VITA-Central Meeting Agenda and Minutes, November 12, 2009, 3:30-5:30pm

November 12, 2009

3:30-5:30 pm

Barre City Elementary and Middle School Library
50 Parkside Terrace,
Barre, VT

Thank you to Stephanie McMahan for hosting our first
VITA-Central meeting.

Attendees: Tom McSweeney, Linda
McSweeney, Sue Monmaney, Stephanie McMahan, Diane Stacy, Elain Then,
Chris Costello, Eric Hall, Charlie Wilson, Jude Newman, Darcy Buret,
Maria Forman, Ludo Buret, Tad Dana, Pattie Casari, Peter Drescher,
Holly Kruse, Jane Tolassi, Shannon Walters

Introductions

DOTS III Deadline(Add'l note on 12/7/09 -- see VTcite homepage for info on new deadline)

Much of the discussion centered around
interactive whiteboards. Linda McSweeney offered to host a future
meeting to demo several different brands.

Peter Drescher: State of the State

• VT Distance Learning Initiative – VT
  online school for all VT schools. Apps due this month and will be
  announced around the first of the year.
• LNV & CILC
• Trainings happening Nov and Dec
• New equipment was provided to existing
  LNV sites
• Additional polycoms can be purchased
  through NE Computers – approx $3500. Future grants may be
  available. Arlyn Bruccoli is the contact person,
  Real World Design Challenge –
  Challenge started Nov 16th

Highlights of VTFest

• Alan November – main take-away:
  Changing “what” to “how”
• Wednesday evening: Connection issues and other technology
  frustrations (bring or don't bring their own computers?). Dinner possibility?
• Lots of great resources at various
  sessions
• Policy, Tech GEs, LNV sessions were
  informative
• Opportunity to create accounts (e.g.
  Shelfari) during a session helpful
• Flip video and Google workshops

Dynamic Landscapes: Save the date: May
13 and 14

Favorite Web 2.0 tools:

• Jing
• Current events/content on
  tweentribune.com: Teachers make accounts and control student comments
• Web design at Weebly.com – up to 40
  free students accounts

Doorprize – Netbook: Congratulations
to Shannon Walters!