2008-2009 Meetings

May 27 , 2009 -

    new business
  1. We will be using Google SketchUp Pro version 7 for the CAD classes next year.
  2. Status of our student computer survey.
  3. As for your 3 flex days:
  4. On Thur June 11, from 7:45-10:45 am we will attend Session #203 - Polyvision SmartBoard training in the District Board Room. From 12-3:00 pm, we will be attending Session #302 - WebTools 2.0 (blogs, wikis, etc.) in Room 229.
  5. On Fri June 12, we will be learning about Differentiation (Session #401) in the library all day except for 10:45-12 noon lunch.
  6. Tue Aug 25 7:45-10:45 am - welcome back, staff recognition, United Way, WAEA meeting; 12-3 pm building level activities
  7. Wed Aug 26 7:45-10:45 am - Performance Tracker Training; 12-3 pm Data Analysis
  8. Thu Aug 27 7:45-10:45 am - building level meetings, time in classroom; 12-3 pm time in classroom
  9. Learn GMail & GoogleDocs
  10. CM - get login info for AP Potential website (for AP CS recruits)
  11. Work on the inventory chart for long-range hardware / equipment replacement plan (computers, software, textbooks, shop equipment, video cameras, etc.)
  12. Computer Literacy: zip files, gif/jpg, email attachments, how viruses work, folders vs tags/labels
  13. Internet literacy: copyright issues, computer ethics, social networking issues (MySpace, FaceBook etc)
  14. Information literacy: validity of sites, wikis

    15. old business
  15. CM & BA - add career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid
  16. CM - report to dep't about how keyboarding is taught at WREC
  17. Hold a dept meeting with the free version of elluminate.com/vroom
  18. How to make a podcast
  19. Share a tip with one of the new technologies to each other (portable apps on USB drive, how to map network drive to student folders, VPN connxn, Cryptainer, etc.)
  20. CM / BA / LM: Discuss Applied Computers III course revision
  21. MS Word docx to doc conversion. What the x stands for, etc.
  22. Learn how to use OpenOffice (website ) & save files in OpenDocument (ODF ) file format (file extensions .odt & .ods). Review the differences between text, RTF, and proprietary formats such as .doc and .pdf formats.
  23. Learn to use free, web-based applications such as Google Apps (Docs & Spreadsheets wiki ; wiki , review ), FlySuite, Glide Effortless, and ThinkFree Office. What role can they play in our curriculum or dep't business?
  24. ideas for future inservice & dep't meeting activities: MacOS, cyberplagiarism, cyberethics, podcasting, VBA, GoogleApps, OpenOffice, Flash, online assessment, ...

Apr 22, 2009 -

    new business
  1. Next meeting: May 27 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
  2. On May 1 Act 90 early dismissal we will be creating a student computer proficiency survey to administer to LM's 8th graders and/or 9th Applied students. The results can be shared to faculty for them to know if they can assign projects that require use of specific tools / apps. For example, CS was surprised to know that some students didn't know what a database is. We can also expand this to computer literacy / Internet literacy / information literacy.
  3. Turn in initial budget reqs by end of April
  4. As for your 3 flex days:
  5. On Thur June 11, from 7:45-10:45 am we will attend Polyvision SmartBoard training. From 12-3:00 pm, we will be attending WebTools 2.0 (blogs, wikis, etc.)
  6. On Fri June 12, we will be learning about Differentiation all day except for 10:45-12 noon lunch.
  7. Sometime over the summer, you must schedule laptop training as your 3rd flex day.
  8. Tue Aug 25 7:45-10:45 am - welcome back, staff recognition, United Way, WAEA meeting; 12-3 pm building level activities
  9. Wed Aug 26 7:45-10:45 am - Performance Tracker Training; 12-3 pm Data Analysis
  10. Thu Aug 27 7:45-10:45 am - building level meetings, time in classroom; 12-3 pm time in classroom
  11. Learn GMail

