INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Google Course Kit vs. Moodle PDF Grader (Roundtable)
Presenter: Nathan Lind – Augsburg University
10:15-11:05 – Hagfors 106
I’ll share a short demo of the new Google Course Kit (beta) inside Augsburg’s Moodle instance, and facilitate a discussion about Course Kit in comparison to Moodle PDF Grader interface. What do we like, not like, what do we wish for the future of the Moodle PDF Grader? Who is using Google Course Kit? We can expand into other Moodle gradebook discussions as time allows.
Student Podcasting Assignments: Merging Information Literacy and Technology Training in the College Classroom (Panel)
Presenter: Adam Konczewski – CSB/SJU
11:10-11:55 – Hagfors 106
The CSB/SJU Libraries and CSB/SJU Instructional Technology staff have recently started partnering with faculty from several departments on student podcasting assignments. This session will go over assignment details, the free and relatively simple-to-use technologies we employ, and the supporting documents and resources we’ve developed to support student success. We’ll examine how common information literacy learning objectives for more traditional, paper-based assignments map to podcasting assignments. Session presenters will also address the strengths we each bring to this project (i.e., expertise in information literacy instruction versus technology training and support) and how our shared contributions have led to stronger project design and implementation.
Maker Space in Academic Settings (Panel)
Presenter: Adam Konczewski & Josh Akkerman – CSB/SJU
12:50-1:35 – Hagfors 106
CSB/SJU has a maker space for 5 years. We have gained knowledge how to use those space effectively in the classroom, with class assignments and problem solving. This session will cover how to equip maker space, what would be necessary to get started and how to support the space trained student employees. Participants will learn best practices and tools used to create and run their own makes space.
Online Virtual Labs Using Amazon Workspaces (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Adam Gindt – The College of St. Scholastica
1:40-2:25 – Hagfors 106
This is an overview of a major project we completed last year at CSS. Our Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Health Information Management (HIM) departments were looking for a modern “virtual lab” to use for their students. We moved ahead with a cloud solution for this, which ended with using Amazon Workspaces. We now have online “virtual labs” that students can access from any platform anywhere in the world. I will go through how we determined the product that worked for us and why this was the best, key points of the configuration and implementation, how we maintain this, and outcomes of this project.
Zen and the Art of Teaching with New Technology (Unconference)
Presenter: Christy Mattingly – Augsburg University
2:45-3:30 – Hagfors 106
This presentation will be a session focused on lessons learned in teaching instructors how to think differently when teaching with new technology. A prime example is when a new mode of course delivery is encountered, such as Interactive Video Conference (IVC) courses. Instructors must not only consider what is gained with technology, but also figure out how to compensate for what is lost.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Quick and Easy In-House Diploma Printing (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Heidi Hjort & Josh Schoettmer – University of St. Thomas
10:15-11:05 – Hagfors 151
We switched our diploma printing process from third-party external printing to in-house printing within the Registrar’s office. This cut down delivery time from 8-12 weeks to 1-2 weeks – or even 10 minutes in special cases!
Using Hype to Inspire Faculty to Write Better Learning Outcomes (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Karin Brown & John Kinsella – University of St. Thomas
11:10-11:55 – Hagfors 151
John and Karin worked together to create the Learning Outcomes Inspirator (link.stthomas.edu/inspirator). The tool was built using Hype, and the hope is that this tool will replace some of the early discussions faculty have with Instructional Designers so more time can be dedicated to high-level course design conversations. The tool could also be used by faculty not working with an Instructional Designer.
Increasing Faculty Buy-in Through Digital Possibilities: A Joint Venture Between the Library and Instructional Design (Sage on the Stage)
Presenters: Greg Argo & Michael Wilder – University of St. Thomas
12:50-1:35 – Hagfors 151
For a long time, Instructional Designers and Librarians at the University of St. Thomas worked toward the goal of having faculty use effective, economical instructional resources in their courses. Through the adoption of Leganto (ExLibris), we’ve made great strides toward that goal. Come hear how the project came about, and how we work together on the course planning, resource allocation and have more faculty using more of the library’s digital resources than ever before. The result has been greater coordination of services, greater visibility for the Library, and greater deployment of no-or-low-cost instructional materials.
