IoP Biostatistics and Computing

1. IoP Biostatistics and Computing September 2007 Charlie Sharp

2. Statistical Advisory and Education Services • Offers a advisory service for statistical problems • Provides theoretical and practical training in statistics with lecture series and short courses • Offers extended help to research projects subject to agreement • Undertakes research

3. Teaching Courses • Some are lecture based • Some are lab based (i.e. computer based) with a maximum of 20 students per course (M2.19) • Lab based courses have a (steep) refundable deposit in order to encourage attendance • Plan in advance your education programme

4. Teaching Courses Examples • Introductory statistics Measurement Scales • Multivariate Methods Research Methods • Longitudinal data Clinical Trials • SPSS Statistics STATA • Structural Equation Modelling • ……………….dates and details on the web http://biostatistics.iop.kcl.ac.uk

5. Statistics Advisory Services • Appointment Service on • See the web site biostatistics.iop.kcl.ac.uk ‘Statistics Advisory Service’ • Fill in the web questionnaire and receive an appointment • Further appointments may also/subsequently be arranged • Taught course M.Sc. Students may have own arrangements for support

6. IoP IT Services - What do we aim to do? • Provide a stable IT infrastructure for the IoP • Network facilities & wireless access, connecting to the UK Academic Network & to the Internet • Public Access workstations (~80) in the Library, rooms M2.20 and around the campus • M2.20 24*7 all year access with printing • Network file services for the secure storage of data. • Support in day to day use • Training as required • Integrate with KCL ISS & departmental provision

7. Structure of IT Service Provision • IoP IT Services • Provides services for all staff and students on IoP campus • Students ‘treated as staff’ • KCL ISS IT Services • Provides services for students (mainly) on all other KCL campuses • Differential provision between staff and students (students’ advantage) • Services under development and change

8. IT Structure II • Each IT service has its own servers, email, and software • Why? • History – IoP only recently part of KCL • IoP has had and still needs a centralised staff IT service • Therefore IoP students get • Both College and IoP logon accounts • Two potential email addresses • @iop.kcl.ac.uk • @kcl.ac.uk • Two potential filestores • Confusing??

9. Recommendations • If your home campus is the De Crespigny Park site, then use the IoP logon and email by preference • If your home campus is Guy’s or other parts of KCL, use the KCL ISS PAWS logon by preference. The IoP webmail service is probably the quickest for email. • When you visit another campus to your own, use the appropriate logon (e.g. if an IoP based user visits Guys site use the KCL logon) but continue to use your normal email via the web interface • All - use KCL logon for MyKCL student records portal • Ask for guidance if confused!

10. Email Services • IoP runs Microsoft Exchange 2003 with Outlook 2003 • IoP also has Outlook Web Access • webmail.iop.kcl.ac.uk • KCL runs a UNIX based email service • webmail.kcl.ac.uk • At the moment, for new students, the KCL email is set up to forward to the IoP email address • IoP/KCL will migrate to Exchange 2003 over the year. • Which to use? • IoP Email has a global address book for IoP only • Circulars – in public folders - see portal.iop.kcl.ac.uk/sites/circulars

11. How is access given? • For all students, your accounts have been automatically generated. Pickup at enrolment. • In return, you receive an user identifier and password for both IoP and KCL ISS, also an ATHENS registration • Learn how to logon to a public Windows XP workstation, or via a computer provided by your department • Use software provided, storing data on drive U: • If training is needed, then • ‘LunchBytes’ induction courses (45 minutes) • Also check if training part of course • See web or get in touch with Helpdesk x0539

12. Passwords and Logon Identifiers • Given at enrolment – please do not lose them • Although you have one logon, in fact there are several systems each with separate passwords. Only the logon identifier has been created as the same. • Changing passwords on one will not change them on other systems • Keep you logon and password secret – do NOT share them • We do monitor Athens and other systems to check inappropriate sharing • Ask if you need help!

13. Is it all free? • Access for academic purposes is free • Printing costs 1p per page at the IoP. • Colour printing costs 5p per page at the IoP. • Students are given £5 printing credit • Staying in touch with family/friends/colleagues overseas is a legitimate use of the system • Do not use the system for idle recreation, or illegally. Check the IT rules & regulations, & Data Protection

14. Can I get access from home? • Email and some other facilities can be accessed from home - see the details on our web server. • SPSS is licensed for home use, subject to hardware and strict licensing conditions • Your Athens password lets you access e-resources at home • We cannot supply other products free - Microsoft Office costs £100+ …. But will be Office 2007. IoP will offer Office 2007 towards December • OpenOffice - a free word processor/spreadsheet etc., may be appropriate.

15. What software is there at IoP and KCL ISS? • Microsoft Office Pro (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) • SPSS - statistical package • Reference management software • Web browsers • MS Outlook/Exchange for email • Specialist statistical packages • New packages are added with announcements will be by email • Electronic information services - bibliographic, citation services, on-line journals. • iTunes

16. Are there specialist services & help? • Imaging • Special IT set-up for fMRI and imaging • Statistics • Training in SPSS, etc • Helpdesk facilities • See http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/itsupport • Guys based students have ISS Helpdesks • Email computing.helpdesk@iop.kcl.ac.uk • visit s202 (9.30-12.00, 13.00-16.00) or x0539 • write if all else fails!

17. Questions? computing.helpdesk@iop.kcl.ac.uk http://biostatistics.iop.kcl.ac.uk