EdTech Minutes for Thursday, 12 February 2004

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

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

Agenda:

1. Minutes of the last meeting (5 Feb 2004), previously distributed, were approved as submitted; Joe McLaughlin was appointed scribe for today’s meeting.

2. Discussion of TV cable package

Joe reported on a meeting held last Tuesday and arranged by Andy Day of IT on the College’s television service. He thanked Bill for prompting the meeting and highlighted elements from the presentation made by representatives from Falls Earth Station, Inc. (the College’s principal TV content vendor) on two major topics: possible changes to the package of channels currently provided throughout the campus and the future direction of TV and its possible impact on IP and IT services.  A wide ranging discussion followed, though it was unclear what, if any, role EdTech has on the channels issue.  Joe will attend a follow-up meeting with some College folk tomorrow.

    3.  Discussion of TRC brownbag lunch

Mark Lubkowitz being sick, the chair deferred determining the date of the proposed brownbag lunch at which faculty conversant with technology in the classroom could share some their acquired knowledge with other faculty.  In the course of discussion it was generally agreed there should two such lunches, (both jointly sponsored by EdTech & TRC) one on last year’s distance learning experiments, and another on last summer’s ‘laptop workshop’.

Mike deferred to next week a discussion with Joanne LaBrake about the College’s possible involvement with Vermont HITEC, a subject he introduced at last week’s meeting (see item 4 of minutes).  He called attention to the College’s Internship website: <www.smcvt.edu/internships>

5. Other Business

Joanne opened a discussion of EdTech’s possible role in connection with the College’s selection of a course management system.  In the course of discussion it was noted that the Course Management Task Force (CMTF), which is evaluating vendor candidates, currently includes six faculty members as well as Sue Breeyear.  The chair recommended that a report from the CMTF be requested and included on the agenda of an EdTech meeting in March.

Bill reported informally on some further developments related to the proposed renovations of Jeanmarie Hall (see item 2 of 5 Feb 2004 minutes).

The committee is to meet next on Thursday, 19 February 2004, at 4:00 pm in JEM 149G.