The New York State Distance Learning Consortium
Meeting Minutes
For
January 15 & 16 2004
Binghamton, NY
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. Many thanks to Elizabeth Huggler for taking meeting notes.
1.
Introduction, Agenda Review and Review of September Meeting Minutes
A. Agenda Review—We did a quick review of the agenda. Steve Putman covering for Steve Smith who was running late.
B. Review of Sept. 29 & 30 2003 meeting minutes—After review a motion was made by Bonnie Nizamis to approve the minutes. All were in favor. We are reminded that all meeting minutes are still on our web site.
2.
Roundtable Discussion-
·
DL Pricing:
§ Telecomm fee, coordination fee, course fee Erie 2:
§ base fee for all Orange:
§ base fee for all Sullivan:
§ Broome base fee and course cost
§ Charging for courses.
· Broome charges $2,000 per course/yr. Albany does not charge
for courses. They have worked together to allow for the pricing structure
to follow the host sites structure.
§ Erie 2 charges $2,000 to their districts regardless of what the other districts are charging. These monies go into the co-ser service.
§
Telecom Changes:
§ Broome-Tioga is moving to multi level distance learning possibilities in their
districts.
§ It seems that many of the BOCES face multi-telco companies in their areas. This
adds to the complexity of billing.
§ Most districts in the Broome area are heading toward Gig Fiber from school to
BOCES that has 45meg out to the Internet.
§ Steve Smith suggested that we need to take a look at Erate vs. state aid considering
which makes more sense per district when considering dark fiber. It appears to be no
longer Erate eligible.
§ Discussion followed regarding how complex the erate filing is. It seems that many of
the BOCES file differently.
§ Erie 2 is looking to move to the Miranda CODEC over GigE.
§
Online Courses and Home Schooling:
§ The authority of high school principals to determine the authenticy of content and the ability to grant credit.
§ Concerns for seat time were brought up. What courses require seat time?
§ Who will be making these guides for the state regarding online learning?
§ A comment was made regarding the numbers signed up for online learning and how difficult these classes are. Will they be well attended or will the hybrid type courses be more popular?
§ Home schooling issues were discussed. In Penn. the district is required to provide online programs to home schoolers.
§ Bonnie wondered if we should look into the Distance Learning Accreditation Distance Education and Training council. detc.org. Bonnie read their history and statement to all of us.
§ Concerns and comments followed regarding whose responsibility it is to provide online learning: Parents or Schools?
§
Professional Development:
§ Mel Levine's work. Based on his understanding of how kids develop, thoroughly researched. Training is highly structured about 35 hours of basic training for teachers with 30+ hours of follow up. Barbara VanWicken. www.alkindsofminds.org.
§ This will lead to the need to use Distance Learning to do follow up work with
teachers and staff developers.
§ Concerns with some BOCES whose veteran staff developers are not moving to the
use of DL for staff development like newer hires.
§ Coaching certification seems to be an area of use for DL.
§ Erie 2 reported that when the reps come back from Middle level or SCDN they do a
briefing for districts and professional development folks over the DL.
§ Barbara requests that we create a list of Professional Development functions that we as a group might be offering so her group could tap in as a way to get them on board.
§ Steve Smith asked if any of the Fire Chiefs had contacted us. (Dale’s presentation at our last meeting). Some yes some no. One BOCES will be offering a pilot program to the EMS in their area.
§
Listserve Discussion:
§ Bob F. said they have the listserve set up. nysdlnet@sun-tech.ouboces.org
§ Directions on how to subscribe were handed out.
§ Must subscribe to new list serve by March 1. The old one will be deleted.
§ Attachments up to 5 meg are possible. How are we going to go about moving to them? IBUZ is another alternative. www.ibuzpd.org.
§ Everyone agreed that ibuzpd might be a better service later, but we would use the new list serve for now. Chris will arrange for training at our May meeting on ibuzpd.
§
NYSDLC Website:
§ Mike hates to ask this question??? He handed out the Nassau BOCES site thinking this was the most current information. He had an incident where some of the programs are outdated or not available. His concern is who is going to keep these websites current. The PDF file has been updated for this year.
§ Question was asked Ok we have this site and this great information how are the BOCES getting this out to teachers. Some answers: conference days, catalogues, live demos and WebPages.
§ The discussion continued to suggest that we might have to find someone to pay to keep this site updated.
§ WebPages: Mission Statement needs to be updated change to 2004
§ Benefits of Distance Learning...suggested we wait until the White papers are done.
