TLTR Meeting Minutes

March 17, 2005

Attendance:

Jennifer Foster-Communications,TLTR co-convener, Bette Joseph-Education, TLTR co-convener, Paul Mullins-Compute Science, TLTR co-convener, Frederick White-English, Evette Tillery-Instructional Technology/Collegis, Russ Dively-Instructional Technology/Collegis, Shawn Stoebner-PTA, Joanne Leight-PE, Salehin Ghani-IT, Agustin Martinez-Samos-MLD, Elise Grabner-Mathematics, Jim Hughes-GGE, Mary Sisak-GGE, Jennifer Keller-Dance, Eva Tsuquiashi-Daddesio-MLC, Jonathan Anning-ERS, Amissah Arthur-GGE, Katie Lang-TLTR graduate assistant

I.       Old Business

A.    Report from IT-Dean Lindey

1.   Dean was unable to attend; no update at this time.

B.    Report from Collegis – Russ Dively

1.  Russ introduced Yvette Tillery from Collegis who is on campus helping Russ for an unspecified length of time.

2.  Summer upload for Blackboard is set begin the 1^st of April.

3.  If interested in having Russ remove courses from course shell see the following link: 

        academics.sru.edu/collegis/bbremove.htm                         

        password:  remove                                                                                                                 

Russ will verify with individuals before removing courses permanently

4.  Upgrade to Blackboard 6.3 will bring about advantages with respect to language, e-portfolio’s, and cyber hard drives.

C.    Report from Technology Advisory Committee – Bette Joseph

       1.  Reminder if faculty, students, or staff have any questions or need help with Blackboard contact Shawn Stoebner, PTA.

       2.  Distance learning guidelines have been passed by committee and sent on to the President’s advisory council/cabinet.

       3.  Technology assessment has been performed which addresses the question:  How should the use of technology be assessed?  One finding was that only 19% of faculty members have activated courses on Blackboard.

       4.  If interested in obtaining copies of either the distance learning guidelines or the technology assessment please e-mail Bette.

D.    Taskforces - Paul Mullins

1.  Grants taskforce – has allocated the money for 5 grants.  Thanks to all who participated in this taskforce.

II.      New Business

A.        Citrix Server – currently waiting to hear back from IT regarding what software would be most appropriate to place on such a server.  IT assured the group that IT was still working on compiling a list and it is an on-going process.

B.        Elections:  Next meeting, Thursday April 14, 2005 elections will be held for the position of First Year Convener.  Joanne Leight from the PE department was nominated and accepted the nomination for the position.  Nominations remain open until further notice.  Please submit any further nominations to any of the three co-conveners:  Bette Joseph, Jennifer Foster, or Paul Mullins.  Additionally, Jennifer Foster, as Third Year Convener, will be the TLTR representative on Technology Advisory Committee next year.

III.    Program

A.        Mary Sisak, Chemistry- Personal Response Systems

Mary presented today on personal response systems the chemistry department has purchased using a TLTR grant.  The department has a number of student input devices that are networked to a central computer.  After testing an initial software system the department is now using Power Poll less cumbersome software, which allows polling slides to be placed within PowerPoint presentations as well ability to assign three digit codes to individuals.  The goals of this particular project were to develop more interactive student-centered classrooms, enhanced communications between student and teacher, and improved retention.

**Next Meeting:    April 14^th, 2005 – Elections for First Year Convener