The New York State Distance Learning Consortium

Meeting Notes

For

May 5 & 6, 2005

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 go to Elizabeth Huggler for taking meeting notes.

May 5, 2005

Introduction, Agenda Review and Review of the January 2005 Meeting Notes

A. Agenda Review—We did a quick review of the agenda. We are again asked to refrain from networking our laptops while discussion was underway.

B. Introductions and welcome to new members was made. Review of May 2004 meeting minutes. A motion to accept these minutes was made by Steve P. and second Bill Walton. We are reminded that all meeting minutes are still on our web site.

C. Last meeting – This was Rodger Oesterle’s last meeting. He is retiring at the end of June 2005. Rodger has been a part of the NYSDLC probably from its inception. We wish Rodger health and happiness in retirement.

D. NYSDLC Website - links working and not working: Meeting minutes were not accessible as well as other BOCES links not working. Steve called web master at BT BOCES to report these issues. They were fixed almost immediately.

Interfacing with RIC Director’s Technical Committee and RIC Director’s Committee for Instruction ( DTC & DCI)

a. A discussion regarding DCI and who is represented at their meetings started this topic. Where does this group NYSDLC and that group DCI/DCT interface? There are extreme differences in the way the western and eastern sides of the state manage and maintain networks and bandwidth. Some expressed the concern that the bandwidth/delivery method is a political one, not the RIC or BOCES. The question is pose, do we the NYSDLC want to become a political voice.

b. Cris Staats gave a brief history of state agency experience using the

NYENet. His DS is on the Tech steering committee for DL technology. He asked Cris about bringing all the BOCE on to the network. Apparently this network is too disorganized to handle the needs of BOCES. We feel in this group that we should take the leap to bring the DS, RIC, SED and power groups together to start a focused discussion regarding network issues across the state.

c. BMTA BOCES Media Technology Assoc. Video streaming seems to be

an issue because it falls into various areas: i.e. Library/RIC/DL/etc.

d. Rodger Oesterle asked about our considering affiliating with a group such

as NYSCATE. He suggested that we might establish greater credibility

with the state in this way. We discussed what would be the benefit to us

as members of NYSDLC.

e. Several folks reflected on the fact that this group should stay focused on

our agenda, mission and instructional application to education. Many

members feel they take away from our meetings technical and

instructional applications and rely on the network/list serve for developing

their individual programs as well.

e. Rodger talked about Wisconsin and their statewide network. The benefits

are that all districts, colleges etc. are on the same network,

BADGER NET. NYS seems so far away from this, because we do not

have the top-level leadership to take on this role.

f. Mike Bayba reported that Verizon came in with such a high bid for connecting to NAVS that they will be seeking other connectivity solutions. We helped brainstorm how we can continue to support one another through creative connectivity.

Community, state and federal partnership programs.

a. Cris Staats said The Onondaga Community College was awarded a

Homeland Security grant which led them to further relationships

between DL and Homeland Security. Tom Creamer who is an expert in respect to Weapons of Mass Destruction training has offered numerous programs via the NAVS network. Keeping the focus of how he does this fit with the mission of BOCES. Cris Staats was able to bridge a relationship with SEMO (State Emergency Management Office) with help from Oswego Community College staff. He thinks this is our opportunity to interconnect our networks because they have a need to train and connect to people across the state, and by taking advantage of the existing infrastructure we can support their instructional needs. If we as a DL group keep our focus and project the same mission through out the state we enable their SEMO office with another regional office via NAVS. SEMO believes it best utilizes expertise and connectivity around the state.

b. There was discussion regarding how to tap into the community needs for DL. Suggestions included DS’s, human Resources and the like.

c. Paul Rubio reported how difficult he is finding it to get the teachers to move away from their current curriculum to using video conferencing. Some e-field trips are happening but the other is a struggle.

d. Holly asked about pricing for use of the DL rooms after school. It became evident that the use of district room vs. BOCES room is quite different.

e. There is a growing need for tech support evenings and weekends. Discussion around how to address these needs regionally as well as locally continues.

f. New construction is addressing advanced wiring issues and DL will be

available in all rooms including Auditoriums.

g. Video Conferencing ISDN Smithsonian free #. There are issues with

bridging through the various long distance providers.

4. Collaborative Instructional Projects

a. E-Learning Group

1. Paul Rubio brought up the Oct.13, 14 meeting in Rochester,

that the “E-learning Group” is planning. They plan to have an informational conference. Accelerate-U is financing the conference. Paul Rubio, Andrew Taylor, Shelley Rossitto (Mid Hudson reps).... it seems this is a group who believe in DL and find a need to promote e-leaning. The discussion evolved around the "other" supports needed for e-learning, such as monitoring student’s, coordinating/facilitating the administration of online coursework.

2. Mike S. asked what is the relationship of this group to the

Blackboard service. He feels that the online courses may not have caught on but blackboard type communication has. The thought is that this "new" group is promoting online classes only because Accelerate U is online. How is information from this online committee being disseminated? Early June should be their next face-to-face meeting. Jeremiah Fink from Accelerate U. claims not to know anything about DL, but e learning is DL. The question remains why is their yet another group forming separately when we currently have an all-encompassing DL group.

3. Holly asked if any of us had received any correspondence from

NYSSBA, regarding the difference between video conferencing and distance learning. It became evident through discussion that the general population does not understand the various levels of distance learning.

4. It is suggested that this "e-learning" group should essentially

be a part of this Distance Learning Consortium. Discussion

followed.

