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Jumat, 28 Juni 2013
Deploying a WSP to SharePoint 2013

Deploying a WSP to SharePoint 2013

How to deploy a WSP to SharePoint Farm Solution library

This need to be done on the Server which host the SharePoint Central Administration.
  1. Add the WSP to the SharePoint Server
    1. The first thing you need to do is copy over the wsp deployment file. The best things to do is to create a deployment folder, where all the deployed files are kept.
    2. Copy over the deployment files to: c:\Deploy\WSP
  2. Add the WSP to the SharePoint Farm Solution library
    1. Open “SharePoint 2013 Management Shell “ as administrator
      a. Open the Search on Server 2012
      b. Search for “SharePoint 2013 Management Shell”
      c. Right click “SharePoint 2013 Management Shell”
      d. Select “Run as Administrator”
    2. Run this script: 
      Add-SPSolution "c:\Deploy\WSP\{file name}.wsp"  
  3. Deploy the WSP to the SharePoint Farm Solution library
    1. Open Central Administration
    2. Click “System Settings”
       photo Picture1.jpg
    3. Click “Manage farm solutions”, under “Farm Management”
       photo Picture103.jpg
    4. Click on the {file name}.wsp package
    5. Click “Deploy Solution”
       photo Picture106-1.jpg
    6. Deployment settings
      Deploy When: Now
      Deploy to: All content Web application
    7. Click “OK”

How to activate the WSP Feature on the Site Collection

  1. Activate the WSP Feature on the Site Collection
    1. Open the Root Site (the Site Collection)
    2. Click the cog, in the top right corner (Site Actions)
    3. Select “Site Settings”
    4. Click “Site collection features”, under “Site Collection Administrator”
    5. Go to {file name}
    6. Click “Activate”, to the right
Senin, 24 Juni 2013
Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 4

Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 4

Getting Serious about Audio and Creating Music with the Surface Pro
(without breaking the budget)

This is the final entry in this 4 part series about my audio workflow when using the Surface Pro. I often want to be able to easily record things for classroom use but sometimes I also want to create my own music (or have students create music) for use in multimedia projects. The great thing about creating your own music is you do not have to worry about copyright issues since you are the creator.

If you missed Part 1 you can view it here.


I began this series by sharing how I create my TechTalk4Teachers audio podcast and today I will share some other equipment I am using in combination with the Surface Pro to make music.   

This workflow has served me well over the years and what I have learned in the past has been easily transferred to the new Surface Pro x86 tablet.  This blog series about audio has proven to me that the Surface Pro really can replace either a desktop or laptop computer for most of my everyday tasks, including multimedia production. I will finish this series by stepping it up a notch and sharing some of the new things I have discovered with creating music on the Surface Pro.

The Surface Pro comes with a built-in microphone so to get started all you need to do is find a recording app, like Audacity, and hit record, this is fine for general classroom use. Audacity is an x86 program and does not work on the Surface RT version so you will need to find a recording app in the Windows Store to record audio if using a Surface RT. I have not explored audio recording apps in the Windows Store since my Surface Pro runs Audacity really well and does everything I need.

But, if you really want to take your classroom audio creations to the next level and create music and sound effects on your own using the Surface Pro, read on.

To go to the next level you will need some other audio gear and software that will improve your sound quality and greatly expand your multimedia production capabilities.

Mixcraft 

When I am looking to create music I almost always turn to the Mixcraft program. Mixcraft is a PC program that is kind of like Garageband on the Mac except it will do much more, especially with recording virtual instruments and adding some awesome sound effects. An added bonus is that Mixcraft is very user friendly, unlike some of the more professional audio recording programs. Mixcraft retails for approximately $75.00




USB Audio Devices for the Surface Pro

Because the Surface Pro is a full x86 compatible PC I am able to run Mixcraft and since it has a USB port I can take advantage of the thousands of USB compatible devices that work with PCs, a few of which are designed to help create music.

