8,000 Supported XP Desktops! 3. Service Pack 2. 3. MIS and the Supported
Desktop 3. The Supported Desktop in CSE. 3. Linux pilot in the labs. 4. Open-
access ...
i n fo r m at i o n SER VICES
edinburgh bits October 2005 Volume 16 Issue 2
This is the second issue of the redesigned BITs – I hope you recognised it! I forgot to give due credit to its designers last month: Aileen Robertson and Sonia Virdi of MALTS, to whom all thanks.
Nick Stroud
IT support for research
contents IT support for research
1
Work has begun on the next edition of the University’s Knowledge Management
Eliminating IT duplication
1
Strategic Plan, and in particular on the Research Computing Support section.
Huge demand for MyEd
1
The current version is at http://www.kmstrategy.ed.ac.uk/KM_index.htm
Changes in the LRC
1
University Web Site
2
Brian Gilmore, Director of Computing Services (email
[email protected]),
Web accessibility course
2
or Professor Peter Clarke, Chair of e-Science (email
[email protected]).
First Polopoly website live
2
Email relay news
2
I would appreciate comments by 31st October (to
[email protected]) on
Wireless developments
2
the University’s proposals for harmonising IT systems by developing common
8,000 Supported XP Desktops!
3
systems and services, as discussed at September’s IT Committee meeting; see
Service Pack 2
3
http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/ucsinfo/cttees/itc/2005-09-27/paperB.html
MIS and the Supported Desktop
3
Comments and suggestions would be welcome, and should be addressed to
Eliminating duplication of IT effort
The Supported Desktop in CSE
3
Linux pilot in the labs
4
The Learning and Resource
Open-access labs 2005–2006
4
moved on to MyEd at the beginning
Centre – LRC – was born out of a
Lab PC availability – at a glance
5
of Summer, and the demand for
collaboration of the Library and
Printing with Pcounter
5
EUCS over five years ago.
Software News Autodesk Powerpressed S-Plus 2000
5
5
staff moved to the Helpdesk, so
From the JISC support centre BBC Computer Tutor Yotophoto FoI conference
there are changes in the LRC.
100 chemical books online
6
Helen Hayes (Information Services)
Huge demand for MyEd The Edinburgh Student Portal
it has exceeded all expectations. Around half the new students who
Changes in the LRC
That collaboration broadened
had a confirmed place at Edinburgh
within Information Services with
logged in before they arrived at the
the launch in August of the new IS
University, so this is a potent new
Helpdesk on the ground floor of the
opportunity to welcome them.
Main Library. Two members of LRC
The system coped well in Freshers’ Week, but there were teething problems in week one.
The LRC Reception desk has
PhD students: literature searches 6
In the same period last year there
closed. Enquiries about library and
Data Library news
6
were around 3,500 daily logins.
information databases should now
An e-Learning cornucopia
7
It seemed sensible to expect this
be directed to the Helpdesk on the
Informatics Forum
8
number to double, but in the event
ground floor. Multimedia support
Realising Lifelong Learning
8
we saw up to 37,000 daily logins
continues in the LRC as before.
Alice in Web-Wonderland
8
UCISA courses
8
and more than triple the number
The Student Support Team will
of unique users visiting the site
continue to offer a service in the
– with around 300,000 logins
LRC, giving advice on computing
altogether during September.
issues. The popular eSkills seminars
MyEd handled 100,000
will carry on, and the ‘Learning
service visits in the last week of
Centre’ aspects of the LRC will be
September: most students use it
further developed. Support for
every day. This is not surprising,
assistive technologies will remain.
as MyEd is tightly integrated with a range of popular student services. MyEd is clearly now a significant and strategic way for the University to reach its core customers. Mark Wetton, Anne-Marie Scott (MIS)
INFORMATICS FORUM (see page 8)
Allyson thanks all the staff who have worked to support and encourage the LRC, and contributed so much to its success. Allyson Hayes (EUL) Noel Millar (EUCS)
page 1
edinburgh bits C&IT news from Information Services
University Web Site
First Polopoly website live
Email relay news
The University is engaged in a
The first website to use the Polopoly
All mail passing through the main
major exercise to redevelop its Web
web content management system
University mail relays has long been
Site. The intention is to unify the
went live in September, marking the
scanned for viral content using
University’s existing web publishing
end of the implementation phase
Sophos anti-virus. We are now
into a single cohesive entity,
of this EUCS project. The School of
also scanning all traffic with the
designed from the outset with the
Divinity’s website (at http://www.
free open-source ClamAV package
needs of all users in mind.
div.ed.ac.uk/) is now served from
(http://www.clamav.net/).
A scoping report has been completed and a project team is now being assembled. The report
the Polopoly system, instead of from the morse webserver. The site looks no different to its
Using two different virus scanners improves protection in several ways: the average time to deal with new
concludes that the University’s
visitors, but the Divinity computing
threats is reduced; the two scanners
current Content Management
officers now have a much easier
pick up slightly different sets of
System, Polopoly, will provide a
way to maintain the pages. The
threats; the failure of one scanner
suitable platform for the new site. It
appearance of the site is controlled
does not now block mail; and
also advises a staged delivery over
using templates, and navigation
ClamAV has signatures for common
a two-year period: the University’s
menus are automatically updated.
‘phishing’ scam messages and other
main outfacing content would be
Academic staff can quickly update
types of undesirable email.
established in the first year, with
their own pages, for example to add
other key parts of the site following
new publications and photographs.
for the mail relay service. One of
in the second year.
EUCS is upgrading the hardware
The migration of the site was simple
the four relay components has been
A series of town-hall-style open
(if tedious!), and feedback about the
replaced, and the others will follow
meetings will be held in November
ease of use of the system is positive.
shortly. As well as simply being
to discuss the project and receive
Several other websites are in the
much faster, the new hardware will
feedback. There will be six meetings,
pipeline, and will be made available
cope better with the unpredictable
in the Central Area, The King’s
through Polopoly in the next month.
nature of Internet email traffic.
Buildings, Little France, Holyrood,
The latest report on the new
The old hardware will be used
The Bush and The Western General.
University Web Site recommends
to support the relay service, and
All staff are encouraged to attend.
Polopoly version 9 for content
further improve our spam defences.
Further information regarding
management. The existing Polopoly
Scott Larnach (EUCS)
the meetings, and a summary of
installation is version 8, and there
progress to date, can be found at
are significant differences between
http://www.ed.ac.uk/webpub/
versions 8 and 9, specifically in the
The registration process for Wireless
redevelopment/
user interface and the method for
and VPN has been changed: users no
creating input and output templates.
longer receive a confirmation email,
EUCS needs to get to grips with
but are directed to a ‘what next’ web
Ian Conn (CPA)
Web accessibility course
Wireless developments
version 9 in preparation for the
page which explains how to use the
The Edinburgh Branch of the British
University website project, so it has
services. The link is also available
Computer Society is running a
been decided not to migrate any
on the registration page at http://
Web Accessibility course over
more websites into version 8 beyond
www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/nsd/access/
four evenings, starting on 18th
those already in the pipeline.
wselfreg.html
October. The course is aimed at
The work done in version 8 is a
Web designers, anyone charged
good basis for moving forward with
expanded to cope with the growing
with commissioning or managing
Polopoly, confirming it as a suitable
popularity of the Wireless Service.
Web developments, and individuals
choice for the University. It has also
The address obtained by DHCP will
wanting a better understanding of
shown that a content management
now be on the 129.215.135.0 or
Web accessibility issues. For details
system brings benefits for anyone
129.215.48.0 subnets. If you get
see http://www.edinburgh.bcs.org/
creating or updating web pages, as
wireless problems, click the repair
courses/webaccess.htm
well as for website administrators.
(or renew DHCP lease) button.
Graham Rule (EUCS)
page 2
Chris Adie (EUCS)
Local network capacity has been
Bill Byers (EUCS)
edinburgh bits
Supported Windows XP Desktop reaches milestone of 8,000! The number of PCs in the University using the Supported Windows XP Desktop has now
Service Pack 2
passed the significant figure of 8,000. This
Service Pack 2 added several key security features to Windows XP,
is about 72% of the estimated number of
including a built-in firewall, security enhancements in Internet
PCs which can run Windows XP. The chart
Explorer and Outlook Express to stop viruses, spyware and popups
below indicates distribution of the Supported
(collectively known as Malware), and the whole operating system has
Desktop in the University of Edinburgh.
been “toughened up”. Its features add to the overall reliability and maintainability of users’ computers.
CHSS 20%
Open-access and School Labs 32%
of computers using the Supported XP Desktop, with virtually zero interruption to service. If your PC has not yet been updated, it is
CMVM 12% ACSSG and CSG 13%
This Service Pack has now been rolled out to the vast majority
CSE 10% Information Services 13%
likely that it will be very soon. Most people will not even notice the upgrade, as most installations have taken place silently overnight. Mark Sammons (EUCS)
MIS and the Supported Windows XP Desktop All staff users in Administration, Communications & Student Services Group and the majority of users in Corporate Services Group – over 850 in total – have now been upgraded to the University Supported
Some of the basic benefits offered by the
Windows XP desktop by the MIS Customer Support team. These
Supported Windows XP Desktop include:
users can now take full advantage of all the supported applications
• Quick Build and Rebuild: on a standard
available, whilst enjoying reduced sign-on to the integrated email
network, Windows XP can be installed
and eDiary service, the MIS-hosted web publishing service, and a
within 15 minutes.
series of Active Directory dependent local and third-party systems.
• Windows Update Service: Windows XP is
Only the Estates and Buildings Planning Unit remains on the
automatically configured to download and
Windows 2000 platform, as its core business EBIS service must be
install all critical updates from an internal
upgraded to be compatible with the Windows XP Service Pack 2
Software Update Service (SUS).
platform. This version is currently in test within Works Division, and
• Firewall configured: the default install-
the rollout on the new desktop is scheduled for early November.
ation of Windows XP now includes Service
Bryan MacGregor (MIS)
Pack 2 and a configured personal firewall. • AntiVirus updates: if installed, the McAfee
The Supported Desktop in Science and Engineering
AntiVirus software is configured to update
The College of Science and Engineering has made great progress
itself automatically from an update server.
with its deployment of the Supported Windows XP Desktop. Over the
• Application deployment: an increasing
last eight months we have successfully installed over 280 staff and
number of applications are available for
teaching lab PCs in the School of Biological Sciences. Other Schools
automatic installation (subject to licence
have already reaped the benefits of the Supported Windows XP
conditions) at build or reboot time. These
Desktop, including GeoSciences (450 PCs), Engineering & Electronics
include Office 2003, Endnote, SPSS,
(143 PCs) and Informatics (50 PCs).
Minitab, Photoshop and Firefox.
The School of Chemistry is currently in the process of moving its
The Supported Windows XP Desktop
staff PCs into this environment, and the School of Mathematics,
provides a complete installation service from
currently using the Supported Desktop on 50 teaching PCs, will be
initial installation of Windows XP through
starting a project later this year to deploy the Supported Windows
to application configuration and security
XP Desktop to their staff PCs.
features. Service Pack 2 is now installed as
For further information or help on this or any other computing
standard (subject to local School or College
issue, please contact the Science & Engineering Support helpdesk
policy) offering enhanced network security
(JCMB Room 3251, tel 505013, email
[email protected]) or
using a personal firewall.
visit our website at http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/scisup/
Graham Newton (EUCS)
Keith Nicol (EUCS)
page 3
edinburgh bits C&IT news from Information Services
Linux pilot in the labs Students from two Schools in the College of Science & Engineering will be enjoying a Pilot Linux Desktop in the open-access labs this session. For the first time, students from the School of Engineering and Electronics will be able to access specialist teaching applications in the EUCSprovided 24 hour computer labs at George Square Hugh Robson Basement and Kings Buildings Centre Level 3. Similarly, students from the School of Informatics will be able to access School resources using secure shell connections and the X11 windowing system. To get Linux, students have to restart the computer and select the Linux option at boot time. If no selection is made the PC will default into Windows XP Professional. PCs left unattended in Linux for a set period of time will shut down and restart in Windows XP Professional. For further details, please see https://adelie.ucs.ed.ac.uk/dstwikireadonly/index.php/LinuxLabPilotProject James Jarvis (EUCS)
Open-access labs – Session 2005–2006 EUCS has now completed the planned hardware and
policies (such as application installations) to 60 minutes.
software upgrades in the open-access computing labs for
This feature has caused considerable disruption to
the session 2005–2006.
