The New York State Distance Learning Consortium

www.nysdlc.org

 

Meeting Minutes

For

January 10 and 11, 2002

Binghamton, NY

 

The following is a summary of our most recent meeting.  Please let Steve Smith know as soon as possible if there are has been anything omitted or reported in error.

 

  1. Review and Approval of October 4 and 5 2001 Meeting Minutes

 

There were no changes to be made to these minutes.  A motion was made by Rodger Oesterle to approve the minutes.  All were in favor.

 

  1. Roundtable Discussion-

 

A.   E-rate-

 

·        Recently the rate vendors can charge on their various telecommunications bills as it relates to the Universal Service fund went up to about 6%. Is anyone budgeting for this? Rodger Oesterle says they’ve only been getting charged this the last six months.  Mike Bayba says his three independents haven’t been charging them.

·        According to the legislation, no entity is exempt from that fund.  Holly Sharp says she hasn’t been charged from Frontier yet.  Oswego is budgeting 6.5%.  Some BOCES apply every six months while others apply every quarter.

·        In some cases districts could get more back filing alone, than if they are in a consortium.  Mike Bayba says they file it as a consortium and they give it back at each district’s eligibility rate.

 

 B.   Direction of Distance Learning-

 

·        Shelley Rossitto brought up the direction of distance learning and distributed learning with virtual high schools.  Where are we with this? No aid for third party vendors.

·        Jennifer will let others know about Project Accelerates online high school.

·        Set up distance learning rooms so that students can work with a remote teacher, while the home teacher is freed up for AIS. Mike says it is a people issue in getting distance learning rooms to be used.

          C.  Title III Grant-   

 

·        We are waiting to see where we after the recent passage of legislation.

·        Shelley will get Jennifer information on the Title III Grant.

 

D.  Firewalls-

 

Mike Bayba talked about routers and how they can program some boxes to allow a translation table with dedicated IP number and a dummy number that is part of the firewall.  It can convert ISDN number to IP.  Mike says the IP provider doesn’t know enough to help, but the RIC knows more.

 

E.      ISDN Directory –

 

Rodger said it would be good if we had an ISDN directory.  It was noted that the

Nassau County BOCES website has a directory of ISDN sites. It is under Title III. We can link our websites to that or link our NYSDLC website to it.  We should revisit Joann Schlachter’s idea of paying a fee for this ISDN directory. Next year Carol says her site might be password protected. Carol will try to find out by the next meeting if it can be a subscription service for around $500.

Steve Smith indicated he thought Dan Myers may have an inventory. He will check with Dan on that. In any event this should be on our next meeting agenda.

 

    F. Copyright-

 

The Consortium logo and Consortium materials are to benefit the Consortium.  Does anyone have concerns about people using our Consortium logo and materials for other programs that have nothing to do with our consortium? It was suggested that if you want to use NYSDLC’s logo or material one should solicit the listserv for permission. We will have more discussion on this topic at our next meeting.

 

 

F.      Organization of the NYSDLC-

 

From time to time we have discussed the pro’s and con’s of our being more structured or formal. Some concerns regarding this are as follows:

·        Bylaws

·        Liability issues for using our logo

·        Additional clout.

·        What about affiliation

 

A committee consisting of Andy Verdon, Jennifer Lawless, Steve Smith, Tony Abbatiello, Holly Sharp, and Steve Putman was formed to look at some of the issues of whether to formalize or not to formalize and report out at our May meeting.

 

G.  Sullivan County BOCES/Time Warner Cable Network-

 

Linda Whynman invited all to see her network and visit with Time Warner reps the afternoon of February 7th. Linda also offered to host the technical committee’s meeting the next day if they wanted to meet there.

 

H.  NYSDLC Budget-

 

Steve Smith distributed a copy of the Consortium budget.. Some registration payments for this meeting are outstanding.

 

3.         Breakout Sessions-

 

For the first time, we broke into concurrent sessions in the room, with specific areas of interest. What follows is a summarization of discussion.

 

A.                 Technical- Several BOCES had technical support people at this meeting.   Statewide standards and interconnectivity prompted discussion.

 

Thoughts covered-

 

·            An inventory of what everyone has, should be posted on the web page, a drawing and a description included.

·            Inventory of solutions—once we know what everyone has, we can then come up with solutions.

·            Perhaps an IP solution using Internet 2

·            Communicate vision to legislator

·            ISDN/ATM/IP/Data Circuitry

·            Let’s be clear, as our vision is also to communicate to our legislature.

·            All day meeting for tech group.

·            Question programming

·            Train one BOCES on technology then we train each other.

 

B.             Communicating with Schools-(Public Relations, marketing, etc.)

How do we get schools to take ownership? Everything we do has to help students be successful.

 

Thoughts covered-

 

a.                 Top down support for distance learning

b.                Meeting with guidance counselors

c.                 Teacher awareness/training is very important

d.                Blow your own horn/show them what you are doing

e.                 Local cable—classes, special events

f.                  Tailoring offerings to met diverse group of students

 

C.             Instructional Programming-

 

Thoughts covered-  2 foot rule—you need something—ask for it

 

Career Shadowing

·        Iowa Public TV is doing this – but can’t “get out” to us

·        WNED – Buffalo – does lunch with experts program

·        Erie County Medical Center – does rounds with the kids via DL

·        Louisville Science Center – careers in sciences

·        Toledo Zoo – vet medicine

·        The Wilds – animal handling and care

·        Royal Wax Museum (contact Amy Stoos—BOCES 2)

·        Other places that my have contacts with the experts already:

·            School to Work (Alana Smith—from Linda Whynman—845-291-0318

·            Office of Employment and Training (county)

·            COSE—Electronic experts—they’ll help find folks

 

Reagents Review and SAT Prep/Academic Intervention Services

·        John Barry does summer sessions for SAT Prep

·        Contact your local colleges for help

·        Tie possibly to Academic Intervention Services

·            Chris Staats—developed a module schedule for various areas that their students need addressed—they work it on a block schedule or DL.  They may be publishing the curriculum, and/or be willing to train the trainer type workshops

 

                              Class Programming—a few ideas

·        Survey all you guidance counselors for low enrollment courses (<12)—compile data and share with all the districts.

