1999-2000 Department Meetings Notes

June 5, 2000:(BA, LM, CM)

  1. Discuss LM's curriculum for 8th grade course and the general Applied Computers Scope & Sequence
  2. Take inventory of Applied Computers textbooks.
  3. Shelly-Cashman instructor's CD-ROM and Web site.
  4. Next September: MF's iMovie demonstration.
  5. Discuss & preview nschool.com

Apr. 5, 2000:

  1. Berks County Student Technology Showcase at Fairgrounds Square Mall on Sunday, April 30, 11 am - 5 pm. Anyone interested?
  2. Discuss & preview nschool.com at http://tryme.nschool.com introduction (with login: cminich & password: evans) - This free service is provided to schools allowing teachers to post and send information easily within a controlled area. Each student and teacher uses a personal log-in but can access the Web site from any computer at school or at home. You can make an announcement, due date, etc. to a whole class with the click of mouse. We could even choose to give parents their own log-ins. Please try out this demo. Mr. Cellucci will sign the service contract. It is already being used by hundreds of schools across the country. Companies have been using comparable Web & network communication systems for years.
  3. BA's review from recent MOUS seminar.
  4. 2000-01 Staff Development plan options due April 14. Any interesting options?
  5. View the ongoing Computer Competencies Matrix. CM will be presenting it to a Mid-States rep on Apr. 28.
  6. MF's iMovie demonstration?
  7. Next meeting will be held on Wed., May 3 (Event Day)

Mar. 1, 2000:

  1. Donations to Horst fire fund.
  2. BA, LM, & CM discuss budget requests for 2000-01.
  3. LM, see CM sometime about the meeting with Pam Cooper, the textbook sales rep.
  4. LM or BA: Does anyone want to go to Lehigh County Community College on 3-4:30 pm, Mon. Apr 3 for a MOUS seminar? We can learn how to get "free" Office 2000 out of it.
  5. Discuss CM's network AUP. We should develop one to use throughout the dep't for consistent use in the future.
  6. Next meeting will be the first Wednesday in April (April 5).

Feb. 2, 2000:

  1. Finish our department's graduation project summaries so that they can be submitted to Mr. Cellucci ASAP.
  2. nschool.com introduction (cminich;evans) - This free service is provided to schools allowing teachers and coaches to post and send information easily within a controlled area. Each student and teacher uses a log-in but can access the Web site from any computer. You can make an announcement, due date, etc. to a whole class or team with the click of mouse. We could even choose to give parents their own log-ins. Please try out this demo along with Mr. Cellucci and CM. If it looks good, he'll sign Wyomissing on to the service which is already being used by hundreds of schools across the country.
  3. The teacher gradebook, EasyGradePro by Orbis Software, is now available on Mac & PC. It is the most widely used grading software in the high school and very recommended. We have a site license which allows us to make as many copies as necessary and it can be installed on your home computers! Let me know if you're interested in using it or learning how to use it this semester.
  4. The next scheduled department meeting will be Wed., Mar. 1 (first Wednesday of the month.)

Dec. 22, 1999:

  1. Upcoming dept meeting dates: Feb. 2, Mar. 1, Apr. 5, May 3 (all Wednesday's)
  2. Return "Tech Prep Agreement" to LM & BA.
  3. Sign up MF & JS to the Dept Mailing List
  4. Review the list of Graduation Projects proposed by our dept. We need more complete descriptions of the projects than I have listed. See the examples from the other departments.
  5. Any changes to next year's Program of Studies course descriptions?
  6. View the ongoing Computer Competencies Matrix.
  7. Discuss grade distributions. Any issues or concerns?
  8. Discuss the "Nat'l Educational Technology Standards" (purported by www.enc.org) that Dr. B forwarded to us.
  9. Any suggestions of schools to visit in order to observe technology?
  10. Intro to our Department Chat Room (use Internet Explorer). Would you like to use this for future meetings? Could it be used with your students?
  11. Intro to "My Yahoo".

Oct. 27, 1999:

  1. Reintroduce the Dept Mailing List.
  2. Discuss Graduation Project requirements.
  3. Discuss CIS contract. Mr. Minich will see each teacher about this individually.
  4. Discuss "Essentials of..." new curriculum ideas that was forwarded to Mr. F from Mr. Cellucci & the School Board Curriculum Committee. Are they being suggested in order to have a place for certain students?
  5. Discuss the issue of offering independent studies. It's a personal decision. Make sure that you have the hardware facilities though.
  6. Does anyone know about lab upgrades? Should the Tech Ed lab go PC or Mac?

    Mr. M will see Mr. C about Mr. A being able to update his "mispelled" Web site.
    Mr. M will meet with Mrs. M about the Thinkwave gradebook.

Aug. 24, 1999:

  1. Discuss textbook inventory & budgets.
  2. Introduce department home page.
  3. Introduce our department mailing list and explain how to subscribe and post messages. Exchange email addresses (personal and/or Wyo-based)
  4. Explain how mailing list can be used in your classroom or organization.
  5. Discuss after-school use of computer labs.
  6. Read over Mr. M's Dept Head position description.
  7. Get your student rosters to the Tech. Coord. early next year if you want passwords to be activated by the first day or two of class.
  8. Make the Guidance Dept aware of your hardware limitations during scheduling next year in order to avoid overflow situations in Sept.
  9. Suggest topics for future meetings.