Agenda_2011-12_ITS_April20

Absent: Nicole E., Mark K., Vickie B.

8:00 - 8:30 Welcome

- Ed update
 * Presented to Board of the Technology Committee last night
 * Timeline of "Going Google" presented
 * Presented to Administrative side (maintenance, etc.), not curriculum
 * They suggested that Elementary schools receive training on last week of school instead of the following week
 * Present Timeline: Friday, May 25-start conversion of Google Mail from Lotus Notes that evening at 6pm so that way teachers come back on Tuesday and have it. **EMAIL WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS - tell them to enjoy the weekend**
 * When presented to Executive side, all approved of the timeline as well, as long as it's not during testing time
 * Hired "Preferred Google Partner" SADA Systems, based out of CA but have offices in TX
 * Aggressive timeline that SADA agrees with, but so far, it's on target.
 * After Last day of School (5/25/12), there are 4 HS graduations, but the HS principals didn't see any issues
 * We need to train the teachers in this method, or we will do a "rolling conversion" or wait till everyone gets back for the 2012-2013 school year
 * Current timeline: April 30 - official email sent out (possibly by Dr. Chavez), May 3 - all staff will receive email that we are moving to Google. Beginning week of May 14 - daily email sent out as reminders that Google Mail is coming, Week of May 21st - sending out email daily for what the teachers need to do to get ready (log in to make sure it works, etc.) with a task a day, May 22nd - Spring Cleaning (any email 17 MB or encrypted or "Out of Office" agents will not transfer, only email from May 1 to May 24 will transfer over)
 * Discussion about browsers next week (a two-browser system)
 * Calendar entries will transfer - NOT A PROBLEM!
 * Contacts - there will be instructions on how to transfer (local contacts, etc.), issues haven't been worked out yet, WORKING ON IT!
 * Google Institute PD - Week of June 4th and June 11th for teachers to attend if they choose to do that instead
 * NOT focusing on Google Docs, etc. Focus on Mail right now
 * Main point is to get email set up and ready for everyone so that way 2012-2013 school year starts without having to work on email, on top of everything else.
 * All people that have Google accounts set up using their RRISD emails need to transfer over, otherwise their info and email and stuff will be overridden when transferring over
 * From outside the district - it looks the same: email address will be the same.
 * Archived emails will not go away (Lotus Notes not expired till Sept. 30)
 * Expectation of Tuesday, May 29: Teachers will log into Google. All their emails from May 1 will be there.
 * Plan B - make sure Plan A works
 * Active Directory Change suggestion in the works: change over username to match with HR directory, which will match their Google account, do away with campus number but have ID
 * Ed will send out copies of emails to send out to teachers to ITSs to show us what to expect for the teachers prior to sending it out to teachers
 * Google Gmail and Postini are two different systems (two separate logins)
 * Google owns Postini and are working to make it more seamless
 * Emails are archived automatically (working to 10 year archive v. 1 year)
 * Discourage teachers from going back to Lotus Notes after the transfer
 * Possible - script to push out that will remove Lotus Notes (not a high priority, maybe around September 2012)
 * Budget workshop: 2% across increase, 2-2.5% increase varying with different staff, 2.5% increase all. Board asked about 3% - would cost $7M. But the Board would like 3%.
 * Health insurance not up for change right now. Increasing pay to 3% would help. Currently, we are on average with everyone else, lower-level

- Google Training Update (RRISD Google Training Site and Boost eLearning) MJ, Greg)
 * []
 * Videos with length of time for the training
 * We want all the trainings to be consistent and comfortable for the teachers
 * If you teach in the order of how it's listed, you will cover everything you need to cover
 * When you click on the link, you will see a video, a screenshot, and text-only document (to meet all the different learners)
 * Tutorials are to be simple, basic, not intimidating, linear-sequencing
 * It's still in the works, will make changes, but will go live May 25th, hoping to be sooner
 * Jerry and Kim wanted to be part of training, so they put together training too: [] - more geared to business-side, will be linked as another resource, not as "teacher-friendly"
 * Goal is to make all the videos the same (RRISD logo, good readers, etc.)
 * What about eBoost - good for only one year
 * After STAAR testing, MJ wants a solid consensus on what we want to move forward with: RRISD or eBoost?
 * Don't worry about eBoost replacing ITSs
 * ITSs with good voices need to do the reading
 * **Chris Neher says**: Name change requests can still come in, but they won't take effect until after the roll out. The form to fill out in Lotus will work till May 25. As of right now, any name change will need to go through HR next year.
 * Moodle will be part of the automated process
 * Login will be eXXXXXX, where the XXXXXX is the employee ID number

