EdTech Meeting Thursday, March 2nd 2006

Attendance: John Devlin, Jo Ellis-Monaghan, Sue Breeyear, Greta Pangborn, Steve Burks, Bill Anderson, Dennis Voigt 

  1. We discussed the Faculty Assembly announcement for March 3rd.
    • Mark Lubkowitz (Tech steering) will announce the fact that we are currently looking at tablet pc’s, and that a faculty pilot program is about to begin.
    • We need to be sure to stress that there are two separate issues under consideration – adding tablets into the options for the next round of faculty laptop replacements and a laptop mandate for incoming students (i.e., each student must purchase the same machine).
    • Greta will update the web site so that Mark can suggest those with questions can take a look at the edtech page.
  2. We had a brief discussion of the fact that publishing our minutes on a web page makes them public globally not just on campus.  Right now we are not discussing any topics that require greater privacy, so the convenience of the web site seems reasonable, but we should keep this in mind in the future.
  3. Sue and Bill provided an update on the tablet pc pilot program.
    • The machines will be available next week.  They have been imaged but still need some course software.
    • The faculty members involved in the pilot program will keep their machines until the end of the semester. 
    • The machines fit into the docking stations for the current laptops.
    • One possibility for part two of the pilot program is using the machines for a summer class.
    • Greta will draft a letter to the faculty members being invited to participate in the pilot program.
  4. Bill provided an update on the JEM construction.  The money is currently available in the budget, so if the bids come in within range the work will be completed on the first floor of JEM this summer.

submitted by: Greta Pangborn