PCs when installing large Science and Engineering
Hardware upgrades
applications, some of which are over 3 Gigabytes in size.
Over 300 four- and five-year-old PCs were replaced with
The intelligent part is that SMS is using Microsoft’s
the current configuration of the SelectPC, including 17"
BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) in a
flat panel TFT monitors which consume less power and
similar manner to Windows Update, delivering large
generate less heat than the traditional CRT monitors. The
quantities of information to a large number of systems in
new PCs have 1GB RAM, providing some ‘future proofing’
a sophisticated way. BITS asynchronously transfers files
against the next generation of Microsoft Desktop
in the background, using only idle network bandwidth
Operating System, as well as offering greater flexibility
to preserve the responsiveness of other network
for some of the larger School-based applications.
applications, and automatically resumes file transfers
All of the open-access Apple Macintosh iMac G3 computers – on Level 4 of the Main Library, in the Hugh Robson Basement and in Holland House – were replaced
after network disconnects and machine restarts. Using SMS, we have transferred almost 4 Terabytes of information across the network during the course of the
with new Mac minis and 17" TFT Monitors.
Summer upgrades.
Software upgrades
Network Upgrades
All of the Windows XP PCs were updated to include
A planned series of network upgrades took place over
Service Pack 2, and some core applications such as SPSS,
the Summer, resulting in a significant increase in
Maple and eXceed were upgraded to their latest versions.
bandwidth to each desktop (100Mbit/s). Access from
This year also saw the removal of Novell Client32
each lab to core services was increased to 1Gbit/s. These
from the open-access labs. Novell Client32 provided
changes, combined with the removal of Novell Netware
authentication access to the now defunct GPAS printing
Client32, have drastically reduced the time it takes to
system hosted on Novell Netware servers.
log in to a lab computer. The upgrades have also allowed
Printing is now being provided by four Windows 2003
the Desktop Services Team to use the extra bandwidth to
file servers using the new Pcounter print accounting
deploy both the Windows XP image and the applications
system (see article on next page).
in the labs remotely. All the PCs in the open-access labs
This year saw the introduction to the open-access labs
were built this year without operator intervention, using
of Microsoft’s Systems Management Server (SMS). SMS
a series of scheduled tasks at each PC, allowing up to
allows us to overcome a “feature” in Windows XP that
fifty PCs to be upgraded concurrently within one hour.
limits the amount of time a PC can spend processing
page 4
Dave Ross, Vlad Zirojevic (EUCS)
edinburgh bits
Lab PC availability – at a glance
Software News We have been asked if the University might be interested in a couple of new software deals:
Autodesk Imass Design Solutions (http://www.imass-ids.co.uk/) has contacted us about a new campus-type agreement for Autodesk. This is used for design work: more details at http://www.autodesk.co.uk/
Powerpressed A new service to students has been launched by Information
This Windows-only software reduces the size of
Services to indicate where open-access PCs are available.
Powerpoint presentations without the need for zip/
The system relies on data collected for each user session
unzip facilities. A new Chest deal for Powerpressed
at every PC, which in turn updates a central database. This
is available; details at http://www.eduserv.org.uk/
information is displayed on the three plasma screens in the
chest/software/powerpressed/
Main Library, and on stand-alone kiosks at key locations
If you might be interested in either of these deals,
throughout the University. It is hoped that these kiosks,
please contact
[email protected] .
which are fitted with touch-screen technology, will come
S-Plus 2000
to provide students and staff with a range of general
The Appleton Tower licence server is no longer
information, and web access to Information Services.
available for S-Plus 2000. We are not aware of anyone
Vlad Zirojevic (EUCS)
still running this version of S-Plus, but please contact your EUCS Support Team or Software Services if your
Printing with Pcounter
copy of S-Plus 2000 stops working.
