Academic Computing Committee

Meeting Minutes

March 10, 2008

Members Present:

University Senate Representative: R. Wolfson

Faculty Representatives: J. Alvares [Univ. Senate Rep.], C. Du [CSAM Faculty Rep], E. Renfro-Michel [CEHS Faculty Rep.], R. Subramanian [proxy for SBUS Faculty Rep], S. Shapiro [Library Faculty Rep.].

Administrative Representatives (Academic Deans): M. Mallery [Library Administrative Rep.], A.J. Kelton [CHSS Administrative Rep.], R. Salomon [SBUS Administrative Rep.], S. Shappell [Graduate School Administrative Rep.], S. Poger [CEHS Administrative Rep],  B. Carter [CART Administrative Rep.], P. Kahn [proxy for Associate Vice President for Information Technology]

Guest:  J. O’Brien

Absent: E. Chapel [OIT] , S. Sotillo [CHSS Faculty Rep.], A. Pemberton [CART Faculty Rep.], J. Youn [CSAM Administrative Rep.],  T. Devlin [Academic Coordinator of Education Computing Network], D. Stevens [Undergraduate Student Rep], A. Mohiuddin [Graduate Student Rep.], VACANT [Undergrad. Student Rep.]

Presiding: M. Kasner, Chair

Reporting: M. Mallery, Secretary

Distribution: ACC Web at http://frontpage.montclair.edu/acc/

Convened: 3:40 p.m. [Library Special Collections Room]

Adjourned: 4:20 p.m.

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m. delayed so that members could attend the Provost's Series on University Teaching and Learning Talk.

2. Minutes: Members approved the ACC Meeting Minutes of February 11th with one correction.

3. Announcements: Kelton announced that the MSU ADP Center for Teacher Preparation and Learning Technologies will hold an “Unconference on MUVing Education Forward: Second Life as a Tool for Teaching and Learning” on June 23 from 8Am to 3PM in University Hall on the 7th Floor. Kelton cited the Wikipedia definition for unconference: “An unconference is a conference where the content of the sessions is created and managed by the participants (generally day-by-day during the course of the event) rather than by one or more organizers in advance of the event.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference

4. Reports

• Chair's Report:  No report.

• OIT Report:  No report.

• Ad Hoc Committee Reports:

a) Learning Management Subcommittee (LMS):

Kahn (Chair) reported that the LMS met today (Marhc 10th) to evaluate alternative course management systems Moodle and Epsilen.  Most faculty did not like Moodle compared to BlackBoard.  The LMS will continue to evaluate Moodle. Kahn noted that if we could move content into a separate repository, it would be easier to manage. The  LMS is looking at the Equella application for digital learning resources as a possible solution.  See http://www.thelearningedge.com.au/products.php .

Meanwhile, Kahn reported that IT is moving BlackBoard to a local server and will upgrade to version 7.3 over the summer. Wolfson asked if faculty will see a change when we move BlackBoard to a local system.  Kahn answered that there will be a new URL for access and the BlackBoard upgrade may change the look of some of the pages Also, Bb7.3 has an application called “safeassign” that is like Turnitin and has a wiki function. Kahn said her office will give out documentation on the changes.

Shapiro noted that the Library had received email from faculty with a  query about Turnitin, the online  plagiarism prevention system.  Renfro-Michel said that the Education Dept. had considered using Turnitin but decided against it.  Kelton noted that if all MSU faculty aren’t using Turnitin, then you don’t have complete covereage and it isn’t very effective. Salomon noted that the problem with Turnitin is that is costs a lot.

Kasner asked what can faculty do if they discover a student is plagiarizing?  Kelton said that when he found sentences in a student paper that were plagiarized, he failed the student in the course and referred them to Student Services.  Wolfson cited the MSU Student Handbook, which is online at http://www.montclair.edu/studenthandbook/  on repercussions for plagiarism, which cites the Code for Student Conduct at:  http://www.montclair.edu/deanstudents/studentconduct/codeofconduct.html#academicdishonesty . Renfro-Michel noted that many students have to take an online plagiarism tutorial,  Kelton advised that faculty make the rules and consequences of plagiarism clear in the course syllabus.

b) EDUCAUSE Representation SubCommittee:

Kelton (Chair) reported that he will follow up with SBUS on their choice of representatives.

c) Digital Repository SubCommittee:

Mallery (Chair) reported that the Committee had not met yet.

d) Responsible Computing Policy Subcommittee: Wolfson (Chair) had no report.

4. Old Business:

a) Communication Methods: Kelton reported that he announced the BlackBoard Community on Classroom Technology on the campus listserv.  Kelton invited ACC members to join the Community at http://blackboard.montclair.edu and participate in and initiate discussion on classroom technology.

5. New Business:

a) ITunes U: Kelton congratulated Kahn on the successful launch of MSU ITunes U.  Kahn noted that the policies and documentation are online at http://itunesu.montclair.edu and that iTunes is a Building Block in BlackBoard.

b) ACC Elections: Kasner received the following nominations for the four ACC open positions:

*Chair: Kelton,

*Deputy Chair, Renfro-Michel

*Secretary: Mallery

*Web/Listserv: Shapiro.

Kasner asked that ACC members should send any further nominations for officers to him.  The ACC will hold election for officers at the April meeting or adopt a slate by acclamation.

c) Next Meeting:

The next meeting of the ACC is scheduled for Monday, April 7 th, in the Library's Special Collections Room.

6. Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 PM.

Last updated: 04/07/08