Video Conferencing at CSU • Piloting the new Project Methdology
No. 1, Spring 2015
Division of Information Technology
Newsletter
CONTENTS
• Welcome.....................................1
• What’s Been
Happening in DIT.....................2
• Launching the
Student Portal...........................2
• Interact2......................................3
• Movin’ On Up!............................3
• ISIP Update.................................4
• Video Conferencing
at CSU...........................................5
• Device Choices at CSU ..........5
• DIT Hot Tips ...............................6
• Spotlight on DIT.......................7
• IT Sustainability........................8
• Events and Key Dates.............8
DIT staff hard at work!
Welcome to the new DIT newsletter
We’re back! Following last year’s restructure and
further changes to Enterprise Architecture earlier
in 2015, we’ve decided it’s timely to reintroduce the
DIT newsletter.
While some of our ICT:SWR projects are not
always highly visible to staff and students, they
are essential in the refresh of CSU’s core IT backbone.
Upcoming projects include:
The newsletter will deliver news about what’s been
happening inside DIT each quarter kicking off with
information on the Student Portal and Interact2,
trialling a new Agile project methodology and the
new CSU video conferencing (VC) solution being
introduced later in 2015.
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Also included are profiles on the IT Service Desk and
Personal Computing teams, as well as news of our
brand new DIT home in Wagga and much more!
Lastly, on a personal note, I’d like to thank DIT staff
and staff from across CSU for their warm welcome
and collegiate approach over the last six months.
In addition, I wanted to draw attention to the work
DIT staff have been putting in on current Initiatives
and Strategy Implementation Plan (ISIP) and ICT
Significant Works Register (ICT:SWR) projects. Almost
20 ISIP and over 25 ICT:SWR projects are forecast to
be completed in 2015 which is a great result.
I look forward to keeping you updated on DIT
news and welcome you to send your thoughts
and feedback about the new DIT newsletter to
[email protected]
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replacing ageing fibre that connects every
building across each campus in 2015,
beginning the migration of our two data centres
to state-of-the art external facilities in 2016, and
finalising planning on the wired and wireless
networks refresh to commence in 2016.
Tim Mannes, Executive Director
DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
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Division of Information Technology Newsletter
Launching the Student
Portal
What’s Been
Happening in
DIT?
DIT has been a hive of activity
over the past few months with
many of our staff undertaking
some form of professional
development, changes to
our structure (spreading the
Enterprise Architecture team
amongst other DIT functions) and
work being undertaken to update
our project methodology.
As mentioned, we’ve engaged
an external organisation (Meta
PM) to help us work through
improvements to identify a
more flexible project delivery
method. A total of 17 staff across
the University attended training
on the Scaled Agile Framework
(SAFe) in September and we are
currently piloting the approach
through the Academic Workload
Management project (see page 4
for more information).
We’ve also had some new faces
join the team and others move
into new roles within the division.
Welcome and congratulations to
these staff!
Lastly, a special congratulations
goes out to Sam Barnes who
received the DIT Individual Award
for Performance Excellence at
the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for
Excellence back in August (see
photo above).
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DIT Newsletter, Sping 2015
With our wide student
demographic at CSU, we know
that students most are often time
poor, geographically distributed
and have widely varying levels
of familiarity with and access to
digital technology.
Enter the Student Portal…
a vibrant and personalised
web experience bringing
together a range of technology
supporting learning, teaching
and collaboration funded by the
Student Services and Amenities
Fee (SSAF) introduced on 1 July
2015.
The vision for the Student Portal
was to deliver a simple yet
compelling digital space that
helps students deal with the wave
of information they experience
being a CSU student in the 21st
century. A space that feels to have
been personally built for them and
highlights important information
as well as making this information
manageable.
