Ocotillo Chairs Meeting Notes
Agenda
  1. Who's Here?
  2. Introductions
  3. Ocotillo Overview
  4. Summer Activity / Goals
  5. Blackboard
  6. Technology Dialogue Day
  7. New Learning Grants
  8. Next Meeting
This meeting is scheduled for 2:00 - 4:00 PM, Friday, September 8, 2000 in MCLI Conference Room 311, (District Building 3rd Floor).

The next meeting of the chairs is Friday, October 13, 2000, 2:00 - 4:00 PM District office

Meeting Notes
Ocotillo Chairs
Friday, September 8, 2000, 2:00 PM
1. Who's Here?
  • Nick Bacon - MCLI
  • Pat Case - RSC
  • Jim Devere - DIST
  • Fred Gaskin - DIST
  • Elizabeth Jacobs - GCC
  • Brenda Larson - CGCC
  • Mary Long - SMCC
  • Marybeth Mason - MCLI
  • Nancy Matte - PC
  • Pam Petty - CGCC
  • Ken Roberts - SMCC
  • Doug Sawyer - SCC
  • Anna Solley - DIST
  • Gloria Stahmer - GWCC
  • Jon Storslee - PVCC
  • Tracy Price - MCLI
  • Roger Yohe - EMCC
Introductions
 In their introductory remarks, both Dr. Solley and Dr. Gaskin talked about various initiatives including: district-wide strategic planning for the 2004 bond, Faculty Recruitment, and K-12 Teacher Education. Ocotillo needs to set technology standards in general and for distance learning courses specifically, they need to work on refining technology efforts, and explore new technologies.

Ocotillo Overview

Doug briefly went over the evolution of Ocotillo.

A recap can be found at:

http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/ocotillo/evol/

Summer Activity / Goals
 Doug meet with Dr. Gaskin and expressed the importance of keeping communication lines open. He also volunteered to be on the District-wide Strategic Planning committee for the upcoming bond election.

Proposed emphasis and goals for the upcoming year:
Everyone agreed that Ocotillo needs to continue to enhance communication efforts with various Maricopa groups, like ITS. They also agreed to keep promoting the use of instructional technology. See below.

  1. Continue to showcase instructional technology, to reach more people, and to improve teaching and learning.
  2. Prepare the system (academic and services) to maximize resources.
    1. Analyze the capability of students to access technology.
    2. Analyze barriers in RFP, NCA to creating hybrids that may affect load, seat time, etc.
    3. Encourage faculty development to move to more hybrids and brick-and-click models.
    4. Look at technical and capital support to expand use of technology.
    5. Share best practices.
  3. Enhance and provide support for district strategic planning.

Blackboard
 Nick reported that at the next meeting the group will discuss which direction to go from here. They will discuss whether they want to move to an online education group versus a specific platform group. The Bb users group also plans on embracing the other platforms. Roger stated that the Ocotillo and Blackboard committees needed to raise the level of awareness to the college presidents. Ocotillo needs to provide recognition and direction to the users group. The communication needs to come from the top down and from the bottom up.

The group thought it would be a good idea to find out what Ron Bleed was thinking in regards to these services. Are we going to have several platforms or eventually go to one? What is the best solution? An inclusive model, online education, common needs versus platforms.

The chairs thought it would be a good idea to add their names to the Blackboard distribution list.

The chairs support the Blackboard group in their endeavor to change the name of the group to one that is platform independent.

Technology Dialogue Day
 "Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age: Something for Everyone"
March 2, 2001 o 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College

This event is to promote technology throughout MCCD. Brenda Larson asked the group what kinds of topics and if they had any speakers they would like to suggest for this day. There will be a lunch discussion along with 2 [5 session] breakout sessions afterward.

Here are a few suggestions:

The chairs were asked to suggest presenters to Brenda Larson in the next 1-2 weeks.

New Learning Grants
 Marybeth briefly talked about the Learning Grants booklets and calendars that were passed out to the Faculty/Staff Developers on September 8th. The purpose of the Learning Grants is to support Maricopa initiatives that are designed to improve and advance teaching and learning. The allocation will be from $250 to $10,000 depending on project goals, types of activities and events proposed, resources required, and degree of involvement of faculty, students, and administrators. The drop-dead date for all proposals to Donna Kardell is November 15th. You can contact your local FSD Coordinator for a booklet and more details.

Future
 Next Meeting: Friday, october 13, 2000, 2:00 - 4:00 PM District office, room 311
Agenda Items: