struggle to deal with the consumerization of IT – students as well as faculty expect support for consumer technology in [...]
OmniTouch – a wearable, projectable, sensing computer interface
November 4, 2011
Want to hear about a truly astonishing development in mobile computing? How would you like to use almost any surface as a computer interface? Read on!
The State of Mobile Web in Higher Ed
August 10, 2011
Mobile web site vs. web app. Which is best? Which one is trending? Find out inside!!
The Missouri Facebook Law – Barbarians at the Gates?
August 5, 2011
Missouri banned private teacher-student communications via social media. What are the implications?