A high volume of student and staff
feedback has been received since
the Student Portal went live in July
with the majority of responses
positive as highlighted by one
student below:
“Having been a student since 2004
I can say that the new student
portal is THE BEST, particularly
in comparison to the old my.csu
(which was pretty great back in the
day, to be fair). There has clearly
been a lot of thought and effort put
into this, and there are far too many
positives to list here. I must admit
I was sceptical when I heard the
student portal was being updated,
but this has really surpassed
my expectations and made me
rethink how I approach the news
of impending change. It’s not just
a new student portal, it’s a moral
lesson, too! Congratulations on a
job well done :)”
Further work on the Student
Portal has been authorised by
the Dean of Students and the ISIP
Governance Committee to be
The Student Portal allows students implemented between now and
to:
the end of the year. Students can
• arrange widgets to suit their
expect more customisation, more
needs,
personalisation and some very
• edit quick links in widgets to
special inclusions to help make
reflect the information that is
their success at CSU even more
most important to them,
achievable.
• edit ‘My Favourite Links’ to
reflect their favourite Student
For more information on the
Portal links, and
Student Portal, please see http://
• create a CSUSocial profile, or
student.csu.edu.au/home/about
change their profile picture
Charles Sturt University
Movin’ On Up!
Interact2
Taking guidance from the CSU
Educational Technology Framework
(2010) and CSU Educational
Technology Plan (2011), the Interact2
project aimed to deliver a high
quality online academic environment
with increased flexibility and
functionality for learning and
teaching at CSU.
A phased release approach was
undertaken with the full release of
Interact2 occurring in early 2015.
Interact2 (hosted on the Blackboard
Learning Management System) offers
a contemporary and user friendly
experience for both students and
staff supported by a consistent look
and feel. It also offers students a
personalised experience using a
learning-centred educational model.
In moving from Interact to Interact2,
a mobile interface has been
introduced as well as:
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more detailed learning analytics,
a powerful editor that enables
the creation of rich learning
material (consistent throughout
the environment and supports
multimedia and mathematical
notation),
expanded range of assessment
tools that integrate with the
Grade Centre (saving the reentering of marks),
greater capacity to integrate
third party products (enabling
increased flexibility and
functionality for staff and
students), and
adaptive release of content and
activities
Interact2 is critical in CSU’s quest to
become the leader in online learning
in Australia and has been met
favourably with approx. 70% of staff
and students satisfied with current
functionality (results gathered from
a survey conducted earlier this
year among 850 students and 150
teaching staff ).
Office and outdoor spaces at the newly refurbished Jack Cross
Centre on the Wagga campus
DIT is currently getting ready to
move into the newly refurbished
office space in Building 15 (Jack
Cross Centre) on the Wagga
campus at the end of October.
As much as we love to pack
up our offices (insert eye roll
here), the move marks a special
milestone for DIT as this will be
the first time Wagga staff have all
been co-located in one building.
The new space has been specially
designed for DIT, thinking
about current and future needs
including:
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placing the IT Service Desk
next to front entrance for
walk in support,
incorporating a specifically
designed space for Computer
Shop requirements,
having a dedicated computer
run up bench and space for
our Personal Computing
team, and
also having a lab/
run up space for the
Communications Technology
team to allow for their
equipment
The refurbishment has provided
us the opportunity to reshape
aspects of our working
environment focusing on open
and shared collaboration spaces
with a variety of meeting and
conference rooms, private and
general office spaces as well as
breakout spaces.
There is also a new underfloor
space at the southern end of the
building fitted out as an ‘end of
trip’ bike storage and change
room facility for general CSU
student and staff use.
Having the Wagga team together
in this new dedicated location
will help strengthen links
between groups within DIT and
make it easier for us to build
stronger relationships outside
the division.
A big thank you goes out
to the Division of Facilities
Management along with Thinc
project managers and Zauner
Constructions for delivering a
fantastic new facility for us.
For any questions about the
move, please contact Phil Roy
(Director, Applications and
Integration) at [email protected]
or on 34311.
DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
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Division of Information Technology Newsletter
Initiatives and Strategy Implementation
Plan Update
The ISIP is a portfolio of ICT-related projects delivering
against outcomes defined in the University Strategy
Sub-Plans 2015-16.
Initiatives are proposed and developed by CSU staff
with the majority delivering improved processes,
systems or services.
