DDLC Meeting — June 2, 2006 
BRCC Plecker Center    10:00 a.m.

MEETING MINUTES

1. Welcome and Introductions.

John Downey opened the meeting at 10:25 a.m. Participants all introduced themselves.

Attendees:

John A. Downey, BRCC; Kim Blosser, BRCC; Laurie Hillstock, LFCC; Mike Turner, VCCS; Steve Sachs, NVCC; Mary Clare DiGiacomo , PVCC; Rebecca Blankenship, GCC; Bill Hightower, VCCS/SsVCC; Rio McBride, DSLCC; Susan Kennedy, MECC;
Scott Langhorst, TCC; Charles Boling, VHCC; Mark Nelson, PHCC; Kristen Kelly, JTCC; Susan Beasley, CVCC; Jaime Shetrone, WCC; Ralph Lucia, VCCS; Matt Lawson, VCCS; David Carter-Tod, VCCS; Jan Klingberg for Ruth Smith, TNCC

2. Update on ASAC Educational Technology (Formerly ASAC DDLC) Committee.

Scott Langhorst provided an overview of recent actions by the Vice President's and Provosts Academic and Student Affairs Council Educational Technology committee. The minutes of that group's deliberations are appended to this document. ASAC endorsed the most recent version of the course coding document for distance learning. DDLC members were encouraged to emphasize the importance of its use on each campus…especially in regards to correct input on the course attributes panel. A report on ASAC deliberations was provided for discussions concerning proctored activities in distance learning courses, the desire for academic input into blackboard course archiving policies, blackboard plug-in issues and the Chancellor's Technology Expectations. Goals for next year's work are included in the minutes. John Downey was elected chairperson for next year's subcommittee.

3. Update on enterprise applications upgrades.

Ralph Lucia reported on the status of SIS and Blackboard upgrades. He indicated that approximately 3500 downloads of the free Symantec product have been downloaded from Blackboard by students and faculty since it was made available. ITS is also working on issues associated with the elimination of old usernames that include the last four digits of student social security numbers. General information on LDAP improvements to the directory services manager were discussed.

4. Merlot Building Block and Prioritization of other Building Blocks.

John reviewed the VCCS Discuss dialogue on the test implementation of the Merlot Building Block plug-in in Blackboard. Members agreed that methods of searching for Merlot learning objects outside of Blackboard are sufficiently accessible that implementation of that building block in production is not warranted at this time, especially given some of the issues identified in the test. The DDLC membership did endorse the prioritization of the Wimba Audio Plug-in and the Discussion Board Grader plug-in as the next two priorities for the VCCS to explore for deployment.

5. Student Portfolios.

Members discussed a request from Germanna Community College to explore the use of the student portfolio system in Blackboard. Ralph emphasized the need to identify desired features so that ITS could identify the best methods…within or outside of Blackboard…to address instructional needs in a cost effective and efficient manner. The DDLC membership endorsed a pilot program for student portfolios with nursing students at Germanna. Ralph will determine the best procedure for IT staff to work with Rebecca on the pilot project if the feature can be turned on for a pilot group limited to Germanna nursing students alone. The focus of the pilot project will be to identify instructional features of an electronic portfolio system, along with the technical specifications required for those features. The data resulting from the pilot will be used to inform the dialogue regarding the academic usefulness of on-line portfolios and the best technical methods for creating them.

6. On-line Testing Issues in Blackboard.

Steve Sachs led a discussion to gauge the extent of on-line testing issues associated with technical problems between internet browsers and blackboard testing features. Most of the issues are well documented and are known to Blackboard. Several members indicated they have experienced such problems and have found some work arounds as the issues arise. Laurie Hillstock also identified a testing software that some users may find helpful at www.brownstone.net. Members agreed to monitor the issues and discuss at future meetings of the DDLC.

7. Election of the 2006-2007 DDLC Chairperson.

John introduced the topic of chairperson election for next year and indicated that Inez Farrell expressed a willingness to accept the position if selected. John opened the floor for other nominations, of which there were none. The DDLC membership elected Inez by acclimation as the 2006-2007 chairperson of the DDLC.

8. Miscellaneous:

Ralph distributed a very helpful booklet (Attached) of information updating members regarding tasks that ITS is working on in regard to Blackboard. John thanks Scott Langhorst for his service to the DDLC and wished him well in his retirement. John pointed out tentative dates for next year's DDLC meetings but indicated that finalized dates depended partially on the timing of ASAC, Tech Council, ACOP and other meetings of the VCCS. He also asked members to provide Inez with suggestions concerning goals for next year as well as whether a two day fall meeting was desired.

9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:30pm.

VCCS Academic and Student Affairs Council Committee Minutes
May 25th, 2006
DRAFT

 Distance Learning Committee- Chair Scott Langhorst

Action Items: 

1. Distance Learning Coding.  (Review and approval of revised VCCS DL course coding procedures – Rebecca Kittelberger and Scott Langhorst).  Documents have been reviewed by DDLC and A&R workgroups.  DL coding issues include: 1) accuracy and consistency of distance learning coding/reporting across 23 colleges, 2) search capability for courses within SIS, 3) tuition calculation for e-rate courses, and 4) PAS reporting issues.

   Discussion of search attributes and ease of search by students, especially for larger colleges.

   (DDLC should make recommendations to ASAC about “distance learning” definitions.)

   RECOMMENDATION:  The committee endorses the DL coding document as presented and recommends that ASAC endorse the document and consistently adopt DL coding procedures at each college.

   APPROVED

 Discussion Items: 

1. Review (and renewal?) of “proctored activities” requirement for distance learning                    courses and discussion of expanding the requirement to all credit courses.  (Joint meeting with Educational Programs Committee).  See: http://www.vccs.edu/vccsit/Archive/VDENAdmin/vdenstds.htm

Joint committee did not achieve consensus about extending proctored activities to all credit courses.  (Need to better define/refine issues and concerns that need to be addressed.)  ASAC may need to revisit issue in the future.  Further discussion in Distance Learning Committee led to committee resolution.

RESOLVED - VDEN standards should be a part of all distance learning courses,
      and faculty should be made aware of VDEN standards.

B.  Blackboard plug-ins and enterprise implementation (e.g., MERLOT plug-in).  Discussion of issues with BB plug-ins.

C.  Blackboard course archive policy.  Discussion of BB archive policy issues --- needs further work and future action.  DDLC should make a BB archive recommendation to ASAC.

D.  Chancellor’s (technology) expectations and ASAC involvement (Sullivan).  What role should ASAC play in Chancellor’s Expectations?  Educational Technology Committee should review and provide input to Technology Council process in mid-Fall?  “Expectations vision” session (agenda item) for Educational Technology Committee at Fall 2006 ASAC meeting.

 Information Items: 

1. Updates on Information Technology Services enterprise initiatives (Matkin/Lucia). 

Marcia was willing to do quick demo of 8.9 for those interested, after meeting the concluded.

2. Update items from VCCS Distance & Distributed Learning Committee (Downey)

Goals for 2006-07:

1.      To develop and propose a strategic direction/vision for educational technology within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

2.      To collaborate with other VCCS committees regarding educational technology issues and concerns (e.g., Technology Council, DDLC, other ASAC
sub-committees).

3.      To review and update VCCS policies and procedures related to educational technology and distance learning.

Committee Assignments:

 New Committee Chair for 2006-07 = John Downey (BRCC)