Wyo Area High School Computer/Tech Ed Department

Computer/Tech Ed Dep't

Noteworthy links:

2009-10 Meeting Dates (typically 4th Wed of each month) - Oct. 28, Nov. 11, Dec. 9, Jan. 27, Feb. 25, Mar. 24, Apr 28, and May 26
Tentative 2010-11 Meeting Dates (typically 4th Wed of each month) - Sep. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 23, Apr 27, and May 25

2009-2010 Meetings

May 26, 2010 -

Next meeting: Sep 22 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
We will possibly be meeting the afternoon of June 15
Are there any changes in course recommendations that need to be sent to MA by Tue June 1?
On Act 80 May 28 we will be in Room 202 for smart board software review from 12:35-1:35 pm. Lunch courtesy of the principals from 12-12:30 in lobby.
Give me a list of software that is used in your courses along with the installation CD's so I can forward them to the Tech Dept by May 28 at 3 pm.
On June 17, you must turn in your laptop to the cafeteria between 8-10:30 am or to the Tech Dept office by 4 pm. Also give them the form that lists the software that's installed on your laptop including any necessary install CD's. Don't turn in power cords, etc.
You must create a class roster to give to exam proctors (senior & underclassmen exams) with notes of who is exempt and who is not exempt.
Budget orders for 2010-11 can/should be submitted at this time.
Work orders for classroom fixes should be submitted now since the custodians have some slow days.
Old textbooks should be stacked in the Library Pro Room by 3 pm Fri June 11
You will be turning in the "checkout form" to me on the 2nd to last day of the year rather than to an asst principal in an exit interview.
You will be directed by BG to turn in your laptop during the last few days. The Tech Dept will be finished with them 2 weeks into the summer.
If you want any AV equipment cleaned by the BCIU over the summer turn it in to the Tech Dept. They are discouraging this however.
Does anyone know what happened to our dept video and digital cameras?
Create list of hardware/software needs & issues for the IT dept to use over the summer
How to export OWA email to Outlook and setup Outlook for direct MS Exchange interaction using the server socrates.wyoarea.org
Work on the inventory chart for long-range hardware / equipment replacement plan (computers, software, textbooks, shop equipment, video cameras, etc.)
Computer Literacy: zip files, gif/jpg, email attachments, how viruses work, folders vs tags/labels
Internet literacy: copyright issues, computer ethics, social networking issues (MySpace, FaceBook etc)
Information literacy: validity of sites, wikis
AS - 952 & 953 changed to semester courses - see Kreps, budget impact, modify curriculum by Oct 2010

old business
Update our District Dept Home Page
CM - eschoolbook: green - students don't see at all, purple - students do see but "I" is listed as overall grade, blue - students do see but it isn't included on their "outstanding" list of ass'ts, orange - students see and it counts as a zero
CM & BA - add career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid
Status of our student computer survey.
CM - build programming placements test http://www.swsd.k12.pa.us/~mike_resetar/guidelines/logictest.pdf
How to make a video or screencast & upload to YouTube
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.)
CM / BA / LM: Discuss Applied Computers III course revision
MS Word docx to doc conversion. What the x stands for, etc.
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.
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?
ideas for future inservice & dep't meeting activities: MacOS, cyberplagiarism, cyberethics, podcasting, VBA, GoogleApps, OpenOffice, Flash, online assessment, ...

Apr. 28, 2010 -

Next meeting: May 26 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
On Act 80 May 28 we will be in Room 202 for smart board software review from 12:35-1:35 pm. Lunch from 12-12:30 in lobby.
Remember that your PDE 428 is due May 7
Budget orders for 2010-11 can/should be submitted at this time.

Jan. 27, 2010 -

Next meeting: Feb. 24 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
Questions from CS: Should we give midterms at all or just to certain grades? What are needed staff development opportunities/trainings for the 2010-11 school year?
Anyone interested in taking 6-8th graders to http://www.middleschoolcomputerfair.org/generalinfo.html (deadline Apr 9) or high school students to http://pacomputerfair.org (deadline Apr 16)?
CS said we can leave meetings when helping students & that she will make emergency photocopies if a copy request is held up.
Please submit Facilities Requests (e.g. the use of a classroom) at least two weeks ahead of time.
Work on
1. assessment logs - Here is CM's method of assessing many unit tests.
2. differentiation logs (each unit; content, process, product)
3. analyze student data using Performance Tracker

Dec 9, 2009 -

Next meeting: Jan. 27 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
Let's practice exporting data from eSchoolBook and manipulating it with Excel for data analysis. This may be an idea for 2 hrs of staff development as a dept on an exam day in Jan.
What projects are you assigning to 7 & 8th graders going into midterms?
CS asks that you clearly communicate to students when you are available to give them help after school.
Please be ready for a safety audit when an auditor may ask you for your emergency flip chart, flashlight, etc. Remember to lock your classroom door when it's unoccupied.
Foresight benchmarking will be done on Jan 26 & 27.
Work on
1. assessment logs - Here is CM's method of assessing many unit tests.
2. differentiation logs (each unit; content, process, product)
3. RTI logs (7-9th grade)
4. integration of PSSA skills on your unit tests
5. analyze student data using Performance Tracker
6. integrate use of LF (best practices) into daily teaching

Oct 28, 2009 -

Next meeting: Nov. 11 at 2:30 pm in Room 202.
Take yearbook photo
Come to Room 202 with laptop, rosters, performance data, RTI & assessment logs & info on Nov 2 Act 90 day. We will be working on data analysis & student achievement from 12:30 - 2:55 pm.
Work on
1. assessment logs
2. differentiation logs (each unit; content, process, product)
3. RTI logs (7-9th grade)
4. integration of PSSA skills on your unit tests
5. analyze student data using Performance Tracker
6. integrate use of LF (best practices) into daily teaching
college eligible vs college ready. Need study skills to be college ready.
Teachers are available to help you with RTI, assessment, etc. See CS.
Don't hoard general supplies.
Become members of PTA especially if you plan on applying for a mini-grant.
difference between doc and docx & how to convert
don't allow students to change desktop wall paper, etc.
Learn GMail & GoogleDocs
CM - get login info for AP Potential website (for AP CS recruits) from MK
Work on the inventory chart for long-range hardware / equipment replacement plan (computers, software, textbooks, shop equipment, video cameras, etc.)
Computer Literacy: zip files, gif/jpg, email attachments, how viruses work, folders vs tags/labels
Internet literacy: copyright issues, computer ethics, social networking issues (MySpace, FaceBook etc)
Information literacy: validity of sites, wikis

old business
Reminder: expectations - LEQ always displayed on board,
CM & BA - add career awareness activities to D Clewell's master grid
Status of our student computer survey.
CM - report to dep't about how keyboarding is taught at WREC
CM - build programming placements test http://www.swsd.k12.pa.us/~mike_resetar/guidelines/logictest.pdf
Hold a dept meeting with the free version of elluminate.com/vroom
How to make a podcast
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.)
CM / BA / LM: Discuss Applied Computers III course revision
MS Word docx to doc conversion. What the x stands for, etc.
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.
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?
ideas for future inservice & dep't meeting activities: MacOS, cyberplagiarism, cyberethics, podcasting, VBA, GoogleApps, OpenOffice, Flash, online assessment, ...

archive of minutes to past years' meetings - 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009

Wyomissing Area School District | Mr. Minich's Wyo Home Page