Clickers Go Mobile!

by Chris Higgins

Spring 2009 brings a new alternative for fulfilling any class requirements for a clicker device. You may think, “Oh no! Not another clicker device!” but this option actually makes any mobile device that has a Web browser work as a clicker. So, if you bring a laptop to class on a regular basis, you can use it as your clicker. Even better, if you have a smartphone (one with a Web browser, a data plan, and WiFi capability, like an iPhone or BlackBerry), you can use it as your clicker. You can also use a PDA like the Palm or the iPod touch as long as it is wireless compatible.

This new option is made possible by using ResponseWare Web (RWW). RWW’s use on campus was piloted last fall as part of the university’s Mobility Initiative, and has generated very positive feedback so far. One thing to be aware of is that it does require access to the wireless network on campus, or to a cellular signal for the smartphones. Wireless is available in all university classroom buildings. To use your mobile device as a clicker in class, you’ll need to purchase a RWW license, activate your license online, and then register your device through the MyUM portal.

For more information, please visit http://clickers.umd.edu.

Mobility Pilot

by Barbara Hope

During the 2008-9 school year, 133 University of Maryland freshmen in the Banneker/Key Scholarship and Maryland Incentive Awards programs have been taking part in the university’s Mobility Initiative, a pilot program to explore the academic usefulness of mobile technology as part of their university experience. They use either iPhones or iPod touches in their regular classes as well as in specially designed trial activities and give their feedback to the project’s steering committee.

If the pilot project shows that incorporating mobile devices into classroom activities enhances student engagement, then the project may be expanded to include additional students, devices, and activities. Visit www.mobility.umd.edu to find out more about the university’s Mobility Initiative and to get updates on the project’s progress.

In the meantime, some features adopted by the university to support the Mobility Initiative are now available to all university community members with mobile devices, not only to the pilot participants. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can use it to connect to the “umd-secure” wireless network. Visit www.oit.umd.edu/nts/noc/
wireless/iphone_secure_config.html for set-up instructions.

Beginning with the spring 2009 semester, students with mobile devices can use them as clickers by installing Turning Technologies’ clicker software. Look for more information on pricing and use of the software at http://clickers.umd.edu.

MyUM Reaching New Heights

by Skip Warnick

Use of MyUM, the university’s portal at www.my.umd.edu, has soared this past semester. Averaging more than 10,000 logins a day, it is fast becoming the go-to site for accessing tools students use in their daily activities. As more and more students are introduced to the portal at their orientation sessions, usage rates are expected to continue climbing.

Based on user feedback, ELMS (powered by Blackboard) functionality has been expanded to include more information about updates that have been made in ELMS courses. Information on new announcements, new postings to class discussion boards, and grade information are now available in the portal with more to come. Also new is the ability to register class clickers from within the portal.

A current development effort fueled by user feedback is a portlet for accessing student athletic event ticketing information. OIT is committed to updating the portal with tools that are useful to students, so please keep that feedback coming. Use the feedback box on your MyUM landing page to submit comments and suggestions.

An Education in NEThics

by Sarah Silvaroli Daul

Ethics. The university is saturated with them. Their codes paper the walls of residence halls, slide into campus mailboxes, bombard class syllabi, and seep into our university-affiliated Listserv lists. But these codes tend to focus largely on plagiarism and often leave students with a limited understanding of what ethics truly involves.

Project NEThics (http://nethics.umd.edu) seeks to reverse this trend. Emphasizing ethical and responsible Internet use, it has worked to incorporate technology into ethics discussions throughout the university community.

Education is at the heart of the project. Through campus training programs, resource fairs, guest lectures, and tutorials, NEThics teaches students, faculty, and staff how to best use university computing resources. It also works in cooperation with university and law enforcement officials to address incidents of unethical resource use as they arise.

“Through strong policy development, educational outreach efforts, and enforcement, Project NEThics has a presence with all parts of the university,” said NEThics Coordinator Amy Ginther. “Sometimes that presence is direct, sometimes it’s subtle. But I know whether we’re working with large groups or smaller ones, we’re making a difference in raising awareness on interesting and complex matters.”

Ginther specifically acknowledged the role of Ruckus in raising this awareness. A digital entertainment service with free access to more than 3 million music tracks, Ruckus offers an ethical alternative to illegal peer-to-peer file sharing services. But more than a legal alternative, Ruckus demonstrates the university’s leadership role in guiding students toward making ethical choices.

“Activities take on a proactive stance rather than a reactive stance,” added Ellen Yu Borkowski, OIT’s Director of Academic Support. “Taking the time to educate at the beginning will avoid time consuming problem resolution activities that occur after an incident has been reported.”

Paperless Billing
is Here!

by Paul Lentz

Paperless billing is here. The fall 2008 semester marked the end of paper bills for all registered students. Instead, all registered students will now only have an electronic version of the bill available on the Web to view and make payments at www.testudo.umd.edu/
Financials.html.

Students are notified of the availability of the bill through e-mail and can access their bills using the same Directory ID and password they use for all university electronic services. Additional e-mail addresses can be set up to receive the e-mail notice. For example, a student can provide parents’ e-mail addresses so that they also receive a notice that a bill is available to view.

Parent access to view the bill is also available. The same parent PIN used to see grades and registration information is used for the billing access. At least a year of previous statements will be available for viewing. For additional information, please contact the Financial Service Center at 301.314.9000.