Home | Download | Purchase | knowledge

 
 


Increased inventory of checkout equipment in response to new demand

2004-2005 Academic Year Activities

Highlights:
  • Purchased, configured, and installed 120 new computers in labs, classrooms and presentation rooms. Upgraded operating systems and applications in all remaining public computers.
  • Supported 570 computer systems and their users in addition to hundreds of peripheral and handheld devices across the College.
  • In conjunction with the Office of the Director of Communications, implemented a redesigned College Website using cascading style sheets (CSS). Created and/or updated over 1,000 web pages.
  • Installed new or upgraded presentation and computer systems in 24 public spaces including classrooms, conference rooms, and the Wyatt Rotunda.
  • Expanded and upgraded the campus wireless network to ubiquitous 802.11g high speed APs.
  • Worked closely with Peabody Library staff in the creation and equipping of the Learning Commons.
  • Increased A/V equipment circulation by a projected 70 percent over the previous year and by 800 percent since 2000.
  • Implemented PTSC systems for processing help desk support requests, managing equipment reservation and circulation, and for graphics cataloging, storage, and retrieval.
  • Produced and directed the transmission of more than 75 VUSTAR television and radio interviews for broadcast on major news outlets including CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, BBC, and others.
  • Expanded the access control and CCTV security systems.
  • Served on numerous college, university, and community committees and task forces.
  • Continued to serve as Vanderbilt's Apple Reseller producing revenue to assist in the purchase of new technologies.
Computer, Presentation System Replacements and Upgrades:
  • Upgraded presentation technology in 20 classrooms with new projectors, touch screen controls, and combination VHS/DVD players.
  • Installed dual computer systems (Macintosh and Windows) with KVM switching in 13 classrooms.
  • Upgraded Windows computers in Hobbs 107 to Dell GX-280 towers with LCD screens.
  • Replaced older generation iMacs in WC 130 with iMac G5 systems.
  • Upgraded iMac computers in the Wyatt Visitors' Center.
  • Upgraded all audio and visual systems in the Wyatt Rotunda including replacement of media walls, projectors, sound systems and touch-screen controls. Installed dual computer system (Macintosh and Windows) and combination DVD/VHS player.
  • Upgraded Wyatt 131 Development Lab to a high-end multimedia lab with the deployment of four high-end Windows and five Macintosh G5 computers running professional-level editing software.
  • Upgraded and expanded campus wireless network to ubiquitous 802.11g (high speed) APCs. Coverage is for all buildings and surrounding grounds including the quad and the library terrace.
  • Completed operating system and application upgrades for all 98 existing instructional, public access, and presentation Macintosh computers.
  • Upgraded open access iMac computers in the Peabody Library.
New Computer,Network, and Presentation System Installations:
  • In consultation with the library staff, designed, acquired, and installed presentation systems in the Peabody Library's Learning Commons.
  • Installed and configured Dell GX-280 towers with LCD screens, productivity and statistical software in the Learning Commons.
  • Created the first open-access Windows lab at Peabody in Wyatt 132 with 25 Dell GX-280 systems running productivity tools, video editing software, and statistical packages.
  • Designed, acquired, and installed network, telephone, computer and presentation systems in the Wyatt 310 Executive Conference Center.
  • Installed statistical applications on computers in the Wyatt and Hobbs labs and the Information Commons.
  • Advised on network and electrical connectivity for Iris Cafe in the Peabody Library.
Access Control and CCTV Systems:
  • Designed and supervised installation of the access control system in the Mayborn Building.
  • Installed Web-accessible digital CCTV recording system in the Peabody Administration Building.
  • Programmed manual actions and time specifications in support of hundreds of activities ranging from normal building opening to special events and class meetings.
  • Issued 280 new proximity access devices.
  • Maintained a database of 950 proximity device users with appropriate clearance codes.
  • Coordinated preventive maintenance and repair of access control devices with the security vendor.
Services Provided by PTSC Staff:
  • Supported computer systems, software, and peripheral devices for faculty, staff, and students in HOD, LPO, Psych, SPED, T&L, CEPI, ORE, and Peabody Administration, a total of more than 340 systems.
  • Performed the same support functions for 230 Windows and Macintosh systems in laboratories, kiosks, classrooms, and other public areas including the Peabody Library Learning Commons.
  • Advised departments on technology purchases.
  • Consulted with new faculty to determine their computing needs and configured and installed those systems and provided personalized instruction on their use.
  • Produced and directed the transmission of more than 75 VUSTAR television and radio interviews for broadcast on major news outlets including CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, BBC, and others.
  • Provided consulting services to various university entities in the areas of videoconferencing and video capture and editing.
  • Facilitated videoconference calls on both ISDN and IP-based systems for Peabody and other university clientele.
  • Provided consultant services in support of technologies for "The Commons" and "College Halls at Vanderbilt University" project.
  • Consulted with the Peabody Library staff in support of technology and access control projects.
  • Served as "co-manager" of the Peabody Learning Commons.
  • Performed system configuration and installation of computer systems for new faculty and updates for existing faculty.
  • Facilitated an online course evaluation system test in conjunction with the College of Arts and Science.
Services Provided by the Helpdesk Staff:
  • Increased A/V equipment circulation by a projected 70 percent over previous year and by 800 percent since 2000.
  • Increased inventory of checkout equipment in response to new demand.
