March 27, 2006
March 20, 2006
February 02, 2006
September 30, 2005
October
What’s happening in the TLC?
New Student System
Currently, our campus trainers (functional leads/experts) are training people in their respective areas. Financial Aid trained last year in preparation for go-live and is now just having to refresh their memories and accommodate changes to the system. Kathie Hawkins has been hosting navigation sessions. Angie Montano and Grace Ochoa have been working with folks on Campus Community and Huu Hoang has been working with the Business Services Staff.
Blackboard
Lisa Young, Water Resources Faculty at Gateway Community College, has joined Dave Fraedrich as Co-Chair of the District Blackboard Alliance. Lisa and Dave have had several conversations with Darrell Huish, our assistant Vice-Chancellor for Information Technology regarding the Blackboard issues we have experienced over the last year. At our last Blackboard Alliance meeting, we had a chance to talk with Mr. Huish and Miguel Corzo about District IT’s commitment to Bb as a “mission critical” system. Mr. Huish assured us his team does understand the mission critical nature of Bb and that they are working to streamline processes and enhance communication between all parties who manage systems that link to Bb (LDAP, MEMO, ADAM, etc).
The Alliance agreed that during the Fall 2005 break, we would load the much tested App Pack 3 onto the production server. This App Pack provides language locales, new test types a many other new features to our existing Bb system.
After we roll out App Pack 3, we will begin testing Blackboard version 7.0.
District has also purchased the Content Management System for Bb. Amy will be out of the office Oct 12 – 13 to be trained on this new system. Plans are to roll out this system next summer (2006).
Remote Access
Scenario: You are in your classroom and you have forgotten the CD that contains your PowerPoint presentation. You know it is saved on your office computer. If only you could get it… Now you can with Remote Access.
*For network security reasons Remote Desktop Services will be provided for on campus remote connections only.
August 30, 2005
July 26, 2005
Summer's End
The summer sessions are drawing to a close; the searing heat lives on.
We are of course, blissfully unaware of the blistering temperatures outside, except, that is, for yesterday... when the AC went down. The campus was closed until the situation was sorted out. Please come back to the TLC now - I promise you it will be cool. In fact, bring a sweater.
This month, we welcome Dr. Linda Lujan to South Mountain as our new Dean of Instruction. Ken Roberts will still be about, with fewer hours, an office in the Library, and his usual good natured smile. We heard a rumor that Linda's calendar was already completely booked through next year before she even set her briefcase down for the first time in her new office. Good luck, Linda; we look forward to getting to know you. :)
June 06, 2005
Heat-tastic
Ahhh summer. Here we are in the arctic wind zone, as I have lovingly (cough cough) nicknamed the hallway area upstairs in the Technology Building. It's not that the air conditioning is on too high or anything - it's perfect really - if you remember to wear two pairs of thick socks, a muffler, fur-lined boots, a turtleneck sweater, long johns, an overcoat and mittens. 
Like I said - perfect.
But I digress. Outside it is a balmy 100 this week, almost hot enough to fry eggs on the pavement. Summer in Phoenix - always unforgettable. It is actually a great time for us in the TLC, because with a slightly diminished teaching load impacting our activities, we can concentrate on reorganizing, refurbishing, and of course creating new workshops.
This June we are proud to be offering our Photoshop Elements Series. Everything you need to know about the use of this program, and the manipulation of images. This is really a must-attend for all - practical, and also a lot of fun.
April 28, 2005
Change is GOOD
It's a beautiful spring day in Phoenix, and a beautiful day to be at South Mountain. There is change in the wind... new faculty coming on board, new classes being created, candidates vying to be our new Dean of Instruction... and a hopeful remodel for the TLC. My daughter and I are moving to a new home. So much happening at once as the semester whirs to a close.
One thing I hope won't change is the feeling here on campus. There's an easy gladness in the air, and lots of smiles. A sense that everyone is valued. I look forward to coming in every day - can't say that about too many jobs I've had.
Amy is back in the TLC (YAY!), and offering the full suite of Blackboard workshops this coming month. I encourage you all to come in and take advantage of her vast repertoire of knowledge. Learn how to work comfortably and efficiently in Blackboard - it will enhance your classes tremendously and provide a great benefit to your students!
I'd also like to extend my own assistance to you. If you have technical questions about computer software, from the mundane to the creative, I would be very happy to try and help. If I don't know the answer, I'll find it!
Also, I'm open to suggestions as to what you'd like to see here in our blog.
In case you haven't had the pleasure, here's a picture of the beautiful Elizabeth Rowena MacPherson, Amy's little angel:
April 13, 2005
New, New NEW!
Hi folks, Angel here...
...welcome to the new edition of the TLC weblog.
When Amy asked me to step in and be "BLOG Woman" I readily agreed, so at least for a while, all entries will be infused with my grace and charm... which is a very nice way of saying- you're stuck with me for a bit.
That's right it's
!!!!!!!
OK, so it's not really new, but I will attempt as I go along to refurbish, spruce, and generally metamorphose the blog ("re-blogification" ), at least within the confines of taste, ettiquette, and academic convention. Always in the interest of your edification, elucidation and irradiation, naturally. Anyway, at least we'll get a calender in here and a discussion of current events as they affect the TLC and the college. 
.... Failing that, we'll try for a few jokes and silly pictures. 
