Author: aucadmin

Web Portals – Creating a Better User Experience

Kyle Heading, Walford Anglican School for GirlsPart of XW13

I will present a session on how to get rid of the traditional proxy server within a large scale environment. Our solution to this was to use a captive portal setup which still offers the benefits of a traditional proxy sever, but also has the added benefits of zero client configuration and works seamlessly with iOS Apps that are not proxy aware.

This has given our users a seamless experience in which to work, no matter what devices they choose to use, it means students and teachers don’t need to worry about the technical problems of the device and can just get on with the teaching and learning.

We have also integrated charging and reporting modules, which can be used at anytime by the user to check remaining quota and previously usage. We present this information as well as much more within an easy to use webpage, that’s presented to the user each time a user connects a device.

Kyle has been working within the IT industry for 10 years, and has spent the entire time working within educational institutes. He first started with TafeSA and became the Apple guru for the nearly 1000 Apple Mac’s spread across 4 campus – the majority of the environment was Windows based with an additional 5000 PCs – with nearly 80,000 students. This gave him excellent insight into how to integrate Mac and PC in an enterprise environment.

He is currently employed as the IT Systems Administrator at Walford Anglican School for Girls, which has approximately 1200 users, approximately 500 OS X machines and nearly 500 iPads, with more being added all the time. The school has a reputation as having one of the best iPad programs in the country and leading the way in integrating technology into the classroom.

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Apple TV AirPlay

Michael Page, Walford Anglican School for GirlsPart of XW13

I would like to share our experiences deploying Apple TVs to almost every classroom at Walford Anglican School for Girls.

The session is aimed towards IT staff considering or currently deploying Apple TVs. It will cover the advantages behind AirPlay in the classroom and also go into the technical hurdles we’ve had to overcome to achieve a lag free AirPlay experience.

Michael is an IT support officer at Walford Anglican School for Girls, providing support for over 500 Macs and more than 500 iPads. His motivation comes from helping develop an IT infrastructure capable of providing both teachers and students with a cutting-edge IT experience, to improve learning outcomes and overall classroom efficiency.

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Can you hear me? Physically Presenting your Digital Information

Adam Ware, Queensland University of TechnologyPart of XW13

Presenting student and staff information clearly is often a difficult and challenging part of day–to–day life working in a University.

No longer are IT staff only expected ‘fix’ computer problems, we often also have to be the key holders, media guards, content gurus, spelling geniuses, Photoshop masters and CMS kings. Some are taking a larger slice of so called “internal content authorship” work and pushing through strange technological processes which often leave us scratching our heads.

This talk will cover findings on presenting digital information at the Creative Industries faculty at Queensland University of Technology, learned while trying to implement a new digital signage system, and will follow logical steps from digital signage to iOS apps.

Topics covered include:

  • the role of IT in student and staff communication
  • why you should have a digital signage system (focusing on RiseVision open source digital signage)
  • implementing a signage system cheaply (because your job is expendable)
  • moving information to apps (including Phonegap, HTML5 for beginners, Xcode and publishing)

This talk is meant for anyone who has an interest in how we should use technology as a method for clearer communication within our workplaces and to our clients. A little knowledge of HTML/CSS and JavaScript will be helpful but not necessary.

Adam currently works in the Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology within the newly named Digital Services team.

His team is moving away from everyday IT support to embracing, facilitating and supporting new types of digital communication techniques for the faculty. Adam’s role is in supervising the introduction of new technology, supporting legacy systems and  procurement, and finding ways to help academic staff improve engagement with students across our campus using innovative ideas.

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Mobile Strategy and Security in a Changing World

Rick Wylie, Key OptionsPart of XW13

The world is changing and Mobile Computing is coming like a bullet train. With this changing world there are numerous challenges for both corporate provided devices, and those that are BYOD, Bring Your Own Device, or if you are in corporate, Bring Your Own Disaster!

This session will look at successful strategies that that need to be considered to allow the successful deployment and security of mobile devices in the four key areas of:

  • device security,
  • data and content security,
  • voice security, and
  • location security

The session will be based on a number of successful deployments in Corporate and Government. A number of solutions will be discussed and demonstrated that will allow attendees to gain insight to new and emerging technologies that will solve the mobility security problems of tomorrow. The session will include live demonstration of contextual mobility location and management.

