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Merb: Rails Alternative Takes Modular Approach

10/27/2008

Engine Yard has just released the community version of a new Web framework for building Ruby applications. Dubbed Merb, the open source framework written in Ruby is "super-light and super-fast," according to the company, which is positioning it as an alternative to Rails.

RIM Reaches Out to Java Jocks

10/27/2008

We're about to be soaked in promotions for the new BlackBerry Storm device, but buried in the hype is something interesting for Java developers: a new set of dev tools for creating and testing mobile-savvy applications for Research In Motion's (RIM's) newest handhelds, including the Storm, Bold and Pearl Flip smart phones.

What's on Your School's IT Threat List?

10/24/2008

The Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC), a national leader in information security research and education, recently released its Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2009, outlining the top five areas of security concern and risk for consumer and enterprise Internet users for the coming year. In it, the GTISC forecasted five key cyber security areas where threats were expected to increase and evolve.

Saba To Extend Collaboration Platform with Enterprise Social Networking System

10/24/2008

Education technology developer Saba this week debuted a new solution it describes as an "enterprise social networking platform." The new system, Saba Social, is designed to extend Saba's collaboration platform and provide a vehicle for delivering and capturing informal, peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange.

Designing a Working Space for Chat

10/22/2008

In the first installment this two-part series, we looked at chat as an instructional tool in general terms. Now we take a look at some of the major concepts in using chat effectively in the process of moving the thinking process forward: building ideas, constructing media, and establishing which elements are critical to making the environment dynamic and relevant to the student.

Mississippi Community Colleges Deploy Collaborative Tools

10/21/2008

The Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (MSBCJC) has selected the Wimba Collaboration Suite to deploy throughout Mississippi, allowing students and educators to connect through online video, voice, text, application sharing, polling, and white boarding.

Michigan State Adding Video to Admissions Process

10/21/2008

Michigan State University will be providing its applicants for admission the ability to supplement their required personal statements with video. Powered by CollegeSupplement.com, the feature allows candidates to express how their backgrounds, talents, and experiences will contribute to the university.

Social Learning Platform Gains Developer Portal

10/20/2008

Cerego has taken its first step toward opening its iKnow! social learning platform, a technology from aimed at integrating collaboration and learning into Web-based content, with the launch of the iKnow! Developer Portal. It's designed to allow users to create mashups using iKnow! content and is aimed particularly at "education-focused social communities."

Microsoft Unleashes Tool For Web Developers

10/17/2008

In its latest bid to keep Web developers in the fold, Microsoft has developed a tool designed to manage the setup, configuration and retrieval of different Web applications.

Adobe Ships Creative Suite 4, Flash Player 10

10/15/2008

Adobe has begun shipping Creative Suite 4, with new versions of its development, design, publishing, and video/motion graphics applications, along with new and modified pricing and licensing schemes for both K-12 and post-secondary education. The company also released Flash Player 10 Wednesday.

Using Chat To Move the Thinking Process Forward

10/15/2008

The idea of using chat as a communication tool with students is widely accepted in education. Using the same tool to progress critical thinking is not often discussed. That is, the question might be asked, "Why use an online tool when I can discuss with my students face to face?"

Web 2.0: Good for Education?

10/15/2008

We are seeing trends in higher education, good and maybe otherwise, that reflect the re-structuring of knowledge systems that seem to come with a point in time we're calling Web 2.0. Educational leadership in this environment means reform at an institutional level, not just technology adoption.

Research Libraries Collaborate on Shared Digital Repository

10/15/2008

A group of the nation's largest research libraries are collaborating to create a repository of their digital collections, including millions of books. These holdings will be archived and preserved in a single repository called the HathiTrust. Materials in the public domain will be available for reading online.

IMS/NGN Forum 'Plugfest' Eyes UC

10/15/2008

In a way, it's not surprising that the sixth IMS/NGN Forum interoperability "plugfest," and the first to be held since the organizations formerly merged this week, will drill down into the unified communications (UC) space.

'Blog Action Day' Calls for Discussion of Poverty

10/15/2008

The second annual Blog Action Day takes place today, bringing together 8,000-plus blog, podcast, and videocast sites to post about the same issue on the same day. This year's topic is poverty. The purpose of the effort is, according to organizers, "to create a discussion. We ask bloggers to take a single day out of their schedule and focus it on an important issue. By doing so on the same day, the blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue. Out of this discussion naturally flow actions, advice, ideas, plans, and empowerment."

American U Takes 'Campus Experience' Online

10/14/2008

American University in Washington, DC has signed with media agency Realview TV to design, produce, and stream the school's online "Virtual Campus Experience." The video will showcase its students, faculty, and virtual campus on the Web via an interactive video-based micro site that's designed to match the school's brand.

Is Higher Ed Technology Keeping Up with Student Demand?

10/14/2008

Students see campus technology is a key factor in selecting a college or university and consider it critical for their professional development. Yet higher education institutions on the whole aren't keeping up with student needs in this area, according to a new report released Monday by CDW Government (CDW-G).

Microsoft Reveals Oslo Tools

10/14/2008

As Microsoft readies pre-release bits for its Professional Developers Conference later this month, the company's Connected Services division Friday announced key components of its "Oslo" modeling platform.

Silverlight 2 Now Available

10/14/2008

Silverlight 2, the latest version of Microsoft's cross-platform browser plug-in for multimedia applications, is now available.

Symantec To Expand Cloud Presence with Purchase of MessageLabs

10/13/2008

Symantec Corp. has agreed to acquire MessageLabs, a provider of online messaging and Web security services, for about $695 million. MessageLabs sells managed services for anti-spam, anti-virus, image control, content filtering, instant messaging security, boundary and policy encryption, and e-mail arching and backup. The acquisition is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.

What Was Your First Pet's Name? Lessons Learned About E-Mail Security

10/10/2008

The intrusion last month into Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's e-mail highlighted the frailty of some types of data security measures. What are the lessons for the rest of us?

Report Casts Doubt on Anti-terrorism Tools

10/10/2008

A new report from the National Academy of Sciences, part of which was co-authored by an Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington professor, casts doubt on the effectiveness, lawfulness, and appropriateness of using data-based tools such as data-mining and biometrics to fight terrorism.

Data Breach Strikes U North Dakota Alumni Association

10/10/2008

The alumni association for the University of North Dakota has gone public with a data breach that occurred when a laptop belonging to a software vendor was stolen from a vehicle. The computer contained the names of 84,000 university alumni, donors, and others, according to coverage by the Grand Forks Herald.

Intercast Networks Goes into Beta with Kazam Video Service at Internet2 Universities

10/9/2008

Intercast Networks has redesigned Kazam, its student Internet TV and video service based on the company's VideoXpress platform. Following a spring semester alpha trial at Columbia and Purdue University, the company redesigned Kazam's interface based on student feedback and added additional content that caters to a student audience.

Focus on Institutional Culture Drives Faculty Technology Adoption at Genesee CC

10/8/2008

Too often, institutions spend precious resources implementing a learning management system and associated collaboration, teaching and learning tools, only to find that a relatively small percentage of faculty use the tools to any significant degree. At Genesee Community College (GCC), we have achieved high faculty usage of online learning tools by focusing on institutional culture.