Information Services
September 2011 – Student Newsletter
Keeping students informed about technology at Northwest University.
Eagle Website
By now you have noticed the new look of Eagle. Eagle provides access to NU faculty, departments, student services, and other resources. If you cannot find the information that you are looking for, please email help@northwestu.edu.
Printing
Student printing can be done in the Hurst Library, HSC-254, Barton Building, 6710 Building, and Rice Hall. Color printing and copying is available in the Hurst Library.
NU maintains a debit balance system for student printing to campus printers and copiers. Students are charged $0.04 per page of black and white printing, and $0.08 per page of color. Pages must be purchased before printing to any on campus printer or copiers.
There are several ways for students to purchase additional pages – in 125-page ($5.00) increments – for their printing balance:
- Cash
Visit the Library Circulation Desk or the Cashier’s Office (Davis Building). - Credit Card – Minimum purchase of 250 pages ($10.00).
Visit the Cashier’s Office (Davis Building). - Student Account
Click here to purchase pages online using your student account.
There are now four Printing Kiosks installed around campus. Information and instructions are available here.
Discovery
All courses have a Discovery page where professors can add the syllabus as well as resources and information regarding assignments. Discovery Student Resources (login required) is a course that has been created for you as a guide to using Discovery. This course contains information and videos to help you understand and use Discovery.
Saving Documents on Campus Computers
When you log into NU computers everything that you save will be stored on the network. Your desktop, “my docs”, and application settings will be available from any computer on campus.
NU Wireless
Your computer will detect the nuwireless network. When prompted for the Network Key, enter: NorthwestU and click Connect. You will need to install the Safe-Connect Client — follow the on-screen directions to install.
Changing NU Password
Your NU Password is the same for your network, e-mail, Discovery, Eagle, Self-Service, and Pre-Registration logins.
On a Campus Computer:
- Log into the computer, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete
- Click the Change a Password…option
- Fill out the form, then click the arrow button to the right of the Confirm Password box
On the web:
- Click the Email link at the top of any page on the Eagle Website and log into your inbox.
- Click the Options option in the left column, then click the Change Password button near the bottom of the page.
A Northwest University Password Maintenance window will open with the change password form. - Enter your information in the form, leaving the Domain box empty, then click the OK button.
Microsoft Software
Current Northwest University students can purchase a license of Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Office (Windows or Mac) in the NU Bookstore for $20.00 each.
Information Services
The Information Services FAQ may have the answer to your questions. If not, send your question or concern to help@northwestu.edu.
If you are having problems with your personal computer IS provides computer consultation and repair for a nominal fee. Contact IS for further information.
The Information Services department is located on the first floor of the Barton Building.
September 2011 Employee Newsletter
New Eagle Web site
By now you have noticed the new look of Eagle. If you are looking for your printing or long distance code log into Eagle (top right hand corner) and click on your name to view your profile page. Maintenance Requests, Vehicle & Parking Permits and your 10-10 account are also available from this page.
Eagle Content Management System
If you are responsible for adding content to one or more of the pages on Eagle but haven’t attended a training session for the Eagle CMS please email help@northwestu.edu to set up a time to learn how. A blog can now be part of the site.
Discovery
Turnitin Assignment: This summer Turnitin software was updated so we can take advantage of features that we did not have access to with the previous setup. Turnitin is now a separate assignment type and more steps are required to set up the assignment. GradeMark is a part of Turnitin and enables faculty to easily access student work, add customized comments, add grades to the Discovery gradebook, and view student papers. Another new feature is that faculty can now submit student work to Turnitin. Note: Turnitin assignments can only be used once, they cannot be restored to a future course.
Course Visibility: Discovery courses are available to students before the first day of class depending on level of course:
| Open to Students | Close to Students | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergrad (Traditional) | 14 days | 21 days | |
| Leap | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Graduate | Opened by Professor | 30 days | |
| Online (Traditional & Leap) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Online (Graduate) | 60 days | 30 days | |
Discovery courses are deleted 6 – 8 weeks after the last class.
Summer Courses: Summer courses will be deleted on October 1st. If you taught a summer course and some of your students have incompletes, please send an email to help@northwestu.edu to request that your course be moved to the Extended Visibility folder. If you would like to keep a copy of your Discovery course file to restore to a future course make sure you have done so by October 1st.
Syllabus File Type: When adding a syllabus to a Discovery course use “Add a Syllabus”. This will automatically add it to the NU Syllabus Archive.
Classroom Technology
Document Cameras: All NU classrooms now have a document camera.
SMART Classrooms: Rice 1, 2, 4, 5 & Barton 200 have a SMART Board, HSC 229 has a SMART Podium.
SMART Student Response Clickers: Three clicker sets (24 each) can now be reserved using the Equipment Reservation Form. Two sets are available in the CAS office (HSC 209) and one set in the IS office (Barton, 1st floor).
Panopto: All classroom lectures and presentations can be captured and made available to students using Panopto. A Panopto Quick Guide is available in every classroom. To view the recordings a Panopto CourseCast block must be added to your Discovery course.
Note: Training is available for all classroom technology.
Projector & Document Camera: Remember to turn off the ceiling-mounted projector and the document camera when your class or presentation is over.
Let us know immediately if the technology in the classroom is not working properly.
Contacting Information Services
There are several ways to ask for help:
#1 E-mail: help@northwestu.edu
#2 Phone: 425.889.5310 or 425.889.7838
#3 Chat: On the IS web site click on . An IS Chat icon is also on the desktop of all classroom computers.
#4 Roaming Tech: A tech will be roaming the halls of your buildings a couple times a day to help you in any way they can. If you see one of our techs please feel free to stop them and ask any questions (preferably about technology) you have.
Evening support is available until 8pm Monday – Thursday.
Software Updates
KACE has been installed on all campus computers and will automatically update Windows and other programs like Adobe Reader, Java, and Flash. Periodically KACE will ask you to reboot. Please do so to keep your computer up to date and more secure.
Equipment Requests
To request equipment use the online Equipment Request form. Reservations must be made at least 24 hrs in advance.
Changing Password
On a Campus Computer:
Log into the computer, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Click the Change a Password…option
Fill out the form, then click the arrow button to the right of the Confirm Password box
On the web:
Click the Email link at the top of any page on the Eagle Web site and log into your inbox
Click the Options drop-down under your name in the top-right corner and select the Change Your Password… option
Enter your information in the form, then click the Save button
Instructional Technology Center
Lynette is available to help you with instructional technology projects or questions. Contact Lynette to schedule a time to meet or stop by her office in Rice 25.
TIP #1: CCleaner
If your computer needs a boost CCleaner will clear out the Internet history and cache. Close all applications then right click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Run CCleaner. This can be done on a regular basis and you should find that your computer is a little faster. It will also fix the problem of not being able to open voicemail and faxes. If a login is required use your NU user name and password to do so.
TIP #2: Panopto CourseCast Block
If you are recording classroom lectures using Panopto be sure to open the Panopto CourseCast Block on Discovery. Turn editing on, then go to the Add a Block section on the right side of your screen and select Panopto CourseCast. This only needs to be done when you start using Panopto. As soon as recordings have been processed your students will have access to them from this block.
May 2011 Employee Newsletter
Dates to Remember
May 10th-12th:
Technology Training (see below)
May 16th:
Deadline to request software that you want installed on classroom, library, or lab computers for Fall 2011 (see below)
June 1st:
Deadline to request extension for Spring 2011 Discovery courses with incomplete grades (see below)
June 1st:
Deadline to request assistance with archiving Panopto recordings (see below) Continue reading →
Coming Soon!
The Information Services Newsletter is coming soon!