Rick is the Founder and CEO of Key Options is an innovative technology company with 25 years experience working with Apple and within the Apple environment. Rick is at the forefront of Apple Technology integration and understands the end-to-end pieces that make up a true iOS integrated environment. With his wealth of experience in systems integration, server technologies and information security, Ricks experience has made him a sort after consultant on mobility integration into existing environments in Corporate and Government environments.

Rick is a regular speaker at MacSysAdmin, MacWorld and other conferences.

Transitions and Memberships

Today, March 28 2013, marks the last business day for the AUC as a consortium of universities. For over 28 years we’ve been able to bring together people from across the tertiary sector in Australia and New Zealand who work with Apple technology to share experience, know-how, and techniques, to undergo training and professional development, and to establish new friendships and build professional networks. It’s been a rich and rewarding partnership without parallel.

As the first incarnation of the AUC winds up, we’d like to thank the many people who’ve supported us over the years – especially those in our member universities who have done so much to promote our programs to their staff and students, to those who’ve presented at our events, and to those who have attended them and help keep them viable.

But today is also about new beginnings, and as the consortium winds up, a new AUC takes over. It still has the same goals as its predecessor. We’re still doing what we can to foster collaboration amongst our membership – initially via our three “world” conferences X World, CreateWorld and /dev/world – and with the hope that we’ll be able to bring other members-only benefits in the future.

The new AUC is an association. For the first time, we’re accepting membership applications from individuals who are staff and students of universities across Australia and New Zealand, as well as AUC alumni. Institutional membership is also open to Australian and New Zealand universities, and also for the first time we will accept departmental membership from schools, faculties and similar organisational units in Australian and New Zealand universities.

We look forward to continuing the outstanding work of the original consortium, and hope you’ll come along with us as we build the next chapter in the history of the AUC.

Tony Gray,
Chair

X World 2013 Call for Presenters

X World is our annual training event for OS X and iOS system administrators and support staff, and will be held at UTS, Sydney, on the 4th and 5th of July, 2013.

X World features keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, lecture presentations and a number of social events to facilitate networking. It’s a fantastic way to keep up with others who work with and manage systems based on Apple technology, and a great opportunity to network and make valuable contacts. X World 2013 will cater for up to 150 attendees, and is the largest single training event we will undertake this year.

We are now calling for presenters who wish to offer sessions and workshops at X World 2013. If you have a background in the installation, configuration, deployment, or on-going administration of OS X based systems, or experience in iOS deployment, management and app development, or if you work in related areas, we’d really like to hear from you. Presenters will receive free registration to X World and a subsidy to go towards flights and/or accommodation.

This call for presenters closes Friday 12 April, 2013, and offers can be made by completing the submission form.

Registrations for X World will open in May 2013.

AUC 2.0

We’re delighted to report that at the February General Meeting, delegates unanimously approved the transition of the AUC from a consortium of universities into an association.

The new AUC will accept membership applications from individuals, as well as Universities and University departments, and for the first time individuals will be able to participate in AUC elections and have a voice in how the association is run.

For 2013, we’ll be running our “world” conferences at their usual times – thus you’ll see X World in early July, /dev/world at the end of September, and CreateWorld in early December (the exact dates are yet to be confirmed).

Watch this space for more details on how to become a member and help us evolve into AUC 2.0!

iPad in Tertiary Education Seminars

This series of seminars builds upon the AUC update last year. Since then iPad programmes have rolled out at numerous institutions here in ANZ as well as internationally. The lead presenter will summarise iPad use at institutions such as the University of Western Sydney (11,000 iPads were distributed this year); Medical Schools at Harvard, Manchester, and UC Irvine (where all students are given iPads); The University of Adelaide’s Science Faculty (all first year students have been given iPads for 3 years now); and tertiary institutions in the United Arab Emirates (14,000 iPads were distributed in 2012).

Continue reading “iPad in Tertiary Education Seminars”

Wheels Crossword Winner

Glen MundayGlen Munday from ANU is the lucky winner of a silver iPod nano for correctly submitting the unscrambled crossword from the latest issue of Wheels.

Glen’s iPod nano is on his way to him and our thanks to everyone who entered.