2. Confirmation of minutes

 Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of ETC meeting 11/08 were confirmed.

3. Report on Lectopia

Janette Burke, project manager and sponsor of the Lectopia project reported that the University has purchased a site licence for Lectopia that covers all campuses, including Sunway and South Africa. . A Steering Committee has been established with representation from all Faculties with the responsibility for setting timelines and implementation decisions.

There is no additional provision in the Library’s operational budget for the ongoing annual licence fees for 2010-2011 and the additional equipment required to complete the roll out in 2010. Faculties are encouraged to support the budget proposal submission. The aim is for 50 lecture theatres to be fitted out in 2009, with another 50 in 2010 If funds are available (100 in total). The time line for the installation of the servers has sliped and as there are power and network issues in building 28.

Janette then gave background to Lectopia for new members of the ETC committee.

During discussions that followed it was reported that:  The Business and Economics Faculty are investigating the tablet as a mobile recording device in lectures.

 The Faculty of Engineering is in the process of giving all staff a tablet computer –results of unit evaluations have improved since their introduction.

 Pharmacy uses Lectopia on an ‘opt-out’ basis (you must nominate if you don’t want the lecture recorded) – they are the first faculty to do so.

At the close of the discussion Gordon asked the group to consider how technology such as Lectopia aligns with good pedagogy.

4. Report on myLearningSpace

This project is currently funded through the eEducation Centre. Approximately 320 students and 15 teachers have been supplied with tablet computers with 3G internet access. The use of both the tablets and interactive teaching software such as ‘Classroom Presenter 3’ is enabling teachers to provide a highly interactive and unique classroom experience. A demonstration will be given at the second ETC (Innovation) meeting in 2009 on the interactive teaching software currently being developed by Monash. Although, the myLearningSpace project is currently experiencing infrastructure challenges, student feedback has been positive and overall it seems to be going very well.

A business case is also being prepared to present to the University regarding the costs of supporting tablet PCs for all first year students, in place of existing computer laboratories and associated costs. The Federal Government has agreed in principal to this objective as it coincides with their ‘computers in schools’ initiative. The project objectives for 2009 therefore are to evaluate issues around a large scale distribution of PC’s and inform a roll out plan in 2010.

5. Report on Learning Spaces

Gordon updated the meeting on the projects that make up the ‘Learning Spaces’ project currently funded through the LTPF.(Learning Teaching Performance Fund) These are:

 Lecture Theatre S15  Geoscience Lab – completed  Gippsland Library  N2-Discipline based learning space (Faculty of Business and Economics)

Gordon announced that there is a small amount of funding available in 2009 for projects. The group was asked to nominate for consideration any potential projects. However, it is the intention to use these funds strategically. Therefore, while suggestions are welcome and will be considered the meeting was asked to provide suggestions with a minimal supporting case in the first instance to the eEducation Centre through Kerryn.Morey@adm.monash.edu.au

Len Webster reported that CALT have a meeting room which is open for staff to ‘play’ with technology such as the tablet pc’s and interactive software programs. He suggested that funds could be used to create a designated space which encourages staff to familiarise themselves with the kinds of technology being proposed for use around the university.

Bernard Holkner suggested a project related to the development of small message exchanges (social networks) on campus and to the use of fast message spaces.

ACTION: All members are invited to return ideas in two weeks

Stephen Barkoczy commented on his and other colleagues’ frustration at the lack of whiteboards in the Law and other building which is highly problematic for teaching staff wanting to make informal notes spontaneously.

6. Reports from ETC subcommittees and groups

Emily Feher spoke about the last MUSO Steering Committee. Discussion took place regarding decisions on future LMS (Learning Management Systems) and the way forward. Gordon underlined the importance of the learning implications around the choice and use of an LMS. He stressed the importance of educators and students being involved in technical decisions at the university, taking into consideration the learning implications of decisions being made.

Discussion took place regarding skilling academics to teach (theory vs practice) and the role of technology in this.

7. Committee Scope and Agenda 2009

The scope and agenda of the committee was raised throughout the meeting. Gordon argued that the committee scope is to influence technical outcomes within the university by empowering academics (committee members) to make informed decisions in turn and advise their respective Deans and Faculty Managers.

8. Other Business

Bernard Holkner showed the group the new ‘smart’ pen which acts like a scribe and can be docked into a USB port. It can record audio from meetings, as well as record the data written on specially designed paper). It then converts the data to a PDF file that can be printed for hard copy.

Meeting closed at 4pm.

Next Meeting: Wednesday May 13 - James McNeill Room - 2-3.30pm