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.

Advancement Office Remodel

Recently, the Advancement Office space was remodeled to include a more open reception area and new office space.  The technology office was responsible for moving phone jacks and adding data wiring in order to accommodate the locations of the new work spaces.

The Construction of the Center for Innovation & Collaboration

With construction underway on Blair's new Center for Innovation & Collaboration (CIC), the technology office staff have been coordinating with the contractors who install the underground fiber optic and phone wiring.  This also involves planning for the Ethernet ports which support wireless access points and network devices such as switches and printers.  This planning and communication is necessary during the construction in order to ensure that the technology in the building will be ready when it opens.  A time lapse video of the construction is available here.

Blair Robotics Team

For the first time ever, Blair students participated in a robotics competition in October. The students were tasked with building a robot and programming it for specific functions. Under the direction of Computer Science teacher, Mr. Garrant, the student team were finalists in the competition.

Faculty Tablets instead of Interactive Whiteboards

Faculty members are issued tablets that include a touch-screen function and can be used in conjunction with classroom projectors to simulate interactive whiteboards.  The allows for multi-modal instruction: teachers write on the tablet, project onto a white board to add to the image, and students have another level of interaction with the material.  At the end of instruction, the files can be saved and emailed to students or posted on the class website for student reference.