I have been experimenting with a couple of devices that can put you and your class into the music recording business! I have shared before that I use the Mixcraft program in an earlier blog post and I have now added two more pieces of equipment that takes the Surface Pro into the stratosphere when it comes to creating audio for multimedia projects, including music creation.


Korg USB MIDI Microkey Piano-style Keyboard

The first musical device I would like to mention is a USB MIDI Keyboard from Korg with 37 microkeys, this device costs approximately $80.00 and is kind of like a miniature piano.


If you (or your students) can play piano and read sheet music then you can plug this USB keyboard into the Surface Pro and use it as a MIDI controller when used in combination with the Mixcraft program. I do not think the Korg piano will work with the Surface RT and I know the Mixcraft program will only work on the x86-based Surface Pro, not RT.



MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and has been around since the early 1980’s. MIDI takes the signal from the USB piano-style keyboard you play and translates it into digital signals that can be processed on the Surface Pro. Once you record the notes you have played on the Korg MIDI piano you can manipulate the notes to your hearts content in Mixcraft.

I should note that the Korg keyboard makes no sounds as you play it, the sound is piped into the Surface Pro and you can monitor it from within the Mixcraft program on the Surface Pro.

The beauty of using Mixcraft with the Korg MIDI keyboard is that you can record one track at a time and create layers of music that can eventually turn into your own original songs!

Better yet, because the recorded notes are now in the MIDI format Mixcraft allows you to change the properties of each separate track to a different musical instrument. So on track 1 you can have drums, track 2 bass, track 3 trumpets, track 4 trombone, track 5 saxophone, and so on…..

You can turn your MIDI notes into any instrument you want!

You can play each track separately using the Korg mini piano so you do not have to be a virtuoso piano player to find success.


Tri-Capture USB Mixer

The last piece of equipment I will share with you is a new USB mixer I recently acquired by Roland called the Tri-Capture. The Tri-Capture, as the name implies, allows you to mix three different audio sources and currently costs approximately $130.00




First, a bit of advice about the initial installation of the Tri-Capture on the Surface Pro. The Surface Pro is an x86 computer running the latest Windows 8 Professional software. Some device manufacturers are better than others about updating the drivers to work with new operating systems. 

Be sure to go to the Roland website first and download the latest drivers for the Tri-Capture that are certified to work on Windows 8. Download the drivers to the Surface Pro and install them FIRST BEFORE you plug in the USB cable of the Tri-Capture mixer into the USB port of the Surface Pro!!! By doing it this way you will save yourself the headache of getting the wrong drivers that will cause problems. I do not think the Tri-Capture will work with Surface RT, another reason I went with Surface Pro since I produce a lot of multimedia content that the current Surface RT cannot handle.

The Tri-Capture mixer is the first USB mixer I have used with the Surface Pro and so far, so good. I wanted a USB mixer with a ¼ inch input because I was looking for a way to play my Electric Guitar and have it recorded into the Mixcraft program running on the Surface Pro. The Tri-Capture does the trick and by using the ¼ inch plug on the back of the mixer that I can plug my Electric Guitar directly into input #2.

Input #1 is a XLR connection that allows me to plug in a XLR Microphone so I can record my singing (have not done this as I do not want to break the Tri-Capture), and input #3 is a pair of RCA jacks that allows you to plug in a MP3 player if you would like mix some background music. The Tri-Capture also has a headphone jack to monitor your mix.

Another benefit of the Tri-Capture is that it is much smaller and more portable than my regular mixer I use to record TechTalk4Teacers with. The downside is that it can only handle one microphone but this portability will allow me to take the Tri-Capture on the road along with a single Shure SM58 microphone and record high-quality audio recordings in the field. A really nice bonus!


So there you have it, all the tricks I have in my Surface Pro bag for how I create high-quality audio and music.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Until next time.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom Please subscribe and listen to the

If you have not subscribed to our TechTalk4Teachers podcast please do! The RSS feed is:

Interested in Teaching and Learning with Technology?


