1-5-12

=Tech Council Meeting on 1/5/12=
 * Agenda**
 * **Welcome and Burning Issues/Questions**
 * Access and control Issues
 * Content filtering issues - Steve suggests you talk to the controller of the content filter and work directly with he/her.
 * Mansfield has opened up YouTube for teachers without any problems. They purchased an Internet appliance so different access is available for teachers, students, administrators, etc.
 * Woodstock can't use Web tools or YouTube.
 * Tolland can't use Moodle because of concerns with students.
 * Rich suggests you enlist parental support for a more open environment.
 * Mansfield has a committee that discusses filtering.
 * Voluntown has YouTube open and has just had one incident which was dealt with as an Acceptable Use Policy problem. Jim also suggested quietube at http://quietube.com or ViewPure at **viewpure **.com/ to view YouTube without distractions. (Quietube may need to be opened.)
 * Pomfret had a problem with 2nd grade YouTube because of the side videos.
 * LanSchool and other applications can allow teachers to monitor where the students are and have been. Rich has been very impressed by LanSchool since it operates on all platforms. http://www.lanschool.com/ Rich's contact is Jessica menasian: jmenasian@stone-ware.com
 * Jim (for Windows and Linux) is free and good for labs. ITALC http://italc.sourceforge.net/
 * Mobile Devices
 * Rich - playing with iPad. Not having Flash is limiting. What are others using?
 * How do we manage "bring your own device"? - Jim G.
 * Steve thinks all these devices have yet to develop. Each has it's problems but in the future, these may be very promising tools for students to bring.
 * Can the devices log into the remote desktop?
 * Pam B. was impressed with the puppet pals app for elementary school. Free apps were fine and teachers could order the apps, but add-ons to the free apps were difficult logistically. Very easy to use quickly rather than loading and logging into the network.
 * Michel suggested pro lo quo (http://www.assistiveware.com/proloquo.php) for the iPad instead of the costly Dynabox for students who need a voice.
 * Purchasing online textbook and they will customize for your curricular needs. More resources are sometimes available for the online versions.
 * CEN is reaching out to some of the districts that have slow access to speed it up via grant funds.
 * Web Tools
 * Rich suggested SmartSheet (http://www.smartsheet.com/) for project management.
 * Jane suggested GapMinder (http://www.gapminder.org/) for statistics. Take up to three variables over time.