- Author: Bruce Lidl
Usually, as an IT communicator, my job is to inform people about an amazing new technology or service. A new tool or offering that will profoundly impact their work experience and propel their company or university into a new era of success (we hope!).
That is not my task today, however. Instead, my first announcement as UC ANR IT Communication Specialist is… me.
Last week, I joined CSIT to support ANR web development and to assist IT in getting the word out about all the cool new things we are building. I, myself, am not likely to have a profound impact on your daily work, at least in comparison to the ANR Portal or SiteBuilder 3.0, but what I can promise is to keep you very well informed about the powerful tools and services that CSIT provides.
Often, the role of an IT communicator is to be a kind of translator, taking very technical topics and making them understandable, and useful (!), for a general audience. Luckily, I love technology and have a hard time NOT telling people about it, as my friends and family would eagerly confirm. After a short career in academia, I have spent the last decade or so working for technology companies, both big and small, to bridge the gap between the bleeding edge and the safe middle of the road. Ultimately, no technology has value beyond its ability to empower the user, and I am very excited to assist in deploying great IT tools in the service of ANR's mission of healthy food, healthy environments and healthy communities.
Please don't hesitate to email me or drop by my desk if you have any technology questions*. I would love to hear from you and I look forward to getting to know you and ANR better in the coming weeks.
*(topics including but not limited to: SiteBuilder, Portal, Collaborative Tools, Survey, web development, web design, SEO, blogging, social media, computer hardware, digital video, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, comic books, German philosophy, the films of Stanley Kubrick, anything from Joss Whedon, and pretty much anything labeled as “nerdy.”)
- Author: Bryon J. Noel
I am glad you asked! The Resource Calendar was designed as a way for anyone in ANR to see which meeting rooms and other resources are being used. You may be wondering if the Plum Room available on August 20th? Well now you can find out. In the top-right corner of the Resource Calendar you will see a drop-down menu. Choose the "Plum Room" and now you can see whether it's scheduled or not. If it is scheduled click on the event name and you can see the details of the event.
How do I add my Resources?
Adding your own resources to the calendar is quite easy. Select the "List Resources" link in the top-left corner of the Resource Calendar. This will take you to a list of ALL the resources accross ANR. If you have permission to edit the Resource an edit link will show up to the right of the resource name. Otherwise you may view the resource details by clicking on the respective view link to the right of the resource name.
If you see the resource you want to add already in the list, someone else already added it. If not select the "New Resource" link in the top-right corner of the page. Now enter in all the appropriate information for this resource. Make sure to select a Resource Unit where people manage this resource. The Resource Unit drop down decides who may edit the resource as well as who may schedule the resource. So if I create a resource for the Communication Services Meeting Room. I would select the unit ANR Communication Services. This automatically enables everyone in ANR Communication Sevices unit to be able to edit and schedule the Communication Services Metting Room.
I added a resource. Now what do I do?
Click on "Return to Resource Calendar", this takes you too the calendar itself. Here you may schedule events that use the new resource. To do so simply click a day on the calendar that is today or in the future. This takes you to a form allowing you to create an event. Enter the event name, choose the resource for the event, the time, and any other information that may be helpful. Save this and it is now available for all ANR to see.
Who can edit the resources and schedule events?
Resource creators can always edit resources and schedule events for the resources they create. However for most people they will be using resources that other people have already created. When creating a resource the Resource Unit is very important because this tells the system who may schedule events. Everyone who is a member of that unit may schedule the resources for that unit.
What happens if I want to schedule a resource but cannot?
From the Resource List if you view the resource you will find contact information of people who are able to schedule the resource for you. Simply contact the appropriate person and they can help you.
Why is the Resource Calendar Pink?
That mystery is very great! I'm afraid the answer to that may never be known!