Drag and Drop Programming?

Last night I watched a TED talk given by Mitch Resnick of MIT Media Labs titled "Let's teach kids to code".  The basic premise is that children - the "digital natives" - are good at reading online, but they don't always understand the "why" behind what they've read. 

In order to help with this challenge, he created a free software program called Scratch that allows you to drag and drop commands to build animation.  It took 5 minutes or so to figure out how to make it work, but once you get the hang of it you can quickly create something unique.  It requires just enough understanding of programming logic to make it educational.

Here is a screenshot of some of the commands grouped together in a logical order:

IS Updates

IS continues to make progress on the various ERP systems in collaboration with our user offices.  Student bills are now viewable and payable online through Self Service, and we completed spring registrations and fall grade submissions online.  We are currently putting the final touches on the campus portal and hope to roll it out in the next couple of weeks.  Additionally, we are working with HR to make paychecks available online, and with Purchasing for electronic requisitioning.

In January we worked with our student newspaper, The Transcript, to publish editions online using Wordpress.  Soon we'll add the news feeds to the OWU Mobile app as well.  http://blog.owu.edu/transcript/

Finally, we continue to work with faculty on ways to incorporate technologies into the classroom.  We're developing some strategies around Apple TV devices in the classroom as well as ways to utilize our iTunes U environment.

Adding OWU Events to your Google Calendar

The new OWU Events Calendar brings new functionality to the OWU Community.  If you want to add the upcoming events to your google calendar, just follow these steps:- Go to your google calendar
- Click the drop down arrow next to "Other Calendars"
- Select "Add by URL"
- Paste in this address:  http://owuevents.owu.edu/?&upcoming=upcoming&format=ics&limit=100

You can then show and hide the calendar as you see fit.  Also, you can plug in the events to your blog or any other rss reader using the following URL:  http://owuevents.owu.edu/?&upcoming=upcoming&format=rss&limit=100

Of course, if you want to get specific, you can subscribe to specific search results.  For example, this link shows Lectures and Speakers:  http://owuevents.owu.edu/?&search=search&q=lectures%2Fspeakers&format=rss

For any search query, just click on the .ical or rss icon to get the feed URL, and plug it in!

Fall 2011 Semester Updates

A number of projects have been completed and are in progress as the fall semester starts, please see below for more detail:
- We have completed the launch of the new ERP systems as of July 1st.  Of course, this does not mean that the work is done.  We are currently working on creating efficiencies, developing new functionality, and integrating various systems, both OWU 2.0 and external system.  Many new modules will be deployed over the next 12 months and beyond that will have an impact on the campus.  One of the most exciting is a new campus portal that will serve as a one-stop-shop for many of the most common tasks and information needs.

- IS and Communications have launched OWU Daily and the OWU Events Calendar.  These two new services allow submission of information that is delivered both in email and on the web each business day.  The aim is to reduce the number of messages in your inbox.  The events calendar aims to be a place where you can see many of the university activities on any given day.  See the two links below for more information, and please send us feedback! 

http://owuevents.owu.edu/?&upcoming=upcoming&

http://blogs.owu.edu/daily/

- The printed campus phone book should be here in the next 7 to 10 days.  In the meantime, you can access a searchable, electronic version at the following address:  http://t.co/Wd9Apgk

- We are adding items to OWU Mobile, and soon plan to start actively marketing the app to our various audiences.  Kimberlie Goldsberry, Our Dean of Students, now has her own news feed in the app, and we have a number of others in the queue.  http://m.owu.edu

- Our mailrooms are currently overflowing with books and other items due to the start of the semester.  We are working through the backlog as quickly as we can, and are discussing ways to streamline the process in the future.

Look for more updates in the next couple of weeks as we start to bring new components and services online!

OWU 2.0

Work continues on the OWU 2.0 initiative.  Currently, all new ERP systems are in production at some level with the exception of the finance system, which is scheduled for early July.  StartOWU used data from our new admissions system this year, and we are now working feverishly on getting account synchronization and data integration working across the various systems.  Students were able to register with an adviser directly into the new student system this month, and can view their schedules online.  Additionally, we completed the install of the OWU Portal, which will go live this fall or winter.  The portal will serve as a one-stop shop for the OWU community.

Of course, ERP implementations are never complete.  We will continue to launch new modules for the foreseeable future based on software capabilities and user requests.

OWU is now mobile!

OWU has developed a mobile solution in a partnership with Blackboard.  The application is now available for download on Android and iOS devices, and contains numerous modules for the user community.  Please see the following links for more information, and send any feedback for future enhancements to the help desk.

OWU Press Release

OWU IS Mobile Website

PowerCampus Self Service, OWU Mobile, and Cell Phone Discounts

Last week we launched our PowerCampus Self Service application for OWU users.  We are continuing to roll out new features for the campus community as modules are ready for production.  Currently, student class schedules and course catalog are available for students and faculty to review.  Soon, transcripts and other details will be available as well.

Separate but related to the launch, we have put a single-sign on process in place for all OWU account holders.  See your email for more details on how that functions.  Please see the Self Help pages on our website if you have questions or problems.  Some mac wireless users and windows domain users may need to make some configuration changes.

OWU Mobile is exteremly close to being available for the OWU community.  We are working on a couple of finishing touches before we announce availability.  We hope to send out more information prior to the end of the Spring semester.

Finally, as a reminder, we have put in place discounts for OWU account holders to some of the most common cell phone providers.  This can save users money on their personal cell phone bill - as much as $240 a year for those who qualify.  Please see our tcomm website for more information on these discounts.