- TA Teks Presentation for Instructional Coaches and Curriculum Specialists (Robin, Valerie)
 * Presentation will be given Apriil 27th to given to Curriculum Specialists and Instructional Coaches to show how to embed TA TEKS into curriculum
 * Campus Instructional Coaches not housed at RRHS will be coming to presentation too
 * Presentation will be shared as google doc to other ITSs, as well as agenda
 * Not to overwhelm them, they are showing few, not all
 * Robin, Shannon and Michele from MS and Angie, Jen, Valerie, Erin, Donna, and Carol from ES
 * Simplified TEKS shown first (communication and collaboration examples like Skype and paper slides) and give them time to play with them
 * Show examples from Getting I.T. Right Blogs
 * Show actual examples from RRISD campuses
 * By showing limited number of tools, hoping to get the "hook" so the IC and CS people will be excited with at least one tool
 * Popplets, QR Codes,
 * Want to make sure to hit examples for both Elementary and Middle schools and all subjects
 * If you have a cool example for any of the tools they are going to present, send it to anyone
 * Donna and Erin will go with a key theme (strands on one side, tools) - MJ will make a copy to share with other ITSs if "it's really cool".

- BYO ([|BYO RRISD Guidelines.docx] )
 * BYO document was given to Board after Tech presentation
 * BYO Document also located in various other locations (will get it out by Robert and/or MJ later)
 * BYO document will be part of the student handbooks next year with form for students and parents to sign
 * District-wide initiative now, no longer just a campus-level decision
 * Plan to support - not enough ITSs, but well-received by the Board
 * Biggest challenge: kids bring all different kinds of devices, some of them being really old, so the RRISD policies and guidelines are good to make it more consistent
 * Ed is working with Brent and Dan to test over the summer and potentially open the wireless network to allow more devices
 * Concern: network is being pushed hard as it is at McNeil (matter of access points) and laptops are dropping off and taken by another laptop, etc.
 * Most of the principals had left when the BYO part presentation was given. Nothing formally announced to principals yet
 * Read the forms the students will need to sign to see if there needs to be any addition for adding the student groups in the wireless group and tell MJ if there is any changes needed

- Tablet rollout: C.D. Fulkes (bought 20) and Pond Springs Elementary (4 purchased for small groups pullout) are going to have tablets rolled out - PILOT for student use

- Learning.com [|licenses](RA) - Robotics Showcase May 15 at McNeil High School from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (MJ, Shannon)
 * Link above takes you to the Google doc to see how many licenses were issued and how many to request next year
 * When you look at data, only 35.9% of total licenses were used. Waste. Of. Money!
 * If you need it and you're going to use it, FANTASTIC! If you're not using it, don't request it or use it.
 * Robert would like the licenses to be used. If you are not using it, and another campus wants to use it, then work it out.
 * A-ha Math and A-ha Science will be part of Learning.com next year
 * Turn in request for licenses by **May 1, 2012**
 * 4 schools signed up to go to Robotics Showcase so far...only 4 campuses not really a showcase
 * It's during ELC week
 * Other ITSs will find out if anyone else will participate
 * Sign-up is till May 1st. Encourage your campus to sign up if they are going.
 * President of School Board remembered Henry Vasquez and praised him
 * Debby A made website, Henry V. made campus signs, Setup: Shannon S., Cara S., Vickie B., Bunny B., Debby A., Snacks: Jeff U., Invitations: Linda N., etc.
 * Sign up on the google doc

- Technology Application Assessment (JU and Robin)
 * Robin has about 80% of students completed so far, with very little glitches
 * Document was made by Robin to help set up classes and students
 * Presentation located on wiki here
 * Teachers and students appear to like this Tech Assessment

