Paula’s E-Musings

Here in Central New York where outside temperatures are hovering around zero  and inside they vary from building to building, we often dress in layers. In the technology world we often think about layers: the layers in the TCP/IP and OSI models and  the overlay of various applications.  Recently we’ve been discussing the layers of software components during the process of integrating our e-Learning system (Blackboard’s WebCT) with our Student Information System (Sungard’s Banner), as part of our implemention of a campus portal (Sungard’s Luminis Platform IV).

We in Information Resources also think of our IT services in terms of layers. First we rely on the underpinning layer: the technologists who support the servers and the operating systems on which the software applications run. Those folks are part of our Administrative Computing group, responsible for enterprise systems. Next we have the software applications specialists, who install and maintain the software and are responsible for upgrades. Those technologists belong to the Academic Computing group, responsible for distributed computing. The final layer is the front-end team. The technologists in Academic Computing answer questions at the Technology Help Center. In Memorial Library the technology trainer, the instructional designer, production specialists and librarians spend their days working with faculty, staff and students. Of course staff throughout Information Resources offer direct assistance to our customers, whether or not that service is officially in their performance programs. Our success is measured not only by the work we do, but more importantly by how well our campus is able to use technology in teaching, learning and administrative work.