Meeting+Minutes

December 9, 2007 Orleans/Niagara BOCES Technology Leaders Meeting

__First Presentation__ - Wikispaces.com - Mary Ann Buch, Director of Technology at Niagara Wheatfield

Mary Ann presented the new wikispace for the O/N Tech Leaders. A wiki page has been created for each component school district. Each member of the component districts should have received an email being invited to join this wikispaces site.

Each district is being asked to replicate the same information demonstrated on the Niagara Wheatfield wiki page. If you have any questions or difficulties, please don't hesitate to email Mary Ann Buch.

__Second Presentation__ - Race To The Top Overview by Mickey Edwards

Mickey Edwards review the components of the RTTT initiative in New York State so that this group of technology leaders could collaborate within their district with other instructional leaders regarding this movement.

Third Presentation - Synergy - Rebecca Zdon, Erie 1 BOCES Support Specialist

Synergy is a digital dropbox system to host staff and student files via the web. Rebecca demonstrated the Synergy application.
 * Dropboxes can be public or private. Folders can be shared
 * Multiple user collaboration
 * Ability to comment/respond
 * Seamless integration with Centricity
 * Automatic versioning of files up to 10
 * Ability to create, edit and save word processing, spreadsheet and presentation type documents using Zoho
 * Quota control at directory and folder levels
 * Ability to restrict upload by file type
 * Virus protection at time of upload
 * Recycle bins to avoid inadvertent loss of content
 * Ability to multi-select, zip and download folders, subfolders and files to an external storage device
 * Ability to organize files by "tag" and to "star" important/favorite files
 * Ability to find files by keywork, tag cloud, star, or search folder
 * Revisions can be kept of files that students create
 * Teacher has the ability to control rights to the folders they create
 * Can zip folders, search, see recent files, or files mailed
 * Start with an inital allotment of storage space that comes with the service
 * Administration tools to add file types, monitor storage usage
 * Mass assign users to groups, LDAP with Webs That Work

Question: Are the files storaged on this BOCES hosted site scanned for pronographic or harmful materials? Question: Can schools host the stored files so that they can scan the materials? Queston: Can we get clarification on the Federal Children's Internet Protection Act on filtering Internet hosted student and staff files regarding district's responsibilties to "scan" for inappropriate content? Rosanne Huffcut from Erie 1 BOCES will attempt to get a legal opinion. Queston: Is there a default password and then the system prompts to change? No Question: The auditors require the forced change of passwords every 90 days, can you request that School Wires addresses this functionality.

Fourth Presentation: Mike Anderson

Question: How much memory does the computer need to handle Windows 7? At least 2gig, best 4 gig. Question: How much for the upgrade license? Question: Were you successful using the SysPrep? Absolutely. When obtaining new drivers for video cards, etc. to work with Windows 7, don't go to the computer manufacturer's site, go to the component's website for Windows 7 drivers.
 * SysPrep - strips the identification, SID from the machines then shut down and image with Ghost
 * Has stayed with 32bit version of Windows 7
 * Generalize imaging feature Within Windows 7 to create an image and be able to place it on any model machine. No difference now between laptops, desktops and models
 * Schedule Windows 7 training simulataneously with upgrade
 * Windows 7 also has the ability to run in Windows XP mode
 * Great deal of information and webinars on the Microsoft site