- Middle School Conference and Book Study (Jeff)
 * Middle schools holding conference this summer with all the teachers and administration involved - Never Work Harder than your Students
 * Jeff made list of who is participating on ProjectShare
 * Check with your persons to make sure the support is available
 * The conference will be held at Walsh MS
 * Middle School ITSs need to get on agenda now - talk to Middle School APs
 * Actual day of meeting - day after Job-alikes session "Middle School Institutes"
 * Ryan Smith and Chris Teter already spoke with Jeff U. to get support
 * All of the 9th, 10th and 11th grade students are uploaded to ProjectShare
 * McNeil Math teachers were dissatisfied and waste of time, tell them what they were doing to share with others
 * Other feedback was that Round Rock was ahead of other districts
 * E2020: TAKS Remediation virtual courses
 * ProjectSHare: Virtual courses focusing on objectives
 * Username in ProjectShare is horrid: auto-generated, in there for life

- Edmodo (district site for teachers) (RA)
 * Should we make a district account?
 * It is still free
 * Other campuses are using it (Chisholm Trail teachers really like it)
 * To use in addition to Moodle

- District Technology Showcase: Getting I.T. Right (er) ! (RA) - - - []
 * Keep Posting them! They look good! Lots of good comments from Board members

- Apps that are currently being used in the classroom (RA) - - - [|https://docs.google.com/a/roundrockisd.org/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjdkjML62fDndHJUQzcwOXRNQ0NtZ08wU0hKcjVQckE#gid=0] - - - []
 * Thank you for adding to this document
 * Reminder: please post useful apps if you haven't posted
 * Caution: Dojo-not secure when posting rewards/punishments online (FERPA)

- Round Rock ISD Youtube channel (MJ)
 * Jerry Gutierrez is going to create email addresses to tie with YouTube...general direction is to have a "Round Rock ISD" channel in the future
 * YouTube will not be blocked
 * E2020 allows only what is needed for Internet access, blocks YouTube and other unnecessary websites

- Summer Prof Dev and Summer Institutes (MJ)
 * In August, Google training doubled with GMail and Calendar in the morning and Gmail and Calendar in the afternoon, so teachers can have opportunity to get to either option.
 * Promethean and Moodle also like Day 1 and Day 2 - same information, different days
 * BYO days have been changed, please look to make sure

- Budget (any more sub money needed) (RA, JU)
 * Money needs to be spent by near future - **May 11th**, every day after that date, the chance lessens
 * Please put in the sub request forms ASAP
 * Elementary ITSs received forms from RA and Secondary ITSs received email from JU
 * MJ will talk to Linda again to verify date of absolute last day for AFD submission
 * If all the money is not spent by due date, what about more Turning Points replacement kits? If so, have those old kits ready to mail at the Admin building

- Name changes for staff - (JU)
 * Continue to send them in but changes will not take place until after the migration to gmail

- Log on information as we migrate to google apps (MJ,JU,GS) - Sharing evidence and documentation for the final evaluation (Table Groups) - can be done in the afternoon with other ITSs - - - Evaulation wiki page: ITS_Evaluation_2011-2012
 * MJ wants everything in folders by May 2nd
 * You can use the HR form or the other version that MJ and JU and RA made
 * Sign up, if you haven't done it already
 * People are asking the accountability for ITSs - this is good proof


 * Afternoon Breakout Sessions**

Go to Google Moderator to submit topics and vote on the ones you think would be most beneficial. - https://www.google.com/moderator/#15/e=1f98cb&t=1f98cb.40&q=1f98cb.658c4d user:RobinY

1:00 – 1:55:
 * Creating a Slide Show on your Website – Debby A.
 * Gamification of Professional Development – How to make PD more engaging - Brainstorming session - Robin Y.
 * Share Session: TCEA/Cool Websites/TheWeb 2.0 tool I am loving right now
 * Work Time – Topic of your choice including: Google roll out documents, evaluation documentation, Getting IT Right Blog, TA TEKS presentation, etc. (this time will be repeated in the next hour session)

2:00 – 2:55 –
 * Photoshop – John P.
 * Elementary Resources - creating a one-stop shop in Google Sites – Mark K.
 * EOC Logisitics – Michele K.
 * Google Videos - Making Quality Videos - Greg S,
 * Work Time – Topic of your choice including: Google roll out documents, evaluation documentation, Getting IT Right Blog, TA TEKS presentation, etc. (this time is a repeat from earlier session)