Mar 25, 2009 -

    new business
  1. Next meeting: Apr 22 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
  2. CS wants to know: do we want to do 4Sight benchmarking 3 or 4 times next year (in all grades?); do we want to do it in classrooms using double periods; do we want to do it on paper or online?
  3. CS wants to know what we should do on May 1 early dismissal (something related to data analysis)
  4. CS wants to know what nonRTI and nonCoteachers would do on June 12 (big picture stuff not specific courses) [computer profiency exam, computer ethics exam / instruction]
  5. Review Classroom Spy in CM's classroom.
  6. Work on the inventory chart for long-range hardware / equipment replacement plan (computers, software, textbooks, shop equipment, video cameras, etc.)
  7. Learn to use free, web-based applications such as Google Apps (Docs & Spreadsheets wiki; wiki, review), FlySuite, Glide Effortless, and ThinkFree Office. What role can they play in our curriculum or dep't business?
  8. CM / BA / LM: Discuss Applied Computers III course revision
  9. MS Word docx to doc conversion. What the x stands for, etc.
  10. Learn how to use OpenOffice (website) & save files in OpenDocument (ODF) file format (file extensions .odt & .ods). Review the differences between text, RTF, and proprietary formats such as .doc and .pdf formats.

    11. old business
  11. CM & BA - add career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid
  12. CM - report to dep't about how keyboarding is taught at WREC
  13. Hold a dept meeting with the free version of elluminate.com/vroom
  14. How to make a podcast
  15. Share a tip with one of the new technologies to each other (portable apps on USB drive, how to map network drive to student folders, VPN connxn, Cryptainer, etc.)
  16. ideas for future inservice & dep't meeting activities: MacOS, cyberplagiarism, cyberethics, podcasting, VBA, GoogleApps, OpenOffice, Flash, online assessment, ...

Feb 25, 2009 -

    new business
  1. Next meeting: Mar 25 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
  2. AS & MF - SolidWorks or AutoCAD? Is it in the budget for 2009-10 or not? [It has been scheduled as a course.]
  3. What teacher duties can be cancelled for next year (e.g. hallway duties)? [none that we can think of]
  4. Thanks for the writing projects that were forwarded to CS.
  5. Create long-range hardware / equipment replacement plan (computers, software, textbooks, shop equipment, video cameras, etc.) Money should not be spent at "last minute". [CM will make an inventory chart & we'll discuss at future meetings]
  6. Don't overwhelm sec'ys.
  7. Any input to the newly formed TAG committee? If so, see CM or AS. New teacher laptops next year will be dual-boot Macs.
  8. Any input to the data collection committee? If so, see CM. What purpose should we have for data that's being collected? Do you want a tour of Performance Tracker?
  9. See DC about summer internship with local businesses. [LM has applied]
  10. AS & MF - work with Ms. McVay & Ms. Wise to talk about what you have in common & projects that you maybe able to work on together. We may need to ask for common planning time. [AS has spoken to her and will be reviewing closer to race car season]
  11. BA - I will discuss adding career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid.
  12. CM - Let Corbett know of any scheduling considerations.

Dec 9, 2008 -

  1. Check the draft version of the midterm exam schedule. Needs to be returend to Janice by Dec 11 at 2:15 pm.
  2. One of the exam day afternoons may be an in-service Act 80 day.
  3. Remember to keep up your documentation of your student achievement goals.
  4. Principals will be meeting with teachers to review test grades vs other classroom grades vs overall quarter grades & possibly midterm grades. All of this data is "public" in eSchoolBook.
  5. PETE&C is Feb 8-11, 2009 in Hershey. Go to peteandc.org/program.asp to see the program listing.
  6. AS & MF - SolidWorks or AutoCAD? Is it in the budget for 2009-10 or not?
  7. MF - I have a note about your independent study with a ? from CS.
  8. Review our course descriptions and return to Betty by Dec 19 with changes.
  9. Review the course selection forms.
  10. CM / BA / LM: We won't be teaching Office 2007/2008 with the ribbon until 2010-11. We can use Excel and Word 2008 on the Macintosh side (very compatible ; only problem is no VB macros allowed). We can teach Open Office Base or even Access 2003 for the little bit of database that we teach. See me to borrow and preview the 2007 Shelly Cashman textbooks.
  11. CM update on his participation in BCIU HS Computer Fair conference call

Nov 12 , 2008 -

  1. AS - stool project?
  2. Review field trip asthma inhaler/Epipen letter from District solicitor. This is still under review.
  3. AS & MF - SolidWorks in CAD course?
  4. Budget process
  5. CM / BA / LM: When to update Office 2003 with Office 2007 or Office 2008 in Applied I & II? We can use Exel and Word 2008 on the Macintosh side (very compatible; only problem is no VB macros allowed) and Open Office Base or even Access 2003 for the little bit of database that we teach. Let's consider using CourseSmart.com (username: my email password: see me).