A full list of ISIP projects and initiatives can be found
at http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/initiatives/
current-plan-and-schedule-isip
The ISIP Governance Committee meets two times a
year to discuss proposed initiatives and met in July
to review the initiatives submitted earlier in 2015. In
total, eight initiatives were received and three were
approved to commence. The successful initiatives
include:
• Delivery of a Topic Management and Adaptive
Learning Solution - supporting the delivery of
the University’s new Engineering Course,
• Study Paths - enabling the handling of many
concurrent course enrolments for a student within
a session, and
• Human Resource Information System (HRIS) defining CSU’s HRIS requirements to investigate
options available in the marketplace
The call for new submissions for 2016 is now open
with Round 1 closing on Monday 26th October.
Funding in excess of $3.2m is available to deliver ICTrelated strategic projects in 2016.
DIT can provide assistance in the preparation of
suitable initiative submissions. Full details including
how to submit an initiative can be found at http://
www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/initiatives
Piloting the new project methodology
DIT has recently begun piloting a new project delivery
methodology based on the Scaled Agile Framework
(SAFe) in an effort to improve quality and reduce
project delivery time.
An external consultancy specialising in Portfolio and
Project Management (Meta PM) was engaged by DIT
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DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
to undertake a review of current practice and
recommend a methodology that would be flexible
enough to accommodate different project types and
incorporate Agile delivery methods.
As part of their assessment, Meta PM interviewed a
wide range of stakeholders including current and past
Project Sponsors and project delivery staff both
internal and external to DIT.
The current project delivery approach taken at CSU is
to deliver a solution in one ‘big bang’ at the end of a
project with business involvement described as
top-n-tail (involved at the early stages defining
requirements and then at the end once the solution is
ready for testing).
Taking a new approach, SAFe leverages best practice
Agile methods including Lean, Scrum and Kanban
with the business (customer) playing a central and
pivotal role in projects. A fundamental outcome of
SAFe is the need for continuous, incremental delivery
of functionality (and benefit) to the business
regularly in time-boxed increments necessitating
on-going collaboration and involvement with the
business throughout the life of the project.
Continuous collaboration between the business and
the analysis and design/development (project) team
helps ensure that functionality is not only
implemented quickly and often but is of high
quality. SAFe provides a mechanism for prioritising
functionality based on a number of factors including
business value, cost of delay, opportunity value, risk
reduction and extent of effort.
To help ensure that SAFe is the right choice for CSU,
DIT has commenced piloting the methodology on the
Academic Workload Management project funded by
ISIP and sponsored by Jennie Anderson (Director, HR
Partnerships). The success criteria can be crystallised
into one key phrase: Rapid Value Delivery.
Further information regarding SAFe, any of the ISIP
projects or project delivery at CSU, please contact
John Smith (Manager, Technology Projects) on
[email protected] or 19783.
Charles Sturt University
Video Conferencing at CSU
CSU relies extensively on
VC for collaboration across
the University, not only for
administrative support but also
teaching and learning.
Our current system supports
133 VC rooms with facilities
available across every campus.
DIT is currently upgrading the
technology used to support
and manage the system and
will introduce an ‘any device,
anywhere, anytime’ VC solution
later this year.
You will notice significant
changes in VC functionality,
capacity and accessibility when
the new technology is released.
The new ‘any device, anywhere,
anytime’ solution will enable
access to current room-based
VC systems and introduce new
virtual meeting rooms (VMRs).
One of the most significant
benefits of this upgrade is
the huge improvement in VC
capacity. Up to 25,000 VMRs
will be introduced and allow
large numbers to join a VMR
at any one time. Imagine
what this might allow us to
do in delivering MOOCs and
promoting CSU as the first
choice in Distance Education?
Additionally, access to roombased VCs will no longer be
restricted to only those on the
CSU internal network. For the
first time, no matter where you
are in the world and as long as
you have an Internet connection,
you will be able to connect to a
VC held on-campus.
Enabling easy access for
external ‘guest’ participants
will also become a reality with
accessibility improved in the
upgrade. You will soon be able
to connect to a VC via a standard
web browser, without the need
to install specific software. The
upgrade will also support the
use of Skype for Business which
is being introduced at CSU later
this year.
Other new features include the
ability to initiate VCs on demand
and invite participants via email
or Skype to join your VMR.
Stay tuned for more details on
the exciting changes coming to
VCs soon!
For further information on the
new VC upgrade, please contact
Patricia Bell (Associate Project
Manager) at [email protected]
or on 84091.
