October+4,+2007+Meeting+Notes

October 4, 2007
 * EASTCONN Tech Council Meeting Minutes

__Tech Council Focus for 2007-08__** - We brainstormed the following major agenda topics for the year and assigned them to specific meetings:
 * **Technology PD** - Sharing models and materials that work; What PD is available for us?; How can we build capacity?; How do we narrow the gap? (postponed from November to January) Pre-work: Bring materials to share. NOTE: Art Skerker will also be visiting in November to share updates on federal and state technology initiatives.
 * **Technology Assessments** - for teachers and students (March) Pre-work: Bring materials to share.
 * **Web-based Resources for Students and Teachers** - What are good resources? How do you teach students to evaluate Web sites? (special meeting in April) Pre-work: Bring materials to share.
 * **New National Educational Technology Standards for Students** - Implications on our work (NETS) (May)

__**Web 2.0 and 3.0**__ – Bring ideas to share Links to Web 2.0 Resources: [|A Day in the Life of Web 2.0] by David Warlick [|Back to School with the Class of Web 2.0] by Brian Benzinger Autism Spectrum Group Wikispace in Mansfield The World is Flat - This is Steve Sokoloski's pet project to help "whack" educators about how the world became flat and what the implications are for educators. He hopes to use it as an online discussion group and issue CEUs for Mansfield educators.

Think about Wikis as cross school/cross district collaborative spaces. [|Wikis in Plain English] - This is a You Tube video that demonstrates what a Wiki is in very simple language. [|Spice It Up a Notch with Nutmeg] - This is a collaborative Internet project developed by EASTCONN for students in grades 4-8. For more information, go to: http://www.sblceastconn.org/nutmegbooks2008.htm. Wikispaces - To create a wikispace, go to: www.wikispaces.com
 * Wikis**

There are some tools that can be used to convert PowerPoint into a video presentation: Wondershare - http://www.wondershare.net/
 * Web-Based Tools:**

There are some tools that can be used to download You Tube videos:
 * Downloading and Converting You Tube Videos**
 * Real Player** - http://www.realplayerweb.com/co/real/realplayerweb/?sid=
 * FLV Player** - This is a download that allows you to convert videos to MP3 or MP4 files. For a safe download, go to: http://www.download.com/FLV-Player/3000-2139_4-10467081.html
 * DVD Video Soft** - This is a download that allows you to convert videos to MP3 or MP4 files. Go to: http://dvdvideosoft.com/
 * Vixy** - Go to this Web site to convert a You Tube video to an MP3 or MP4 file that you can run on an iPod or MP3 player or on your computer. Go to: [|www.vixy.net]
 * ZAMZAR**- A free online conversion tool. Will convert You Tube videos and a lot more. No download necessary. Enter the address of the video and your email address and the conversion will be emailed to you. [|www.zamzar.com]
 * NOTE:** Teacher Tube is You Tube for teachers. It contains a variety of awesome educational videos. You need to sign up but it's free. Find it at: http://www.teachertube.com/ It doesn't get blocked by CEN.
 * Downloading You Tube Videos:** For step-by-step directions on how to download video from you tube, with screen shots for the newbies ( from yet another wiki), go to: http://www.wikihow.com/Download--Video-from-YouTube

There are some tools for social bookmarking (storing your favorites up on the Web so you can access them from any computer that is on the Internet): Del.icio.us - This is free and it's better than BackFlip. Go to: http://del.icio.us/Diigo - Go to: http://www.diigo.com/
 * Social Bookmarking**

Stumble Upon - Add on for Firefox. Go to: [|www.**stumble****upon**.com/]
 * Add Ons**

Second Life - Create an avatar in Second Life and go into ISTE's Eduisland. There are amazing resources for and from educators of national scope and stature. Go to: http://secondlife.com/
 * PD**

CNet - For a safe place to go to download software and read reviews, go to: [|http://www.cnet.com/?tag=] Joan Muller recommended __A Whole New Mind__ by Daniel Pink. This is book about the dot com world and the potential for interconnections through the Web. Jane gave an update on the Request for Services (RFS). Twenty-seven EASTCONN area districts applied. About half of the RFS forms have been read by two readers. The other half have been read by one reader. EASTCONN is still waiting for the grant award letter and is hoping that it will arrive by the middle or end of October. As soon as we complete the reading process and receive the grant award letter, we will be sending out letters to notify districts whether they will be receiving services.
 * Safe Download and Review Sites**
 * __Standing Items:__**
 * Networking
 * Hot Topics and Burning Issues
 * Technology and Literacy:** We had an interesting discussion about information literacy and who should teach it. There are turf issues and budgetary issues. We need to ensure that all of the kids are "getting it" - that they are using the technology effectively for learning, that they understand how to search for information on the Web and in print, that they can evaluate the accuracy and validity of print and Web-based resources, etc.
 * Technology Certification:** We talked about the NCLB requirements for highly qualified teachers and the lack of certification for doing technology work. The CT Teachers Retirement Board is looking at pro-rating pensions based on how much time an individual spends doing direct instruction vs. technical assistance. The CT State Department of Education is looking into developing a certification for "teaching coaches", e.g., Literacy Coach, Technology Coach, etc. This may help certified technology staff who are doing things other than direct instruction with students.
 * Tech Survey:** Jane will post the public results to the Tech Survey on this Wikispace. She will send an invitation to the Tech Council asking them to join the Wikispace and telling them how to access the Tech Survey.
 * Miscellaneous Items
 * Updates on State & National Technology Initiatives
 * What’s up with Podcasting and Other Emerging Technologies
 * Sharing of PD Experiences – Anyone have anything new to share?

1) What is the status of the reauthorization of NCLB? 2) With districts that are requiring teachers to maintain Web pages, curriculum mapping, etc., is this being included in teacher contracts as a negotiated item or are they being given time during the school day?
 * Planning for November Tech Council Meeting**
 * Technology PD -** Sharing models and materials that work; What PD is available for us?; How can we build capacity?; How do we narrow the gap? (November) Pre-work: Bring materials to share. NOTE: Art Skerker will also be visiting in November to share updates on federal and state technology initiatives.
 * __Standing Items:__**
 * Networking
 * Hot Topics and Burning Issues
 * Miscellaneous Items
 * Updates on State & National Technology Initiatives
 * Questions for Art Skerker:**
 * What’s up with Podcasting and Other Emerging Technologies
 * Sharing of PD Experiences – Anyone have anything new to share?