As part of the migration to Windows and Active Directory,
Frances Provan (EUCS)
it has been necessary to replace the GPAS Printing Prepayment system. Pcounter, purchased from Altman Technologies, has been chosen as the new system. There are background information and tools for
From the local JISC support centre BBC Computer Tutor Computer Tutor is a BBC resource for people who have
Computing Officers managing Pcounter printers, and
never used a keyboard, mouse or computer screen. If
information for students printing through Pcounter, at
you know people who are nervous about starting to
http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/isd/archpub/pcounter.html
use a computer, they might appreciate this step-by-
Adding credit to print
step introduction. To sugar the pill, the action takes
You must have credit in your account before you can print.
place in a virtual TV theme park. This learning aid is at
This is achieved using one of the new prepayment kiosks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/computertutor/more_info.shtml
Alternatively credit can be topped up at the IS Helpdesk
Yotophoto
in the Main Library. Locations of the kiosks and details of
Yotophoto is a search engine for finding free-to-use
other locations for adding credit can be found at
stock photographs and images from a collection
http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/ucsinfo/printprepayment.html
currently numbering over 100,000 items. Get the
In the open-access labs the amount of credit in an
picture at http://yotophoto.com/
account is displayed via a pop-up, or it can be checked from
FoI conference
a web browser by logging in with an EASE username and
Holyrood Conference’s Freedom of Information
password at https://www.printbalance.ucs.ed.ac.uk/
One Year On takes place on 12th December at
(On a Windows workstation you must enter the Windows
the Edinburgh Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt
domain before the username – for example ed\uun .)
University. A short leaflet is available which provides
Charging and refunds policy
information for staff about the Scottish Information
At the start of the Academic Year all students have £2.40
Commissioner’s role, investigation procedures and
in their accounts; unused credit can be claimed back at
legal powers of enforcement.
graduation. Details of this and the policy on refunds for
If you would like a copy or a stock of leaflets for
spoiled or lost print jobs are provided at http://www.ucs.
training purposes, please call 01334 4646410 or email
ed.ac.uk/ucsinfo/cttees/citc/policies/studprinting.html
[email protected]
Garry Scobie (EUCS)
Caroline Porteous (JISC Regional Support Centre)
page 5
edinburgh bits C&IT news from Information Services
100 chemical, petrochemical and process engineering reference books online
PhD students! Searching the Literature?
The Library has purchased Referex Engineering, providing perpetual access
Conducting a comprehensive and
to 100 chemical engineering reference titles from Elsevier.
accurate search of the literature in your
What?
field is a key task as you start your PhD.
The collection combines key sources of reference material, including:
Staff from the Science & Engineering
• Handbooks of engineering fundamentals
Libraries run courses to help you make
• Situational reference
the best use of library and information
• How-to guides
resources within the University and
• Titles focused on technique and practice
beyond, and help you manage your
• Scholarly monographs
literature review and bibliography. Time
• Highly specialized professional information
spent now learning to make good use of
Key titles
these facilities will be time well spent.
The collection comprises leading titles in energy, chemical engineering,
The following courses are available:
chemical hazards, process engineering, oil and gas engineering, and
• Biological Sciences, 11th October
environmental engineering. Titles include Bretherick’s Handbook
• Physical Sciences, 18th October
of Reactive Chemical Hazards, and the unique handbooks from Gulf
• GeoSciences, 25th October
Professional Publishing, such as Standard Handbook of Petroleum and
For a place email
[email protected].
Natural Gas Engineering, and Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers.
For further information contact:
A full list of titles is available in PDF format (http://www.ei.org/eicorp/ refxtitles.pdf) or Excel format (http://www.ei.org/eicorp/refxtitles.xls).
Key features
• Informatics and Engineering:
[email protected] • Biological Sciences and
• Site licence provides unlimited access to the subscribed collection. • 100 full-text electronic reference titles in PDF format.
GeoSciences:
[email protected] • Physical Sciences:
[email protected]
• Search all of the collection simultaneously. • Search the full-text or restrict to searches on title, author name, or
The Transkills website is at http://www. scieng.ed.ac.uk/transkil.htm
ISBN. • View titles based on subject category.
Sarah Kelly (EUL)
• Result lists show section title, book name and bibliographic
Data Library news
information. • Cover images and relevance ratings are displayed with each record.
