Academic Technology Committee
A
MINUTES OF MEETING: 03/04/11
Submitted Exec. Committee:
Submitted Academic Senate:
U
APPROVED BY COMMITTEE: 04/15/11
Approved by Exec. Committee: __________
Approved by Academic Senate: __________
U
Members Present: Shan Barkataki, Abel Franco, Conor Lansdale, Ron Saito, Mary Schaffer,
Ashley Skylar (chair), Wayne Smith, Michael Sullivan, Holli Tonyan, Jeff Wiegley
Excused: Helen Heinrich
Absent: Jussi Eloranta, Sydni Powell
Guests: Chris Ice, David Levin, Chris Olsen, Andy Ovaguimian, Ben Quillian
Executive Secretary: Hilary Baker
Recording Secretary: Jennifer De Iuliis
1) Announcements – none
2) Approval of Minutes
a. Approved December 3, 2010 meeting minutes.
b. Approved February 4, 2011, joint ATC/ACAT meeting minutes.
3) Previous Meeting Action Item Review
Baker provided updates on items that were raised at the December meeting. There were no
items pending from the joint ATC/ACAT meeting in February.
SOLAR – Drop down menu lists last date first instead of current date first. Baker explained
this is a delivered function in PeopleSoft and is unlikely to be changed because we try to
minimize modifications to the system, due to cost implications.
VCL – Smith is working with Olsen and is participating in the current pilot.
PHP – Additional instructions were posted to the web page.
Wireless – Olsen and his network staff have been working with Powell to review wireless
concerns in student housing.
VPN – Quillian and Wiegley had discussed the issues raised by Wiegley.
Web pages – Baker passed on the concerns about the need for a more universal look and feel
on all the campus web pages to University Advancement.
PeopleFinder – Concerns regarding emeritus faculty no longer listed in the directory. Baker
stated that a new version of PeopleFinder is now live and it includes both emeritus faculty
and emeritus staff.
Elluminate – Workshops were held on February 9th and March 2nd.
1
Smith shared that he would like to see IT highlighted in news articles on the CSUN main
web page. He noted that there are many significant projects being worked on or others that
are completed and feels it would be a good idea to have them highlighted. Baker will reach
out to Vance Peterson in University Advancement and share Smith’s suggestion.
4) Chair’s Report
a. ACAT – Nothing to report since it was a shared meeting with ATC.
b. Members agreed it would be a good idea to arrange a joint ERC/ATC meeting in
April; Skylar will reach out to chair of ERC to schedule.
5) VP/CIO’s Report
a. IT Survey – Baker stated the survey closed as of Wednesday (March 2, 2011). She
shared that over 1600 students, 323 faculty and 523 staff completed the surveys.
b. Academic Technology Forum (March 8, 2011) – Baker reminded members that the
forum will be held the following Tuesday. She encouraged members to attend.
c. Moodle Update (Levin)
Handout titled – Moodle Update, Prepared for ATC, March 4, 2011
Levin stated plans are underway to upgrade to Moodle 2.x. He noted the look will
change some, but the transition should be easier than the move from WebCT to
Moodle. He shared that currently there are plans to also transition off MoodleRooms,
which was a good partnership to get things started, but moving forward there is more
interest in partnering with hosting and development services with other CSU
campuses. Levin referenced the proposed timeline.
Barkataki inquired if the course lists will have the ability to be shortened or stored in
another area in the upgraded version of Moodle. Levin mentioned that some
campuses are doing this by hiding the older courses and we are looking at this and
other options that may be possible. Levin stated he understands the need for this
since the course lists are already getting lengthy for many professors. Levin also
shared they are looking at the safe exam (lock down browser) for administering tests
and other options that may be available (it is PC only and currently unable to find any
support for the tool). Levin will provide Barkataki some student test accounts.
Tonyan shared that she saw a student navigate to a page while taking an exam. She
stresses the need to ensure proper training for faculty when using Moodle. Levin will
share this with Kiren (CIELO).
6) Department/College Roundtable
Tonyan – Wireless dead spots walking in the parking lot near the administration building
(UN) area. Baker said she has also experienced this and noted that the CSU funds wireless
for state-owned buildings and the Campus Quality Fee has funded other spaces used by
students such as outside areas and parking areas.