Desktop and
Mobile Device
Choices at CSU
DIT offers a wide range of desktop
and mobile devices, software and
other IT items through the CSU
Computer Shop. We also offer
device support and can provide
consultation on the best device,
software or other IT items to suit
your needs.
In catering for CSU, we are
committed to improving the
overall choice of staff desktop and
mobile devices offered with more
devices becoming available in the
near future to suit you and your
needs.
This means you will be able to
choose the device you need to
match your role and requirements,
including mobile devices and
desktop computers that can take
up less room on your desk.
More choice and flexibility around
the devices we use at CSU may
also mean one device might
meet all your needs and could
potentially result in cost savings
when replacing old technology.
We know that more choice is
always exciting so we’ll keep you
posted with further information
about new desktop and mobile
device choices soon!
DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
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Division of Information Technology Newsletter
DIT Hot Tips
Phishing
Common IT Queries
Although the IT Service Desk experiences a higher
volume of calls and online self-service from staff about
certain services at certain times of the year, there are
some queries that remain common right throughout the
year.
These common staff IT queries include:
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Collaboration and Communications:
Email, P and S Drive usage, VCs and
Communications Directory
http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/services/servicecatalogue/for-staff/collab-communications
Teaching Space/Audio Visual Technology:
CSU Replay
http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/services/servicecatalogue/for-staff/teaching-tech-support
Account/Login Management:
Password Management
http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/services/servicecatalogue/for-staff/access-and-logins
For IT assistance and support, get in touch with the IT
Service Desk http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/services
There has been a steady increase in the number of
phishing and scam emails circulating CSU.
Scammers are trying to steal CSU usernames and
passwords (in addition to other online account details) by
sending emails to staff. Emails appear to come from CSU or
another legitimate organisation but are an attempt to trick
you into providing account details.
They often threaten that something will happen (e.g.
losing access to your account or mailbox if you don’t
take action quickly and directing you to reply or click a
link taking you to a webpage which asks you to login).
The web pages are created to look exactly the same as
the legitimate website and you may be asked to enter
information (e.g. your bank account number or online
banking client ID and password).
See http://www.csu.edu.au/division/dit/services/
service-catalogue/email/phishing for further information
including examples of what these emails look like and
what to do if you’ve provided account details.
Remember NEVER reply to a suspicious email and give
your username and password.
E-Waste at CSU
Did you know?
Almost 99% of the components that go in to making a
computer can be recycled. The metal is 100% recyclable,
glass is 99% recyclable and plastic (apart from very small
particles) is also 100% recyclable.
To help make the disposal of e-waste (electronic waste,
including computers and mobile devices) as easy as
possible at CSU, you can choose to re-image or cascade
(transfer) your old computer to another staff member in
your business unit OR get the Computer Shop to dispose
of it for you as e-waste.
The Computer Shop ensures that all old computers and
other e-waste items are disposed of in an environmentally
repsonsible way, including the removal of all data and CSU
owned software.
To get more information on e-waste at CSU, see http://
www.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1285175/EWaste-New-Factsheet-WEB-150217.pdf
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DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
Microsoft Office 2013 Upgrade
DIT provides Microsoft (MS) Office 2013 on all new
staff computers provided by the Computer Shop and is
available to install directly from the Install Software Icon
on your desktop.
MS Office 2013 provides enhanced features and a new
modern look and feel interface.
To upgrade your CSU staff computer to MS Office 2013:
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On your Desktop, double-click the Install Software
Icon
Double-click on MS Office 2013
The Required Software popup will appear, click Run
Now
(Note - close all Office applications to run the
installation. You will be unable to use your keyboard/
mouse while the software installs)
DIT aim to have all staff using MS Office 2013 later this
year. If you would like to try MS Office 2013 prior to
installing on your computer, it is available for use on all
computing lab, learning commons, teaching and VC room
computers.
Charles Sturt University
Spotlight on DIT
Personal Computing
IT Service Desk
The Personal Computing team offers personal
computing and lecture capture support to CSU
and in conjunction with the IT Service Desk makes
up the Client Services area within DIT. Under the
management of Vicki Brown (Manager, Client
Services), the team consists of:
(L to R) Eric Donald-Kerr, Makaelia Hoyle and Teresa Rae
receiving a Divisional Award in 2014
The IT Service Desk are the first point of contact for IT
services for CSU staff (second point of contact for
students). Our operating hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. We also offer extended hours during
session (Monday to Thursday - 6pm to 9pm).