§ Format: Change BOCES Contacts to Contacts
§ Network links to links
§ (Suggestions let's track the site hits for a month or so)
§ It was decided that a subcommittee be formed to redo the site and present it at the next meeting. Toni, Barb, Paul, Chris C. Steve Smith will be on this subcommittee.
§ Bob F. asked that a bell schedule or times for classes be posted so that the different areas might be able to better share classes.
§ Barbara gave the web addresses for a couple of DL websites that she thought we should look at as examples to improve our page.
§ White paper: Needs review on website. Bob presented the “beginning” of a rewrite of the white pages; Barbara graciously read this to the group.
§
A motion was made by Mike to create a subcommittee
second by Steve, to rewrite the white paper.
Members are Bob, Eliz, Paul, and Steve Putman.
§ Discussion on recognition of what we are doing led to the idea that we might want to invite a member of the Board of Regents in to discuss how we get recognized at the state level. Barb thought that we might want to start inviting them to our meetings to build a rapport with them. Mike suggested that if there is a member in the Binghamton area we might want to invite them. We want to be recognized so that when DL information that is being sent down to the DS’s gets to us too. It was decided to table this discussion until May. Steve Smith found a site for the Regents that listed the subcommittees for them. We looked for a technology connection. (Non-found). Eliz asked why we aren’t starting on a more local level such as communicating our purpose to our DS’s. Chris reminded us that about a year ago there was discussion regarding inviting the RIC directors in.
§ Barbara read a letter of request for council members to a technology committee to keep all organizations informed. (USNY) Such subjects as digital content, digital delivery, etc. This letter came from Regents Bohman and Chancellor Bennet.
§ We reviewed our website sections. Any that are under construction will not show until ready. We are each responsible for providing Steve Smith with updates that pertain to our BOCES regions. If our website is not current what is the value? Email any changes to Steve ASAP.
§
Other …discussion:
§ Steve Putman asked if anyone had any DL equipment from districts that have fallen out of DL. Terri Butcheri may have some equipment for him. His address is on our listserve.
§ Bonnie reported that NY Learns now has the Nassau Content Providers Guide and it has been aligned to the standards.
§ NYSDLC Bookmarks and new Brochures were handed out.
§ Steve thanked Chris for his contribution of note pads.
§ Schools to work program possibilities are endless if we consider students “job” shadowing through DL. Johnson and Johnson have a distance learning room so that students can connect directly with engineers. Paul R reports that some of his VoTech students are watching a shop in New Orleans.
§ Video conferencing with colleges; Barbara asked if there are any lists out there that will video conference with students one on one. Suggested followed on maybe getting groups together in their sophomore or junior years to connect with colleges. Colleges would benefit, as would students. Hamilton College has a student presentation that looks pretty neat as part of their course work. Financial Aide night via DL.
§ Barbara asked if there are any Catholic or Private Schools in DL. Her questions centered around where these schools fit into our networks. Concerns with bringing these schools on are that they do not get aide. Mike S. said they can e rate because the contract would be with the BOCES and that is who could apply for it.
§ Holly suggested that we be a little more specific in our development of the agenda to reflect what will be addressed at our meetings.
3.
Break Out Sessions:
§
Instructional:
§ A sharing of schedules sparked much conversation about cross BOCES sharing.
§ Mike B. is willing to allow all of us to share our schedules through his BOCES database. It is password protected which is a concern for several folks.
§ This led back to the Catholic School conversation and whether to give them access to this database. It was suggested that if they get a course they must commit to give a course thereby ensuring a certain level of equity to the districts.
§ The conversations of how texts, projects etc are moved between districts. How would things be sent out cross-county? Some use currier service, some use FedEx, UPS or just internal mail.
§ Mike demonstrated his application and how we could add our schedule to this database. This is a very slick site.
§ Toni asked if anyone is tracking or registering their students. Conversation continued about why and how you would want to know what students are in a class. Some BOCES only need #'s others want names.
§ The topic of student evaluations came up. It was agreed that we would share our individual questionnaires with one another. Mike Sylofsky has a rather elaborate way of administering his questionnaires. Results are posted on his web site. Cris cautioned that you need to be careful not to put any questions that directly ask about the teacher.
§ Guidancedirect.org is a good resource of what is going on in NYS. This might be a good venue for us to post our minutes so that Guidance Councilors will be able know what we are up to. Judy also suggested we take a look at www.peterson.com.
§
Technical Discussion:
§ Discussion moved forward with what direction are the other BOCES going to. Many are going to ATM upstate.
