Essential maintenance – VPN and Single Sign On Systems – Saturday 22nd February
To enhance stability and performance, essential maintenance will be taking place on our VPN and Single Sign On systems on Saturday 22nd February.
VPN access and log in to the Portal, Office365 and Dropbox services will be “at risk” on this day although we will endeavour to keep any service disruption to a minimum.
Information Services apologises for any inconvenience and appreciate your co-operation
Posted by cdonlan on 12 February 2020
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2020/02/12/essential-maintenance-vpn-and-single-sign-on-systems-saturday-22nd-february/
In the Library and Learning Commons we have a number of Multi Functional Devices (MFDs) which are available for printing, scanning and copying. If you are logged into a HWU computer then it is easy to send printing to the MFDs in the usual way i.e. selecting File > Print.
If you are using your own laptop and would like to send documents to the MFDs for printing then you will need to use WiFi printing.
Here are the instructions:
Posted by cdonlan on 24 January 2020
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2020/01/24/how-to-do-wifi-printing/
Posted by cdonlan on 22 February 2018
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2018/02/22/it-service-upgrades-office-365-and-vpn/
There are so many apps available that it is difficult to know where to start.
Here are some recommended ones that are worth looking at:
Star Chart – aim your phone at the night sky
and learn more about the universe, space and planets.
Memrise – learn a new language – explore new words and phrases and learn how to speak, read and write in a whole host of languages.
Duolingo – a great fun app for language learning
CamScanner – this app is great for scanning documents on the go into clear & sharp images/PDFs, to email, fax, print or save to cloud. Just take a photo of the page you need and this app will convert it to a searchable file you can edit.
Moment Diary – plan to keep a diary next year? This app is a useful way to collate creative thoughts and ideas.
There’s lots more apps out there.
Check these websites for more ideas.
http://time.com/4801316/best-apps-2017/
http://www.thetechedvocate.org/tech-edvocates-2017-list-116-best-teaching-learning-apps/
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/best-android-apps-2017
Posted by cdonlan on 07 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/07/12-reads-of-christmas-apps/
There will be a rolling program of software upgrades to the HWU student desktop and the teaching rooms over the summer.
The upgrades will allow staff and students to benefit from new features offered on the more recent versions of software.
Applications that will be upgraded are: –
See Software at HWU for more information on these applications.
Staff that wish to upgrade their home PCs to the new versions should contact ithelp@hw.ac.uk
Posted by Moira Stephen on 25 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/25/software-upgrades-student-desktop-teaching-rooms/
Turnitin has released a major product upgrade that will soon be available at Heriot-Watt University. The new version of the service, called Turnitin Feedback Studio, offers all the functionalities of Turnitin, but with a simplified, more intuitive interface designed for the modern classroom. Turnitin Feedback Studio will make it faster and easier than ever to promote academic integrity, provide actionable feedback, and evaluate student learning at Heriot-Watt University.
We plan to upgrade our version of Turnitin to Feedback Studio on 1st August 2017.
Once upgraded, you can expect to see a new interface when you open up a student’s paper in Turnitin. Your students will also experience this new and improved interface when viewing Similarity Reports and receiving feedback.
To get acquainted with the upgraded Turnitin Feedback Studio and prepare for a successful implementation, you can:
To support this transition and build on the use of Turnitin across HWU, a one hour online training session will be available (and recorded for later viewing).
If you have not received a calendar invite to the online training, but would like to attend, please contact ISAdmin@hw.ac.uk
Posted by Moira Stephen on 12 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/12/turnitin-upgrade-staff-training/
Following a recent Microsoft upgrade of the Skype app some users are experiencing problems when using Skype over the HWU eduroam service.
Feedback from users, and our own tests, indicate that the Skype app V7.XX does not work over eduroam but earlier versions may also be affected.
Solution: use Skype for Business for calls/meetings from HWU via eduroam
Skype for Business is free to staff and students and integrates well with Office 365. It incorporates voice calls, video calls, Instant Messaging, online meetings and screen sharing. See Skype for Business for details.
Note for Mac users
The issue of not being able to import or search for recipients outside of the Heriot-Watt Contacts List using Skype for Business remains. You should use a Windows version of Skype for Business to search for or import contacts.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 24 February 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/02/24/skype-upgrade-information-for-users/
The suppliers of EndNote have just launched a new EndNote LibGuide that you might find useful. The guide provides information for users, trainers and administrators – so a useful resource for everyone that uses or works with EndNote.
The version of EndNote currently on the HWU student desktop is EndNote 7, but you’ll find support for EndNote 8 under the Users tab in the guide (handy if you’ve bought your own copy of the software).
You can also find links and support materials on our own webpages.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 21 February 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/02/21/endnote-help-and-support/
A new series of webinar training is now available for using Vision/Blackboard.
This series of webinar provides instruction on the essential features and functions of Blackboard Learn™ 9.1. (Vision).
Through a variety of activities, including hands-on exercises, participants learn how to organise and build a course online, monitor and assess student performance, and use communication tools to enhance interaction.
Throughout the workshop, participants discuss pedagogical principles related to online learning, along with best practices for teaching in both Web-enhanced and fully online environments.
The Webinar series covers three broad themes:
Live webinars will be recorded and added to the Bb Training Webinar Series course.
To Self Enrol:
That is it! You are now enrolled and will see the Bb Training Webinar Series in My Courses
Posted by Moira Stephen on 03 February 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/02/03/visionblackboard-webinars-for-staff/
Our supplier has informed us that they will be carrying out maintenance on our hosted MS Imagine and the On The Hub web store next week.
Both services will be unavailable during this time.
See Software for Personal Use for full details of free and discounted software available to HWU staff and students.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 03 February 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/02/03/ms-imagine-on-the-hub-services-unavailable-7th-february/
InformS 