Oct+24,+2007

Members present: Catherine Bratton, Angie Clark, Heidi Dudley, Linda Parry, Diane Frank, Kevin Keena, Mike Porter, Kent Sauls 1)  ** Update on Grant **  The projectors, computers and wiring for the classrooms for the innovative grant are basically complete. Heidi asked the committee to report back to her with any rooms that are still missing projectors, extensions, or screens. She also asked to be informed of any missing remotes.   2)   ** Technology Budget ** Money allotment: Heidi estimated that there will be about 26,000 left in the grant money. This money needs to be spent as the grant specified: on wireless. The committee decided that the remaining money from the grant should be spent on a wireless cart for the third floor. This cart will hold 15 computers. Adding a printer and possibly more access points to better service this cart could bring the total price in at close to what is left in the grant. Heidi also estimates that there is about 19,000 in the donations account for HHS technology. She asked the committee for recommendations on how this money should be spent; which led into the next agenda item: 3)  ** Technology Goals, Needs **     Mike Porter introduced some possible technologies that various departments may want to consider.    He first talked about document cameras. Art and science could find many benefits in using a document camera by showing techniques in real time up on the screen and/or recording a procedure with the camera that could be shown over and over again versus having to repeat a procedure for every class. The camera would basically make the need for an overhead obsolete and give a lot more flexibility to presenting various media and techniques. The document cameras run about $500 each.   The next technology discussed was wireless tablets. CPS Chalkboard is the name of the wireless tablet that has been used in the district in some classrooms. It is a writing tablet that can act like a Smartboard but is handheld so that the teacher or presenter can move about the room or hand off the device to students to input and manipulate things up on the screen. The CPS Chalkboard runs about $400. “N computing” is another technology that was discussed. This is a technology that can take one computer and turn it into 4 workstations by using 3 additional monitors and keyboards tied into the first computer station. Also known as “thin client” technology, this set-up is achieved by providing a small plug-in terminal for each monitor and keyboard that is connected to an N-computing network card in the main computer. A kit for adding the three terminals to the one computer runs about $200. While this set-up would not work well in situations where high memory usage is needed (like Photoshop), it has been found to be effective when running programs such as Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel), and it has even been found to work with MAP testing. The only other cost involved besides the $200 kit for a 4 station set-up would be the licensing fee that Microsoft and Symantec would still charge per each station. This would be an added cost of $65 a year for each station. The document camera and a wireless tablet are being provided for HHS to try out during the month of November by the ESC (Mike Porter). Kevin Riebau has the document camera in his room and the tablet is available for check-out in the tech office. See Kevin Riebau if you would like to see what the document camera can do, and see Heidi or Diane if you would like to try out the tablet. The committee expressed interest in all of these technologies. It was decided that these technologies would be reviewed by the committee and then at the next meeting we would further discuss how the remaining tech money could be spent. There will be a Heritage Academy class offered on Monday, Nov. 26 in the ILC computer lab from 2:45 to 3:45. The Smartboard, the wireless tablet, and the document camera will be on display and available to try out at that time. 4)  ** Next Meeting ** : Wednesday, November 28.
 * HHS Technology Committee Meeting Minutes **
 * Wednesday October 24, 2007 **
 * 2:30 to 3:30 ILC **