  • Maintained hundreds of pieces of equipment for checkout purposes.
  • Converted, digitized, and dubbed video segments for instructional use.
  • Updated equipment inventory system.
  • Worked closely with RoomTime developers to create an equipment reservation and checkout system currently in beta testing at Peabody.
  • Provided instructor and event participant training in use of presentation systems.
  • Assisted with videoconferencing and teleconferencing activities.
  • Maintained and repaired presentation equipment in classrooms, presentation and conference rooms.
  • Received and forwarded support requests from faculty, staff and students to appropriate PTSC staffers.
  • Provided telephone, e-mail, and walk-in technical support for technology users in classrooms and offices.
  • Assisted faculty with creation of instructional materials including QuickTime movies and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Assisted in the design and implementation of the Wonderdesk and Portfolio systems.
  • Improved and maintained help desk "support requests" reporting and analyzing.
Behind the scenes functions:
  • Provided "nightlies" and "weeklies" backup service for 239 computer systems.
  • Configured and installed new RAID backup servers to replace tape-based system.
  • Administered Peabody instructional servers.
  • In conjunction with VU ITS, managed network services for Peabody College.
  • Administered the Peabody web server and captured site metrics data.
Peabody and other Websites:
  • In conjunction with the Office of Communications, created and/or updated over 1,000 webpages and established new sites for several constituencies.
  • Redesigned the website engine and database structure to permit use of CSS.
  • Completed and implemented redesign of Peabody Website using CSS and a botanical theme featuring trees on the Peabody campus.
  • Purchased, configured, and installed a new Web server
  • Made significant strides in the analysis and use of site metrics (Data have been captured since 1994 but only limited use has been made of the information gathered.)
  • Installed Webcam on the Peabody Library Terrace (our second Webcam)
  • Photographed individuals and campus events for publication on the website.
Service to the College, University and Expanded Community through Memberships on:
  • Peabody Committee on Teaching
  • Peabody Library Advisory Committee
  • Peabody Executive Committee
  • IT School Leaders Committee
  • OAK Transition Committee
  • OAK Communications Committee
  • VU Printing Committee
  • VU Human Resources Policy Committee
  • VUNet Stakeholders
  • VUSpace Committee
  • VU ResNet Support Committee
  • VU Web Spiders
  • VU Campus Technology Forum
  • VU Recruitment and Retention Taskforce
  • VU Staff Advisory Council
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools Technology Committee
  • Numerous ad hoc task forces
Support of Research Projects/Units and Laboratories (a selected list):
  • CEPI
  • Project Thinkwell
  • Raising Healthy Children
  • Stress and Coping Lab
  • Infant Cognition Lab
  • Maternal and Infant Health Lab
  • Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth
  • Children's Learning Lab Ð Self Explanation in Mathematics Study
  • Language Development Lab
  • Perception Lab
  • Early Social Development Lab
  • Interface between Concepts and Visual Perception Lab
  • Quantitative Lab
  • FOCUS Project
  • GEAR UP Project
  • Center on School Choice
  • Student Achievement Project
  • Teacher Turnover Project
  • Teacher Professional Development in Math & Science Project
  • PLAN
  • Collaborative Investigation of Statistical Reasoning
  • Provided startup assistance and consultation to new LSI video staff member
  • Supported servers for numerous research projects in various departments
Support of Administrative Units:
  • Financial Aid Database - includes exportation of data to Student Records
  • Graduate Admissions - importing applications from Excalibur into AOP and FIJI
  • General Ledger - monthly downloads of financial transactions into GL database
  • Employee Database - downloads of employee and Labor Distribution information
  • Teacher Licensure Database - tracking teacher licensure info and yearly upload to state of TN
  • AOPplus - development and maintenance of system to track careers of graduate students
  • HOD Internship - maintenance and importation of new student information into HOD's Internship database
  • Imagine - development of new database to track "Imagine" scholarships
PTSC Administrative Systems nearing full implementation:
  • PTSC Help Desk software - installation, configuration, and maintenance of the Wonderdesk system
  • RoomTime - administration of the room scheduling and equipment reservation and checkout modules
  • Portfolio - configuration and maintenance of image database
Education/Training/Orientation Activities included:
  • Training and consultation to instructors in the use of the OAK/Blackboard Course Management System and the conversion of the materials from Prometheus
  • New faculty orientation sessions
  • SAOP sessions
  • Online orientation for new graduate students
  • Seminars on various topics such as videoconferencing, video capture and editing
  • One-on-one instruction for faculty and teaching assistants in the use of classroom systems
  • One-on-one instruction to faculty, staff, and students in the use of numerous application packages, computer systems, presentation systems, and PDAs
Event support:
  • Technical support to hundreds of special events held in various venues around the campus
  • One-on-one instruction for event staff in the use of presentation equipment
  • Access control programming in support of events
  • Wyatt Lobby Media Wall programming for events
Upcoming projects:
  • Wyatt Center lobby video wall repair or replacement
  • WC302 conference room presentation system installation
  • Removal of equipment prior to the Hill Center demolition
  • Possible installation of access control in Payne Hall
  • Possible installation of CCTV security in additional buildings
  • Expanding videoconferencing capability, especially for desktop users
  • Replacement of remaining iMacs in classrooms and presentation rooms
  • Installing and managing 3 webcams to document and archive images of The Commons construction
  • Satellite uplink programming
  • Expanded training experiences for the college community