An Elon employee for 19 years, Davis drives progress in the realm of campus technology and spearheads the adoption of emerging technology in academic facilities.

According to supervisors and coworkers, however, Davis’s Acorn Accolade is deserved for more than efficient management of a hefty workload.

“Joe is a team player. He shares information freely and reaches out to notify others of impact to their work,” says supervisor Pat Donohue. “[His] good sense of humor and openness to candid conversation lead to stable and long-lasting professional relationships. Joe is a great coach and mentor to others.”

Davis has been known to seek areas for improvement. According to Donohue, he consistently seeks ways to advance department performance, as well as opportunities to better the services offered to campus.

One colleague notes, “Joe successfully manages and negotiates expectations of faculty/staff while working with management on priorities for what is necessary for operations.”

Davis communicates about outcomes that he delivers, and this remains essential to the department as well as in building partnerships with other teams on campus.

When heavy snow made it impossible to hold class in January, Assistant Professor of Biology Jennifer Nunez didn’t waste the opportunity to enrich her students in a novel way. She directed a section of students enrolled in the Winter Term course, Biology: Weapon and Warrior, to the Maker Hub.

"Weapon and Warrior is in an introductory level class designed for non-biology students — it’s non-threatening!” Nunez says. “We learn about physiological aspects of the body through stories of forensic medicine and murder mysteries. I try and make it fun.”

The course includes a unit on bones that Nunez used to guide students towards the Maker Hub. The project was simple — use a 3D printer to produce a bone model using printer files that already exist.

For those students potentially intimidated by technology, Nunez emphasized the ease of using Maker Hub equipment to her class. She prepared her students for their visit to the Maker Hub by providing detailed instructions, but encouraged them to print whatever bone they found most interesting. Visiting the Maker Hub accounted for 5 percent of a student's overall grade, with students earning extra credit for sending Nunez a photo of their final creations.

“I now have so many pictures of kids with their bones!” Nunez says.

Brooke and Megan Muller, two of Nunez’s Winter Term students, took advantage of the opportunity to see what the Maker Hub had to offer, while also earning academic credit.

Brooke, a third-year strategic communications major, printed a fetal skull replica. Before this assignment, Brooke had little making experience and the Maker Hub was a foreign concept to her. She admits she had been intimidated by the machinery people use to create at the Maker Hub. Now she believes that there is a “a project for everyone” in the space.

“The staff was so helpful,” she says when asked her favorite part about the experience. “I had so many questions, ranging from ‘how do I log on?’ to ‘how do I select a printer?’ They were so patient and helped me through every step.”

Brooke’s younger sister, Megan, had a different take on her first time exploring the space. As a freshman, she appreciated the exposure to the Maker Hub early in her college career. Within 30 minutes of her first visit, Megan successfully printed a femur bone. She sees the space as a vessel “to give Elon students opportunities to be successful in all fields.

“I was very happy my teacher assigned this, because I know I can use the technology for different projects over the next three years,” Megan says.

The sisters already have plans to return to the Maker Hub in the near future. Brooke plans to make an engraved sign to customize her apartment, and Megan would like to experiment with wood in the space.

Nunez was thrilled to see her students take to the assignment and the space so keenly. “The assignment had a tremendous amount of value. Students think that they don’t have access to these resources, and so they don’t even know they have an interest in this kind of thing until they lay their hands on it,” she says. “The assignment was invaluable.”

If you are an instructor interested in integrating the Maker Hub into your course, visit The Maker Hub website, or contact Dan Reis at dreis2@elon.edu for more information.

Follow the Maker Hub on and and checkout the video series to see what students, staff, and faculty have created in the makerspaces on campus.

In some of Elon’s classrooms, students and instructors are expanding their roles and becoming creators using the university's two Maker Hubs on campus.

Kyle Altmann, associate professor of physics, is one such instructor who advocates for creating in the classroom. Altmann frequents the Maker Space and its 3D printers to engineer tools for his students.

