EDUCATION COUNCIL
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Friday, February 21, 2003 @ 9:00AM CT
Lincoln Executive Building - NVCN (Host Site)
Chadron State College - NVCN
Kearney Public Library and Information Center - NVCN
Omaha State Office Building - NVCN
MINUTES
VOTING MEMBERS/ALTERNATES PRESENT:
Mr. Keith Bartels, Nebraska Association of School Boards
Ms. Linda Engel, Nebraska City Public Schools
Dr. Jerry Harnisch, alt.-Midland Lutheran College
Mr. Kent Hendrickson, alt.-UNL
Dr. Yvette Holly, alt.-UNMC
Dr. Jack Huck, Southeast Community College
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public Schools
Mr. Joe LeDuc, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
Mr. Dennis Linster, alt.-Wayne State College
Dr. Robert Manzer, alt.-Nebraska Wesleyan University
Dr. Jerry Moskus, Metropolitan Community College
Dr. Ed Rastovski, Wahoo Public Schools
Dr. Robin Smith, alt.-Chadron State College
Mr. Alan Wibbels, ESU 10
LIAISONS PRESENT:
Mr. Bob Huber, Nebraska Education Telecommunications Commission
Dr. Dean Bergman, Nebraska Department of Education
Mr. Wayne Fisher, alt.-Nebraska Department of Education
MEMBERS AND LIAISONS NOT PRESENT:
Mr. Terry Haack, Elkhorn High School; Mr. Al Schneider, ESU 5; Dr. David Powers, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education;
Ms. Brenda Decker, DAS-Division of Communications.
GUESTS PRESENT:
Kim Brown, Bellevue Public Schools; Dan Brown, NOL; Doug Gibbs, NOL; Roger Hahn, NIN; Steve Schafer, CIO/NITC; Rick Golden, UNCSN; Sid McCartney, DOC; Tim Hall, CCC; Jose Marquez, CCC; Tom Peters, CCC, Jean Jones, NDE; Jim Zemke, UNCSN.
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS
Co-Chair, Dr. Jack Huck called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. There were 13 voting members present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business. Dr. Huck stated that the meeting notice was posted to the NITC and the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar Web sites on December 20, 2002 and that the meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Web site on February 17, 2003.
The members and guests introduced themselves.
APPROVAL OF THE MORNING’S AGENDA
Mr. Dennis Linster moved to approve the February 21, 2003 agenda. Mr. Jeff Johnson seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Bartels—yes; Holly—yes; Harnisch—yes; Engel-yes; Huck—yes; Johnson—yes; Smith—yes; LeDuc—yes; Moskus—yes; Manzer—yes; Hendrickson—yes; Rastovski—yes; Linster—yes; Wibbels—yes. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 13, 2002 Minutes
Mr. Hendrickson motioned to approve the December 13, 2002 minutes as presented. Ms. Engel seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Bartels—yes; Holly—yes; Harnisch—yes; Engel-yes; Huck—yes; Johnson—yes; Smith—yes; LeDuc—yes; Moskus—yes; Manzer—yes; Hendrickson—yes; Rastovski—yes; Linster—yes; Wibbels—yes. All were in favor, motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
WORKGROUP/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Training Advisory Workgroup – No report.
NET Distance Learning Report (Excel 115k) - Mr. Bob Huber referred to the January, 2003 DLS report, linked to the agenda. January Network 2 hours increased to 622 hours, up from 590 the previous year. January Network 3 hours decreased to 1307, down from 1504 hours the previous year. January NVCN hours increased to 694 hours, up from 621 the previous year.
UPDATE: NEBRASKA NETWORK ACTIVITIES
Steve Schafer presented the Nebraska Telecommunications Network (NETCOM) Concepts and Assumptions document. He explained that the purpose of the document was to encourage discussion. When fully deployed, NETCOM will consist of a three-tiered environment:
1. Core network. The large capacity core network is the immediate focus of aggregation efforts.
2. Aggregation points.
3. End points.
Contracts for the Omaha-Lincoln-Grand Island-Kearney backbone expire in October. Sid McCartney reported that a forum for providers was held on Feb. 13 at Varner Hall in order to prepare an RFP for backbone services. Twenty-two representatives from 12 companies attended. Eight companies have signed up for individual sessions.
Tom Rolfes reported that the TINA bandwidth inventory conducted several years ago will be updated. Rick Golden and staff are currently determining administrative areas and contacts. Dr. Huck stated that the Education Council has an interest in seeing every school district and higher education institute participate. The role of the Education Council is to make sure that opportunities to participate in the inventory are present.
UPDATE: COURSE MANAGEMENT TOOL/E-LEARNING INITIATIVE
Jean Jones and Jim Zemke gave an update on the Nebraska eLearning Consortium. Higher education is experiencing tremendous growth in the use of course management tools. K-12 schools are just beginning to explore the use of course management tools. The focus of the initiative is broader than just encouraging the use of course management tools. The focus of the initiative is on using technology to improve education. The growth and maturity of the technology as well as the high level of interest in cooperating and collaborating provide a unique window of opportunity. Currently, three K-12 pilots are being finalized. The initiative is a no cost, voluntary initiative and is looking for a sponsor. A workshop on organizing the initiative will be held in March.
