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Archive for the ‘Student-Computers’ Category

Web browser popup blocker exceptions need configuring

2014/04/09 Leave a comment

image

  1. Which computers
    1. This I found on the Reception desk
    2. but isn’t that then also wrong on all student pcs which have the same base image?
  2. Which exceptions missing: I noticed immediately:
    1. outlook.com
    2. www.uncc.edu should read uncc.edu
  3. Which browsers
    1. Example is IE9,
    2. But are others different?
Categories: Glitches&Errors, Reception-desk, service-is-configuring-learning-tools, service-is-library, service-is-testing-troubleshooting-debugging, Student-Computers, web-browsers Tags: , , , ,

Getting rid of “You must restart your computer to apply these changes”

2014/03/27 Leave a comment

CAM05590

I am seeing this on several computers when I or students log in. To make matters worse, “Restart now” is the default selected button, and the computers are deepfrozen, which will not only lead to loss of (potentially valuable face-to-face class) time, but could even result in an infinite loop if we do not get rid of this message.

Categories: e-infrastructure, Glitches&Errors, Student-Computers Tags:

Watch how you can train Windows speech-recognition (e.g. in English)

2014/03/07 Leave a comment

Categories: assignments, audience-is-students, e-languages, Operating-system, Screencasts, service-is-applying-learning-tools, Speaking, Student-Computers Tags:

Watch how you can backup and restore your Windows speech-recognition training data

2014/03/07 Leave a comment

Categories: audience-is-students, Student-Computers Tags:

Example 5: Watch how you can dictate to Windows speech-recognition (e.g. in English) and correct results in MS-Word

2014/03/07 Leave a comment

  1. Important: Listen carefully: I am not a native speaker, but have a reasonably low amount of errors, because it enunciate, speak clearly and slowly, and separate the words.
  2. Consider it part of the exercise that you will have to re-read and re-type some your output – use track changes in MS-Word:
    1. Make it a game: How good can you get?
    2. If you get really good at it, make a screencast like this one and include it in your Mahara ePortfolio  as authentic evidence of your foreign language proficiency.
  3. Overall, it’s like how I refer to cycling: Beats walking. Anytime. Smiley
Categories: assignments, audience-is-students, audience-is-teachers, e-languages, English, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin, multimedia-recording, Operating-system, Reading, Screencasts, service-is-applying-learning-tools, Spanish, Speaking, Student-Computers, training, Writing Tags: , , ,

How to test Blackboard IM (formerly Wimba Pronto) for Vista Higher Learning Textbooks

2014/02/04 Leave a comment
  1. After logging in on vhlcentral.com,
  2. the Software is linked on your “My courses”  page: image
  3. Download and install: image
  4. After install: image
  5. Mine was already enabled, but the help says: imageLog in (Note: my account info was different form my vhlcentral.com) image
  6. image
  7. image
  8. Check out the Tools menu
    1. Audio settings should be especially interesting, but there ix no built-on test:
    2. image
    3. Need a partner for testing ..
Categories: e-infrastructure, Student-Computers, textbooks, web-conferencing Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

How students need to work around Sanako startup issues at start of 2014

2014/01/31 Leave a comment

UPDATE: Step 1 is not necessary anymore, Step2 (Microphone click) still is.

Categories: animated-GIFs, audience-is-students, audience-is-teachers, digital-audio-lab, e-languages, Glitches&Errors, Institution-is-University-of-North-Carolina-Charlotte, Listening, multimedia-recording, service-is-testing-troubleshooting-debugging, Speaking, Student-Computers Tags: , ,

Positioning of Language Lab PCs needs improving

2014/01/11 3 comments
  1. Update: We worked around the issue with a male/female USB extension cord (black) to connect the Sanako USB connector (blue) into, this way, the whole setup can be aligned with the rear of the PC and won’t stick out and get in the way: image
  2. Problem: Rear connectors of computers get disconnected or even damaged. Input  (keyboard, mouse, microphone) and output devices (headset) get disconnected connected and therefore fails to work. Damaged equipment needs to be ordered and replaced, at considerable cost of time and money ($TBA per Sanako cable). It is too time-consuming to test equipment functionality (30 headsets and mice and keyboards) before each assessments and exam.
  3. Example of student in seat: CIMG0016
  4. We have observed these and similar damages regularly:
    1. CIMG0020
    2. CIMG0019
    3. Cause: Our language lab computer desks and rows are too narrow, for individual student sitting in front of the computer, not to mention classes moving in and out of their seats
    4. Other requirements:
      1. We need to have equipment plugged in the rear connectors of the computer and cable-tied to prevent students from trying to adjust or “fix” computers by re-plugging the equipment (often improperly, making them fail to work), and also because there is limited desk surface in front of the computers, given keyboard and mouse need to fit in front.
      2. For the functionality of the Sanako digital audio language lab system, we especially need to make sure,  that the headset is plugged in on the same USB port in all computers.
    5. Solutionsthat we have
      1. already tried
        1. we have tied down the connectors with cable ties, but this has not worked sufficiently.
      2. yet to try: is there a way
        1. to permanently attach computers in a different, safer position on the existing furniture?
        2. or to buy and install different furniture, computers seated under desks inaccessible for end user and locked?
Categories: e-infrastructure, Glitches&Errors, headphones, Photos, proposals, Student-Computers Tags: