Oct. 26, 2004

T119

Present: Ann Adams, Linda Carroll, Phil Krolick, Marlene Propst, Lori Rowton, Alan Heywood, Diane Watson, Dael Dixon, Chareane Wimbley-Gouveia, Carol Schaafsma, Linda Kihs, Jim Hart, Raza Kahn, Rob Lewis, Mike Holland, and James Crawford (student representative).

Welcome and Introductions: Linda Carroll introduced herself and Phil Krolick as this yearπs co-chairs for DEIT. She asked Ann Adams to provide a brief overview of what the DEIT committee does. Ann shared that DEIT (Distributed Education & Instructional Technology) started out as an informal committee, essentially focused on the idea of ≥what can the web do for us≤. Over time, the committee became official by incorporating policies and procedures, and began its first offerings of online classes to students. Through this committeeπs efforts, several sub-committees were formed to gain a broader sense of the distance learning needs for staff/students, and as a result, there are now a variety of online student services, course management software, and multiple online course offerings.

DEIT Subcommittee Reports:

q Technology Initiatives Committee (Linda Carroll). Linda reports that this committee had been working on an appraisal method for evaluating face-to-face courses vs. online courses. They evaluated the TLT-Flashlight appraisal method, a reflective teacherπs tool that aids in self-evaluation for instructors, decided that it wouldnπt work well for our purposes. The faculty self-appraisal as well as the student appraisal for online classes still needs more work. This is an ongoing project.

q Training Subcommittee (Ann Adams). Ann highlighted that on-going training opportunities have been provided by Information Services staff. One-hour workshops are being offered throughout the year, which include Blackboard basics training, digital cameras, scanning, and multi-media lecterns. She also noted that she has been providing tech tips via email so that staff have a quick resource to common questions about a variety of technology issues. Eventually, these tech tips will be posted to a web page for user accessibility.

q Web Presence (Marlene Propst). Marlene reports that this committee has been very active working on web projects campus wide, by working closely with Media staff to complete their goals. The committee plans to meet once a month, and has already put their goals together for this year. Many of these projects are for enhancing online student services. She reminded the committee that they had brought in a web consultant, Alan Koch, to assist with the collegeπs ongoing effort to improve on web presentation and delivery, while maintaining a standard of consistency throughout the LBCC website. She noted that Kate Johnson is working on finding a tool (template) that will help make each web site unique to LBCC, without having to individually edit each web page. Ann Adams added that is a future hope that each department will have these tools available to make changes to their web pages.

q Student Services (Diane Watson). Diane told the committee that as result of achieving this sub-committeeπs second five-year plan, almost all student services are now on the web, including various student forms. They plan to continue to work on making it better by working closely with web presence committee members. There is ongoing discussion for developing a web site for a ≥virtual Career Center≤, and an online Turning Points Transitions program that would assist students in how to get started at LBCC.

q Technology Infrastructure (Alan Heywood). Alan noted that this sub-committee has already met once this fall, and gave a brief overview of newly submitted fall projects. He stated that 2004-2005 projects are a bit behind due to college-wide remodels, fires, thefts and a vacant media technician position. This committee will plan to continue to take requests once a term throughout the year, which is a change from reviewing requests once each spring.

New Directions: In an effort to revitalize membership, Phil encouraged full-committee members to recruit a co-worker and together find a sub-committee they would like to contribute too,.

Strategic Planning and taking stock: Carol Schaafsma reminded committee members that DEIT grants are available to part-time and contracted faculty for the development of distance learning courses (i.e. online, hybrid, ITV) through the Staff Organizational Office. Ann mentioned that she, Phil Krolick, Linda Carroll and Alan Heywood met to discuss whether or not distributive education (DEIT) has a stated goal that is leading our technology in a particular direction. She suggested that maybe the committee should consider creating a new sub-committee to review and research this, or possibly start with some type of self-assessment from committee members and instructors using the technology. Mike Holland added that he hoped the committee would come up with two really key ≥directives≤ by the end of the year that would answer ≥what are we building toward≤ and makes a substantial contribution to the college. Diane addressed several key issues to be considered in creating goals for DEIT: 1. Do we want to develop programs online? 2. What are our goals for teaching distance education courses? 3. Is the technology in the classroom a goal? 4. Is providing services online a goal?

Phil asked if the Technology Initiatives sub-committee should be the committee to work on creating the goals and mission statements. Linda Carroll supported the idea, and will report back this commitment to her sub-committee. On a final note, Alan Heywood recommend that we ≥remember the audience≤ when we make these decisions and goals for the future direction of DEIT.

NEXT MEETING: Winter 2004