“The Maker Hub opens up opportunities to do whatever you can imagine you can do. If you can design it, you can work with it,” says Altmann. “A second aspect to it is that a lot of science equipment is ridiculously expensive. Sometimes we can 3D print something similar for a fraction of the cost if we design it ourselves.”

In the Maker Hub, Altmann has found a wealth of ways to incorporate 3D printing into the classroom. He is currently investigating the possibility of printing models to further his research on magnetism. Altmann’s ongoing project involves creating a model of the , which would allow the user to look at individual atoms. While the instrument itself might be too advanced for first-year science students, Altmann hopes to design a 3D printed model that would be more accessible to those just beginning their studies.

Altmann learns by doing and prefers to fill courses with projects and hands-on experiments. He doesn't want students to associate class with unenjoyable book work or lecture. Altmann uses the 3D printer to design gadgets that supplement more exciting and interactive lab work.

For one practical assignment, Altmann presented students with miniature plastic vehicles, resembling standard sedans, and an elliptical track on which to run them. He tasked them with experimenting with how these carts could brake and slow down.

“I designed an end-cap which goes on the end of the cart and it holds magnets,” Altmann explains. “It holds up to four that they can insert. When you run a cart on the track after filling it with magnets, it slows down dramatically. Then, it’s up to the students to figure out how and why that was the case.”

The 3D-printed end-cap also gave students the opportunity to question and discover. Each lab group tried loading the end-cap with different magnets in varying quantities. Then, they measured the impact of their choices on the cart’s speed. Altmann was pleased with the way the end-caps worked; eighteen groups of students used them to complete slightly different experiments last semester. 

More recently, Altmann used the Hub tools in an experiment that measured the force of electricity. During the lab, students attempted to measure the force between two metal sheets.

“We already had a scale to measure the force very accurately and a caliper – a device to measure the separation very accurately,” says Altmann.

3D printing then allowed Altmann to design an apparatus that would hold the scale and the calipers, so that force and separation between two magnets could be measured efficiently and simultaneously.

Altmann sees the Maker Hub and the tools within it becoming an integral part of higher education. In the future, he sees students taking an active role in creating for the classroom.

“I do things for labs and experiments, but I haven’t yet assigned students to go in and take ownership of that,” Altmann says. “I’ve always loved the process of being able to plan something out and then having it take shape. You know, tell the machine, ‘make this for me,’ and then boom, it appears. I think that’s a great thing for students to experience too.”

Instructors interested in integrating the Maker Hub into courses should visit The Maker Hub website or contact Dan Reis at dreis2@elon.edu for more information. 

Follow the Maker Hub on and to see what students, staff, and faculty create in the makerspaces on campus.

Reis, senior instructional technologist at Elon, participated in , where he presented on the development and integration of Elon's Kickbox program, which offers guidance and funding for students to develop an idea. ISAM, which fosters community and learning for those who are passionate about making, is held at Case Western Reserve University and hosts roughly 500 conference attendees annually.

“The most powerful aspect of Kickbox for me is watching the students at our showcase events,” Reis said. 

For the third year in a row, the Maker Hub has awarded several students a “Kickbox,” – a box filled with instructions, resources, and $300 – to help students develop innovative ideas and turn them into a reality. During his presentation, Reis shared how his inspiration for the Kickbox came from Adobe, which similarly provides its winners with everything they need to generate, prototype, and test a new innovative idea.

The presentation generated a lot of buzz, with faculty members around the country tweeting about the program. Montana State University’s Makerspace Lab Director, Matthew Griffin, tweeted “Elon Kickbox, Idea Support in a Box! Awesome way to support student innovation.”

Elon Technology continued to make a splash in the teaching and learning community, with Instructional Technologist Michael Vaughn presenting at the most recent  (ISSOTL). Vaughn, one of the few who presented on educational technology, spoke of the benefits of learning outside of traditional academic frameworks.

In his talk, Vaughn expressed that without creativity and innovation in education, students can become overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfect and avoid failure. He emphasized how makerspaces teach students to embrace imperfections and learn creative and healthy ways to succeed.