Hagfors Walking Tour – Highlights
Guides: Leif Anderson, Scott Krajewski and Matt Schornstein – Augsburg University
1:40-2:25 – Hagfors 151
Custom Student Dashboard Analytics (Lightning Round)
Presenter: Ben Haensel – BlueSky Online School
2:45-3:30 – Hagfors 151
Learn how Blue Sky Online School implemented a unique student dashboard using a modified Configurable Reports plugin and custom analytics on the landing page of Moodle where participants never miss their information on their progress, level of achievement and other learning analytics.
SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION
Using Micromdm, a FREE Open Source MDM for Apple Devices (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Jacob Jensen – Bethel University
10:15-11:05 – Hagfors 103
Netboot is dead! How am I going to image my Macs? Micromdm is a free open-source MDM for Apple Devices. It can provide all the functionality that you would expect and need from an MDM including bootstrapping the imaging process on Macs, and configuring iOS or Apple TVs. It even works with VPP! Bethel is using this solution to configure and manage our Apple fleet. I would like to show the basics for configuring, testing, and deploying Micromdm, as well as give a glimpse into the nearly unlimited flexibility and integration capabilities that it can offer to your organization.
MPC Security Roundtable Discussion (Roundtable)
Moderator: Chris Gregg – University of St. Thomas
11:10-11:55 – Hagfors 103
Informal roundtable discussion of security related hot topics.
St. Thomas Secure Account Plan Project (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Chris Gregg – University of St. Thomas
1:40-2:25 – Hagfors 103
Learn how we implemented a series of changes, bundled as our “Secure Account Plan” to improve security for university accounts. The project included adding MFA campus-wide, changing our password policies, implementing a password manager, and are starting to implement data loss protection rules to help contain sensitive data on campus. Q&A welcome.
Continuous Integration and Development on AWS (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Julian Mino – University of St.Thomas
2:45-3:30 – Hagfors 103
This is a technical session. Our approach to automated builds and deploys using AWS. #SoftwareEngineering #SysOps #SysAdmin #DevOps #IaC #AWS #Terraform #replatform.
IT MANAGEMENT
Stop Tilting at Windmills and Start Toppling Silos: Build Intracampus Trust and Teamwork by Ending the Internal Customer Concept (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Ted Wilder – Macalester College
10:15-11:05 – Hagfors 152
Coined in quality-obsessed Japan over 30 years ago by Kaoru Ishikawa and popularized by Joseph Juran soon after, many higher education information technology (IT) departments have adopted the concept of internal customer to focus on service to the campus community. 70% of private US higher education IT departments responding to a November 2018 survey indicate use of internal customer language to describe central IT’s relationship with campus faculty and staff. Born to break-down departmental silos and increase collaborative problem solving, does the idea really deliver or is the concept misinterpreted and misapplied? By voluntarily or involuntarily implementing internal customers for higher education IT, are we really achieving our goals or are we only tilting at windmills? This interactive session explores the internal customer concept and offers an alternative interpretation, unlocking the value of strategic IT on campus.
Watson — Come here — I want to see you take my job: Exploring an artificial intelligence-proof professional development model for information technology workers (Sage on the Stage)
Presenter: Ted Wilder – Macalester College
11:10-11:55 – Hagfors 152
Increasing complexity, diversity, and dispersal of security threats, technology, and data places demand on information technology (IT) workers to frequently retool their technical skill sets. And now automation is on the horizon: Artificial intelligence (AI) already impacts customer, financial, healthcare, legal, human resource, media, and even education services. How far away is AI for IT services? As IT professionals, how do we balance the need to keep up with the latest technical skills while future-proofing our careers from automation? This session will propose and collaboratively explore an AI-proof professional development model for IT workers of all levels.
[CANCELLED] Put It On Autopilot: Designing Our Work for the Academic Calendar, the Rapid OS Release Cycle, and the Inevitable Crisis (Sage on the Stage)
Presenters: Rebecca Barkmeier & Troy Barkmeier – Carleton College
12:50-1:35 – Hagfors 152
When managing endpoints in a higher education setting, there is a tension between the sometimes unpredictable vendor release cycles and the unyielding deadlines of the academic year. Throw in a couple of major campus initiatives and the occasional personal and professional crisis, and the project calendar quickly becomes overwhelming. We’ll discuss how we use project templates, modular workflows, testing regimens, phased rollouts, user self-service, and automated reporting to streamline the planning process, distribute the work, play to our strengths, and keep things moving along even when life gets in the way.
