5-13-10

=EASTCONN Tech Council Meeting Notes from 5/13/10= In attendance: Bob Olson, Michael Davidson, Rich Blozie, Marji Roy, Jane Cook, Pam Skelly, Glenn Lessig, Michel Leask

Planning our work together for next year
We discussed when and how often to meet. The consensus was to stay with Thursday late afternoon and hold 5 meetings a year. One suggestion was to hav a special session with a digital or live mentor like we did with Kathy Schrock two years ago if there is money available to do that. Possible topics that we brainstormed include: Top Choices
 * Integrating Web 2.0 technologies in education
 * Web 3.0
 * Interactive White Boards
 * Thin client technology (Woodstock is using this and Bob is willing to bring it and demo it)
 * Office 2010 vs. Open Office vs. Google Docs
 * How do we best support PD?
 * ISTE Webinar - Rich, as a CECA Board member, can present these Webinars (2nd meeting in November/December - Topic TBD)
 * What I read first or RSS recommendations
 * ISTE Webinar - Rich, as a CECA Board member, can present these Webinars (2nd meeting in November/December - Topic TBD)
 * What I read first or RSS recommendations
 * Video tutorial playground - using free software, e.g., Jing or other software like Community Clips (September meeting focus - Pre-work: Download Jing or Community Clips) - September 2010
 * Assessment - 11/4/10
 * 8th Grade Assessment
 * RtI/SRBI
 * Alternative Productivity Tools (Marji is using this in Ashford) - 3/17/11
 * Open Office
 * Windows Live@Edu
 * Google Docs
 * Google Mail
 * Google Apps for Ed
 * Online learning - January 13, 2011 (May do virtually or use tools in the same room)
 * Who's doing what?
 * What are they using as a platform?
 * How are they using it?
 * Who are they using it with?
 * Webinars
 * Elluminate
 * GotoWebinar

Jane and Pam will set up the schedule for next year and send out a "Save a Date" e-mail later in the spring. The first meeting topic will be Video Tutorial Playground. We'll play around with Jing and/or Community Clips creating short video tutorials for such topics as embedding a widget on a Wiki, using the User Creator in Wikispaces to register students in Wikis, etc. We'll also include our standing topics of burning questions and updates on state and federal initiatives. The group will set the schedule of topics for the rest of the year at the first meeting.

Exploring Hot Topics and Burning Questions

 * Michael reported on the Digital Blue X3 Microscope works with the SMART Videoplayer. It's rather crude and has some minor glitches but is working quite well for him.
 * Michael talked about the EASTCONN SMART Users Group meeting last week. Check out their Wikispace at: http://eastconnsmartusers.wikispaces.com/
 * Rich reported that he is toying with creating SMART Board training videos using Camtasia Studio with SnagIt and posting them on his Moodle site. It works like Jing but is more powerful. The education price for Camtasia Studio bundled SnagIt is $199/user: [].
 * Rich talked about a project he had his juniors and seniors do. They had to create a multi-media presentation based on research they were doing in their health class. The students told him that it was the most difficult thing they had ever done.
 * Bob reported that Woodstock just subscribed to Survey Monkey. This should save a tremendous amount of time and energy over compiling results of paper and pencil surveys.
 * PD Models That Work
 * We talked about trying to help teachers get away from using the SMART Board as a glorified white board and have them create more than SMART Board ditto sheets. Marji Roy reported that the most effective PD model that she has found is to identify one strong teacher on a team and working one-on-one with those people to build capacity and have them share their knowledge with their colleagues.
 * Pam Skelly shared a strategy of pairing a teacher with a strong tech background with a teacher who may be less tech savvy but who has strong content area and pedagogy knowledge is a very effective way of providing PD. This creates a powerful team who can teach each other.
 * How do you decide who gets a SMART Board?
 * Some districts do first come, first served.
 * Some districts give teachers a data projector first and observe how they are using those prior to giving them a SMART Board.
 * One district gave teachers tablet PCs as a pilot. Then they took away the tablet PCs and gave them a SMART Board. The teachers miss their tablet PCs.
 * SMART Board Vendors: Valley Communications doesn't charge the $180 for shipping that most other vendors charge. Check out their Web site at: []. HB Communications is no longer a SMART Board vendor. People had mixed reviews about RnB Enterprises ([]) - If you buy SMART Boards from them, you will get a good overview training as part of the price which will give teachers information on how to use the bells and whistles of the SMART Board.
 * SMART Boards with Built-in Projectors vs. Stand-alone Projectors
 * Most districts are buying SMART Boards with the built-in projectors because it's a simpler installation and doesn't require separate wiring, etc. Some districts like the separate stand-alone projectors because if the projector dies, you just need to replace the projector. However, some schools with the standalone systems find they need to reorient the SMART Boards much more frequently because they are less stable.
 * Epson has a new data projector that acts like an interactive white board.

Burning Questions

 * Does anyone have any experience with Aruba wireless networks? NO
 * Is anyone archiving e-mail? YES - A couple of districts are archiving to the cloud. Marji reported that Computer Generated Solutions is offering a cloud solution for small districts - the cost for 70 users was 50 cents per month.

Verizon Thinkfinity Training of Trainers Course
Jane reported that Thinkfinity is starting a 6-week long Training of Trainers course in July 2010. Jane and Pam are currently taking the course. If it can be opened to Tech Council members, Jane will send an e-mail to the Tech Council LISTSERV.

CECA Conference
Rich shared the CECA brochure which announces the fall 2010 conference entitled //Into the Cloud: Transforming Education in a Collaborative Culture//. CECA has an early registration discount for the October 18, 2010 conference which will be held at the Connecticut Convention Cente in Hartford. If you register 4 people at the same time, a 5th person can go for free. For more information, go to: [].

21st Century Skills Conference
The Alliance of RESCs will be hosting its 2nd annual 21st Century Skills Conference on Friday, September 24, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in Waterbury. Details will follow. For more information, check out the 21st Century Skills Wiki at: http://ct21stcenturyskills.wikispaces.com/.

Web Resources to Check Out

 * **Free Tech 4 Teachers:** @http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
 * **Web 2.0 for the Classroom:** @http://web20classroom.blogspot.com/
 * **Rumsey Historical Maps:** If you use Google Earth, under the Gallery there is something called Rumsey Maps and you can get historical maps superimposed on your Google Maps. For more information, read Pam's Blog post on the CT DEN Leadership Council Blog at: [].
 * **Google Maps Street View:** Check out the Street View in Google Maps. For more information, go to: [].