Vaughn shared how educators can utilize making and makerspaces to help students to welcome mistakes and find more enjoyable and creative ways of learning.

The theme of this year’s ISSOTL conference was “Reaching New Heights,” with faculty members, staff and students from around the country sharing innovative ways to improve teaching and learning.

With the help of Reis and Vaughn, Teaching and Learning Technologies continues to foster innovative learning through Elon’s makerspaces. Gathering inspiration from Elon’s own Maker Hubs, universities and organizations across the country are exploring how makerspaces can benefit a campus all-around and make creativity a core part of the learning experience.

To learn more about Elon’s two Maker Hub locations and what they have to offer, visit the Maker Hub website. Check out the series to see how Elon faculty are incorporating the Maker Hub into their coursework and engaging students in and out of the classroom. 

What has changed?

If you have a wireless microphone, or use one on campus, you may need to purchase a new one. Recent changes in ownership of certain frequencies now means that some wireless microphones will no longer be able to communicate over their regular frequencies.

Specifically, on Nov. 1, 2017, after the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auctioned off the majority of the 600MHz bandwidth to T-Mobile, that bandwidth is no longer available for public TV or radio use.

Spending nearly $8 billion for ownership of this frequency to boost the provider’s LTE cellular network nationwide, T-Mobile now controls a significant portion of the “low-band” spectrum allowing them to offer more robust signal strength through buildings and over long distances.

So what does this mean?

TV and radio channels that previously occupied the 600 MHz band are being rapidly “repacked,” or moved to different frequencies, to clear out the spectrum for its new owner. Those broadcasters are being moved to the 500MHz band and the remaining spectrum will be shuffled across available frequencies to accommodate the surge of commercial broadcasters in the shared airspace. This massive reduction in available spectrum means much more limited airspace for noncommercial users, such as those using wireless microphones to communicate during large events. T-Mobile and the FCC have already begun rolling out changes in many areas across the country although full spectrum reallocation is not expected to be completed until 2020. Ultimately, this means that frequencies that work today might not work in 2020 as the available spectrum continues to be rearranged.

Also important to note is that according to a recent set in effect after T-Mobile’s purchase, the use of devices transmitting across the 600MHz band is now highly discouraged in order to remain compliant with FCC laws. These laws restrict use of the 600MHz band to T-Mobile, meaning others sharing the band could face legal consequences.

What should you do if you have a wireless microphone?

Fortunately, there are several ways to accommodate wireless microphone use despite these changes to the spectrum. First, be sure that the microphone you’re using is compatible with the 500MHz band, which can be a substitute for the now limited 600MHz band. If you’re unsure if your mics are compatible, you’re encouraged to contact Elon’s media specialists, Dallas Smith (x6552) or Rick Earl (x5644) for more information and for purchasing recommendations if you need a compatible version.

Those needing multiple wireless mics for events on campus, such as marching band performances, acapella concerts, and sporting events, are also encouraged to register their mics ahead of time with Dallas Smith and Rick Earl by contacting the Technology Service Desk (336) 278-5200. Using a license Elon has purchased from the FCC, events on campus requiring multiple mics can register their mics ahead of time giving them priority within the spectrum.

“Our hope is that people on campus will reach out before their event,” says Rick Earl, technical director and media expert. “We’re happy to answer any questions anyone has about these changes to ensure all events and projects run smoothly.”

Earl also shares that the best way to prevent any issues is to communicate ahead of time when several wireless mics will be used at the same time and to use wired devices whenever possible.

Before you use a wireless microphone on campus

• Contact the Technology Service Desk (x5200) if you have questions about the compatibility of your wireless microphones.
• Double check that your microphones are compatible with the new band updates before purchasing.
• Only use wireless microphones (versus wired) when absolutely necessary.

For more information on these changes, visit the or to learn more.

Sources:

Brodkin, J. “T-Mobile dominates spectrum auction, will boost LTE network across US.” ArsTechnica. April 13, 2017.

