The
Meeting Minutes
For
January 17 & 18, 2007
The following is a summary of our most recent meeting.
Please let Steve Smith know as soon as possible if anything has been omitted or
reported in error.
I. Introduction, Agenda Review and Review of May Meeting
Minutes
Steve Smith explained the need
to bring our budget to zero balance. There
for no meeting registration fees until funds are exhausted. Then fees will be
collected in the future to just cover meeting costs.
II. Video Conferencing to the DL meeting
Karen
Hincapie asked if we could video conference back to our BOCES to make the
meetings available to folks who can not make the trip to
III. Net Neutrality - www.savetheinternet.com
Mike
Sperano gave an update on the need to join the coalition.
IV. Course sharing and Information Sharing
Mike Bayba
suggested that they might be able to offer Sullivan County BOCES a Pre-Vet
Science Course. He will be in
touch.
This
led to the discussion around American Sign Language and the need to have
teachers in different areas.
Eliz Huggler and Toni Abbatiello
may consider sharing a teacher for the fall semester.
John
Poland from
RIC
RFP for ISP connection went out this year.
It looks like the Broome BOCES will remain with TW cable.
Holly
talked about the after school contract concerns. How do we structure the pricing to cover the
teacher costs? Around the table we are
hearing the contractual constraints are inhibiting the growth of Distance
Learning.
There
was lots of conversation around the issues of districts pulling teachers,
courses and students from classes without informing the other
participants. This is an issue for
BOCES/Districts that charge and receive for classes.
Mike
charges $2000 per course between districts.
The charge is $1000 inter-network.
Tami Fancher
asked how others charge when we cross BOCES sharing courses. It seems that as the occasion arises we will
have to work out the deals on an as need basis.
O-NC BOCES
has an agreement with SUNY Delhi. Psychology
will be offered this spring.
Toni Abbatiello
asked how others know when their course fees have been paid to their
BOCES. Mike Bayba explained that his
COSER has sub line codes so he can track incoming and outgoing monies. Adjustments need to be made from time to
time. This way the monies do not go into
general fund.
We
talked a bit about the issues of book costs.
College books are generally a big expense.
V. Recruiting Teachers
Mike
brings the schools together via DL to build some internet work sharing. Success builds on folks who really want to
make it work in the Districts. No matter
how much the BOCES does if it isn’t happening in the district it will not be
successful. All schools meeting everyone
needs to bring one new class to the table.
It is
agreed among the group that the key is the guidance councilors in
district. Tami’s veteran guidance councilors
spend time with new guidance staff to show them how to work with DL.
What
is the future of DL? Video conference, traditional etc. It is agreed that stability is the key to the
success of DL. Web based learning is not
growing quickly in any areas. Mobile
devises tend to meet the needs better for elementary, middle school enrichment.
VI. Technology
changes in the classroom
What
is the future of DL? Video conference, traditional etc. It is agreed that stability is the key to the
success of DL. Web based learning is not growing quickly in
any area. Mobile devises tend to meet
the needs better for elementary, middle school enrichment.
Tony reported on his test connections with some of the other
regions. He emphasized that all types of
technology are the future of DL. Steve
asked if anyone was using web based content to the desktop for interactive
student classes. Some are using Polycom
PVX with issues.
A DCI meeting update was given by Brett Apthorpe, broadband network provider, using NYSERNET for Internet 2 to be used for IP conferences across the state.
Mike Sperano explained how Direct Packet and Tandberg Management Suite work with firewalls. They are not a total solution. They both do what they claim but there are still firewall issues. Mike Baybe hit it on the head. If it is not plug and play it will not be successful. Having assigned location if not dedicated classrooms may be of importance to the success of “portable” units. DHCP addresses can be set up in a building so the mobility can be there. This is upfront labor intensive.
Derek would argue that ease of use will drive the technology. Students can overlook some quality issues if the content is enticing to them.
Video streaming servers are being introduced around
the state. One of the obstacles in the
possessing of the video to make it available to students. Ownership issues then come into play. Does the content belong to the teacher,
school, other. A U-Tube format could be
a possible automated solution for video conversion. The question to Brett was how do you get the
raw data to the quick time server. Jeff
Elliott’s network records all classes to
a media server with a video capture device.
The teacher then could FTP it and post the URL to a website. Adirondack Area Network
(AAN), http://www.aanet.org/,
is doing this as a service for them. As
they move to NRIC they are unsure of their future. { AAN was created to provide advanced
telecommunications services such as distance learning, telemedicine, Internet
connectivity and videoconferencing to geographically remote areas in the
Adirondack Region of Upstate
Support and sustainability is the struggle we are all facing. We always need to go back to “student” achievement.
