Minutes of 3-12-08

Present: Phoebe Rivera, Maury Pearl, Hanh Tran, Adrian Gonzalez, Jesus Renon, Richard Rains, Kathie Dawson, David Garza, David Jordan

 

1. Review and approve 2-13-08 meeting

 

Item 4 - The following statement was added at the end of the paragraph:

 

“The survey was prepared by a subcommittee including Richard Rains and Phoebe Rivera and modified by Maury Pearl.”

Minutes were approved on 3-12-08

 

 

2. IT Dept. Update – Hahn Tran

 

Faculty/Staff portal presentation – Hahn stressed the importance of maintaining Web page contents updated by faculty and staff members to better serve the students. 

 

Faculty and staff may post photos and other graphic material, personal schedules, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, class schedules, welcome messages, and other pertinent materials. Users may type paragraphs of additional text using Microsoft WORD making it unnecessary to acquire additional web page design or word processing skills. Users are responsible for updating their Web page but a counsel of instruction will determine what information may be published on the portal and define a proper set of etiquette rules.

 

The portable was designed to function as a dynamic directory with adequate links and reference to the district directory. User ID names are taken directly from district directory user names (last name and first name initial).

 

 

New technologies are being incorporated in the portal structure to enhance its functionality. Voice over IP (VoIP) will allow users to forward telephone messages and manage their telephone traffic right from their page. The earliest implementation date is May 15, 2008.

 

Some training in the proper use and updating of portal pages will be required. 

 

Maury Pearl will notify faculty and staff via e-mail of portal directory usage and updating training availability. Department Chairs at the Council of Instruction will be introduced to the new directories and portal program, and requested to assist in getting their faculty "on board" with the system, including the posting of a syllabus/textbook for all faculty to assist students.

 

 

David Jordan suggests at least two workshop sessions should be scheduled during the next two weeks to train faculty and staff members. Hanh suggested that David Jordan and Curtis Stage hold the training meetings for faculty.

 

Dave Jordan also suggests that some incentives should be devised (flash drives, lunch) to motivate portal page updating by users. By having users updating their own page, the IT group will be relieved from that responsibility. The consensus was to offer portal trainees free lunch.

 

 

The question of ethical use of portal pages was raised. Faculty will be reminded to follow the our existing "Acceptable Use" Policies in posting and updating their personal portal pages and information.  - see http://missionitac.pbwiki.com/policies  for existing web use policies at Mission.

 

 

3. Smart Classroom Survey   

 

The Smart Classroom infrastructure project will be completed by the end of 2008. Including science labs, every room will become a Smart Classroom. A contractor prepared a list of rooms that need upgrading. Surveys are needed to determine classroom technology needs.

 

David Jordan suggests reviewing previous surveys to determine what remains to be done instead of conducting new surveys. Faculty and staff personnel must be aware that some classroom/offices will be relocated. The project will be completed by the end of the spring semester or summer 2008. Maury will bring in the results from our last student and staff survey and the Committee will review and make suggestions.

 

 

4. Tutoring

 

Our Title V tutor is using Moodle for tutoring and since there are not enough funds for tutoring, the suggestion is to use two individuals from LRC or a Title V assistant to cover the cost of additional tutoring (David J will ask the opinion of Susan, director of the program). It is recommended that the Title V tutor receive training also in etudes ng, coursecompass and the Longman course management system so he can tutor students in any of the course management systems. Also it was suggested that Title V train the Instructional Assistants and Tutors in the LRC in all of the colleges course management systems to they can help students in the LRC who have questions on any of the systems. David and Phoebe will work on this project and report back to the Committee.

 

 

5. Library Resources

 

Moodle users must use Mission College provided password. Non-credit classes can be used to design Moodle applications and offered as resources.

 

Students not taking classes in campus cannot use Library resources as some non-student might be able to set up an account and perform unauthorized access to library resources and class materials. Enrollment passwords can be provided by the library.

 

David G suggests working with library staff to develop resource page and define access restrictions/authorization procedures.

 

 

6. District computer literacy and information competency survey

 

A survey is needed to define/justify need for computer literacy instruction, and determine student success; the general consensus is computer competency is the key for student success. Surveys must be conducted to learn what computer and information competency students must develop. Computer and information competency skills are needed in other classes.

 

David J suggests the creation of a subcommittee to survey technology and computer competency needs. Maury will prepare a Student Survey for next meeting. David J appointed the following committee members as Computer Literacy and Information Competency subcommittee members: Phoebe Rivera, David Jordan, Pat, Maury Pearl, Adrian Gonzalez, and David G. 

 

 

7. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 PM.

 

 

Meeting minutes

Recorded by:

 

Jesus H Ranon

EOP&S/Instructional Assistant/IT