With the start of the new school year, several technology updates have been made on campus. O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library now has new computers with Windows 7 and the latest 2010 Microsoft Office programs.
Jennifer Haas, director of information resources and technologies’ client services, said one of the biggest updates over the summer was the move to the 2010 Microsoft Exchange email system. With this change, the former Outlook Web Access has upgraded to the new Outlook Web App.
“I think that we need to keep current,” Haas said. “It’s always important for us to have implemented here what students are coming to campus with so that there are similarities to what they see in their classrooms and what they see on their own systems.”
Sophomore Alex Johnson said the new updates make it a lot easier to navigate and access certain functions on the computers.
“I think the system updates were necessary because most students have Windows 7 on their laptops,” he said. “For me, coming back to work on the school computers was a lot different than working on my own laptop.”
Some students, like junior Kristine Baumann, are trying to adapt to the new changes.
“It’s different, but I’m sure I’ll get use to it in no time,” she said.
Senior Ross Tomaszewski thinks that the new updates are useful once users start to understand them.
“The new computer screens look nice and sleek. They are wider and more efficient,” he said. “I really like the split screen option along with the lower tab features, which are very useful and make things much easier to navigate.”
Haas said the three main improvements to the new Exchange 2010 are conversation view, multiple browser support and single page scrolling. The conversation view feature is designed for users to have easier management of e-mail conversations. It allows users the ability to sort and organize their emails by conversation.
Tomaszewski said this makes managing emails easy.
“The new viewing is much more efficient,” Tomaszewski said. “It is a lot easier to shift through my emails and to keep or delete what I want or don’t want.”
Along with the new computer systems, IRT launched the new Blackboard Learn 9.1 in early August, which will enhance both teaching and learning. Haas said the biggest change to Blackboard is the new improved user interface.
“There are fewer clicks needed to get to anything, and there is a better drop-and-drag functionality,” she said.
Blackboard Learn also has a new appearance. Some students like Tomaszewski are not fans of the new look and feel of Blackboard Learn.
“The new Blackboard design looks older and boxier,” Tomaszewski said. “The older Blackboard seemed to look nicer and more professional.”
Johnson, however, likes the new appearance.
“Blackboard has a much cleaner look to it and is easier to navigate,” Johnson said. “I use my email and Blackboard a lot, so this will be a nice change.”
Anna Tu can be reached at tu978399@stthomas.edu.