Harvey, S. “T-Mobile Speeds Up Pro Audio 600 MHZ Eviction.” Pro Sound Network. October 24, 2017.

Harvey, S. “The Spectrum Crunch Cometh.” TV Technology. October 16, 2017.

“Wireless microphones.” FCC. July 14, 2017. https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-microphones-0, “T-Mobile Ready to Rock New Spectrum With First 600 MHz LTE Smartphone & 5G-Ready Network Gear.” T-Mobile Newsroom. August 31, 2017.

Elon faculty and staff members gathered on Nov. 9 in the Maker Hub – Downtown to discuss creative ways in which making can be integrated into courses and peer-to-peer teaching. Run by Instructional Technologist and Maker Hub enthusiast Michael Vaughn, this Lunch and Learn event featured four guest speakers: Nim Batchelor, associate professor of philosophy; Jen Hamel, assistant professor of biology; Natalie Hart, assistant professor of performing arts; and LM Wood, associate professor of art.

The overwhelming takeaway from the event was the interdisciplinary benefit of making in the classroom. Faculty shared how the makerspace allows them to challenge their students creatively while providing them the resources and tools that they need to be successful.

“I learned there is nothing that makes a science student more uncomfortable than telling them they have to do this project and be creative,” Hamel said of her biology students. She stressed the importance of encouraging students to extend themselves. Hamel then shared a story of a student using the Maker Hub to create a reptile tank with motion detection lasers in order to track the habits of lizards.

“Making is a way to ask nature a question,” Hamel explained.

Wood shared stories of her art students embracing the Maker Hub. The space allows her students to use tools they might not normally find in an art classroom. Wood shared how one student used the 3D printers to print a copy of his face for a self-portrait project. “I’m very excited about the Maker Hub,” said Wood. “I see it as a great connection to the art program.”

Vaughn explained that Teaching and Learning Technologies chose the name “Maker Hub” because they wanted it to be a space that is open to students and faculty from every discipline to make things together. The space contains 3D printers, a laser engraver and power tools as well as craft supplies. The Maker Hub also holds workshops to teach community members how to use this equipment.

“We see the Maker Hub as a third place where it’s not quite work and it’s not quite school,” explains Vaughn. “It’s something else.”

Bachelor and the other speakers encouraged the group to explore creative ways to utilize the Maker Hub within their own disciplines moving forward. Bachelor also asked participants to spread the message: “Tell your colleagues. Make them aware of what they can do,” inviting them to think outside the box.

Hall鈥檚 supervisor, Heather Hutchings, spoke kindly of her coworker, 鈥淒onnaLynn is incredibly dedicated to her work and supportive of her teammates and campus partners. She eagerly takes on new challenges while continuing to provide excellent support for her ongoing projects.鈥�

When asked what makes Hall such a valuable team member, Hutchings answered, 鈥淒onnaLynn is self-motivated to deliver solutions that make others more efficient. She looks for opportunities to help campus partners streamline their work through automation and focuses on developing solutions to reduce manual tasks.鈥�

Hall earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in March, which provides a great foundation for successful projects across Information Technology (IT). In addition to Admissions and Financial Planning, Hall is also an essential team member in Application Technologies within IT where she frequently contributes to projects.

When reflecting on the ways Hall has helped the the IT department, Hutchings explains, 鈥淒onnaLynn represents Administrative Computing on the Change Advisory Board and leads change management for our team.鈥� Hutchings continues, 鈥淒onnaLynn volunteers her talents to help others on campus. 聽She mentors students through the First-Year Engagement Program and co-leads the Caregiver ERG providing resources and fellowship for faculty and staff in caregiving roles.鈥�

Her impact reaches beyond Elon, too. She is actively involved in the Ellucian community as the co-chair of the Financial Aid Regulatory Client Advisory Team. This service allows her to network with other Colleague schools and share the good work happening at Elon.

