ACNS and IMC Merge to Become Academic Technology Services (ATS)
03/25/2008
On November 21, 2007, Libraries, Computing & Technology Vice Provost Dave Gift announced the merging of Academic Computing and Network Services (ACNS) with Instructional Media Center (IMC). The new name for this combined department is Academic Technology Services (ATS). This blending of departments facilitates continual improvements and better integration of instructional technology support services using the strengths of both units to improve overall service levels.
People in need of traditional ACNS and IMC services may continue to use the same websites, e-mail contacts, phone numbers, and business procedures as they have in the past. Additional information is available at ats.msu.edu.
Background
Effective November 16, 2007, nearly all of IMC functions and staff began reporting through Deborah Powell to Tom Davis, director of ACNS. On December 1, 2007, these same functions and staff formally became a team within ACNS called “Media Services”. One exception to the affiliation of IMC and ACNS was the IMC Audio-Visual/Digital Media Services group, which was moved into Broadcasting Services (BCS) on January 1, 2008. AV/DMS, augmenting and complimenting existing BCS services, continue to provide event recording services.
This name change for ACNS comes four years after a previous name change. On March 14, 2004, the Computer Laboratory was renamed Academic Computing and Network services (ACNS) to better reflect the department’s mission and services offered. Instructional Media Center (IMC) has maintained the same name since 1966. From 1952 to 1966, IMC was known as The Audio Visual Center and was housed in quonset huts on campus.
About Academic Technology Services (ATS)
Academic Technology Services (ATS) is one of seven departments under the Office of the Vice Provost for Libraries, Computing, and Technology at Michigan State University (MSU). ATS is committed to providing the more than 50,000 students, faculty, and staff at MSU with the academic technologies they need in support of teaching, learning, and research. ATS provides, operates, and maintains the university’s network, instructional technology, and campus-wide computing services.
Academic Computing Services operates the centrally-supported course management system, ANGEL; an extensive network of computer labs and technology classrooms; MSU Computer Repair; a dynamic web hosting service; and test scoring service.
High Performance Computing Center facilitates discovery through the use of high performance computing. Its mission is to provide high quality, high performance computing services to the research community at MSU.
Media Services provides comprehensive multimedia and instructional technology support services in all university designated classrooms and computer labs, along with creative design and photographic services.
Network Services manages and secures the university network; provides students, faculty, and staff with file storage and Web page space; and maintains the central e-mail and NetID systems at MSU.
Support Services provides computing sales through the MSU Computer store, technology education, support, and training; Web design; and oversight of datacenter operations.
Clickers and Learning Spaces Workshop
03/21/2008
Two national trends have been sweeping across MSU in recent years. One is the increasing use of classroom response systems, also known as clickers, especially in large-enrollment undergraduate classes. The other is the creation of new kinds of learning spaces that are adaptations to changing technology in teaching and learning. This includes not only upgrading traditional classrooms with computers, projectors, video conferencing and sound systems, but also creating informal collaboration spaces with comfortable furniture and access to wireless and other tools.
On Friday, April 4, 2008, the College of Engineering, the College of Education, and the Office of Libraries, Computing and Technology will host a workshop on the burgeoning use of clickers, and the expansion of informal learning spaces at MSU. The program will take place in the new learning spaces on the first floor of Erickson Hall. People attending the workshop will hear Patrick Dickson of the College of Education explain how the renovations came about, and provide information and tours of the new facilities.
At noon on April 4 there will be a presentation on the pedagogical aspects of clicker use led by Tammy Long of the MSU Biological Science Program, and followed by explanations of some of the practical aspects of clicker use by Carl Liedholm of the MSU Economics Department, and Neeraj Buch, MSU Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The event is open to the campus community, and will provide a pickup lunch for the first 75 participants. The program will begin at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, April 4, in the new learning spaces area on the first floor of Erickson Hall.
To declare your intention to attend, and for more information, contact Byron Brown, MSU Libraries, Computing, and Technology, at brownb@msu.edu.
