To: Faculty Assembly

From: EdTech Committee

Date: April 22, 2004

Re: Final Report for 2003/2004

Members:. Mike Battig (Chair) David Boynton

Joseph McLaughlin Mark Lubkowitz

Ex officio: Susan Breeyear Rick Murphy

Steve Burks Sandy Karstens

Joanne Schneider Cynthia Kelly

Bill Anderson

EdTech met weekly for much of the year (biweekly during other times) and concluded the following business/projects:

1. EdTech Grants: To explore the possible benefits of e-learning at Saint Michael's College, the committee continued the previous year’s investigation of distance learning in a variety of forms in the context of our residential, liberal arts campus. Given the little response, the committee decided to be as broad-minded as possible. One proposal was ultimately funded. Details of the grant proposals are available upon request from the Committee Chair.

2. Grant Assessment: The committee received and edited “Executive Summary” reports from the previous year’s grant investigators. The final copies of the summaries were placed on the public folders and the EdTech website.

3. EdTech Website: EdTech implemented a website of eclectic information related to the committee’s work (special thanks to Sandy Karstens).

4. Budget: The committee reviewed and gave comment to Bill Anderson regarding the Technology Capital Expenditures Budget.

5. Laptop Workshops: EdTech reviewed the past success of the laptop workshops and determined to inform the faculty of the value of attending.

6. Classroom Technology: EdTech reviewed and gave input to Bill Anderson regarding the JeanMarie renovation. As part of this effort, several members visited other campuses to evaluate alternatives.

7. CEPC: The committee reviewed and gave support to CEPC regarding guidelines for future e-learning courses in the context of our residential, liberal arts mission.

8. Brown Bag Seminars: The committee worked to hold a pair of “brown bag” lunch seminars (in concert with TRC). The first provided an open forum to discuss the experiences of the e-learning experiments conducted a year ago. The luncheon was held on March 25, 2004. TRC/EdTech also held a lunch on April 1, 2004 to promote participation in the Laptop Workshops. Both were attended by 20-25 participants and included a panel of presenters in the Farrell Room.

9. Internships: The committee gave input to departments (BU/CS) regarding the proposal from Vermont HITEC to recruit SMC students for internships. EdTech decided to leave the decision in the hands of each department.

10. Cable TV Package: EdTech was represented on the Faculty-IT Staff-Student workgroup that is reviewing possible changes to the campus-wide package of TV channels. Committee also considered the implications at SMC of TV and telecom migrating to broadband.

11. Course Management Systems: EdTech received reports from an ad-hoc committee reviewing Course Management Systems. EdTech chose not to interfere with the ad-hoc committee. In a related matter, EdTech voted to recommend that its remaining FY04 budget ($7,500) be applied to meeting the costs of providing e-College accounts to additional faculty during the spring 2004 semester.

12. The chairman of EdTech submitted the response to the faculty Executive Committee’s questionnaire to all standing committees regarding committee effectiveness (December 2003).