·        Get listing of ALL courses in each district and do a grid to share with all

·        Meetings—get both principals and guidance counselors there (the combo makes the difference)—minimally share all meeting agendas and notes with both

·        Buy Guidance Counselors laptops

 

Other things to do with your DL rooms

GED Classes

·        Can offer these after school for the high school students that are in the vocational ed programs

 

Professional Development (both educational and groups outside education)

·        Child Abuse

·        Safe Schools

·        OSHA (for businesses)

·        Remember 2004—175 hours professional development

·        Coaching Certification

·        State-wide autism course

·        Coast Guard training

·        Volunteer firemen training

 

Local Health Department using the facilities

 

Miscellaneous things

·                    Looking for a Spanish speaking group for conversational Spanish class—(please help Neva Kelly)

·                    Better sense of NYSDLC people’s expertise (Shelley Rossitto suggested)

·                    American Sign Language sequence—(please help Rodger Oesterle) NOTE: Columbia Univ, Univ of Rochester, Keuka College, and NTID at RIT have ASL certification programs

·                    Make use of Satellite downlinks—State Ed.

·                    Need to approach DL as a tool and integrate with other technology tools

·                    Need to publicize successes—how DL programs have improved student learning

·                    Often DL is used just for the accelerated students—need to consider the slower learners too

·                    Approach local businesses for grant money to aid you for teacher stipends or virtual learning experiences or whatever

·                    Virtual High School Classes—on-line courses—can we start a listserv thread?

·                    It would be great to be able to just “throw a switch” to share courses

 
DAY 2

 

Before the discussion on NYSSBA and NYSCATES conferences, Steve Smith handed out certificates of appreciation to the team leaders and work teams that made our presence a success at these conferences.

 

4.  NYSSBA Conference:

 

      Mike Bayba was the team leader and set up the booth. It was tough to get interactive classes that day because many schools had an in-service day.  Friday was a busy day but not a good turn out on Saturday.  We discussed was the conference worth our time? Should it be done again? Should there be presentations? It was suggested by Andy Verdon to perhaps have Rodger Oesterle’s financial presentation be part of our program there. NYSSBA commitment is by March and cost $600 for the booth. It was felt we should stay involved with this organization. The next NYSSBA conference is at the Syracuse On Center, October 24-27, 2002.  Kay Michelfield volunteered to help. Need to set up another subcommittee to address the NYSSBA for this fall.

 

5.  NYSCATE Conference-

 

Mike Sylofski was team leader and took charge of all technical needs. The location was good.  Mike felt there was too much focus on video conferencing and not enough focus on the distance learning network.  No one used the distance learning equipment, (Elmo etc.),  that  Mike had  set up.  We need to focus on the distance learning room piece.  Need to set up another subcommittee to address the NYSCATE for this fall. It is believed that this conference will be in Buffalo. 

 

6.  NYSSBA and NYSCATES Conference Wrap up-

 

We discussed dealing with the confusion we’ve faced with registering NYSDLC for these conferences. It was discussed that perhaps one person does the registering for both conferences. Since our meeting I have had the following thought that needs your reaction. The person registering the NYSDLC and the team leader for program and team leader for technical preparations would be facilitating our presence at both conferences.  Volunteers will be solicited to be on each conference team. I would volunteer to be the registering person if ok with you. Since I am managing the Consortium budget, I could process any expenses we have for conferences.

 

7.  Videoconferencing Conference-

 

Bonnie, Carol, and Chris passed out an overview of the videoconference via ISDN that is set for April 30, 2002.  If you want to make additions to her evaluation forms that go along with the videoconference, Carol would appreciate feedback and you can fax it to her at (516) 396-2040.  How will the conference be promoted was discussed and some suggestions were: flyers to identified target groups, lead teachers and administrators; ask school districts to send a few people; our logo should be on the top of any flyers or promotional material; there may be a small fee to cover ISDN expenses.  Steve suggested we continue this conference discussion via our listserv.

 

 

8.  Teacher Listserv-

 

This listserv is running. Call Shelley to be added to the listserv as it is private for teachers and facilitators.

 

9.  Teacher and Course Databases- 

 

Andy Verdon reviewed these databases on our Consortium website maintained for us by Dutchess BOCES.  Please update with Dale Hollmen any corrections to the databases. Dale can be emailed at dhollmen@beta.dcboces.org . Andy reminded all of us we need to keep everything current for those that visit our site.

 

10.  Frontier/NYENet-

 

Representatives from Frontier Telephone company were present at the invitation of Shelly and Bob, to discuss plans for a pilot. Items discussed were;

 

 

11. Our Next Meeting-

 

   Date: May 2 and 3, 2002 at the Binghamton Regency in Binghamton. 

 

12.  Agenda-

 

Please submit agenda items to Steve by April 1, 2002.