The New York State Distance Learning Consortium
Meeting Minutes
For
May 15 and 16, 2003
Saratoga, 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.
- Introduction,
Agenda Review and Review of May Meeting Minutes
A. We went around the table and introduced ourselves for all of our new participants at this meeting.
B. Agenda Review—We did a quick review of the agenda.
C. Review of January 9&10, 2003 meeting minutes—After review a motion was made by Steve Fenton to approve the minutes and was seconded by Chris Biazzo. All were in favor. Steve Smith reminded us that all meeting minutes are still on our web site.
- Roundtable Discussion-
· It was decided that business casual attire would be appropriate for those who wish to be more comfortable at our meetings.
·
We discussed again cutoff dates for canceling
registration to our meetings and not still having to pay. The reason for this date is that facilities
where we hold our meetings request a cutoff date to plan for meals, rooms etc.
If people cancel late, we still have to pay the facility. We decided that a facility’s cutoff date be
added to the registration flyer. People canceling after that date would still
have too pay.
· Mike Bayba indicated his region was doing a web cast with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the Jamestown area. Mike indicated they had originally approached Yahoo! to handle the web cast. They were cost prohibitive. Time Warner Cable was approached and they did it for free.
· Mike Bayba noted that his Orleans-Niagara BOCES network of 12 school districts was shutting down for next year.
· Rodger Oesterle suggested we consider developing an overview document reflecting the cost effectiveness of distance learning vs. a full time teacher.
Roundtable
Discussion-(continued)
· ERATE – We discussed how ERATE discounts/credits are applied in each BOCES region. It appears there are a variety of reimbursement plans used. It also appears the SLD is conducting audits in NYS. Matt noted that there is a ERATE Priority Refunding Eligible Guide on the SLD website @ sl.universalservice.org.
· D.L. and colleges – It appears that getting colleges involved happens either by BOCES approaching a college or a college approaching BOCES for course offerings. It was noted that involving colleges in planning for DL sites was important. Mike Bayba indicated that B.U. does their entire masters program for teachers. Chris Staats puts an ad in the paper about college classes including the early enrollment tuiton and the cost of text books.
·
DL Cost Benefit Analysis – Rodger Oesterle noted that
we should consider developing a overview document on the cost effectiveness of
Dl. Rodger volunteered to work with a subcommittee to drat this for our fall
meeting.
· NYSDLC website – We are continually supposed to look at our website for items out of date. It is the responsibility of each of us to do this. There currently are several outdated sections of the website. Changes should be forwarded to Steve Smith.
· Rodger oesterle asked if anyone was offering alternative ed. Classes over dl. Mike Sylofsky and Mike Bayba each tried a course with mixed results.
· Telecom 101- Rodger Oesterle gave a presentation on telecommunications standards. We may put this on our website. Email Rodger if you want a copy of his presentation.
· George Eastman House – Bonnie Nizamis noted that that GEH is now a video conferencing site. They currently have two programs available; contact Bonnie for details.
Bookmark and Flyer – Our consortium markeing material was reviewed for updating. It was noted that the Bookmark is ok. On the flyer the Washington/Saratoga BOCES will be changed to WSWHE BOCES. Also added is Ulster BOCES. Bonnie Nizamis will update the flyer and email it to us for final review before copies are made. Steve Smith will 5,000 copies of each made for the fall meeting.
3. Conference Discussions-
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.
NYSSBA- 10/23 -10/26/03 Rochester
· Bonnie Nizamis and Elizabeth Huggler will coordinate presentations for the booth and breakout rooms. Elizabeth has found out if it is too late for presentations in breakout rooms. So Bonnie and Elizabeth will have to do something from the booth.
· Steve Smith will look into getting a double size booth and cost for ISDN and Internet conection.
· Some one needs to volunteer to coordinate the technical preparation for this event.
NYSCATE Conference-11/23-25 Albany
· Requests for proposals are due June 1.
· Jeff Elliott volunteered to coordinate the technical issues. Mike Sylofski will assist Jeff in determining ISDN and Internet access.
· Program – Paul Rubeo will coordinate the program side along with Brenda Rickey, Bonnie Nizamis (Bonnie will call Michele Dowling @ NYSCATE and ask about assigning slots).
Note: Volunteers to staff the booth for both conferences will be needed. Please let Steve Smith know who will be able to do this for each conference.
Video Conferencing -
No plans at this time.
4. Myers Education Center – After our afternoon break we traveled to this Center for a presentation by Dan Myers and Mike Sylofski.
Statewide Initiatives – Dan gave an impressive discussion on distance learning and telecom issues and trends. He covered a time frame from 1997 to 2005. The biggest point Dan was making is that as we regionally plan our dl and data networks converging, be sure to keep in mind connectivity issues for interfacing with other regions of the state. For copies of Dan’s presentation please email him at dmyers@myersgroup.com .
Albany region conversion – Mike Sylofski reviewed the process his region recently went through migrating to ATM all at once and he lives to tell about it. For more details contact Mike at msylofsk@mum.neric.org .
5. Break out
sessions
The Programming/Communicating and Technical group’s breakout session summaries.
· Programming/Communicating group –
A. Discussed the following:
1. Popularity of Blackboard application
2. Myclass Online
3. Data mentoring – Accellerate U.
4. Oswego BOCES searchable database
5. ibuz – Chris Staats
6. Marketing DL ideas
· Flyers about events
· Dog & Pony shows
· Don’t reinvent the wheel
Break out sessions continued
· Library media Specialists
· Keep each other informed.
·
Technical group –
1. Need to meet more frequently. The next meeting will be July 29 from 10:00
A.M.- 3:00 P.M. via ISDN. Bridging details to be posted by early July.
2. Topics are as follows -
- Website technical standards
- Mobile carts
- Interconnectivity
- Ongoing projects
- Technical web links
- Room standards
- Dealing with accoustics
6. Schedules and Data- Carryover From last
meeting
We decided to include schedules, student numbers, and RWADA information in the distance learning “Report Card” that we are creating. Everyone was asked to send their information to Steve Smith last December, but failed to do so. It was determined that a template is needed to provide such information. Steve will develop the template and email it to everyone in February.
7. Annual Budget Status - Steve Smith distributed the annual budget report. Anyone needing
a copy should contact Steve at ssmith@btboces.org .
8. Our Next Meeting - The following meeting dates were established for 2003-04. Location to
be determined at each meeting
September 29 & 30, 2003 in Binghamton
January 15 & 16, 2004
May 6 & 7
2004
Please submit agenda items to Steve by September 1, 2003.
As usual, NYSSABA & NYSCATE conf, roundtable, planning for interconnectivity, etc.
9. According to the sign in sheet, the following individuals
attended this meeting.
NAME SCHOOL/AGENCY
Abbatiello, Tony Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES
Bayba, Mike Erie 2 BOCES
Biazzo, Kris Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Clark, Tracy Madison Oneida BOCES
Conners, David N. Rose-Wolcott
DelVillano, Jennifer Broome-Tioga BOCES
Deyo, Karin Kell Oneida BOCES
Domm, Wendy Monroe #2 BOCES
Dziuba, Mat Erie 1 BOCES
Elliott, Jeffrey Questar II
Hicks, Michael Sullivan County BOCES
Huggler, Elizabeth Sullivan County BOCES
Hughes, Chris Lower Hudson RIC
Kostyniak, Carol BISSNET
Nizamis, Bonnie Monroe #1 BOCES
Oesterle, Rodger ONC BOCES
Putman, Steve St.Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
Richey, Brenda Genesee Valley BOCES
Rubeo, Paul Ulster BOCES
Smith, Steve Broome-Tioga BOCES