DDO Workgroup Update September 2006
From Shifted Learning
DDO workgroup meeting Agenda & Meeting Minutes September 20, 2006 9am – 10:30am
Contents |
[edit] Agenda
- Welcome
- Member update
- Report from the Chair
- Budget Development Process
- Portal processes - demo / discussion
- Accounts
- Certification for local mentors
- Course review (process / policy / goals)
- Virtual High School - overview of how DDO could participate
- Introduce Bethany - WiscNet support liaison with DDO
- Other
Ross Wilson started out the meeting by welcoming folks. Those attending were: Andrea Deau - WiscNet, Heidi Genthner - WiscNet, Jill Gurtner - Middleton Cross Plains SD, Jamie Kampf - CESA10, Steve Lanphear - UW Madison, Office of Education Outreach, Louis Loeffler - Cardinal Stritch University, Alicia Mundt - WiscNet, Andrea Pokrzywinski - CESA12, Bethany Sorem - WiscNet, Lew Terpstra - Madison Area Technical College, Nancy Toll - Hudson SD, Judy Wahr - Wisconsin Heights SD, Ross Wilson - CESA10.
[edit] Member Update
Andrea Deau gave a member update. Current WiscNet DDO members include CESA10, CESA12, Middleton Cross Plains SD, Platteville SD, Wisconsin Heights SD. Waupaca SD is in the process of submitting the MOU and we have received some inquiries. Nancy noted they were planning to join, but are currently establishing their policies for online learning before stepping in.
Discussion took place regarding sharing our policies with each other and posting them in the portal. Andrea will send out a note to the group asking for policies and will post those documents.
[edit] Report from the Chair
Ross and Andrea P. referred to some excellent resources they had reviewed from Dave Glick. His website is: http://glickconsulting.com/ - The rubric is in classroom resources/resources.
[edit] Budget Development Process
Heidi led the group through an explanation of the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 expenditures and revenue spreadsheets she developed. These documents were sent to the DDO mail list on 9-19-06. It was noted the move toward cost-recovery is important and that we need to keep that in mind. Heidi explained the WiscNet budgeting process and timeline. The workgroup asked Heidi and Andrea to produce some sample fee structure models with fee increases and share them on the list. Andrea P. noted perhaps the fee could increase to $200 per 1,000 students. Steve L. suggested encouraging participation to leave the fee at $100 for the first year and then increase it. Heidi and Andrea will send out models to the workgroup in the next week. Consensus was to submit the current expense and revenue drafts to the WiscNet board budget subcommittee with the understanding we may make modifications to the fee structure for 2007-2008.
[edit] Portal Processes
Andrea gave a general overview for how students and teachers access the portal and noted that you can contact Andrea, Alicia and Heidi for step-by-step help as you work through the process. All support is being run through WiscNet technical support. With this approach, you will always be able to reach someone when you have a need. Please use the following contact information: support@wiscnet.net and phone: 608-265-6761, option #2. This information is posted on http://ddo.wiscnet.net under help as well. Andrea noted that in order for you to complete a purchase transaction you will need an account number. Andrea will send each DDO contact their account information. Discussion took place about the need for the required process in the portal for certification for local mentors. This process requires local mentors/teachers to complete a required checklist before being approved as local mentors/teachers. Members of the workgroup indicated some sort of certification for the local mentor/teacher is very important, but that this can be implemented at the local district level. Andrea will send out a document with the certification checklist from the portal and will put this as an agenda item for October so we can improve or modify it for local district use.
[edit] Course review (process / policy / goals)
The group discussed the need for some sort of review process for courses that DDO lists in the catalog, both for students and for professional development. Although we were short on time during the meeting, several ideas were offered for elements that should be included in the review process. Steve L. and Louis L. both advocated using state standards alignment as a requirement. Lew noted that their courses are reviewed mainly by course design elements. He referenced the eTech College review process as an excellent model and shared that information on the workgroup mail list. Jill G. also offered we could consider courses provided by DDO members not need to go through the higher level review process. If we are accepting courses from outside sources, we need a review process. This item will be added to the October meeting agenda.
Andrea P. asked about a listing of courses that would be available for local districts to provide their own instructors. Andrea will send a list out to the group of what's available with the current course providers on contract. Course providers currently on contract include: AMDG, Apex Learning, Appleton eSchool / Kiel partnership, Wisconsin Virtual - CESA9, Florida Virtual via Smart Solutions, ElementK.
We moved the Virtual High School overview to the next agenda due to lack of time.
The group welcomes Bethany Sorem from the WiscNet Technical Support Group. She will be serving a support liaison with DDO.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30am. Next meeting: Wednesday, October 25th, 9-10am via webconference.