UPDATE: NEBRASKA EDUCATION PORTAL
Mr. Doug Gibbs and Mr. Dan Brown reported that the Nebraska Education Portal is running and doing well. Additional links are being added to the portal. Possible future enhancements include a visual thesaurus, online dictionary, access to databases through the Nebraska Library Commission, and application forms for Nebraska colleges and universities. The Lt. Governor had suggested including one form through which prospective students could request information from Nebraska colleges and universities be included. The form was developed and is very popular. Nebraska Online is still coordinating the release of a press release with the Lt. Governor’s office.
UPDATE: STATEWIDE SYNCHRONOUS VIDEO WORKGROuP MEMBERSHIP
Mr. Rolfes presented the 18 nominees for the Statewide Synchronous Video Work Group. Mr. Rolfes clarified the responsibilities and the relationships of the various work groups.
PSC ORDER FOR INVESTIGATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING SERVICES
Mr. Rolfes reported that the Nebraska Public Service Commission has scheduled a workshop to investigate distance learning services on March 18. The revised deadline for written comments is March 13. After a discussion on the appropriate role of the Education Council, Dr. Rastowski made a motion that Mr. Rolfes would draft a resolution expressing support for those institutions experiencing delays in implementing distance learning systems. Mr. LeDuc seconded the motion. Dr. Huck read the following resolution drafted by Mr. Rolfes:
The NITC Education Council resolves to support the Nebraska Public Service Commission in its efforts to conduct a workshop for the investigation of distance learning. The Education Council, in representing K-20 public and private education, encourages the rapid and timely implementation of the Distance Education Network Completion Grant (LB 833).
Roll Call Vote to approve the resolution: Bartels—yes; Holly—yes; Harnisch—yes; Engel-yes; Huck—yes; Johnson—yes; Smith—yes; LeDuc—yes; Moskus—yes; Manzer—yes; Hendrickson—yes; Rastovski—yes; Linster—yes; Wibbels—yes. All were in favor, motion carried.
EDUCATION COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS
Task Group Reports:
EC 1.1 Assist the Statewide Synchronous Video Network Workgroup – Dennis Baack, Dennis Linster, Al Schneider and Dean Bergman.
No Report
EC 1.2 Achieve Adequate Rural Bandwidth - Wayne Bell and Wayne Fisher.
No Report
EC 2.1 Technology Training Grants - Jerry Moskus, Linda Engel and Chuck Friesen.
The EC 2.1 Task Group completed their action item worksheet using an e-mail discussion during the month of December. They expressed support for the importance of the former NEB*SAT Training Grants, and vowed to assist in the needs assessment of K-12 and Higher Education technology training. The task group has also drafted legislative language that would help reinstate the fund under the NITC.
EC 3.1 Ensurance of Life Cycle Funding - Kent Hendrickson, Alan Wibbels and Carna Pfeil.
The EC 3.1 Task Group completed their action item worksheet by e-mail and has also begun to update a Life Cycle Funding white paper that was originally produced during the Ed Tech 2010 Summit held in Grand Island two years ago.
EC 4.1 Determine the Role of Technology in Standards – Keith Bartels, Don Mayhew, Rene Bose and Judi Carter.
No Report
EC 4.2 Educational Technology Proficiency Measures - Con Dietz, Jerry Harnisch, Tip O’Neill, Terry Haack, Jeff Johnson and Ed Rastovski.
The EC 4.2 Task Group completed their action item worksheet by e-mail and shared a brief report.
EC 6.1 Encouragement of Synchronous/Asynchronous Video Materials and Review the Cost-effectiveness of Satellite Distance Learning - Robin Smith, Rob Manzer and Joe LeDuc.
The EC 6.1 Task Group shared a 4-page handout that divided the action item worksheet into four areas; Needs/Problems, Affected Groups, Activities, and Deliverables. The Task Group expressed a willingness to get involved in the assessment of satellite distance learning as they felt that this resource could be used in a variety of different ways.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Hendrickson shared that one or two representatives from the Internet 2 project known as the Quilt would be interested in presenting before the Education Council and that presention is likely to be the May 16, 2003 meeting.
The Nebraska Video Conference Network dropped the Chadron, Kearney, and Omaha sites at 12:00pm.
CONFIRMATION OF LOCATIONS
Mr. Jerry Harnisch volunteered the Midland Lutheran College campus for the March 21 Education Council meeting. He will work with Mr. Rolfes to work out the details. Mr. Linster volunteered Wayne State College for the April 18 Education Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Huck adjourned the meeting at 12:12pm
Minutes were taken by Anne Byers of the NITC and reviewed by Tom Rolfes, Education IT Manager.
Meeting Minutes