The New York State Distance Learning Consortium
http://www.nysdlc.org/
Meeting Notes
For
January 10 & 11, 2008
Beautiful New Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Campus
Auburn, 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.
Introductions:
Tony welcomed us to his new B.O.C.E.S. facility and new distance learning room.
DAY I. 1/10/08 A.M.
N.Y.S.D.L.C. TECHIES MEETING
1. Desktop Video Conferencing Software Used –
- Breeze (Now Adobe Connect) used by some. Kevin Boutell at Oswego B.O.C.E.S. is a good support person. Contact Shelly on the listserv for a number.
- Polycom PVX is another product being used.
- MOVI is a Tandberg product.
- ToolBox Pro is a very good product with very good support
- Hi def for conferencing equipment is going to be an issue in future planning.
2. Packet Switching
- Looking at ways to get thru or around firewalls to enable video conferencing.
- Border Control is a Tandberg product.
- VIE2 is a Polycom product
- Direct Packet is an OneVision product.
- ProShere by General Data Comm is a good product with good support.
- Renovo is good
- TMS by Tandberg
- MGC by Polycom is also used
4. Who is using Q.O.S. on their networks?
- Some are using Q.O.S. others are not
- All may need to use as future plans dictate.
5. Other Issues Discussed
- These were general discussions on problems encountered and others sharing what may have caused the problem and maybe how to resolve.
- How firmware changes can cause problems on other devices.
- Connectivity between B.O.C.E.S.- R.I.C. TO R.I.C./N.A.V.S.
- Reviewed trouble shooting check lists for various connections
- Use listserv for trouble shooting
- Post to List Serv Equipment No longer Needed others may need it.
- Is someone willing to set up or revise the N.Y.S.D.L.C. website/Blog for the techie section?
6. I/P Test Sites
- RPI 24.97.5.100
- Bill Johnson 164.58.250.185
- NYIT 216.73.0.43
- Dresden Germany 141.30.67.240
- Global Leap 80.68.51.35
- Schoharie 163.153.150.3
- NERIC 163.153.5.6
7. Next Meeting
- The tech group decided to meet again the morning of the May 1st N.Y.S.D.L.C. meeting.
DAY I. 1/10/08 P.M.
8. N.Y.S.E.M.T.A. Executive Board
- This groups name recently changed from B.M.T.A.
- Their website is www.edmediatech.org
- Their fall conference will be September 24-26, 2008 in Cooperstown
- Is the N.Y.S.D.L.C. interested in participating in the conference on September 25th and 26th? Yes
- Tony Abbatielo is on both N.Y.S.D.L.C. and E.M.T.A. and will facilitate getting volunteers for planning the collaborative participation.
- The N.Y.S.D.L.C. may hold its fall meeting on September 24th in Cooperstown too. Steve Smith will look into costs and reservations A.S.A.P.
9. N.Y.S.C.A.T.E.
- We discussed the further participation of N.Y.S.D.L.C. in this conference. It was felt that we should continue.
- We need to decide soon if we are going to want a booth this fall or not. If yes, what program will we be presenting?
- I believe we agreed to continue to have a booth. Someone needs to take the lead in coordinating this. Is there a volunteer(s)?
10. Formalization of N.Y.S.D.L.C.
- Over the years on various occasions this group has discussed whether it is worth it or not to become formally recognized by S.E.D. The question was brought up again as a result of discussion with the E.M.T.A. and their being recognized by S.E.D.
- If we were to formalize, how would we be structured?…, facilitator?, secretary?, treasurer?, what is our purpose (mission)?, budget/membership cost?, etc.. Steve Smith, Sharon Kaiser and Tony Abbatielo will work on an outline for review at our May meeting.
11. One Vision Solutions - Integrators
- Brian Houts, Director of Business Development, discussed with us what’s new with videoconferencing.
- Polycom, Tandberg and Codian seem to be the prominent vendors in this market.
- HD in 16:9 format is best quality
- Both Polycom and Tandberg have HD products available
- Renee reviewed the collaborative which was held December 10 & 11, 2007. N.Y.I.T. net was used. The network was very good and there was no charge
- Sharon Kaiser handed out a comprehensive summary of the collaborative session. Contact her if you want a copy.