Through phone (internally 84357, externally 1300 653
088), self-service and web forms; we receive
incidents and requests where we provide initial
analysis and troubleshooting with the aim of
resolving immediately when possible. If we are
unable to resolve an incident or request, we escalate
to the appropriate support group.
An average week on the IT Service Desk will see over
630 interactions from a large catalogue of IT services
resulting in a heavy reliance on our knowledgebase.
The IT Service Desk also maintains and provides
high priority support to teaching and learning
spaces with the aim of reducing lost teaching time
and enhancing the student experience.
Overseen by Vicki Brown (Manager, Client Services),
the IT Service Desk team consists of:
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Matthew Barlow (Team Leader) - Wagga
Eric Donald-Kerr - Port Macquarie
Daniel Turner - Orange
Hayley Gollasch - Wagga
Alen Basic - Wagga
Teresa Rae - Bathurst
Makaelia Hoyle - Bathurst
Scott Leggett - Albury/Wodonga
Teneil McKenzie - Dubbo
Aaron Kirton (Student Casual) - Bathurst
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Julianne Harper (Team Leader) - Wagga
Jeremy Godbier - Wagga
Ashley Tucker - Wagga
Nick May - Wagga
Ken Coleman - Albury
John Connoley - Bathurst
Simon Affleck - Bathurst
Chris Krause-Heuer - Bathurst
Greg Robinson - Bathurst
Glenn Martin - Orange
Joshua Koen - Goulburn
The team are responsible for leading the
development and management of CSU standard
operating environments for MS Windows
and Apple based devices. The lecture capture
support area is also responsible for managing the
University’s lecture capture service (CSU Replay).
Many regular maintenance tasks are undertaken on
a weekly and monthly basis to ensure the currency
of software versions, security updates and virus
protection as well as monitoring services and
mitigating security risks to ensure services are
managed appropriately.
The Personal Computing team also delivers
operational IT support for escalated incidents and
requests from the IT Service Desk, as well as
providing support to Student Central (where
needed).
We are focused on reviewing and continually
improving services and processes while bringing
CSU devices and software up to the latest
technology, as well as offering more choice in
devices.
Our vision for the future of Personal Computing at
CSU is to provide sustainable, consistent support
and technical solutions that meet your needs in a
changing environment.
DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
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Division of Information Technology Newsletter
IT Sustainability
Events and
Key Dates
October
26 October
Closing date for Round 1 2016
ISIP submissions
30 October
Session 2 exams end
Session 2 ends
November
DIT was awarded a CSU Sustainability Grant in
2014 to implement power saving solutions/
technologies in 5 administrative VC rooms across
CSU.
The intent of the grant was to reduce the overall
power consumption in these spaces and develop
a standard for increased power efficiency across
all VC spaces.
By implementing power distribution units
(PDUs) with room management solutions, DIT
are able to extract data from the units to provide
automated control over powering devices
and measure individual and combined power
consumption per unit.
The first installation of the power saving
technology occured in September at the
Canberra campus with 4 other spaces across the
Bathurst, Orange, Albury and Wagga campuses
to follow later this year.
Congratulations to the team involved in this
great initiative:
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Brian Roberson (Director, Infrastructure and
Client Services, Bathurst)
Rob Paton (Manager, Communications
Technology, Wagga)
David Stormonth (Tecnical Officer Audio
Visual, Wagga)
Travis Terry (Technical Officer Video Systems,
Wagga)
DIT Newsletter, Spring 2015
13 November
Closing date for 2016 SSAF
Initiative proposals
16 November
Session 3 commences
23 November
ISIP Governance Committee
meeting
December
14 December
Graduation ceremonies
commence
18 December
Graduation ceremonies end
24 December
2015/2016 Christmas/New Year
close-down commences
Thanks for reading the new
DIT Newsletter.
If you have any feedback
you’d like to share about the
newsletter, we’d love to hear
it at [email protected]
Stay tuned for the next
edition in 2016.