REGIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT #19
BOARD
OF EDUCATION
DIGITAL
LEARNING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
E.
O. SMITH HIGH SCHOOL
1235
STORRS ROAD
STORRS,
CT 06268
April
22, 2014
PRESENT:
Bill Green, Frank Krasicki (Chair), Bruce Silva, Susan Palmberg,
Nancy Silander,
Alan Trotochaud
Also:
Seth Horila, Jaime
- Moodle – Since summer, 2010, 12 faculty actively using Moodle. School will move out of E-boards as of August 31, 2014, and will support only Moodle. Teachers have an option of moving to Moodle, paying out-of-pocket ($39) to keep E-board, or moving to another platform. Ten tech coaches have been working with faculty. In January we put it in our virtual environment, and have sufficient bandwith to support it.
In
general, teachers find it easier to differentiate instruction; can
put up videos as well as visuals more easily.
- BYOD - Not enough computers for most classes – need to share. Students sometimes prefer the larger screen to their phone screens. Using BYOD is a paradigm shift for teachers and students so still working out the kinks.
There
are still about 5% of the student body who have no access to Internet
at home whether due to economic circumstances or by choice. Teachers
must take this into account when developing lessons.
- Seth and Jaime – gave an up-date on distribution of carts with Chrome books or I-pads – many have been obtained through various grants, and thus are restricted to who may use them, at least initially. Seven departments received carts with various technology.
There
is some competition among faculty for technology and the feeling that
it is not always equitably distributed. It was recommended that Seth
go to a Department Head meeting and give a report similar to his
Board Committee report, as well as to work with DH’s to develop a
process for technology access.
Future
projects: developing a capital replacement plan for technology;
continuing to successfully support on-line testing such as ACT
Aspire, national German exam, and Smarter Balance, and integrating
funding requests for 2014-2015.
Respectfully
submitted,
Nancy Silander
