Present: Fernando Armstrong-Fumero, Mary Ellen Birkett, John Brady, Eric Brewer, John Davis, Gary Felder, Jamie Hubbard, Thomas Laughner, Eric Loehr, Herb Nickles, and Roisin O’Sullivan
Absent: Tarja DeSoysa
Approval of September 23rd minutes
The September 23rd minutes were approved with one edit: future software funding for the grant initiative to Michael Barresi will be through the E.T.S., not the Biological Sciences department.
Second Life demonstration – Tom Laughner
Tom took the committee on a tour around Smith College’s Island in Second Life while explaining potential pedagogical aspects of this technology. He said that Lucretia Knapp was having students create movie sets on a portion of the island. Tom also gave a brief walk around Vassar College’s Island and showed the committee the model of the Sistine Chapel that their students had done.
SmartPhones and Network Registration – John Brady
John said that he had a request from Nick Horton to ask the CET if there was a more seamless way to move around the campus using wireless technology and without having to frequently reauthorize. Herb said that ITS and the Science Center are working on this issue but it will require the purchase of more hardware and software that can recognize you once you are registered and then be able to travel with you around campus without re-authenticating. The Systems group is currently migrating existing BlueSocket devices to Clean Client solution devices. All wireless routers will be replaced this year; first in the dorms and then expand to the whole campus. Herb cautioned that this was a large project and involved campus security so everyone should be patient.
Directory Lookup – John Brady
John brought a request from Nick Howe to look into making a “smarter” campus directory. Herb said that he would speak with Yvonne Ting, Director of Administrative Technology, and see if the directory can be updated.
Establish a subcommittee to discuss and plan May’s faculty development workshop
Tom asked for volunteers to work with Joanne Cannon to plan the May faculty development workshop. Eric Loehr, Fernando Armstrong-Fumero, and Jamie Hubbard volunteered. Eric suggested that someone else from the library be invited to participate and also the committee thought that Jon Caris should be invited because of his work with GIS.
Incubator Classroom in Seelye Hall – Tom Laughner
Tom said that he was looking for input as ETS moves forward with a new incubator classroom in Seelye Hall. The classroom will accommodate 16 students; the classroom would be assigned for the whole semester; and it will have a webcam in the classroom. Eric Brewer said that he would like to do something like this in Bass Hall. Mary Ellen noted that it would be nice in Hatfield Hall to accommodate more students in the language department. Tom asked the committee to read the document that he handed out and to follow up with him either by phone or email with their comments.
Technology in Seminar rooms
The committee discussed the current technology in the classrooms and suggested that the podia need to be scaled to better fit the spaces. They said that Smartboards often work well in seminar rooms and they wondered about wireless projection. Tom said that there are some issues with regard to security using wireless USB’s.
Future Agenda Items
Other subcommittees:
Technology in the classrooms: Eric Brewer, Mary Ellen Birkett, Roisin O’Sullivan
Moodle subcommittee: Mary Ellen Birkett
Discuss passwords on campus
Keyed software use from off campus
ITS organizational chart and budget issues
Faculty research hardware and software purchases- where is there available funding
What is ITCC and what information do we take from CET to ITCC?
The next meeting will be November 11th in Stoddard Hall G4 conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
Constance McGinn, recorder