Ilevel Meeting, November 25, 2003
Members Present: Tony Drommi, Dina Dubuis, Tom Jeffrey, George Libbey, Marcel O’Gorman, Mark Ottenbreit, Lisa Rood, Sarah Swart, Mike Witkowski
1) e-portfolios update
Tom and Marcel met with Jeff Rice (English/Writing Program) and Sheryl McGriff (CECC) to discuss the portfolio initiative. After investigating online the career placement tool used by CECC, it was obvious that this is not what the grant means in terms of portfolio. The CECC tool is used by students to post a resume and other basic information into a robust database, which is made available to a select group of employers authorized by CECC. The e-Portfolio, on the other hand, would allow students to post their projects, and to design a personalized look and feel.
Sarah raised the issue of security related to posting such projects. Tom noted that the portfolios would be completely secure (as secure as anything web-available can get). Students could opt to make available as much information as they wish. They could also open up sections of their portfolio to a specific person by sending them an “e-vite.”
Tom noted that funds for iLevel server replacement slated for this year could be used to support the e-portfolios. In addition, UDM could use this as a revenue opportunity by offering e-portfolio space to alumni for a reasonable annual fee, maybe $1/meg used.
Tom noted that in today’s job market, it’s up to the student to provide a carrot for the employer. The portfolio could be used an empowering tool that will give them an edge.
2) Level 1 Credential
Emmy noted that plans are already being made to include 4 sessions of Basic Skills Exam during freshman orientation, at 125 students/session. This poses a huge logistical problem for the Tech Mentors. Also, UDM does not have sufficient computing facilities to pull this off.
Once again, it is evident that the exam needs to be revisited. It takes 1.5 days to complete all preparations/grading of exams. Exam itself takes 35 minutes. The entire process needs to be streamlined.
Marcel will be meeting with the deans of the College of Business Administration to ask about the possibility of having CIS take care of the administrative side of the exam. In other words, Tech Mentors would administer the exam, but CIS would take care of getting the data to the right place.
Marcel will organize the creation of a committee to oversee the revision of the exam process. The committee will include CIS faculty, faculty reps from another college, Emmy, and a rep from IT Services.
3) iGrant applications
To date, there has been only one iGrant application. Marcel will send another message to faculty asking them to participate.
4) Summer Institute budget and final dates
Final dates for summer institute:
June 22-24, June 29-July 1. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, over 2 weeks.
9:30-3:30/day.
Sarah would like to open it up to Graduate faculty, but they will not be eligible to receive a laptop. Other committee members expressed concern about the ranking process--undergraduate faculty must come first. It was agreed that we will fill all 12 seats (free laptop seats) with undergrad faculty, and then rank the remaining 6 seats (undergrad and grad) to give grad faculty a chance. These 6 will be able to make use of Library laptops, and undergrad faculty among these 6 will receive free software after they complete the Institute. Grad faculty cannot receive software or hardware as a result of the grant.
Marcel will send out a draft of the Summer Institute CFP letter to the iLevel Team for review and discussion.
Next Meeting, Wednesday, December 17th at 12 pm.
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