January 3, 2018 at 10:00 AM - Technology Committee Meeting

Call to order at 10:00 AM.  

Staff:  David Ludwig, Deb Hericks, Beth Kabes, Scott Isaacson,Rhonda Eis

Guests:  Craig Hicks, BJ Peters, Tina Sauser

Executive Director/Tech Director gave an update on the Innovation Grant.  A meeting will be held with January 11, 2018 with KSB to discuss next steps.  This will help to devlop the statewide policies for technology.  Review of the Smartsheet that is updated as things progress.  

There will be an update of the ADVISER by Matt Hastings, Craig Hicks and Tina Sauser will present on the portal.  On December 13, 2017 there were 200 schools to publishing data.  There are some issues they continue to work through with data issues:  display, credentials, and accuracy are the main areas that they continue to clean up.  In June NDE will go back to devoting their time to the Dashboard once the test environment issues are resloved.  Craig Hicks gave a presentation on ADVISER and the updates happening to the portal environment.  SOme of the ways to gain access to protal is Active Directory, Google Domains, etc.  The Applcations for each school will look different by the apps they want to show on their dashboard:  Google, Doc, Google, Mail, Pebble Go, World Book, Google Apps, are just a few of the apps that can be added to each school portal.  They request that we create a working group from NDE and ESU to work on the coordination efforts/communications out to school.  

There have been several meetings in the past 6 weeks to discuss the next steps for working on SRS/AAP.  SRS will be updated/go in to production to Zen 3 Framework this summer.  We meet with the contractor for the project almost daily.  They will continue to work towards meeting the needs of 504, SAT Process, and and incorporate MTSS within the system.  The MTSS will take more time to work through incorporating this into the system.  They will devote all time working towards the conversion and then they will work on the issues list which includes font changes, verbeage, etc.  

Blended/DEC Learning Director shared that there are current 12 schools that have applied for Co-hort 2.  She shared some data that there were 22 schools in the first co-hort.  They incresed the teacher from 61 to 100 in the second year of co-hort 1.  

Implementation Coordinator gave an update of EdReady.  We continue to discuss how to get more usage from EdReady.  Possible some target areas special education, career/technical ed to help those students.  ACT scores is a good data that can be used to help those students prepare and increase their scores.  John Baylor states that half of students need to take a remdial course in Math.  Eighty percent of Nebraska jobs don't need more than a two-year degree for the jobs in NE.  Can we reach these gap areas?  We continue to discuss our barriers:  lack of awarenes, lack of optional pathways for non-proficient students, gap areas, too many standards, scheduling, no PD/training to support a successful implementation for both teachers and students.  We have decided to work more closely with Pathway Schools, Engage our ESU contacts, Provide PD, and use our outside partners CTE, NE Assoc. of Manuafacturers.)  Is there a way to partner with NDE on getting on the NDE Updates?

Progress is ongoing and are on target with funding.  

We have our kick-off meeting next Monday with ISKME that will include the implementation team.  

The LMS Committee met on December 22, to discuss the challenges with funding and the fragmented users and how can we continue to support.  Focuses on ways to support the usuage of LMS.  There is a Gear that identifies some of the support.  We can conitnue to evaluate the vendors to get the most cost efficient pricing for our schools.  We can advocate for funding from other sources to help sustain.  Can we partner with higher education on some LMS:  University uses Canvas, Wayne State used Sakai, etc.

Executive Director shared that we need to discuss the areas of Special Projects and Learning Objects.  

BlendEd/DEC Director shared data on the NVIS system.  

Rhonda Eis shared the TLT will be meeting on January 14 using the same format as they did at their last meeting.  Learn360 had more than 900 users increased.  There is more informatoinn on the OER Commons in the report as well.  

Meeting adjourned at 11:03 AM.