Record Screen for Technology Help

Blair's Technology Work Request form gives users the ability to record their computer screen when requesting technical support.  The link to record the screen can be found at the bottom of the work request form. The form is accessed through the Faculty or Student Portal in the left hand navigation pane.  Click Work Requests, then click under Computer and Phones work request. Technical support can always be requested by sending an email to tech@blair.edu, this form just makes it easier to record your screen to explain an issue.

Faculty Write Without Typing

Writing feedback and comments for students is an integral part of the Blair faculty experience. Historically, hand-written notes were sent to Blair families.  This was eventually replaced by typed words.  Now, new technologies are helping to forge a new way to write.  Using a feature called Speech-to-Text, anyone can speak words which are converted to text in many applications, including Google docs. Possible applications include lecture notes, reminders to students, and even comments on student report cards.  One veteran faculty remarked that the feature is "Amazing!", saving precious time for those for whom keyboarding may take longer than writing or speaking.

Fire Alarm Panels

Around campus, fire alarm panels have the ability to dial out in case of emergency and the Technology Office works with the Business Office to ensure these are working at all times.  Each alarm has two phone lines to create a redundancy and increase reliability. Recently, one of the panels was displaying a generic telephone error and the Business Office alerted the Technology Office to the error.  To troubleshoot, a number of sequential steps must be taken including testing for dial tone from the PBX ports in the basement of Clinton, to the terminals in Freeman Hall, and finally from the terminals to the fire panel.  If those tests are successful and we ensure the panel has dial tone, then it's on to an outside vendor to troubleshoot other possible causes.