Academic Computing and Information Technology Advisory Subcommittee
Minutes of Meeting
October 17, 2000

Marge Kimble called the meeting to order at 1:30 in SB176.

Members present were Sam Birk, Hal Broberg, John Fitzgerald, Marge Kimble, David May, Linda Meyer, Mark Myers, Judie Violette and Bill Baden for Bob Kostrubanic.

Members absent were Greg Anderson, George Bullion, Marcia Dixon, John Erpelding, Bob Kostrubanic, Daniel Liang, Ed Moritz, Robert Murray, and Kathy Trier

Guest: Yifei Pan

The agenda was accepted as written.

Old business

a. ITS had nothing to report
b. Endnote is now a Jump Start course
New business
a. Dr. Pan presented a short demonstration of the graphing program he has written. The technology involved in allowing students to interact with the program in real time requires a dedicated departmental server. This would enable students to not only download the programs and use them on their own computers, but would allow them to take quizzes and exams on the web. The benefits of doing these processes from home is easy to understand and the project was enthusiastically accepted. It was suggested that Dr. Pan try to find funding for this server which he estimates to be about $2000 from departmental funds or from CELT or Distance Education grant money. Once the project is started it is hoped that NSF funds can be obtained.

b. Evaluation of the Stategic Plan
II.C. Support access to specialized training and assistance in the application of information technology to teaching in traditional and nontraditional educational environments.

ACITAS serves as an advocate for classroom equipment upgrades and advises CELT on these items
IV.A. Maintain currency in information technology through development of maintenance and equipment replacement processes that encompass all types of computing and information resources supported by the campus. ACITAS has recommended faculty desktop upgrades, IT upgrades and network upgrades as related to the teaching environment. IV. B. Provide access to a range of software which supports communication and collaboration among all faculty and staff, including electronic mail, Internet access, group scheduling, and similar systems.
The addition of WebCT to the network was recommended by ACITAS. We reviewed NetTutor with no action. EndNote was evaluated and a recommendation was given to ITPC for its purchase and installation on the network.

IV. E. Support the principle of computational diversity by providing a broad range of information technologies designed to prepare students for careers in the spectrum of professional opportunities and to support faculty and staff who have needs which require the use of specialized kinds of computing and information technology.

ACITAS assisted in the authoring of the computational diversity statement.
IV. G. Provide access to specialists, in the kind of Information Center recommended in SR 95-25, or through other means, who can provide assistance in information retrieval from on-campus systems and off-campus information resources.

Not applicable

V. B. Develop processes for broad consultation in assessing the state of information technology at IPFW and for use of assessment results in revising the Information Technology Strategic Plan and guiding enhancements in information technology on the campus.

ACITAS has requested a revision of the bylaws so that the committee will serve as a interdepartmental forum for discussions of information technology, advocate the acquisition and use of information technology in the classroom and represent the academic units to both the ITPC and the VCAA on matters concerning information technology.   ACITAS is also taking an active role in establishing a definition of "computer literacy" at IPFW.


c. ITS information

New e-mail system should be up soon. ITS is moving departments one at a time. Training is available and the information can be found on the ITS website.
d. LRC information Classroom upgrades are continuing. Eight of the twelve proposed classrooms are now finished.

Lack of personnel continues to limit the effectiveness of the LRC. ACITAS recommends that the LRC staff be increased to the current levels of need as soon as possible.
 

 e. CELT information CELT and the library are working on "Course Packs." These are purchased from "Xanedu.com". A package of reading materials is assembled by the instructor, put together by the company and shipped to the local bookstore. This will avoid copyright compliance issues in the library.   WebCT 3 will be coming in the spring.
  f. Library information  
The library is working on the IU Links project. A handout of Information Literacy Resources was given. http://www.lib.ipfw.edu/docs/guides/ilr.html

A copy of a letter to the Senate Library subcommittee requesting the establishment of an IPFW rask force on information literacy was also distributed.

 The meeting was adjourned at 2:30.

Next meeting will be November 8, 2000, SB 476

Respectfully submitted,
M. Kimble, chair