Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning Technologies
http://www.mq.edu.au/provost/governance/macalt.html
Members
Prof Judyth Sachs (Chair), DVC (Provost)
A/Prof Maree Gosper, Learning & Teaching Centre
Mr Marc Bailey, CIO
Dr Boris Handal, Director L&T, Faculty of Business and Economics
Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian
Prof John Hedberg, Chair ICT in Education
Mr Andrew Burrell, Director COE
Ms Suzanne Kelly, Director Student Business and System Solutions
A/Prof Steve Cassidy, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Science
Prof Nick Mansfield, Dean Higher Degree Research
Mr Terrence Collins, Manager Learning Systems and Services
A/Prof Ian Solomonides, Director, Learning & Teaching Centre
Prof Julie Fitness, Chair, Academic Senate
A/Prof Sherman Young, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Arts
In Attendance
Ms Karen Davies, MOODLE Implementation Project Manager
Ms Barb McLean, Executive Officer
Mr James Hamilton, Learning and Teaching Centre
Mr Bruce Maclean, Project Manager
Apologies
A/Prof Maree Gosper, Learning and Teaching Centre
Prof John Hedberg, Chair ICT in Education
Prof Nick Mansfield, Dean Higher Degree Research
Minutes
9.00p.m.-10.30p.m. Monday 11th October 2010, Function Room, level 2, E11A
In the absence of Prof Sachs, the Chair was filled by Prof Julie Fitness for items 1, 2 and 3.
1. Minutes of the Meeting 13th September 2010
Adopted
2. LMS Upgrade:
2.1. Introduction to Project Manager – Ms Karen Davies
A/Prof Ian Solomonides reported that the Learning and Teaching Centre and
Informatics have been negotiating a governance structure for the LMS
implementation, which is almost ready for signoff by the DVC (Provost). The Project
is being scoped with agreement close with Netspot and also with Informatics
regarding the conversion of MUOTF. Staff involved in training and support have
been attending Netspot workshops with a further workshop scheduled for staff
involved in technical integration. Project money has been drawn upon to commence
recruitment of the 20-25 staff required for the implementation. Ms Karen Davies has
been appointed as the Project Manager until the end of 2010, with the task of setting
up the project, defining the risks and milestones.
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3. Report from CIO
3.1. Digital Signage
The large screen installed in the courtyard by OFM runs on a proprietary software and
format and hence every new piece of content requires reformatting by the supplier. In
order to re-engineer to standard format it will be necessary to remove the sign from
its current position; the opportunity is being taken to re-install the sign in a position
that eliminates glare in Lincoln Building offices. This work will be undertaken in
December after the examination period.
3.2. Streaming Wiki
As this is new technology (to the University) a community of interest is selfidentifying and a future project/s will be identified.
3.3. Omnipedia – Wiki technology
The University had contracted with a company to provide University look and feel for
the Wiki – due to a poor response Informatics has backed out of this contract and
found an ‘off the shelf’ product that also works on iPhones. Prior to marketing the
Wiki, an Acceptable Use Policy is required.
3.4. Gmail rollout
Gmail has just been implemented in ASAM; with the last rollout being in the Applied
Finance Centre. Greater education is required about the ability to use Outlook as a
front end and in protocols around the Calendaring function. There is an increasing
demand for the use of Google Apps, especially Google Docs, but due to Data
Patriotism laws in the United States these are not currently being institutionally
implemented. Likewise getting storage for Google Videos is still under negotiation.
3.5. iPads
Currently iPads are not recognised as part of the organisational suite of computer
equipment, due to the potential impact on telephone costs. Negotiations are also
underway with vendors, as while the costs of applications are minimal, the processing
costs within OFM are significantly larger.
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3.6. ITS to Informatics Restructure
The final position to be put in place in the new Informatics is the Commercial
Manager position, which will be responsible for financial management.
3.7. LookingGlass Project – Virtual Labs
Due to the software instability within the pilot laboratory there has been a retreat on
this extension to the wireless network, with hard disks being added into computers
within this lab.
3.8. Scheduled Maintenance issues
An OH&S fire test required the shut down of power in the data centre and revealed
that some key pieces of equipment were only plugged into one power source rather
than two. While no data was lost, major corporate systems were impacted for two
days. In order to ensure that this does not occur again colour coding has been
introduced for all cables in the data centre.
3.9. Representation on Boards
Mr Bailey has been invited to take up positions on two boards:

Australian Access Foundation

Intersect
4. Learning Systems and Services Usage Statistics
Mr Collins tabled the Learning Systems and Services Year to Date Statistics noting the
continued growth in demand of both systems and requests to the Help Desks. He noted
that the implementation of the new LMS will increase usage due to the necessity in 2011
to run two LMS and the decision in the Faculty of Arts, mandating the use of Moodle
with the accompaniment of iLecture.
5. Any Other Business
5.1. The Cortex Project – electronic document management
Mr Bruce Maclean spoke to his tabled document outlining the aim and the scope of
the Cortex1 Project. He noted that storage space is at a premium and valuable
University space is being taken up with paper records. In addition, the flood in X5B
raised the urgency of implementation of an Electronic Document System as it was
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found to be more economical to treat and scan damaged documents at the one time.
A market test found that the annual support for Alfresco was considerably cheaper
than the existing support for Trim.
Cortex1 will deliver a Web-based interface to approximately one third of the
University records, but also provide a production system that has the ability to
expand, and eventually deliver a work flowed system.
Discussion included:

The potential for Alfresco to become a repository for Moodle

Links to CMS, Envoy, Google Docs – there is a need for a map for the
boundaries between projects. But also, the University does not want a
situation where every new project introduces a new product

The questions were asked – to stop boundary creep does MACALT need
additional or different members? How can we communicate better across the
University? It was decided:
o Place MACALT on the University Wiki and distill the message of the
Minutes – what is key and who needs to know this?
o Have a meeting once per annum where stakeholders are invited to
attend and to report on their plans e.g. Macquarie International, Public
Relations and Marketing, Office of Facilities Management, etc.
6. Next Meeting
2.00-3.30p.m. Monday 8th November 2010, Function Room E11A
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