Enhanced Technology Group Meeting
3/17/05

A G E N D A
3/17/05 - 2-3pm - Room O329

Purpose of this Meeting: 1)-Compile a list of problems/issues you may have with technology/equipment used in the classroom so we can further develop solutions for those issues. 2)-Set the agenda topic for the next meeting

· Introduction, including definition of the four levels of technology we currently have in the classrooms. (10 minutes)

· Compile problems/issues you are presently experiencing with the classroom technology. (10 minutes)

· Compile ideas on resolving these issues. (15 minutes)

· Begin discussions on where we should be headed in the near future with classroom technology. (15 minutes)

· Set the topic for the next meeting (10 minutes)

Attendees:

• Jim Butler, Ralph Marasch, Sharon Ostgaard, Les Uhrich, Ron May, Ryan Todd, Kathleen Beaumont, David Lippman, Michael Taylor, Kandee Nelson, Ed Bachmann, Craig Cook, Denny Livingston, Earl Sallade, Kelly Olson, Brian Benedetti

Link to 'Classroom Tech Levels' Handout

Problems/Issues:

· Focus problems on old elmos
· Memory sticks not working in all towers (Software and hardware issue)
· Who do you call when need immediate assistance (student doing presentation)
· Wireless issue / with projectors, etc - wire issues lab classes too many rolling carts
· To use technology covers up all writing areas, some projectors don't have black out. Hard to switch from tech to non tech and back
· PY campus doesn't have a lecturn option
· Some VHS videos would be easier handled on DVD, can access specific clip
· Can we copy VHS to DVD
· Deep freeze - some people don't know it's on, difficult for small problems or need to make a change, add driver, etc - Love it on student machine, hate it on instructor machine, putting something into favorites difficult
· Issues dealing with log ins,
· Need Training of staff and passed onto students
· Would help to know who is using each room and when
· Should required training for using enhanced tech classrooms
· Universal help desk would be helpful
· Would like to learn how to see desktop from home - (not available by state law)
· Reactivate volunteer list of people who were experts in specific software applications (power users)
· Instructors very dependent on projectors, what happens when it goes down - what budget does it come out of. Is there a back up projector that can be used? Difficult to swap out because there is different brands
· How we can we take what we have and standardize them more and keep what we have upgraded and running
· Room scheduling - needs to be done better. Some instructors take an enhanced room and don't need it
· Instructors with training will be given priority
· Can we have a "check out" room for one time use
· A clearing house for rooms justifying level of technology for room requested, maybe have someone suggest another room
· Could teachers swap rooms - one day technology/one day non-tech
· A facility evaluation on technology, how the room was used
· Is it more important for more rooms with some technology vs less rooms with better equipment?
· Upgrades for compatibility / reliability
· Can we do sub groups for training issues?? Training needs to specific to who uses what
· Some classes don't require high tech
· Rolling carts still useful

Solutions:

• Require orientations to equipment before instructors can be assigned to the rooms
• Require instructors to also instruct their students on how to use the equipment
• Universal Helpdesk (Call Center)...one stop 911-type number for our patrons
• Bring back the volunteer group (Power Users) who are experts in specific software, etc.
• Ask teachers to team with technology needs
• With student evaluations add questions on what kind of technology went on in the classroom that quarter and how often.
• We know we can't make all rooms identical. For the budget requests, ask for upgrades for reliability and get more equipment in more rooms.
• Create a sub-group for Training in the use of the classroom equipment
• Define how faculty select rooms

Future topic ideas for meetings:

• Demos on Mind Manager and Digital Link (contact person- Michael Taylor and Leon Khalsa)
• Web Enhanced Classrooms
• Videoconferencing & teaching
• Ways to Disseminate, communicate, and share ideas better
• Call Center (Universal Helpdesk)
• Powerusers List and responsibilities
• Training of equipment to instructors/users

What brought you to this meeting/What do you want to see?
Nuts and bolts of how things are done, define procedures
We have several good tools that are not being used very much, being used by a few but not passed on to others
Have some demos on new software/hardware
Bridge between online world and classroom world, web enhanced, blackboard
Video conferencing could see some efficiencies
Communication - knowing what we have, where it is
Training, Training, Training!

Action Items

• Next Meeting will be on developing a Universal Helpdesk or Call Center.
  • Also ask Bill Brown and Art Watkins to attend this meeting
  • Due: April 14th, 2005 in videoconference room with Puyallup

 

• Call together a subgroup on Training Classroom Technology to Instructors
  -Kandee, Kathleen, Denny, Jim, Ryan Todd
  • Due: April 7,2005