Welcome back to school! Here’s what’s new for Spring 2018 …
Two factor authentication for everyone on February 1st
Starting Thursday February 1, 2018, everyone at Swarthmore will need to use two factor authentication to log in to college services. Two-factor authentication combines something you know (your username and password) with something you have (e.g. a numeric code or a mobile device). The system we are implementing is called Duo and has already been adopted successfully at many colleges and universities. We suggest switching before the deadline to make sure you have time to get set up properly. Almost 1000 Swarthmore users are already successfully using Duo and the change will help keep hackers from accessing sensitive data. More information and signup information is available at the Duo Two Factor Authentication help page.
MakerSpace
The new MakerSpace taking shape in Beardsley took a huge step forward this month with the arrival of Russell Prigodich as the new MakerSpace and Wood Shop Manager. Russell has extensive experience with both analog and digital tools and has been busy getting the space ready for the new semester. Stop by Beardsley 101 to say hello and learn how the MakerSpace can help with a class or individual project.
Classroom Updates
Over the past year, Academic Technology has been collaborating with Facilities, faculty groups, the Provost’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, and the Libraries to enhance classrooms to benefit teaching. Our goal is to create a variety of classrooms that best fit the diverse needs of faculty and students.
If you haven’t seen the Kohlberg 116 classroom makeover from this summer, it is worth a visit. More information and photos are available in a previous blog post. In Science Center 104, we were able to reduce the number of chairs to facilitate space for group work and an additional whiteboard and a tracking camera for recording classes are coming soon. A new classroom, Pearson 006, has lots of board space and chairs on wheels to suit a variety of class types from class discussion to small group work. We’re working to identify additional rooms in need of improvement. If you have ideas for room improvements, please get in touch.
Media Services has continued to implement improved wireless projection in classrooms. The Mersive Solstice system allows for wireless presentation most laptops, tablets, or phones. It is an easy, reliable way for to project without needing cables or to have students share their work.
Start of Semester Help
ITS has two little-known tools for helping academic departments with start-of-the semester chores.
Check for student preparation: If you need to determine which students in your course have taken prerequisite courses, want a list of all courses a students has taken in a certain subject, or need to know student AP exam scores, ITS provides a Departmental Course Pre-Requisites report.
Enrollment Management for Multiple Sections: If you have too many students signed up for one section of a course and not enough students signed up for other sections, the Registration Scheduler report will show which students in the over-enrolled section have space in their schedule to switch to an under-enrolled section.
Talk to us!
To learn more about any of these items please get in touch with your Academic Technologist.