5. We should get clarification on how credit is granted and aid

ability of courses. The discussion of certified teachers, principal’s

function, etc.

6. Representation may attend the "e-learning" group meeting.

Paul Rubio and Sharon Kaiser will keep this group informed

regarding the e-learning symposium.

7. October meeting will remain the same dates Oct. 13 and 14 for

our meeting. Chris Staats will collaborate with others to

compose a letter of invitation to the e-learning group.

5. School Boards/NYSCATE/Other Conferences

a. Do we want to do anything? Mike S. suggested we go to School Boards and the C&T conference. Chris will attempt to sign up for NYSSBA and Mike S. will look into C&T conference for 2005. No booth at NYSCATE.

b. We discussed a 4 way state wide video conferencing videoconference. Mike B thought this might be away to connect with the teachers that we often don't tap into. Paul R. reported out regarding the multi region connection that took place during Chris Hughes staff development day. He suggests that this be done more across the state just making connections. This is a way to show teachers what video conferencing can do for them. He recommends not to much multi point.

c. We discussed further what audiences we might look to connect. High school principals, middle school principals, AIS, curriculum, and data were some of the suggested topics.

6. Regional interconnects for fall

a. Mike B reviewed the SED connections they had made this spring. It happened in several regions.

b. Kim C. suggested that maybe Model Schools personnel would be a good venue to identify teachers that might teach over DL.

c. Michelle B had a good idea that each region becomes a content provider for their region. Holly connects her foreign language teachers with other language experts. ITIN University is one of her connections. She reports that the IP connection is excellent coming from France.

d. BOCES upstate have all their Ed directors meeting via DL.

e. Rodger O. asked about the Syracuse High School offerings Project Advance. Chris S. and Denise H. did a survey of many of the colleges in NYS. What they found was that most did not accept these credits. Eliz asked them if they would be willing to share this information with the group.

May 6, 2005

We reviewed the contacts listed on the NYSDLC website. Changes should be forwarded to Steve Smith as soon as possible.

7. Breakout sessions:

a. Instructional Discussion Notes

· Room to room testing is going on in the Mid Hudson Region

· Shared schedules Orange Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, and Broome

Tioga.

· Holly, Michelle and Eliz talked about jointly hiring an ASL

teacher.

· Paul will check with New Paltz to see if the Japanese teacher could

teach Japanese III for Broom Tioga.

· Discussed the videoconference project statewide. Now they are at

the point of how do we get them to proceed with their ideas?

· Paul R. shared a list serve from St. Lewis area that supports video

conferencing collaboration. CILC, Center for Interactive Learning

Common

· CILC Summer Institute.

· Keystone Conference - Save This Date: Oct 3 - 5, 2005

· Mega Conference Jr. in May...

· NEC Conference May in Philly...

· International Connection: IBUZ sharing

· Possibly take a look at the list of conferences going on in our state

and have one rep from here go to each of these and present video

conferencing.

b. Technical Notes DL

· 1. Some talk on having digital media libraries and being able to either stream them to the web or make them available for download in entire format or in individual clips.

· Mike Bayba wants to connect to Broome Boces trough a vender. Also He got a quote from Verizon for a NAVs pot to Erie 2 in the amount of $75,000 a year. Mike Sylofski thinks that that is way too high considering what they pay and Broome pays. So he is going to look into that with some of his Verizon contact.

· Mike Bayba brought a flyer on IP VCR by Codian

www.starbak.com

· Mike’s conversion is in progress, he has 6 site converted and they

are conducting stress test on the codecs.

· Mike Bayba has proposed that Steve buy 3 more gateways then

we would all share the cost if that would get us all connected.

· Some talk on the AHEAD scheduler that Mike Bayba purchased. The cost was about 60,000 as apposed to 400,000 that TODD wanted for their scheduler.

8. Round Table

a. Steve collected agenda items for next meeting. Email additional items to him.

b. Holly shared the Bubble and Challenger brochures. She explained the videoconference component and described how they work.

9. Meeting closing

a. Tentative Agenda for our fall meeting,

· Invite DCI to send representatives to our meeting for dialog

· Pursuit of online and I/P courses

· Identify resources for sharing and develop a catalog

· Invite Chairs of curriculum groups to discuss video conferencing

· Collaborative projects

· Expanding DL networks

· NYCATE & NYSSBA

· Other items yet to be identified

b. The meeting dates for next year. Oct. 13-14, 2005: Jan. 12-13, 2006: May 18-19, 2006

10. According to the registration sheet, the following individuals attended this meeting.

NAME SCHOOL/AGENCY

Abbatiello, Tony Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

Bartholomew, Michelle Broome-Tioga BOCES

Bayba, Mike Erie 2 BOCES

Caird, Kim Mohawk RIC

Doyle, Michael Catteragas-Allegany BOCES

Ertl, Ted Erie 1 BOCES

Fenton, Steve St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES

Fraley, Robert Orange-Ulster BOCES

French, Jennifer St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES

Hartmann, Denise Oswego BOCES

Hicks, Michael Sullivan County BOCES

Hill, Judy Catteragus-Allegany BOCES

Huggler, Elizabeth Sullivan County BOCES

Hughes, Chris Lower Hudson RIC

Kaiser, Sharon Genessee Valley BOCES

Manvell, Robert Dutchess BOCES

Oesterle, Rodger ONC BOCES

Rubeo, Paul Ulster BOCES

Sharp, Holly Monroe I BOCES

Smith, Steve Broome-Tioga BOCES

Staats, Chris Oswego BOCES

Sylofski, Michael Albany BOCES