- Rene’ suggested another session in the spring. Need to further detail the content/format/goal. Anyone interested should contact Renee on the listserv. April 1 and 2 was recommended date. Also maybe could be a part of the Telecom 5 conference?
- The following have volunteered so far to help Rene’; Holly, Tony, Tami, Sharon, Michelle, Laurie. Anyone else interested should contact Rene’. His email is rcarver@gstboces.org
- Maybe we should consider doing local collaboratives too?
- Jeremiah Frink led a discussion on this topic. Need to find out to see Sarah Martabano has already done a WiKi that could be used? Jeremiah will contact Sarah. Otherwise will take someone’s time to maintain. Time is difficult to come by for anyone.
- It needs to be in an accessible format/resource. Where a teacher for example could go and evaluate a virtual field trip used by another teacher and what that experience was like. How it fit into lesson plans etc. There may be some political issues for some BOCES/Districts.
- C.I.L.C. updates are commonly used.
- It was suggested that we have the Round Table item on agenda of the first day not second day.
- Mike Bayba shared that Non K-12 partners mostly Higher Ed. are participation in projects with Erie 2 B.O.C.E.S.
- The project includes creating a video conferencing database, finding ways for kids to find out about occupations.
- It is a marketing tool for colleges yet a way for kids to get information.
- Looking at a way to facilitate higher ed. getting future teachers distance learning exposure in a real life high school classroom.
- There still exist big issues with getting higher education to participate in distance learning opportunities with B.O.C.E.S. and schools. Successes have been few over the years. It is strange where in some states higher ed. wants to be a partner and in others there is no interest.
- Mike Sylofski asked if anyone is working with the Coast Guard program. He is meeting with them to show how their program could use distance learning.
- Mike Bayba is doing a demo on 1/29/08 with the N.Y.S. Office of Fire Prevention.
- Does anyone stream video on a regular basis? Ken Ford is doing it. Set up a streamimg address on Polycom. Michelle Bartholomew will follow up on tests that Broome has done. Michelle will put status on list serv.
- May 1st and 2nd, 2008 in Binghamton.
- Please send Steve Smith agenda items by mid March.
DAY 2: 1/11/08
Jennifer French conferenced in for day 2.
12. Empire Collaborative Feedback-
13. Statewide Database for Distance Learning
14. Meeting Agenda Format
15. Round Table
16. Next Meeting:
According to the sign in sheet the people listed below
attended this meeting.
Name BOCES
Abbatiello, Tony
Cayuga-Onondaga B.O.C.E.S.
Bartholomew, Michelle Broome-Tioga B.O.C.E.S.
Bayba, Mike Erie 2 BOCES
Booth, Deborah Herkimer BOCES
Carver, Rene Greater Southern Tier B.O.C.E.S.
Devine, Ron Orange-Ulster B.O.C.E.S.
Ertl, Ted Erie 1 B.O.C.E.S.
Fancher,Tami O.-N.C. B.O.C.E.S.
Fenton, Steve St. Lawrence-Lewis B.O.C.E.S.
Frink,Jeremiah Monroe 1 B.O.C.E.S.
Hardy,Elizabeth Cattaraugus-Allegany B.O.C.E.S.
Kaiser, Sharon Genesee Valley BOCES
Jensen, Maggie Cattaraugus-Allegany B.O.C.E.S.
Ouderkirk, Laurie Oswego County B.O.C.E.S.
Payne, Phil Orange-Ulster B.O.C.E.S.
Rossitto, Shelley Monticello C.S.D.
Sallustio, Sylvia Oneida-Herkimer B.O.C.E.S.
Sam, Jeff Erie 2 B.O.C.E.S.
Sharp, Holly Monroe 1 B.O.C.E.S.
Smith, Steve South Central R.I.C./Broome-Tioga B.O.C.E.S.
Straight, Brian Erie 2 B.O.C.E.S.
Sylofski, Mike Albany BOCES – N.E.R.I.C.
Yudin, Marla Oswego B.O.C.E.S.