The following datasets, obtained from
• Link to detailed book descriptions, the full-text book, the relevant
the UK Data Archive, are now available
full-text section and sub-section in PDF format.
to University staff and students:
Other collections
• Transition Out of the Parental Home in
Referex Engineering comprises three collections. The Library chose initially
Britain, Spain & Norway, 2001–2002.
to purchase the Chemical collection, in consultation with the School. If
• Improving Survey Measurement of
you are interested in the Mechanical & Materials and/or the Electronics
Income and Employment (ISMIE),
& Electrical collections, please inform your School Library Representative
2001–2003.
(http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/Admin/Committees/libcom/libcom.htm).
Useful links:
• Dynamics of Attitudes Towards Democracy and Participation in
• The Referex story: http://www.ei.org/referexstory.html • Referex factsheet: http://www.ei.org/referex.pdf
Contemporary Britain, 2000–2002. • Survey of How Parents Balance Work,
Referex Engineering is available via the Engineering Village 2 platform (also used to access the Compendex and Inspec databases): • On campus: http://www.engineeringvillage2.org/ – no username or password required.
Family and Home, 2000. • Scottish Schools Adolescent Life-style and Substance Use Survey, 2002. • General Household Survey, 2003–2004.
• Off campus: http://www.engineeringvillage2.org/ – Athens/EASE
For further information contact the Data
username and password required (see http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/
Library (email
[email protected], tel
resources/databases/athensdaease.html).
511431 or 503304). Sarah Kelly (EUL)
page 6
Stuart MacDonald (EDINA)
edinburgh bits
An e-Learning cornucopia ALT online newsletter ALT – the Association for Learning
New JISC publication on e-Learning
JISC e-Learning workshops A series of regional workshops from
Technology – now has an online
Innovative Practice with e-Learning
the JISC e-Learning and Pedagogy
newsletter, with an RSS feed, at
was published by JISC at the
strand, in partnership with the
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/
Association for Learning Technology
Higher Education Academy, will look
Conference (ALT-C) held recently in
at ‘Planning and Evaluating Effective
emailing the Editor, Susi Peacock
Please send comments by
Manchester. It builds on the case
Practice with e-Learning’.
(
[email protected]) or Rhonda
study approach adopted in ‘Effective
Riachi (
[email protected]).
Practice with e-Learning,’ and is a
practitioners, e-learning champions,
Edublogs? a workshop
The workshops are for advanced
good practice guide to embedding
staff developers and those who
Weblogs – ‘blogs’ – widely used
mobile and wireless technologies
support effective e-learning practice
for online journals, have opened
into everyday practice. It includes
in UK higher education. They are
a new era in personal publishing.
the presentation of ten case studies
not an introduction to e-learning for
Can they also enhance learning and
written by the Open University,
general academic staff, and will not
teaching? What are the advantages
five of which include illustrative
involve any skills training.
of combining them with technologies
videos made by MALTS. Copies of
such as Really Simple Syndication
the publication can be ordered, and
Effective Practice with e-Learning
(RSS) news feeds?
downloads obtained, from http://
guide (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elp_
www.jisc.ac.uk/eli_practice.html
practice.html) shows the widespread
‘Edublogs’ are weblogs, weblogging tools and RSS in education. A workshop on the theory and
ALT-C 2006
The success of JISC’s recent
demand for expertise in exploiting
ALT-C 2006, on the theme of ‘the
e-learning. The workshops will:
practice of using edublogs in a
next generation’, will be held at
• establish principles of effective
variety of educational settings takes
Heriot-Watt University, on 5–7
place on 17th November in London.
September. The conference website
Full details are at http://www.alt.
is at http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006/
ac.uk/workshop_detail.php?e=191
British Library e-newsletter
Handheld computers
The British Library has recently
‘design for learning’; • introduce participants to planning and evaluation tools; • discuss the usability of these materials in different contexts;
The Third National Workshop and
launched an ‘e-newsletter’
Tutorial on Handheld Computers in
specifically for researchers in
Universities and Colleges takes place
Higher Education. It will be issued
on 4th November at Wolverhampton
three times a year, and includes
Science Park. Each delegate will
information on:
The one-day workshops – for a
receive a complimentary handheld
• How to use the Library for your
maximum of 50 delegates – will be
computer. Further information is at http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/pdaws/
research;
• share ideas for using materials in participants’ own activities; • create an informal network to test, share and cascade the tools.
delivered throughout the UK by a
• New products and services;
core team who have worked closely
• Special offers;
with the e-Learning and Pedagogy
• Exciting new collections items;
Strand. They will be at Edinburgh
From April 2006 the Learning and
• News;
University on 18th January.