Kamis, 20 Juni 2013
Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 3

Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 3

Another Line-in Audio Jack Solution for the Surface Pro



Earlier this week I posted about an inexpensive USB audio jack converter that solved one of my issues I was having with recording audio into the Surface Pro. Today, I would like to offer as an alternative a different method that I have tested that also works. Another option to solve the lack of a line-in jack of the Surface Pro is to use the Behringher UCA 202 Audio Interface (or something similar), this adapter is available from Amazon for approximately $30.




I have had this USB adapter for a long time and it comes in handy for inputting audio into a computer. I first got this because I needed to record some audio from an old VHS tape into the computer. I know VCR’s are now dinosaurs but hey, back in the day we worked with what we had available. If you want to use the UCA202 you will also need to get a couple of Y-adapter cables to use with it that converts the RCA output jacks into a 3.5mm plug, I have both the Male and Female 3.5mm versions of the Y-adapter cables.




Since finding the Syba USB to 3.5mm adapter I blogged about in Part 2 of this series I probably won’t be using the UCA202 as much but it is here if needed. Schools are notorious for having older equipment and there are bound to be older devices that use the old-style RCA jacks so I keep this solution in my toolbox.

So there you have it, another option for solving the lack of a line-in jack on the Surface Pro.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Until next time.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom

If you have not subscribed to our TechTalk4Teachers podcast please do!

The RSS feed is:

Show notes for TechTalk4Teachers Podcast:


Interested in learning more about teaching and tearning with technology? Please visit:


Senin, 17 Juni 2013
Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 2

Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 2

Line-in Jack Issue Solved on the Surface Pro!

Last week, I began Part 1  of this series giving an overview of my TechTalk4Teachers podcastaudio workflow now that I have converted to using only the Surface Pro as my teaching and learning device of choice. I mentioned that I was able to keep my normal audio workflow with one exception while using the Surface Pro.

Using my normal recording method I simply take out the SD card from the digital audio recorder when the podcast recording is finished and put it into a USB SD card adapter. Next, I plug the adapter with the SD card inserted into the Surface Pro and then copy the files over to a folder for editing. Once the files are copied to a folder on the Surface Pro I then use Audacity to edit and splice together the different segments of the podcast, add finally add the intro/outro and transition music.

The last step in this process is to save the file as a MP3 file with the metadata and album art to upload to the TechTalk4Teachers blog. From there the RSS feed from the TechTalk4Teachers blog populates iTunes directory with the latest episode of TechTalk4Teachers where listeners can subscribe and download. This all works wonderfully.

If you have not subscribed to our TechTalk4Teachers podcast please do!
The RSS feed is:

The audio issue that I was facing on the Surface Pro is that sometimes I do record directly into the computer using Audacity to capture the incoming audio stream. The existing audio port on the Surface Pro only supports headphones using a single standard 3.5mm jack. What that means in practical terms is that I could not use a “line-in” connection to directly plug my mixer or another microphone with a 3.5mm jack into this audio port for recording audio.

I am happy to report I have found a satisfactory solution to this issue, thanks to the help of one of the readers of this blog. I have been corresponding with Professor Barnhurst about using the Surface Pro as a screencasting device for flipping the classroom.

Professor Barnhurst is a Chemistry professor from Southern Adventist University and has been using a Tablet PC to record video screencasts of his lectures and then post them online for his students to review. He was curious about the possibilities the Surface Pro had to offer for screencasting and stumbled upon this blog.

The Surface Pro is like a Tablet PC on steroids. It is fast and powerful, comes with a digital pen, USB 3.0 port for easy transfer of multimedia files, extra microSD card storage, and is a natural choice for those interested in creating screencasts for the flipped classroom.

We discussed the different ways that I was using the Surface Pro for instructional use and that I had even been successful with using a wireless microphone to record audio into the Surface Pro for screencasting purposes and passed along the information about my setup.

Professor Barnhurst is doing some great work recording his lectures and using a Tablet PC (and now the Surface Pro) to annotate over illustrations of chemical equations to demonstrate the way the chemicals react to form the product. I hope to provide a blog post in the future about the benefits of this approach for his Chemistry students. People have been using Tablet PC’s like this for many years, long before screencasting became fashionable. Sal Khan used a Tablet PC to create his now famous screencasts that resulted in the creation of the now famous Khan Academy.


