Dr. Neil Hair

So, it's somewhat inevitable that we are likely to suffer from some sort of flu this season on campus - the joys of being in close proximity. I like many have probably found themselves sanatizing their hands as they enter and leave buildings like something out of a bad hospital movie. What I love about the campus spirit of course is the can do attitude of its constituents. Life goes on (we hope) and we have to make the best out of a duff deal. In amongst the 40 emails I have recently received in the nature of the threat an what you can do to prevent it came a request for contingency plans for those teaching this quarter. Got me thinking about the benefits of online learning and how it can affect in class training programs. As you probably know, Im no stranger to the use of Adobe Connect to deliver streaming sessions when needed from where ever to where ever (try hospital maternity ward to my MBA class last Winter for instance with the wife in bed about to bring Lillian into the world). No reason why we cant use the same technology to stay connected if were home recovering from flu. So yesterday I published my contingency plan for my students and enclose a copy of the letter here. Stay happy, healthy, and keep sanitizing those hands..

Dear all, we have been asked to write to our students informing them of contingency plans for an outbreak of the H1N1 virus. First off – I don’t want you to worry. You have more chance statistically speaking of being killed by an elephant in Times Square then you do from this virus. However, that said it’s important we have plans in place to continue with our work if any of us become ill. By now you will have received details of what to do and not do if we have any problems on campus. Stay at home. Here are the steps that we can take if there are any issues (and again, don’t worry – remember the elephant in Times Square).

1.       Email or phone me immediately if you suspect you have a problem. THIS IS MANDITORY.

2.       DO NOT COME TO CLASS. THIS IS SENSIBLE.

3.       I will use Adobe Connect (an online video conferencing package that is web based to record live our usual class session so that you can log in, see and hear the usual lecture and team activities, and participate from your home). THIS IS COOL TECHNOLOGY.

Go to *connect room* and log in using your normal RIT account information. You will be transferred to a live video session that will display powerpoints, and live video recording of the lecture taking place in the usual class. Please note – you can also use this to communicate with your team should you miss a face to face meeting.

You should connect your webcam and your microphone so we can interact as we would in a physical setting. If you do not have a webcam this is not the end of the world, you are though behind the times in this super-connected world of ours. You will though need a microphone.

Step 1. Run the audio wizard in connect to automatically set yourself up for this task. >meeting>manage my settings>audio set up wizard

Step 2. Run the select camera wizard in connect so we can see your beautiful face.
>meeting>manage my settings>select camera

Step 3. Press play in the video box and accept any invitation to start broadcasting your mic and or your video.

4.       Sit back, relax with a hot cup of tea with milk in it, and continue to learn and get your monies worth from the course.

5.       Make sure you start your research papers now. Medical documentation will be required for anyone missing the deadlines.Provided you are physically present during the live connect session there will be no penalty what so ever for your unfortunate predicament. And you never know, I might end up being the one delivering the lecture from my bed to you in the A400 room.

Once again, don’t be alarmed by this message, its sent on a ‘just in case’ basis and I'm quite confident we won’t need to put this plan into action.

Best wishes, keep washing your hands, see you soon.

Prof H.

A new academic year is upon us and I'm teaching evenings this quarter. That doesnt stop the e-family from saying goodnight however and Lillian is pictured here suddenly realizing it was her daddy in the box (aka the laptop screen). Teaching two cracking courses on internet marketing and B2B e-marketing to seniors at the undergraduate level. Ive a number of great local clients to work with on pro bono student consultancy projects and Im fortunate enough to be teaching these both in the state of the art A400 Learning with Technology Center housed in a secret location under the library. One pleasant surprise - almost all of my B2B students have sat classes with me before now. Looking forward to working with them again. Best of the new academic year to everyone!