Skills Development Agency (LSDA)
• First-class exhibitions and
Learning and Skills Agency to be restructured
will become the nucleus of a new agency, the Quality Improvement
events; • How we collaborate with HE;
There is no charge for the events. To register your interest, visit http:// www.jisc.ac.uk/elp_workshops.html
Agency (QIA) for Lifelong Learning.
• Ways in which to get involved.
A second new organisation, the
To sign up, send your
e-Learning and Pedagogy strand
Learning and Skills Network, will
name and email address to
visit http://www.jisc.ac.uk/
take over the hands-on delivery work
[email protected].
elearning_pedagogy.html
with the learning and skills sector
To find out more about the range
For information about the
For any queries about the
currently carried out by the LSDA, as
of services offered by the British
workshops, contact Sarah Knight
described at http://www.qia.org.uk/
Library, visit http://www.bl.uk/
(email
[email protected]). Wilma Alexander (MALTS)
page 7
edinburgh bits C&IT news from Information Services
Informatics Forum: builders start work on University’s world-class facility The Crichton Street car park is
begin building. The Informatics
about to disappear. The City of
Forum which is phase one of the
world’s leading centres for artificial
Edinburgh Council granted planning
development is due to open in 2007.
intelligence, cognitive science,
permission for the University’s
Also in September the University
The result will be one of the
computer science and information-
development plans for the area at
won further backing for the £42m
the end of September. A water main
project with £14m from the Scottish
was diverted around the site over
Executive, adding to the support
webcams behind the ‘construction’
the Summer, and the contractor
already received from the University,
link to follow progress – is at
has fenced off the area ready to
SHEFC, the Wolfson Foundation and
http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/building/
private contributors.
Realising Lifelong Learning
related research. The project website – with
Gordon Duckett (Informatics)
UCISA courses
JISC infoNet and ALT – the
IT Training Skills Workshop
Association for Learning Technology
Date: 6–8 December 2005
E DINBURGH BIT S
– have launched ‘Making Lifelong
Venue: University of Edinburgh
Learning a reality’. The publication
This Workshop is for HE staff from
Editor: Nick Stroud, Computing Services.
looks at the organisational and
any background who need to deliver
cultural aspects of trying to provide
practical-based IT training, and is
a seamless transition for students
suitable for non-teaching staff. It is
between institutions and across the
particularly suitable where the tutor
FE/HE sectors.
and participants make substantial
The publication is available, free
use of desktop computers.
of charge, from JISC infoNet. Details
Professional Advisory Skills
of how to obtain copies of this and
Date: 3–6 January 2006
other publications can be found
Venue: Stirling Management Centre
at http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/
Professional Skills for Advisory Staff
publications/
is aimed at computer professionals
Janette Hillicks (JISC infoNet)
who have been working in an HE IT service for at least a year,
Alice in Web-Wonderland
and focuses on administrative,
The original Alice in Wonderland
communication, problem-solving
manuscript is now online, complete
and business skills, with particular
with Lewis Carroll’s drawings, in
reference to Helpdesks.
the British Library’s Turning the
Details and booking
Pages website at http://www.bl.uk/
For information go to http://www.
onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html
ucisa.ac.uk/groups/sdg/courses/
(Editor)
page 8
Sue Fells (UCISA)
Published by: Information Services The University of Edinburgh Contributions: Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 0131 650 3345 Distribution queries: BITs is distributed through School offices; secretaries please notify changes in requirements to Carla Zaccardelli: Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 0131 650 4999 Printed by: University of Edinburgh Printing Services http://www.pps.ed.ac.uk/about/printing/ BITs on the Web: http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/bits/ BITs RSS feed: http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/bits/bits.rss Some acronyms explained: http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/ucsinfo/ acronyms.html NB: if you fail to access a URL shown in BITs, please email
[email protected].
Contributions to BITs are welcomed. Copy deadline for November BITs:
W e d n e s day 19 th O c t o b e r