Professor Barnhurst suggested I look at a USB audio adapter that converts the Surface Pro’s only USB port into a line-in port and speaker port. I took his suggestion and ordered the adapter last week. He used this adapter to successfully connect a wireless audio receiver to the USB port of the Surface Pro. This wireless microphone approach allows the teacher to roam about the room while teaching and still be able to record high-quality sound for the screencast. When needed the teacher can return to the podium where the Surface Pro is connected to a projector and then use the digital Pen to write on the Surface Pro’s screen. All of this while the Surface Pro is recording the screen and with audio!

The audio adapter I ordered and received last week only cost $8 and so far it works quite well on the Surface Pro.




Syba SD-CM-UAUD USB Stereo Audio Adapter


It has a red-colored 3.5mm female jack (Line-in) and a green-colored 3.5mm female jack (Line-out for speakers or headphones). You are probably familiar with the red and green jacks on sound cards and this adapter converts the USB port to the common female 3.5mm jacks used when recording audio. This effectively solves my line-in issue and will allow me to continue to use my mixer to record multiple audio sources into the Surface Pro in the future. Problem solved.

The only thing I do not like about this solution is that it takes up the only USB port available on the Surface Pro. If you have been reading this blog then you know that the single USB 3.0 port on the Surface Pro is very precious to me.

So, while I was ordering I also picked up a USB 4 port hub for another secret project I am working on over the summer involving the Surface Pro as a presentation device in the classroom (more on that later this summer :)



I probably should have picked up a USB 3.0 hub to take advantage of the Surface Pro’s high speed USB 3.0 port but this one was less than half the cost and will work for my intended project given my very limited research budget.

If you want to record audio wirelessly you will also need a wireless microphone setup. These however can be quite expensive. I have used the Canon Bluetooth Wireless Microphone WM-V1 successfully although it may be discontinued now. I have also been successful using the very expensive Sennheiser EW100ENGG2B. 


Professor Barnhurst said he has been successful with using the Audio Technica Pro 88W wireless microphone used in combination with the Syba USB to 3.5mm jack stereo adapter on the Surface Pro.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-PRO88W-R35-Wireless-ATR3350mW-Omnidirectional/dp/B00006I523/


Of course, you do not have to use a wireless microphone at all, but it does give you the freedom to move about the room while recording screencasts.

Most people however just use an inexpensive wired lavaliere style microphone that plugs directly into a 3.5mm line-in jack. You are then limited by the length of the cable while you record. I have been known to buy a 25 foot long audio extension cable when I was using a Smart Board to record Smart Board lessons. Worked great but be careful you do not trip over it!

So there you have it, how I solved the lack of a line-in jack on the Surface Pro.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Until next time.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom 

Please subscribe and listen to the TechTalk4Teachers Podcast:

Interested in Teaching and Learning with Technology?





Selasa, 11 Juni 2013
Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 1

Audio Workflow on the Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet - Part 1

I continue to put the Surface Pro through its paces and continue to be amazed by its versatility for everyday activities when used by teachers and students. In my opinion the Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet is currently one of the best tablets on the market for educators. This is a great tablet choice for teaching and learning for both students and teachers.

I have recently had a few questions from readers about how I handle some of the audio workflow that I routinely do. I thought I would share some of what I have learned from using the Surface Pro to create audio over the past couple of months in this series of blog posts.

The good news is that I have been able to do everything that I previously did on a full-sized Desktop machine, the bad news is that I have had to make a couple of  adjustments into the way I handle audio input in and out of the Surface Pro.

This change is a result of the existing audio port on the Surface Pro only supporting headphones using a single standard 3.5mm jack. What that means in practical terms is that I cannot use a “line-in” connection to directly plug my mixer or other microphone with a 3.5mm jack into this audio port for recording audio. Therefore, I have had to find a few work-arounds to my normal workflow.

