Plan for Deploying Microsoft Windows 10 at CityU
by Maria Chin
Microsoft launched its latest version of operating system (OS), Windows 10, in July 2015. In the article on “Windows 10 at First Glimpse” (Ref: Network Computing Issue 85 - September 2015), some of the key new features in Windows 10 were highlighted, and the plan to release it first on centrally-managed computers for teaching and learning was mentioned.
Windows 10 for Teaching and Learning in Central IT Student LAN, LTs and Classrooms
In Semester A of 2016-2017, Windows 10 will be installed on all Student LAN computers in the Computing Services Centre (CSC) Teaching Studios. As a transition, both Windows 10 and Windows 7 computing environments will be supported on the Student LAN for teaching and learning, and Windows 8.1 that currently co-exists with Windows 7 will be removed as we anticipate most of the Windows 8-version software can run on Windows 10. Software with campus licenses, such as Microsoft Office and some Microsoft applications and tools, their latest versions will be provided under Windows 10. The same environment for both Windows 10 and Windows 7 will be made available to all lectern PCs in lecture theatres and classrooms within 2016-17 by phases.
Staff who wish to use Windows 10 for teaching should contact their software providers about compatibility issues with their teaching software. Staff who need to upgrade their teaching software to be compatible with Windows 10 should pass it to the CSC for installation on the Student LAN by mid-August 2016 the latest. In the meantime, staff might also wish to update their teaching materials as needed. Teaching staff requiring assistance in finding a Windows 10 PC for evaluating their software may contact the CSC. The CSC will then try to provide such a PC for their short-term use.
Teaching staff who wish to continue to use Windows 7 for teaching will not be affected as Windows 7 will co-exist with Windows 10 on the Student LAN. However, all staff are recommended to start preparing to teach with Windows 10 so as to enjoy its enhanced features as well as new functionalities that come with the Windows 10 version of their teaching software. Timely preparation will avoid the need to upgrade urgently owing to the end of development/support for the Windows 7 version of teaching software, or the end of support of Windows 7 itself by Microsoft.
Windows 10 for Staff Use on Staff LAN
Windows 10 combines the strengths of Windows 8 with Windows 7, and is the default OS installed on all newly purchased Windows computers. According to Microsoft, millions of people are already using Windows 10. However, prior to large scale deployment for staff use, Windows 10 must be tested for compatibility with the existing central and departmental systems and applications.
The Central IT has started testing all central systems for administrative, e-learning and campus IT services on Windows 10. Some departments maintaining departmental applications themselves have already borrowed Windows 10 software media from the CSC for installation and testing of their applications. Departments with departmental applications that have not yet started testing them with Windows 10 should start as soon as possible, since any potential modification/upgrade to departmental applications may involve time/manpower/budget.
The date to deploy Windows 10 on Staff LAN will be decided based on the feedback from departments on their testing progress, which the CSC will collect and consolidate in October/November 2016. The tentative schedule to deploy Windows 10 on Staff LAN is Semester B of 2016-17, at approximately the time when Microsoft will have released a major patch for the OS.
User Training on Windows 10
To assist with the adoption of Windows 10, regular hands-on training classes will be organised for staff and students starting from around August 2016. Prior to/during the deployment on Staff LAN, such training classes for staff will be offered more frequently, and upon request of departments, separate training classes can be specially arranged for better coordination of staff training within such departments and for tailoring of training materials to fit the skill requirements of the targeted departments.
Windows 10 for Teaching and Learning in Central IT Student LAN, LTs and Classrooms
In Semester A of 2016-2017, Windows 10 will be installed on all Student LAN computers in the Computing Services Centre (CSC) Teaching Studios. As a transition, both Windows 10 and Windows 7 computing environments will be supported on the Student LAN for teaching and learning, and Windows 8.1 that currently co-exists with Windows 7 will be removed as we anticipate most of the Windows 8-version software can run on Windows 10. Software with campus licenses, such as Microsoft Office and some Microsoft applications and tools, their latest versions will be provided under Windows 10. The same environment for both Windows 10 and Windows 7 will be made available to all lectern PCs in lecture theatres and classrooms within 2016-17 by phases.
Staff who wish to use Windows 10 for teaching should contact their software providers about compatibility issues with their teaching software. Staff who need to upgrade their teaching software to be compatible with Windows 10 should pass it to the CSC for installation on the Student LAN by mid-August 2016 the latest. In the meantime, staff might also wish to update their teaching materials as needed. Teaching staff requiring assistance in finding a Windows 10 PC for evaluating their software may contact the CSC. The CSC will then try to provide such a PC for their short-term use.
Teaching staff who wish to continue to use Windows 7 for teaching will not be affected as Windows 7 will co-exist with Windows 10 on the Student LAN. However, all staff are recommended to start preparing to teach with Windows 10 so as to enjoy its enhanced features as well as new functionalities that come with the Windows 10 version of their teaching software. Timely preparation will avoid the need to upgrade urgently owing to the end of development/support for the Windows 7 version of teaching software, or the end of support of Windows 7 itself by Microsoft.
Windows 10 for Staff Use on Staff LAN
Windows 10 combines the strengths of Windows 8 with Windows 7, and is the default OS installed on all newly purchased Windows computers. According to Microsoft, millions of people are already using Windows 10. However, prior to large scale deployment for staff use, Windows 10 must be tested for compatibility with the existing central and departmental systems and applications.
The Central IT has started testing all central systems for administrative, e-learning and campus IT services on Windows 10. Some departments maintaining departmental applications themselves have already borrowed Windows 10 software media from the CSC for installation and testing of their applications. Departments with departmental applications that have not yet started testing them with Windows 10 should start as soon as possible, since any potential modification/upgrade to departmental applications may involve time/manpower/budget.
The date to deploy Windows 10 on Staff LAN will be decided based on the feedback from departments on their testing progress, which the CSC will collect and consolidate in October/November 2016. The tentative schedule to deploy Windows 10 on Staff LAN is Semester B of 2016-17, at approximately the time when Microsoft will have released a major patch for the OS.
User Training on Windows 10
To assist with the adoption of Windows 10, regular hands-on training classes will be organised for staff and students starting from around August 2016. Prior to/during the deployment on Staff LAN, such training classes for staff will be offered more frequently, and upon request of departments, separate training classes can be specially arranged for better coordination of staff training within such departments and for tailoring of training materials to fit the skill requirements of the targeted departments.
References
Windows 10 at First Glimpse
http://wikisites.cityu.edu.hkhttps://wikisites.cityu.edu.hk/sites/netcomp/articles/Pages/Windows10atFirstGlimpse.aspx
Central Software
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/deptweb/facilities/central-sw.htm
Windows Comparisons
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compare
Windows 10 at First Glimpse
http://wikisites.cityu.edu.hkhttps://wikisites.cityu.edu.hk/sites/netcomp/articles/Pages/Windows10atFirstGlimpse.aspx
Central Software
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/deptweb/facilities/central-sw.htm
Windows Comparisons
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compare