Mike Bayba asked if there is a push for wireless solutions. Mike Sylofski indicated that SHURE, www.shure.com/, might have one. Some discussion followed about ceiling mics, and their functionality. If they are not properly installed you get feedback and echo.
Tami is considering the Brain Game over Distance Learning may be a way to diversify the use of the rooms. Buzzing in may an issue. Rethinking how the students reply to the questions.
Sympodiums
are being added to the rooms in Mike S’s area.
www.smarttech.com/sympodium
VII. BYU Independent Study Presentation (http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/)
Currently they have approximately 250 courses available.
Cost: ESL $40
Character Ed $40
High School Course $115
College Course $130 per credit hour
They claim to have NYS certified teachers for high school courses. Eliz requested that they provide a clear list of courses that have NYS certified teachers. Other features include: Web based courses, 24 hour turn around on student questions to instructors, portals available. They are a non profit organization. Some enrichment courses are free. Tests are administrated by a proctor in the local district. Send test back to college for grade posting. All University level tests need to be taken at a testing site. Testing consortium has testing centers across the state. They are considering adding a video conferencing component for foreign language. The course is always sent to the student on a DVD, to accommodate all bandwidth speeds. No students do with out the video component. Immediate feedback to all online assessments. Student management desk is available 12 hours a day to answer student questions. This is manned by up to 80 support persons.
Debrief:
How can this be supported by the BOCES and why? Several discussions ensued as a result of this question. Some said they would support the student success by monitoring locally. O-U will be adding a video conferencing component. Some of the other suggestions were add a ‘Luminate’ (http://www.luminatedesign.co.uk) component for student tutoring/mentoring in real time. We discussed how do we compare these courses to other online courses to ensure the content and delivery is as good as their counterparts.
We discussed assessing students prior to taking online courses. If they are not ready to take an online course, or if they are disorganized and unmotivated they will likely not be successful. Possible link: (http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/id/learningStyles.asp)
On the next agenda add follow up to this discussion.
Add this discussion to next agenda.
Best
practices and resources for virtual field trips an ongoing discussion
VIII. Resources for online learning that
meet NYS standards/N.E.T.S. and taught by NYS certified teachers
IX. Community services and the dl classroom
X. Post-secondary classes via dl.
XI. Model schools and dl.
Computer Aided Instruction is the partner CoSer for Model Schools. No technology can be purchased through the
Model Schools CoSer. Conversation around what can you buy through various
courses.
XII. Birds of a feather Break out Sessions
- Instructional
Meeting
We
discussed how can we make requesting, using and identifying video conferencing
for teachers easier. Brett feels that we
have an opportunity to work on the staff development piece.
Web2O
Promotion is the key. Suggestions: make video clips, attend
curriculum conferences, work with PDP teams, meet with districts to share
information.
Mystery
Quest: We need to continue
the collaborative effort.
- Technical
Group Meeting
What was discussed was covered earlier on
topics , state-wide RIC connectivity
and impact on BOCES dl
programs, upgrading old rooms to newer technology,
troubleshooting practices. What
newer technologies should be considered for dl
rooms/mobile carts.
XIII. Presentation
The
Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame has online programs. There are 13 Modules at $100
per course per hour. Membership is
$40. If there is someone in the school
there is discount pricing and other incentives. For more information go to - http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/education/index.html
Or call - 1-607-547-0347
1-607-547-0632
According to the sign in sheet the people listed below
attended this meeting.
Name,
BOCES
Abbatiello, Tony Cayuga-Onondaga
BOCES
Apthorpe, Bret
Bartholomew, Michjelle Broome-Tioga
BOCES
Bayba, Mike
Biazzo, Kris Jefferson-Lewis
BOCES
Carver, Rene Greater Southern Tier
BOCES
Elliot, Jeff Questar
III
Fancher, Tami O-NC
BOCES
Fenton, Steve St.
Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
Hincapie, Karen
Huggler, Eliz Sullivan
Kaiser,
Landas, Nyle,
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Miano, Phill
Ouderkirk, Laurie
Sharp, Holly
Smith, Steve Broome-Tioga
BOCES/SCRIC
Sperano, Mike Sullivan
Sylofski, Mike
Tallman, Deric CNYRIC
(OCM BOCES)
White, Tom