University of Nebraska Kearney

InterWrite PRS Clicker Adopted as UNK Standard for Classroom Response System 

After a period of research and review, a committee comprised of faculty and ITS staff recommended to the Faculty Senate that the InterWrite PRS clicker be adopted as the standard at UNK. The Faculty Senate approved the recommendation at their December meeting.

The use of classroom response systems is increasing on campuses throughout the nation. Instructors use the devices to stimulate student participation and create a more interactive learning environment. Using a classroom response system enables the instructor to prompt students for information – such as a record of attendance, answers to quiz questions, or feedback during a lecture – and then immediately gather student responses electronically for use in the class session.

Some instructors at UNK have used clickers in the past, though without a standard device, instructors selected their own, potentially resulting in students purchasing more than one device. The adoption of a standard device will ease the burden on students, requiring them to buy only one device that can be used multiple times.

ITS will install the necessary hardware and software in Smart Classrooms by request, as well as conduct a workshop on the use of the InterWrite PRS clicker. Register for the January 21 workshop online, and contact Jane Petersen at 865-8623 or petersenjl@unk.edu or Don Ray at 865-8268 or donray@unk.edu for more information.

Library - In Brief Online

• Research Pro:  Multiple database searching
  
  The Calvin T. Ryan Library has added new functionality to its main webpage.  “Research Pro Simple Search” provides a way to quickly search four library databases with a single keyword search.  This is similar to using one of the popular Internet search engines, with the advantage that nearly all of the results will be either full-text documents from the Library's subscription databases or links to resources in the Library's physical collection.
  
  “Research Pro's Multi Search” allows one-click searching by database categories, easy searching of the Library's growing collection of more than a thousand electronic reference works, or cross-searching of up to twenty selected databases at one time.  It's a new approach to finding high-quality information without the effort of conducting multiple database searches, or reading through endless pages of Internet search engine results. Try Research Pro at http://rosi.unk.edu/
  
  
• Library Services for UNK Distance Learners
  
  Calvin T. Ryan Library provides access to information and research materials for the UNK community including UNK distance students.  UNK distance students are encouraged to use the Library’s databases as well as the virtual reference and book collections. Information about accessing resources from off-campus is available at http://rosi.unk.edu/screens/offcamp.html.
  
  Reference and research assistance are available to UNK distance students through the Library’s “Ask Us 24/7” email and chat reference service. UNK distance students can also call the Library Reference Desk at 308.865.8586 or toll-free at 866.454.4865.  eCampus Librarian Sheryl Heidenreich (heidenreichs@unk.edu, 308.865.8721) or UNK liaison librarians are available to provide assistance to UNK distance faculty and students.  
  
  UNK distance students may order journal articles that are not available electronically in full-text or books from the Library’s circulating collection through the Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery service. There is no charge for journal articles and these are delivered electronically to UNK distance students’ Interlibrary Loan accounts.  Books are shipped via U.S. mail and UNK distance students are responsible for return postage.
  
  
• CHOICE Online
  
  Librarians have been sending CHOICE cards to faculty since the mid-1960’s.  Now CHOICE “cards” are available on the Web from CHOICE Reviews Online.  To access CHOICE Reviews Online, go to the Library’s homepage, mouse over “Services”, click on the “Faculty” link, then select “CHOICE Reviews Online” from the menu.
  
  There are some real advantages to the electronic “cards.”  They are available as soon as published (about the middle of every month); the printed cards can be several months old.  The entire collection is available to everyone; this means that biologists can read reviews of books published in chemistry, and historians can check out new books in political science.  By clicking on the “REGISTER” link, you can create a profile of those reviews you want to see and have it e-mailed to you every month.  You can save the reviews you’re most interested in on the CHOICE website or e-mail them to yourself.  Those who are authorized to purchase materials can e-mail them either to their liaison librarians or directly to Mary Heater, Acquisitions Associate, at heaterm@unk.edu.
  
  At present the Library has only a single user license, so when you are finished, please click the “Logout” from CRO link. The Library will continue to distribute the printed cards, although probably not for another forty years.

New Survey Software Introduced at UNK  

In order to replace the Opinio survey software, UNK recently licensed a new survey software called Qualtrics. The Opinio software used at UNK for the past few years has now become outdated, and after reviewing other options, Qualtrics was selected because of its ease of use and navigation, increased functionality, Survey Question Library, reporting features, and available training support. With the new software, users will be able to easily download their results into Excel, SPSS, .xml, or .html files. In addition, Qualtrics features customizable reports with several options of graphs and tables so that users can more attractively and clearly present data. 

Departments and individuals on campus who use the survey software will be encouraged to begin using Qualtrics immediately to create new surveys. Surveys currently in Opinio should be converted to Qualtrics as soon as possible. To do this, users will export their surveys to an .xml file to be used for reference as they recreate their surveys in Qualtrics. The data from current Opinio surveys should be extracted and saved as well. The Opinio server will remain active until approximately May, but converting now will ensure that previous survey information and data is preserved. 

ITS is offering two Qualtrics workshop to introduce the software to the campus: Introduction to Qualtrics on Friday, January 16th from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Advanced Qualtrics on Friday, January 23 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., both in Copeland Hall Room 142. Register for the workshops online, and contact Jane Petersen at 865-8623 or petersenjl@unk.edu or Don Ray at 865-8268 or donray@unk.edu for more information.

Academic Calendar for 2010-2020 Approved 

The new ten-year academic calendar has been approved at the university level, and it has been posted online. The University of Nebraska at Kearney, along with the other University of Nebraska campuses, will follow this academic calendar for the period of 2010-2020.  

Career Services Continues Weekly Walk-In Event 

This semester, Career Services will continue the weekly Java & Job Stuff event, complete with beverages and door prizes. Every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., students are invited to come to Career Services in MSAB 140 and receive immediate assistance with choosing their majors, exploring possibilities for careers and graduate school options, writing resumes, preparing for interviews, and searching for jobs. 

Career Services will also sponsor a number of workshops and career fairs throughout the semester to provide assistance and guidance for students. See the calendar of events below or on the Career Services website.

Deadlines Approach for Various Opportunities 

Recognition

Calendar of Events within the Academic Affairs and Student Life Division

A Publication of the
Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Life
University of Nebraska at Kearney
905 West 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Phone: (308)865-8209

For questions or submissions,
contact the Coordinator of Academic Publications at 8935 or academicpublications@unk.edu.