EMTC Minutes: May 2001
UW Educational Media Technology
Council
ITMC/EMTC/LTDC Joint Meeting
May 3-4, 2001
Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells
May 3, 2001 - afternoon session
EMTC members present: Marcia Baird, UW-Extension; Charles Cottle, UW-Whitewater; Nick Dvoracek, UW-Oshkosh; Bob Fuller, UW-Eau Claire; Lisa Livingston, UW-Madison; Colleen Garity, UW-Platteville; John Grozik, UW-Milwaukee; Joe Hagaman, UW-Stout; Bob Jokisch, UW System; Jim Jorstad, UW-LaCrosse; Peter Nordgren, UW-Superior; Kate Pietri, UW-Parkside; Mark Vladick, UW Colleges; Ron Weseloh, UW-Stevens Point.
Absent: John Niergarten, UW-River Falls; Rich Path, UW Colleges
Guests: Denny Gilbertson, UW-Extension; Dwayne Williams, UW System; Terry Wirkus, UW-LaCrosse
Chairman Charles Cottle called the meeting to order.
The group began by thanking Jim Jorstad and Terry Wirkus for presenting an excellent session entitled "Classroom Technology Update" to the Joint UW System Conference earlier today. The session was based on findings from the EMTC Classroom Technology Survey 6.5, submitted by Jim Jorstad, with data collection by Maureen Meighan, project intern, UW-LaCrosse.
Campus Updates
UW-Stout: The open house for the new Communications Building will
be held May 4. Stout will be the first UW to require all incoming freshman
to have laptop computers beginning the fall 2002; several articles about
the laptop initiative were distributed, plus summaries of the timeline,
major issues, and laptop specifications. Stout Solutions is being reorganized.
The WebFair competition is underway.
UW-Oshkosh: Polk Library, where the majority of media services are housed, will be remodeled.
UW System: Dwayne Williams explained that he will be providing some staff support to the ADL Co-Lab.
UW-Platteville: Four more technology-enhanced classrooms are scheduled; the new Student Center is in progress; a new Ag initiative/stewardship project is being planned.
UW-Parkside: Instructional Technology Support includes academic computer labs, hardware and software training for faculty/staff; help desk operations, distance education and graphics.
UW-Green Bay: Currently supporting 21 technology classrooms; planning 25 additional technology classrooms.
UW-Milwaukee: Increasing pressure to support seminar rooms, smaller classrooms. Dealing with issues of how to turn smaller rooms into mediated, easy to use, and secure classrooms. Replacing many classroom projectors this summer. Installing 32" monitors in some smaller rooms. Expect to announce new digital media services at the end of summer. Working with Milwaukee Public Schools and State Agencies.
UW-Eau Claire: Rich Dirks is retiring in June; Bob Fuller is also retiring this summer. Close to finishing Phillips Hall, including 15 technology classrooms. Evaluating electronic maintenance operation. As a follow-up to the UW OPID-LTDC-EMTC meeting in Wisconsin Dells, faculty and support staff discussions are occurring on campus.
UW-Stevens Point: Educational outreach is being emphasized as part of the Central Wisconsin Idea. Some organizational realignments are underway. A business education and training center - a collaboration of UWSP, the Portage County Business Council and Mid-State Technical College - will be located several miles from the main campus. It will include two computer labs, a distance education classroom and a conference room. Thirteen campus classroom projects are underway, including installation of two distance education classrooms. The Central Wisconsin Idea Network (CWIN) will allow UWSP to extend professional development opportunities via cable.
UW-LaCrosse: Working on Wing Technology Center. Sept. 1 is the goal. It will include 20 technology rooms. Security problems were discussed. ADA requirements for the web and classrooms are important emphasis areas on campus.
UW-Superior: Peter Nordgren now provides oversight of campus computer labs, help desk, media production, distance education support, network and server support for most of campus, and technical purchases. Networking is a topic of discussion on campus; PeopleSoft central software service issues are also in front of us. The NWECS distance education network is facing some challenges. Current director is leaving; staff development person at CESA 12 will assume management duties as a percentage of her appointment.
UW-Whitewater: Looking for new CIO. In second year of a Title III grant related to learning technology and faculty training. Campus currently has 7,000 Blackboard accounts; how scalable is it?; testing features have not worked well for the faculty. Science Building to be completely renovated and added to during 2002. Replaced 20 projectors this year.