Oct 22, 2008 -

  1. Next meeting: Nov 12 at 2:30 pm in Room 202. Clewell will be here representing the Guidance Dept.
  2. Take junior high yearbook photo at 2:30 pm.
  3. BCIU HS Computer Fair will be held at BCIU on Feb 27, 2009 from 8:30 am - 1 pm. Students can compete in animation, web design, graphic design, multimedia, desktop publishing & programming. More info at pacomputerfair.org or from Sue Calvin at 610-987-8639. Registration begins Dec 4 and ends Feb 16. Remember though that we must submit field trip plans 60 days or more before Feb 27. We would be able to go to the state competition in May. There is a conference call scheduled for Dec 4 at 2 pm if you're interested in joining for more information about the contest. The state competition is May 19 in Carlisle.
  4. Our Standards are linked above for your reference.
  5. Marcia Moyer is available to work with specific students who need help with reading
  6. Career Day for 8th & 11th is 11/12
  7. any news for our Dep't home page goes to C Rada
  8. Friday Nov 7 is a Act 90 afternoon where we will probably be continuing our Oct 6 In-Service by sharing results, refining goals, etc?
  9. Guidance Dep't has invited a rep from our dep't to visit one of their dep't meetings which are held every Friday at 9 am
  10. AS - sketch out your ideas for upgrading your curriculum so we can run it by the principal and ultimately the asst super.

Sep 24, 2008 -

  1. Take yearbook photo
  2. CBansner & JComerford will discuss list of RTI students in grades 7, 8, & 11; eMetric & Study Island data; Math & reading anchors that can be implemented in all content areas
  3. The school is not mailing failure warning notices this year. But we will get a list of parents who have no access to eschoolbook and we should contact those parents if their child is doing poorly.
  4. Agenda for Oct. 6 In-Service 9 am - 3 pm: 7-45-9 am in auditorium; from 9:15-10:30 am or maybe 11:15 am we will learn Inspiration from BGall bring instructional materials to that session. Lunch is from 11:15-12:30 pm. For the rest of the day we will use PSSA results to identify list of your students who are not proficient and the specific anchors that they have problems with and strategies for giving them extra help in our classes. We will probably do this in Room 202.
  5. PSAT's will be given 10/15; Career Day for 8th & 11th is 11/12
  6. Each of us need student achievement goals which should revolve around data, Math &/or English
  7. CM ToDo: add career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid
  8. CM / BA / LM: Discuss Applied Computers course revision
  9. AS - sketch out your ideas for upgrading your curriculum so we can run it by the principal and ultimately the asst super.
  10. anyone care to present their "best practices" at a future faculty meeting?
  11. Guidance Dep't has invited a rep from our dep't to visit one of their dep't meetings which are held every Friday at 9 am

    12. old business
  12. CM will eventually report to dep't about where at WREC typing is taught to students.
  13. MS Word docx to doc converstion
  14. How to make a podcast
  15. Learn to use free, web-based applications such as Google Apps (Docs & Spreadsheets wiki; wiki, review), FlySuite, Glide Effortless, and ThinkFree Office. What role can they play in our curriculum or dep't business?
  16. Learn how to use OpenOffice (website) & save files in OpenDocument (ODF) file format (file extensions .odt & .ods). Review the differences between text, RTF, and proprietary formats such as .doc and .pdf formats.
  17. Share a tip with one of the new technologies to each other (how to map network drive to student folders, VPN connxn, Cryptainer, etc.)
  18. ideas for next year's inservice activities: MacOS, cyberplagiarism, cyberethics, podcasting, VBA, GoogleApps, OpenOffice, Flash, online assessment, ...