The Acorn Accolade is awarded each month to an exceptional member of Elon鈥檚 Instructional and Campus Technologies team. The individual must be nominated by his or her department head to the Assistant Vice President of Technology.

The New Maker Hub – Downtown opens Sept.听6

Elon welcomes its second Maker Hub on campus, Maker Hub – Downtown! The new Maker Hub gives Elon students, faculty, and staff access to advanced prototyping and fabrication tools not available anywhere else on campus. This makerspace includes a CNC router, laser engraver/cutter, and 3D printers, as well as basic hand tools and sewing equipment. The Maker Hub – Downtown is anticipated to open Sept.听6.听

Check out the original Maker Hub located in Harper Hall within the Colonnades, and Maker Hub- Downtown in the Elon Town Center above Pandora’s Pies.

Visit the Maker Hub website or follow @ElonMakers on and for updates.

Windows 10 On-Campus

Students, staff, and faculty can now expect to see the new Windows 10 operating system on all PCs in classrooms and labs. Windows 10 is also included on computers checked out at Media Services and those on this year’s replacement list. This operating system is more secure and offers a handful of new features improving ease of use.

Learn more about the in Windows 10 or contact the Technology Service Desk at 336-278-5200 for help.

Updating to Office 2016

In addition to migrating PCs to Windows 10, Elon Technology has also started updating from Office 2010/2011/2013 to Microsoft Office 2016. While there is an updated look, the core functionality is the same. Office 2016 is designed to make collaboration simpler and nearly all the features you use are still present and in the same place.听All students also have access to Office 2016 for free through .听

Learn more about .

SPACES is now 25Live!

Over the summer, the room reservation software, SPACES was transformed to 25Live. Although the name has changed, the functionality remains the same and the new update makes reserving rooms easier than ever.

Learn more about how to use

Improved Wireless Coverage Across Campus

Elon Technology worked hard over the summer to increase wireless performance, coverage, and capacity, campus-wide. Academic areas across campus received a wireless upgrade that added three聽times聽more wireless access points, substantially increasing download speeds. Students in the Historic Neighborhood and the Oaks will also see wireless improvements.

Learn more about connecting your devices to the elonu-connect and elonu-secure .

Ethernet Ports Disabled in 10 Residence Halls

Elon Technology is committed to providing and supporting a robust wireless network to campus. To help support this commitment to mobility, traditional wired (Ethernet) ports in certain residence halls have been disconnected and will not function. Ethernet ports in the following residence halls were disconnected: Sloan, West, Virginia, Carolina, Smith, Hook, Brannock, Barney, Oaks A-F, and Park Place.

For more technology updates, follow us on , , and the .

Constantly working to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, Hood’s responsibilities range from managing IP phone and wireless issues to maintaining security infrastructure to repairing network switches and door/voice gateways. Most recently, Hood was integral in managing and upgrading the electronic door access systems and working alongside Campus Safety and Police to maintain high levels of security campus-wide. Hood also successfully completed the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification in recent months and gained extensive knowledge and training into modern network systems.

Aside from his primary duties, Hood is known for the strong relationships he has developed with teams such as Campus Technology Support, Application Technologies, Campus Safety and Police and Physical Plant, with whom he frequently collaborates on projects. Throughout his 10 years at Elon, Hood has continued to invent creative solutions that have earned him respect from colleagues, supervisors and students alike.

“Nick jumps on a problem down to the atomic level and that’s what drives him. Professionally and personally it makes him want to become the best at whatever he’s doing,” says Rob Readling, operations manager and Hood’s direct supervisor. “He likes to research the odd issue and stay on something until it’s fixed. He’s great with our users too. We’re not just a fix-and-run outfit and Nick exemplifies that by staying in contact with students or staff/faculty until an issue is fixed to their satisfaction,” Readling adds.

Readling points out that Hood “takes pride in what he does and we don’t often have time to stop and enjoy the moment. You won’t see him most of the time, but if you do say ‘Thanks!’ Feeling like he makes a difference is what makes Nick happy. Happy people do good work!”