I really wish this 3.5mm jack supported the “line-in” capability on the Surface Pro but alas it does not. So… I have had to adjust my audio workflow and convert parts of it over to using USB audio input when using the Surface Pro.  

Call me old-fashioned but I have long used a mixer that allows for multiple audio inputs that are mixed down to one single 3.5mm line-out jack. There are now new USB mixers available but I prefer to keep my audio workflow analog throughout the audio recording process until I get to the editing stage. This has served me well over the years. Times are however changing and there are now many USB mixers on the market, but old ways die hard.

If you are thinking about recording audio for more than one person I highly recommend you get a mixer. Mixers do what the name says, they mix different audio inputs into one outbound stream of sound that is mixed from multiple sources. By having multiple microphones, one for each person you are recording, you can control the sound of each, you can even input sound from your computers sound card to add to the mix!

Mixers are scary to most people. Mixers seem extremely complicated when you first begin to use one but if you stick with it and learn just a little bit about their capability it will take your audio production to the next level. Having great sound is a necessity for any quality multimedia project, audio or video. Yes, sound is just as important in video as the video is, maybe more so.

I now have to handle the output from my mixer in in a couple of different ways. The first way really is not a change at all for me when recording our TechTalk4Teachers audio podcast


I have long used a digital audio recorder connected to a mixer to record the TechTalk4Teachers podcast. I currently use a Roland R-05 digital audio recorder that uses SD cards to record and store the audio files. When I am finished recording the podcast I simply pop-out the SD card, place it in a USB SD card reader and plug it into the USB port on the Surface Pro. I then copy the files to the Surface Pro in a folder for editing. This still works extremely well thanks once again to the Surface Pro’s USB port.

Having a USB port of the Surface Pro has been extremely useful and is an advantage over other tablets on the market. Since I regularly deal with multimedia files getting content on and off the Surface Pro with a USB port is a breeze. Unlike some other tablets that rely on cloud storage, or tablets that require the inconvenience of plugging into another computer to get content off the device, the USB port on the Surface Pro, for me, is still the best method for quickly and reliably moving multimedia content around.




Stay tuned for Part 2

Thank you for reading our blog.

Until next time.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom Please subscribe and listen to the

TechTalk4Teachers Podcast:

Interested in Teaching and Learning with Technology?



Kamis, 06 Juni 2013
Changing Gears for Summertime

Changing Gears for Summertime

It has been a while since I last posted here on the ITC Chronicles blog. Contrary to popular opinion, summertime is extremely busy for those of us working with technology in schools. True, it is a bit more laid back as many faculty have a reduced teaching load or are off for the summer, but it is also a time for massive updates and improvements to systems across campus.

I have received much interest in the recent postings here on our blog and I would like to thank you for taking the time to stop by. Recently we have had a dramatic increase in visits to this site and I am getting many questions on how we are utilizing technology to improve the teaching and learning process here at EIU. I have received many emails and comments from others asking more in-depth questions. Based upon this feedback, I plan on sharing more about what we are doing, where we have had success, and where challenges remain over the coming weeks.
For me, summertime is also a time for rejuvenation and exploring some of the many new things I am interested in. If you are a new reader to this blog please checkout our Instructional Technology Center online home at http://eiu.edu/itc Here you will find our TechTalk4Teachers podcast and our ITC Techshare YouTube Channel along with other learning resources, please subscribe :)

I hope to make a few more screencasts over the summer and based upon the feedback I am getting explore the Surface Pro in greater depth as a tool for teaching and learning. I may also post here when we update learning resources for our community here at Eastern Illinois University but much of this is applicable to others as well. If you are interested in some of the things we are doing or if you have questions please post a comment here or email us at techtalk@eiu.edu

Thank you for reading our blog.

Until next time.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom Please subscribe and listen to the

TechTalk4Teachers Podcast:
http://techtalk4teachers.blogspot.com/

Interested in Teaching and Learning with Technology?
http://www.eiu.edu/itc/


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