2
Andy Ovaguimian – Student guest attendee, thanked members for the opportunity to join the
meeting. (Information Systems major; one of Smith’s students)
Smith – Some student campus email addresses are incorrect and the IT Help Center has been
good about helping him. He also mentioned the issue to A&R.
Franco – Asked for clarification about thin clients. Wiegley explained that a thin client has a
keyboard and screen, but the processing is not done at the desktop level.
Franco – Classroom had no batteries in the remote for the projector and noted that this seems
to be an issue that occurs regularly. Levin will share this concern with the Classroom
Technology Committee.
Saito – Inquired about any technology that could assist with the application process for jobs,
student graduates and awards. Baker suggested he speak with his Associate Dean. Levin
suggested using Moodle for awards and using an ePortfolio (LiveText and TalkStream) for
collecting student work. He added that Barry Cleveland in the Theatre department has used
these services and could be a resource.
Sullivan – Would like to see a consistent thin client roll-out so professors will know what is
or is not needed in a classroom. Baker stated the Classroom Technology Committee is
working on this plan for the 200 open classrooms.
Tonyan inquired about how many faculty are using which technologies. Skylar suggested the
committee members collect the information by going back to each of their own colleges. The
ATC committee members would like input on: (1) How to find classroom features and (2)
Who is not using technology?, to determine whether the ATC committee wants to address
these issues. Tonyan added that some faculty want to use technology, but do not know what
technologies are available.
7) Discussion Topics
a. Online Learning Initiative (Skylar)
Richard Katz and Associates will be visiting 10 campuses (including Northridge) and
plan to meet with about six different groups (faculty, students, administration,
extended learning, President, Provost, CIO). Skylar explained the meeting schedule
is very tight and it will be an intense day when they are visiting. She added that
Levin is our campus liaison with Katz.
Baker added that Steven Stepanek sent the document regarding the CSU Online
initiative via email to ATC members about a week ago.
b. Student Online Readiness Survey (Skylar)
Handout titled – Teaching and Learning with Technology, Draft, February 27, 2011
Skylar is looking to pilot the survey for validation of readiness to take online courses.
Students will get a summary of the scores in the two areas of the survey, technical
comfort level and learning style. Members discussed the draft survey and provided
suggested changes to the scoring model and phrasing of proposed questions. Skylar
asked members to send her an email with any further suggestions. She also noted that
she plans to test the survey with her class and offered to share the survey with others
if they are also interested in testing.
3
c. Virtual Computer Lab Update (Chris Ice, Information Technology)
Handout titled – Virtual Computing Lab, Update for ATC, March 4, 2011
Virtual Desktop: Ice explained that there are approximately a dozen thin clients
deployed, mainly in Sierra Hall. He noted that the concept is to have the same
experience using the thin client computers in each of the 200 open classrooms, (e.g.
icons will all be in the same location on screens).
Smith expressed concerns about the need for additional support hours, especially
support in the evening and on the weekends. Olsen stated as this is moved from pilot
to production phase, there is monitoring of the servers to ensure thin client hardware
and software is available for faculty.
Ice added that the thin client desktops cannot have files saved on them, so faculty will
need to use removable media such as USB drives.
Virtual Software Library/Virtual Computer Lab: Ice stated that there are currently 22
classes participating in the pilot where faculty and students have access to a virtual
software library online. He explained that access is in-class or remotely from any
location. The software library provides cost savings to students. He noted that there
is no current support for Apple software.
Baker stated the virtual desktop project is beyond pilot and being deployed in all 200
open classrooms; however, the virtual software library and computer labs are still in
pilot mode this semester.
8) Policy – Skylar provided a brief update on the Online and Hybrid Course Definitions.
Skylar met with Senate Executive Committee and reported on minor changes they suggested
for the definitions. The latest version will go to Faculty Senate for the first reading next
week. Skylar received a report regarding how the definitions will appear in the SOLAR
system. She will email the latest version of the policy recommendation to ATC members.
9) New Business – none
10) Closing Remarks – Skylar stated the next ATC meeting will include ATC chair
nominations. She asked members to email her any suggestions they have for topics at the
next meeting.
Schaffer suggested Wiegley provide an update on his previous topic on the Classroom
Technology Survey.
Wiegley asked to have the topic as a standing item for the next two meetings, since he is in
the midst of collecting more details due to meetings with Dean Ramesh and findings from the
IT survey.
Meeting adjourned at 3:05 PM.
4