On Thursday 1 June, we wished Mike Roch, Director of Information Services, a happy retirement and best wishes for the future. HWU colleagues from Information Services and across the University got together for a farewell party with speeches, presents and cake to say thanks to Mike for all his hard work and inspirational leadership over the last 6 years.
We hope that Mike and Dilys enjoy many happy years in their cottage in Wales.
Posted by cdonlan on 02 June 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/06/02/mike-roch-director-of-information-services-retirement/
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/
You will have noticed the high profile ransomware attack that has been in the news over the past few days. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-39915440)
Information Services are monitoring our systems and have the necessary precautions in place to minimise the risks from ransomware, however, staff and students should remain vigilant at all times.
In particular, please be suspicious of any emails received from unknown sources with attachments or links:
Typically ransomware will be hidden in emails that look like invoices for goods, communication from the tax office (HMRC) or your bank, requests to authenticate your accounts (confirm your user name and password) following an update etc.
If you use a machine that is not on the managed desktop please ensure that you
Can we remind all users to log out from their machines at the end of the working day. Information Services apply updates and patches to managed machines overnight and some patches do not apply until a machine is restarted.
If you have not logged out and restarted your machine for a few days please do so.
See https://www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-yourself/ransomware/ for more information on protecting against ransomware.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 15 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/15/ransomware-attack/
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/
The HWU Edinburgh Campus Library is going to be refurbished – we are ‘Transforming Your Library’
We will keep you updated through these blog posts and through our social media channels. As well as details of the exciting new developments, we will keep you updated as to which spaces and resources are available in the Library during the enabling and refurbishing works.
What is happening when?
| Monday 24th July
|
Ground Floor will continue to be closed for enabling work Floor 1 and floor 2 will be open as normal Floor 3 – there will be work to replace the ceiling slats on Floor 3 between Monday 24th July and Friday 28th July The floor will be still open for study space and to use PCs but some areas will be cordoned off and access may be limited. |
Enabling work on Floor 3 has involved moving some journals to off-site storage and removing some shelving. This means that we have been able to create more space for study tables and chairs. These will be moved into place in August in time for the new semester.
How do I get help if needed?
Ask at the Service Desk at the Edinburgh campus library or contact us by email or phone
https://www.hw.ac.uk/is/contactvisit-us.htm
Posted by cdonlan on 11 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/11/whats-happening-with-the-library-refurbishment-edincampuslib/
This summer we will start work on a £6m library refurbishment project for the Cameron Smail Library (Edinburgh campus). The refurbishment will transform the library into a modern, flexible and comfortable environment for everyone that uses it. Staff, students and consultants have worked together to agree on the design for the space, and this huge investment by the university demonstrates our commitment to working with you to improve your experience at Heriot-Watt University.
The Learning Commons which opened last year has been very successful and well used by many students and staff. It provides 200 study and learning spaces in various configurations and this will inform the type and style of spaces that are to be created in the refurbished library building.
The project will run for 2 years, and will result in more study spaces (up to over 1000 from the current 825), an improved working environment with a variety of collaborative study spaces, double the number of accessible study rooms and improved layout of library stock. There will also be more desk space, more space between work areas, more PC workstations and many other improvements to the building itself to help future proof it.
The library will remain open throughout the project, but there will be times when there is restricted access to areas, noise and some disruption. We will try to keep this to a minimum, and plan the more intrusive work for times when there is low demand for the library .
The Learning Commons, the refurbished study space in the Post Graduate Centre (due September 2017) providing nearly 100 study spaces for all students (not just PGs) and several other study spaces will be available across campus – see Study Spaces.
We’ll keep you informed about what’s due to happen when and let you know how things are going as the project progresses.
Posted by cdonlan on 05 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/05/transforming-your-library/
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 25th May 2017
Time: 11.30 am – 1.00 pm
Location: 2.01 Post-Graduate Centre, Edinburgh Campus
A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology. Members and customers around the world rely on IEEE as a source of technical information.
This practical workshop, aimed at new and early career researchers and postgraduate students in engineering, computing, medical and technology related areas, will provide an overview of publishing with the IEEE.
The session will be introduced by Prof. Stephen McLaughlin, Head of School of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The ‘Publishing with the IEEE’ Workshop will cover:
Posted by Linda Kerr on 04 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/04/workshop-publishing-with-ieee-thursday-25th-may-2017-1130-am-to-100-pm/
Library
21 Individual Study Rooms (Floor 2 & 3)
2 Group Study Rooms (Floor 2)
5 Group Study Tables (Floor 1)
These rooms are available
Monday – Friday 9.15am – 8.00pm, Saturday – Sunday 10.15am – 7.15pm
Learning Commons
3 Group Study Rooms
These rooms are available to book Monday – Friday 11.15am – 4.15pm
(At other times when the building is open, the study rooms are available on a first come, first served basis)
To book a study room:
1. Go to the Information Services Room Booking webpage or scan the QR code below
2. Select the times you require (green = available).
3. Enter your name,Heriot-Watt email address and ID number.
4. Click Submit My Booking.
You will receive an email to confirm the booking.
Keys will be issued at the Service Desk at the start time – bring along your ID card and a note of the room number you have booked.
Please note: –
Posted by cdonlan on 02 May 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/05/02/online-booking-of-study-rooms-edinburgh-campus-library-and-learning-commons/
We know this is a hectic time of year for all of our students.
To help you out we’ve summarised some of the facilities and information available to try and make the next few weeks a bit easier for you.
The Edinburgh campus library remains open 24/7 until the 19th May.
In addition to the Library and the Learning Commons there are lots of other study spaces available across the campus.
See www.hw.ac.uk/studyspace and the Study Space Update for details.
All our campus libraries have gone into revision/exam mode – to create an environment where you can get your head down and make the most of your revision time. If you’re on the Edinburgh campus check out the zoning at the library at Making the Most of the Space.
See Revision and Exams if you need some advice and coping strategies or search through InformS for tips, revision or exam.
Running from 24th April until 19th May at Student Support Service, Hugh Nisbet Building. More info at Exam stress drop-in sessions.
Remember that you can ask our Service Desk staff in the library or your Academic Support and Liaison Librarian or your Effective Learning Advisor for help at any time.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 24 April 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/04/24/surviving-the-exams-2/
With revision a top priority this week and exams starting next week it is important to ‘Make the Most of the Space’ in the Library at our Edinburgh Campus.
Posted by cdonlan on 21 April 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/04/21/making-the-most-of-the-space-edincampuslib/
