The New York State Distance Learning Consortium
www.nysldc.org
Meeting Minutes
For
October 5 & 6, 2000
Binghamton, NY
There were no changes to be made to these minutes. Roger Oesterle moved and Mike Bayba seconded a motion to adopt the minutes. All were in favor.
Access via ISDN was discussed.
Roscoe School District is installing from Time Warner Cable an MPAG 2 system.
It was noted that Tectronics is dropping JPEG systems and going to MPAG 3.
Kay Michelfield gave out a sheet on the southern Sullivan County BOCES distance learning network activities to all new attendants. Any one wanting more details should contact Linda Whynman, Director of Distance Learning, 292-0082 x129
Mike Bayba and Tony Abbatiello discussed the subcomittee's preparations for the state NYSC&TE conference from November 19-21. The subcommittee had last met on the morning of October 5, prior to our NYSDLC meeting. A summary follows:
- We will have a booth at the conference which will allow attendees to obtain information on distance learning throughout New York State, including contact information at each participating BOCES. There will also be a fiber connection linking the booth to our conference rooms downstairs.
- Two rooms have been reserved for all of our sessions at the Convention Center. The rooms will be fully interactive with one another as well as the outside world. A fiber connection with Buffalo will allow teachers to connect for discussion.
- We will also have ISDN capability for electronic field trips.
- Breakout sessions will range in topic from what distance learning is to how to pay for it.
- Steve Smith will pay for the costs associated with the booth and the sessions at the conference. He will recover his expenses by including the costs in the registration fee for the January meeting.
- If you would like your business cards distributed at the booth, please send them to Tony Abbatiello by November 6.
- We would like to have drawings for prizes at our booth. If anyone has items from vendors to donate, a list must be e-mailed to Tony by November 6.
- Bonnie Nizamis brought sample bookmarks to be distributed at the booth. After a few minor modifications, Bonnie will get them printed for distribution.
- We are still looking for volunteers for the booth. One need only volunteer for two hours on any one of the two conference days. If you did not volunteer at the meeting, but are interested in doing so, contact Tony by November 6.
- Holly Sharp is looking for pictures and videos for display at our booth. She will compile all the videos into one tape to play for observers. Please send materials to Holly by November 1.
- The subcommittee will meet on November 6 in Auburn.
Dave Strazarri and Pam Lacy from the New York State Office of Technology talked about a new broadband infrastructure around New York State. It appeared that most of this infrastructure is currently in place, although it was originally designed for data transmission. We expressed our concerns regarding the use of such a network for distance learning and asked Dave to consider pilot programming on the network. Dave will discuss this in Albany and get back to us.
Day 2
Joe Price distributed a handout on satellite broadcasts from the "Tools for Schools" series from the State Ed Department.
New people in our consortium wishing to join the list serv should visit www.nysdlc.org and follow the instructions for subscription.
It was decided that there should be a list serv for distance learning teachers and facilitators to share knowledge and ideas. Shelley Rossitto volunteered to set up the list serv. She will contact Steve when it is ready and all of us can send her our lists of distance learning teachers and facilitators. The list serv will also be accessed through the NYSDLC web site. Shelley will contact Dale Holloman to get Andy Verdon's teacher data base file to help her with the list serv.
Rodger Oesterle reported on the 16th Annual Distance Learning Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. To find out more about this conference, visit www.uwex.edu/disted. Rodger indicated that the majority of the sessions were devoted to online distance learning, and we should be addressing this issue as well. Rodger also discussed virtual schools, particularly in Liverpool. It was suggested that Robert Bone from OCM BOCES be invited to attend our next meeting.
John Hall distributed a handout about an online distance learning program, "Act Now".
There was some discussion regarding evening programs and the potential need for technicians to support them.
Steve distributed a form to update the teacher data base. It is imperative that these forms are completed and submitted to Dale Hollman prior to November 6. Our web site must be accurate and up-to-date before the NYSC&TE conference.
All are encouraged to get changes in to Steve by November 1.
Rodger Oesterle reported on the status of the Diffusion Fund. He discussed how the fund will allow his BOCES region, Broome-Tioga BOCES and Schuyler Chemung BOCES to connect for distance learning and the Internet. Eventually, all BOCES can connect throughout the state for distance learning and Internet services. The technical subcommittee is going to meet on November 13 at Orange Ulster BOCES to look at the JPAG3 installation there.
Joe Price indicated the committee is still working on a vendor training plan for technicians in our various BOCES to be up to speed on technology in the rooms.
Kay Michelfield introduced Linda Whynman as a new coordinator at the Sullivan County BOCES in Liberty.
The following dates were established for this year include tentative locations:January 11 & 12 in Binghamton
May 3 & 4 in Binghamton
For our next meeting we have the following tentative agenda items:
- Roger Oesterle will work on some agenda for distance learning programming
- Virtual schools
- Review of the NYSC&TE'S conference outcomes