UW-Extension: WisLine Web service, a new webconferencing service,
is going well. The service uses WisLine for audio interaction and PlaceWare
software for the webconferencing. Currently 60 licenses are available
for UW use. Demonstration sessions are offered every two weeks. UW-Madison
is using WisLine Web as part of their MEPP program (Master's in Engineering
Professional Practice). UW Colleges will move its audiographics programming
to WisLine Web beginning in fall 2001. Although some progress has been
made this semester, there is still work being done with the network to
improve the ATM videoconference courses.
Mike Offerman, Learning Innovations, has accepted a position with Capella
University.
Outsourcing Maintenance & Support
Bob Fuller led a discussion about dealing with a variety of electronic
maintenance issues on campus. UW-Eau Claire currently has an open position
in the electronic maintenance group and it is "under the microscope"
for review. They must present their case to keep the position. In Eau
Claire's case, no position belongs to a unit, but rather belongs to the
Provost. The campus is reviewing various aspects of the maintenance puzzle
- service models, warranties, service contracts, hot spares, rotating
equipment out sooner, increasing productivity, using students and LTEs,
building project management skills, dealing with emergency repairs, using
cell phones and other tools to increase staff efficiencies, and continuous
quality improvement.
The group also discussed related issues - the Media Technician positions
and the challenge of retaining staff, the changing role of campus media
technicians, and leasing equipment (such as projectors, computers).
Online Utilities
Hal Schlais gave an update on the UW online utilities. UW System is trying
to get a systemwide contract agreement with Blackboard, versus strict
licensing. Dot.edu staff are becoming System employees July 1.
Academic ADL Co-Lab
Ed Meachen provided an update on the Academic ADL CO-Lab A project manager
is being hired. Several projects are being discussed related to learning
objects, creating content partners, Merlot, and multimedia curricular
design projects. The CO-Lab is investigating offering MacroMedia training
to faculty/staff, and potentially working with MacroMedia on some internships.
UW System
Ed Meachen explained that an outline of the IT Plan for 2001-2003 will
go the Regents in June, with the plan completed by October. The EGOL group
(Executive Group on Online Learning) has been meeting every other month.
They are creating a vision concerning combining institutional curricula
across the System. Recommendations will go to President Lyall in August.
OPID-LTDC-EMTC Conference
Bob Jokisch reported on the February 8-9, 2001 OPID-LTDC-EMTC conference
- Strategies for Faculty Development Focused on Instructional Technology
Integration - that was held in Wisconsin Dells, and some of the subsequent
meetings various campuses have held to talk about faculty development
related to technology and technology integration. The goals of the conference
were to facilitate ongoing communication among the representatives at
the campus and System level; develop systemwide strategies for working
with faculty on teaching and learning, and develop recommendations for
systemwide efforts and initiatives that integrate faculty development
and instructional technology.
May 4, 2001 - morning session
Elections
The group cast unanimous ballots for the following EMTC officers for FY02:
- Bob O'Donnell, Chair
- Nick Dvoracek, Chair-elect
- Marcia Baird, Secretary
- Kate Pietri, Treasurer
The group thanked Charles Cottle, outgoing Chairman, for his leadership of EMTC during FY01.
Future Meetings
Discussion followed on future EMTC meetings. Interest was expressed in
returning to a schedule of visiting additional campuses. During the last
few years, with the statewide joint meeting held in the fall and spring,
the only campus-based EMTC meeting has been held in Madison. There was
a suggestion to hold a meeting during late May or early June at another
campus. It was mentioned that the group could also get together at other
events, such as GWETC or the Distance Learning Conference.
Treasurer's Report
Kate Pietri reported a balance of $98.50 in the EMTC treasury.
Retiree Recognition
Peter Nordgren suggested that EMTC recognize three retirees who have contributed
greatly to EMTC over the years - Bob Fuller, Mark Vladick and Rich Dirks.
A motion was made and seconded to recognize each of their contributions
with individual plaques. They will be funded from the EMTC treasury and
through a private collection. Charles Cottle volunteered to coordinate
the project.
Bob Fuller expressed thanks to EMTC, on behalf of all the retirees, for the many great friendships and opportunities they have had while involved with the organization. He challenged the group to keep the momentum going.
Mark Vladick stopped in briefly at the meeting on May 3, informed the group about his pending retirement, and also thanked everyone for their support.
Facilities Planning
The group discussed several campus building projects and the AV consultants
involved with each. It was agreed that campus administrators should include
EMTC representatives early in the planning of campus buildings. A suggestion
was made to have Greg Wanek, Jon Jensen, and/or a Facilities Planning
staff representative at a future EMTC meeting to talk about these issues.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held in Fall 2001, as part of the combined ITMC/EMTC/LTDC
meeting.
Submitted by: Marcia Baird, Secretary