Putting the IT in Making it: Teachable moments and learning curves for integrating Makerspaces and Creativity into a traditional IT organization (Sage on the Stage)
Presenters: Don Ezra Cruz Plemons – St. Olaf College & Terry Raper – Macalester College
1:40-2:25 – Hagfors 152
From an IT perspective: A brief rundown on some benefits and perils, trials and tribulations, and general growing pains of bringing makerspaces online in the IT setting. Is it really a case of irresistible force meets immovable object? How do we handle the scale, scope-creep, and staffing challenges? And don’t forget “innovative partnerships” with other departments! Case studies (St. Olaf’s DiSCO and Cave, Macalester’s Digital Resource Center and Idealab) with a look towards larger trends.
Driving Decisions with Data (Panel)
Presenter: John Kinsella – University of St. Thomas
2:45-3:30 – Hagfors 152
My presentation will focus on how we have created user-friendly visualizations and dashboards to present data drawn from the learning management system (LMS), Salesforce, and the ITS ticketing system so that it is readily available to those involved in creating new university online learning policies.
DIY DATA
Try it! Easy Python Code To Clean Up CSV Files (Hands-on Mini-Workshop – laptop encouraged)
Presenter: Katie Gumpertz – University of St. Thomas
10:15-11:05 – Hagfors 250
Do you love to tinker with things, even if you have no idea how they work? I can’t make you a career programmer in a “mini” workshop, but we can do a few magic tricks together! Run simple code in the Python programming language and watch it transform CSV files faster than Excel. Perform advanced filter-and-replace operations, summarize data, and combine multiple CSV files — and take away a few useful scripts to try at home.
Quickmail Tips & Hacks in Moodle (Lightning Round)
Presenter: Ben Haensel – BlueSky Online School
11:10-11:55 – Hagfors 250
Updates to the LSU authored QuickMail (Moodle) plugin have taken the tool to the next level. Explore new options for Moodle email AND Moodle messages. Imagine checking a box to copy mentors and student specific email variables for group messaging for example! This lightning session will showcase new features including email variable setup, paired template & group plugins, and hacking the variables with custom calculated logic.
“Help Me, Help You”” – Early Gradebook Intervention (Sage on the Stage)
Presenters: Bonnie Tensen & Eric Strom – Augsburg University
12:50-1:35 – Hagfors 250
Faculty often need help creating and organizing an online gradebook but may not think to request assistance until midterms or the final weeks of the semester. Meanwhile, students get insufficient or faulty feedback regarding their progress. The Augsburg E-Learning team contacts instructors teaching courses deemed high priority for effective gradebook feedback (e.g., online, blended, and first year) at the start of the semester with an offer to compare the grading scheme in their syllabi to their gradebook and make necessary adjustments. This straightforward approach has resulted in 50+ interactions (sometimes for multiple courses) during the first weeks of each semester, AND the opportunity to make suggestions for improvements beyond gradebook issues. Learn about our process using Google sheets, sql code, and automated email messaging.
The Joy of Data – ‘Happy’ Spreadsheets (Hands on Mini-Workshop)
Presenter: Eric Strom – Augsburg University
1:40-2:25 – Hagfors 250
Design flexible, sustainable and ‘happy’ spreadsheet solutions with Google Sheets and Google Scripts. In a small homage to Bob Ross, this hands-on workshop explores specific formulas and approaches used to benefit low to mid-level data workflows and decision support processes at Augsburg. Bring your laptop and you data! Sample data can be provided.
The Bespoke Salesforce Event App (Unconference)
Presenters: Ryan Blake & Thad Dahlberg – University of St. Thomas
2:45-3:30 – Hagfors 250
The University of St. Thomas hosts hundreds (if not thousands) of events on and off Campus and has utilized various tools to collect the registration information that may or may not be consistent in how data is collected and may or may not get into a system of engagement (at least in a timely manner). Over the last year, we’ve worked with our Enrollment Departments and University Development and Alumni Relations, to create a custom Salesforce Application that unifies their event management needs for data to be collected in a consistent and immediate way, providing heightened data analytics, improved business processes and a more pleasant experience for the end users. Hear about our journey, technical development and a demo on it’s functionality on the Salesforce platform.