EdTech Minutes for Thursday, 4 March 2004

4:00-4:50 pm, Jeanmarie 149G

 

Attending: Mike Battig (chair), David Boynton, Mark Lubkowitz, Joe McLaughlin and ex officio members: Bill Anderson, Joanne Schneider, Sandy Karstens, Sue Breeyear, Steve Burks.

 

Agenda:

 

  1. Minutes of the last meeting (19 Feb 2004), previously distributed, were approved as submitted; Joe McLaughlin was appointed scribe for today’s meeting.

 

  1. Update on SMC involvement with Vermont HITEC

 

Mike reported that Gerald Ghazi of Vermont HITEC will be approaching interested academic departments about possible summer internships for SMC students.

 

  1. Finalize TRC-EdTech brownbag lunches

 

The first of two TRC-EdTech brownbag lunches will be held on Thursday, 25 March, at 11:45-1:00, in the Farrell Room, with a number of faculty (Dianne Lynch, Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Greta Bangborn, and Mike) sharing insights on last year’s distance learning experiments. Mark will work on providing light food; Joanne and Mike will work on publicity; Sue will see that equipment is in place.

The second brownbag event will be held on Thursday, 1 April.  Sue has enlisted a number of faculty from last summer’s ‘laptop workshop’ who will share their experiences, with a view to enlisting other faculty for this summer’s workshop.  Sue will move up the application deadline for this year’s workshop accordingly.  Some details remain to be settled.

 

  1. Course management system (CMS) update

 

Sue will provide Sandy with copies of the faculty assessments of the CMS proposals for posting on the EdTech website.

 

  1. Other business

 

Bill reported that plans are now to renovate the 2nd floor of Jeanmarie this summer, with academic offices moving to Founders.  Thus, the classroom renovations on the 3rd and 2nd floors will be basic, with technology upgrading postponed to the following summer.  Sue, Dave and others will visit model classrooms at Champlain College tomorrow.  Bill will visit sites in the Boston area shortly.  Information obtained should help in the design of Jeanmarie.

 

Mike reported receiving a letter of support for Spanish television programming from Jan Sheeran (provost).  Joe reported briefly on the status of the review of campus TV channels.

 

The Committee discussed the CEPC’s draft ‘Guidelines for online/asynchronous instruction’ (received today).  Discussion focused on some of items in the text, the need to permit revisions in light of developments, and the level of IT support for online instruction.

 

Sandy reported on plans for further developing the EdTech website.

 

  1. Next meeting                Thursday, 11 March 2004, at 4:00 pm, JEM 149G.