§ The RIC directors technical subcommittee and instructional subcommittee have asked to speak with some representation from our group. The topic is knowing what all of our network needs are when planning for the future. The meeting is in April around the 21st to discuss the issues across the state. The meeting will be held in Albany. The following offered to go with Steve Smith to this meeting; Robert Fraley, Elizabeth Huggler, Paul Rubeo will ask if his tech Bill Walton can be on the technical committee, Mike Baba, Toni Abbatiello.
§ The RIC Directors sent out an RFP for ISP. Steve Smith was involved with this committee. It was so designed that if the vendor signed the RFP then they had also signed a contract. It was designed that different vendors could provide for different areas. He felt that they had gotten some outstanding pricing for his area. (DCI, DTI)
§ Steve asked if there are any other tech issues. Toni said, as his rooms are getting older, he thought we need to create a database where old or unused equipment can be posted.
§ It appears that ibuzpd will be a great help to us in many areas. We could create a tech area where there could be evaluations, equipment lists etc.
§ Mike Bayba brought up the NetLinx software and Mike Hicks came to life!! Mike B. is currently using it concurring with Mike H. that it is a worthwhile investment. Mike H. explained about a less costly solution could be ABX box that will give you remote control access to other rooms.
§ Has anyone done anything with his or her scan converters?
4. Conference Discussions-
Steve thanked the folks for setting up and working at NYSSBA and NYSCATE. Bonnie asked a special thanks be mentioned for the techs in the Adirondack area for their extra efforts.
A great deal of work goes into having a presence at these conferences. More of us need to get involved so that the same few are not relied on to carry the ball. It is to all of our benefit to pitch in wherever possible.
§ Barbara suggested we skip all conferences and use the money to create a CD and a
flyer to mail out across the state. (Who is to be targeted would be determined at a
later day)
§ Bob suggested that maybe we start hanging the banner at our local tech fairs.
Southern Westchester put together a great CD describing and showing video
conferencing.
§ NYSSBA- 2004 is in Buffalo in October - Proposal are due now
§ We talked about the NYSSBA conference not really being beneficial to us. We
didn’t have a very good booth location this last time. Discussion followed
regarding should we have a booth at these conferences or maybe we should just
do sessions and not a booth?
§ Steve made a motion to not have a booth at NYSSBA, seconded by Mike B. A
second motion was to have a session proposal at NYSSBA. Seconded by Paul
Rubeo.
§ Steve Smith called for a person to write a proposal to present. Steve Putman
suggested maybe a proposal would incorporate after school activities via DL. i.e.
NCLB and community environment. Possible one could be offered on the
economics of DL.
§ NYSCATE - 2004 in Rochester in November
§ Quite a discussion went on regarding whether we can do a quality presentation
via IP.
§ It was decided that we would put in some proposals for the event.
§ Mike Sylofsky proposed that we do 4 sessions on Monday with no booth. Steve
Smith seconded this motion.
§ Mike Bayba asked if we could clarify what our plans are for the NYSCATE
conference. It was noted that if we are going to have the 4 sessions together we
might need to request a room ahead of time. Then just use the time slots for
Monday for ourselves. And give the Sunday times back to NYSCATE.
§ Paul offered to help someone get this done but did not want to be responsible for
the whole mission.
§ Video Conferencing -
§ No plans at this time.
5. Our Next Meeting -
May 6 & 7 2004 in Binghamton
Please submit agenda items to Steve by April 2, 2004.
6.
According to the sign in sheet, the following individuals attended
this meeting.
NAME SCHOOL/AGENCY
Abbatiello, Tony Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES
Adams, Chris Mohawk RIC
Armstrong, Linda OCM BOCES
Banks, Sean Orange-Ulster BOCES
Bayba, Mike Erie 2 BOCES
Betrus, Alan St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
Biazzo, Kris Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Buonanno, Barb University of Buffalo
Deyo, Karin Kell Oneida BOCES
Doyle, Michael Catteragus-Allegany BOCES
Fraley, Robert Orange-Ulster BOCES
Hicks, Michael Sullivan County BOCES
Hill, Judy Catteragus-Allegany BOCES
Huggler, Elizabeth Sullivan County BOCES
Hughes, Chris Lower Hudson RIC
Nizamis, Bonnie
Putman, Steve St.Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
Rubeo, Paul Ulster BOCES
Sharp, Holly Monroe #1 BOCES
Smith, Steve Broome-Tioga BOCES