Welcome to 2009!
February 16th, 2009Welcome to 2009 and Semester 1. If you have any questions or issues about IT at Murdoch and would like to comment, then reply to this post.
iPhone Applications
November 12th, 2008You may know that Murdoch has recently added the iPhone to its list of approved devices. You can read about this in the Technology Position Statement (TPS). One of the neat things about iPhones are applications. You may have seen on TV that ANZ have customised their eBanking system to work through the iPhone. There are hundreds of applications available that be used for all sorts of things. Most applications are available for download through iTunes - some are free and some you need to pay for. Just remember that you need to pay for any non-work related applications.
I’m interested in your top 10 applications that would be of use to students and staff at Murdoch.Â
Get Current Status of Services and News at Murdoch
November 10th, 2008Did you know you can access the latest information on the status of the network and other critical services?
Just go to the IT Service Desk website at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/itservicedesk/ and look in the middle of the screen. The last information is shown at the top of the screen under the heading “CURRENT NETWORK & SERVICES STATUS”. You can also set this up as a RSS feed by using this URL in a RSS reader ->  http://www.murdoch.edu.au/itservicedesk/issues_rss.edo.
You can also get the latest news about new services, offers and other information from the IT Service Desk website at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/itservicedesk/ and look at the bottom of the screen.   You can also set this up as a RSS feed by using this URL in a RSS reader ->  http://www.murdoch.edu.au/apps/portal/newsrss.edo.
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Check this Out - Jeff Han of TED fame on Multi-Touch Screens
October 24th, 2008Wireless access
October 10th, 2008We have just extended wireless access in Club Murdoch & Rockingham cafe. A coverage map is available for South Street and Rockingham.
Information on how to connect to the wireless service can be found here.
Can you suggest where else wireless coverage would be useful?
Skills and Software
September 30th, 2008Its a relatively simple thing to provide new and upgraded software. What skills you have to use the software effectively and efficently is another thing.
Take Word 2007 for example. The new version of Word is installed on all computers or can be upgraded on existing equipment. If I ever heard an understatement “it’s a bit different”, then it’s Word 2007. Word is a product used by most people every day. The new version is very different to any version in the past. The folks at Microsoft in their wisdom have “improved” the product to be much more intuitive and easy to use. If this was the first verion of Word I had ever used, then I would agree. However for the otehr 99% of people, it’s a struggle.
So how do you bring up your skills to use a product like Word 2007 in the manner it was designed for? Most people do this by osmosis. This is not ideal as it just transfers poor practice to a new product.
So what’s the answer?
There’s no simple answer, sorry. You need to some time upgrading your skills on how to use and find the things you used to do before someone change the interface.
There’s a couple of options however.
1. You can use what is called “Computer Based Training” (CBT). The material as suggested is on a computer. It is self-paces (do at your own pace) and you can stop anytime and bookmark where you’re up to. See the IT Training Resource Centre, and click on “Training for Staff”. You can then register for the “Microsoft E-Learning Training” under the Office 2007 heading. You can pick and choose the training you are interested in doing and remember you can stop at any time, bookmark and then return resume at a later time.
2. Attend an instructor led training course. Details on where & where these are held is in the same area on the web.
What else can we do to help you with this problem?
Welcome
September 25th, 2008Welcome to the IT @ Murdoch blog. This blog contains tips, tricks and opinions about the IT environment at Murdoch University. It is intended to be a constructive forum to help staff and students use the IT resources more effectively.
