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K20 Advisory Committee Meeting - Conference Call

December 9, 2011

ATTENDING

(please let James know if we missed you)
Ruthie Blankenbaker (CILC)
Marshall Chambers (GA Tech)
Ellen Vaughan (Vaughan LLC)
Debbie DeSousa (Merit)
John Korb (TETN)
Carol Willis (TETN)
Larry Gallery (NYSERNet)
John Gregory (U Maine)
Tim Sizemore (KY Dept of Ed)
Al Lind (KyRON)
Kim Owen (NDSU)
Jeff Custard (FRGP)
Sherilyn Evans (CENIC)
Nick Cross (AARNet)
Matt Conforth (Passaic Valley Regional High School, NJ)
Heather Todorov, Internet2 (notes)
James Werle (Internet2 K20)

Meeting Notes

Introduction (James):
  • Final quarterly call for the year
  • Agenda bash – move project updates to the front of the meeting
  • Carol Willis re Presidential Library update
  • Kim Owen re National Parks update
  • Vgo (sp?) Robot Project – TETN (John and Carol)
Direct to the Wild, Appalachian Trail Project (Marshall):
  • A friend (61 years old, former Marine) proposed hiking the Appalachian Trail.
  • This is a great discovery project, educational opportunity
  • Could involve some research pieces - i.e., remote medical feedback, health research (telehealth)
  • Two people are going with him – a 23/24 --year-old nephew and a young woman who's focusing on the educational pieces and working with them.
  • Ellen is working with Marshall to develop support for the project, so we're looking for that. Any ideas welcome along those lines (i.e., funding).
  • EV: Have reached out to industry contacts, e.g., Polycom. Plan to approach some foundations as well.
  • JW: Any estimates on cost? EV: Not really pulled together yet.
  • MC: Would like to fund outfitting the hikers – an amount that would pay for food and gear (~$13,500 for the 5 month hike).
  • Cameras, etc. - $25,000-$30,000 could get us through the entire timeframe. Foundations could focus on Phases 2 and 3 – sustainability phases. Will develop a hiking video game and content overlays to sell to the classroom and for the home.
  • Kim O: There are trail groups all over the U.S. Probably not a lot of money, but might we aware of local/regional partnerships or connection to a university?
  • MC: They will do this regardless of whether they get the funding.
  • Want it to be a cool, cutting edge education piece.
  • Some wider goals (e.g., exercise for kids in the classroom, getting kids outdoors and involved in nature).
  • Tim (KY): Does ORGT still exist? Outdoor Recreation at GA Tech (student group).
  • JW: James sent links to a past project that had some similarities – the Lewis and Clark Expedition project. May be lessons learned to draw from this.

A few links to description of the L&C project
http://ocio.osu.edu/blog/community/2004/03/12/re-enactment-of-lewis-and-clark-expedition-uses-technology-developed-at-osu/
http://oncampus.osu.edu/article.php?id=63 http://cgi.stanford.edu/~dept-ctl/tomprof/posting.php?ID=778

  • JW: A couple people from the L&C project Marshall may want to connect with:

Robert S. Dixon, Ph D, PE (created the enabling technology described above)
Chief Research Engineer
Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) rdixon@oar.net

Tim Gore (organized all aspects of the project)Interactive Coordinator
HEC-TV Live!
Gore@clayton.k12.mo.us

  • It's "RUS" (spelling?) grant season for videoconferencing technology – may also want to leverage this for hardware funding?
  • Nick Cross in Australia said that they were interested in participating and is on today's call.
  • Jeff C: If you haven't already, might approach Vidyo. We've been doing testing with their products and are impressed with the mobile client. Jeff will email a couple of contacts. [Send to James to share with the group.]

NEXT STEPS:

  • Marshall will keep the group informed as the project develops. There was strong interest expressed in supporting this effort.
Eli Lilly (Ruthie B.):
  • The Ruth Lilley Health Education Center http://www.rlhec.org is located in Indy. When I2 Fall Member Meeting was in Indy (2003), the Center had just received a very large grant from Eli Lilley to create Health Education content. At that time, directly connected to School of Informatics via Internet2 – had developed a 3D circulatory system, the brain and 8-10 modules of content to run over Internet2.
  • Julian Peebles thought this was ready for moving to the K-12 area.
  • Julian and James recently met and was also introduced to other folks at a recent Member Meeting. Now realizes that there is a set of schools that have the available network, bandwidth/capacity for content.
  • Otherwise, they are about ready to shut everything down.
  • Now want to 'dust off' their content and are willing to put R&D in to include them in the SMM.
  • Does require some specialized equipment to receive 3D and High Def content. They had never invested in developing modules for teaching at a distance, but are interested in doing a pilot and testing that out.
  • JW: Did Julian have a sense for what kind of capacity would be required?
  • RB: No, because it's never been tested... direct connection to School of Informatics, high bandwidth connection. Test by sending content to CILC. He probably doesn't know.
  • Good first step in selecting pilot sites, need to know how much bandwidth needed.
  • Or CILC (and other K20 institutions with lots of bandwidth) could be a pre-pilot partner to define the schools' technology needs.
  • Passive 3D, content is unbelievable!!

NEXT STEPS:

  • RB will collect data on technical/bandwidth requirements for schools to participate in a pilot project. James will distribute that information to the K20 group and we can begin looking for pilot schools.
Engaging Presidential Libraries (Carol Willis):
  • Has been in touch with directors of several presidential libraries... some very active in distance learning, while others have security fear.
  • This is an opportunity for our community to raise awareness about the benefits of R&E networking infrastructure and the K20 Initiative community can play in furthering their goals of providing outreach and distance education across the K-20.
  • Larry, for your information, in the private conversation – director of the Roosevelt Presidential Library was there (due to connection with NY schools).
  • They're getting on board in talking about a distance learning program as a collaborative effort among Presidential Libraries – topic: America at War.
  • Still in early formative stage – one big question: what kind of format?
  • Considering set up a like class, where they'd offer class on one topic/President, etc. and adhere to national curriculum standards.
  • They put programs together, we bring them the students.
  • How do we go about doing this and at what time of year?
  • Module on the Vietnam War, for example – what kind of guidance can we provide on format and how help them on the timing element, especially coordinating across the country and with other countries?
  • Bush Library is our champion because they've done distance learning and have a connection to Internet2. They can speak to the value of partnering with the R&E community (both from the networking infrastructure and connection to the K-20 community we can provide).
  • LG: Will there be costs for this? Additional costs to use Internet2 vs. commodity Internet?
  • CW: No, they are really at the beginning stage of looking at this program. Presidential Libraries have never worked together collaboratively (all new). Will need to determine how to work from/through the SEGPs in each library's home state.
  • All three Presidential Libraries in TX sit on university campuses and are connected to Internet2; not so (remote areas) in New York (2 libraries).
  • How do we present the content or consider timing?
  • JW: On timing, it's a difficult problem given that every district hits topic at different times during the year; won't fall into lock step. Maybe we can recommend they be flexible in providing different lessons at varied times during the year based on need.

NEXT STEPS:

  • James, Carol, and Mark Johnson are planning a meeting with Dr. David Ferriero in the January 2012 timeframe to discuss partnership opportunities between the National Archives and Internet2 K20/U.S. UCAN. Having top level discussions may help remove some of the roadblocks that currently exist.
  • Look for ways to take advantage of our DC gathering at the Spring MM to engage key players from National Archives and Presidential Libraries.
VGo Robot (John):
  • See the following blog post for description and videos of the robot in action.
    http://tetnplus.net/Blog/2011/12/02/TakingRemoteInstrumentsToANewLevelWithTheVGoRobot.aspx
  • Called 'VGo' robot – video conferencing robot. Distance learning for students with health issues. One student with immune deficiency uses the robot to get around at school. How could we use it to get content to students?
  • Basically, the robot is a remote instrument and can be driven from your computer.
  • Armstrong-Browning library does tours and history of the Pied Piper story. Baylor loved this story... tours have begun to decline.
  • Baylor is in process of purchasing a robot. Will send controlling laptop to a school so classes can tour/look at exhibits via this robot.
  • Robot will come in within the next few weeks.
  • Students will be able to interact and drive the robot themselves.
  • Robot is $6,000-$7,000 (less than a videoconferencing unit), but doesn't have an HD camera. XKC may put it on the new version. Baylor also wants 4G cards for 4G mobile network and won't have to rely on wireless.
  • Annual fee of $1,200 to maintain a connection (cloud based) through their servers to reach the robot.
  • JW: Many possible applications at Exploratorium, Smithsonian, Presidential Libraries, etc.


NEXT STEPS:

  • John will update the group on use cases as they emerge.
  • Possible demo at the Spring MM in D.C.?
National Parks (Kim O.):
  • This also resulted in interest from the Internet2 community in helping to provide expertise to improve the mobile VC backpack technology they are using and spark a larger conversation on getting more National Parks connected to R&E networks – conversation has continued.
  • Calling it "NPS Backpack Version 2.0" – cobbled together with resources they have. Wondering if there might be implications for connecting to R&E and/or via universities.
  • Have talked with Randy Brogle, Mike LaHaye and Ben Fineman at Internet2 – think through what expertise we have within the Internet2 community then take a more formal proposal of parternship ideas back to the NPS.
  • Probably need to explore funding model options, etc.
  • JW: Helping National Parks improve their connectivity will be an important contribution in helping them meet their goals of increasing the use of technology for educational outreach and distance learning.
  • For those with national parks in your state or region, any updates on outreach or connecting to your networks?
  • Tim S. (KY): Are we already connected to state and national parks in KY? Al Lind: not sure, perhaps on state backbone peering connection.
  • NPS practices for connectivity have been more proprietary.
  • UCSD and SDSU are part of the high-performance wireless and education network (HP-REN) which is providing connectivity to three NPS sites involved in the Sea to Shining Sea project -

Channel Islands National Park
Cabrillo National Monument
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

  • SE: Not sure if HP-REN is connected to CaLREN.

NEXT STEPS:

  • Kim/James meeting with Mike LaHaye and Ben Fineman on Thurs 12/15 to surface possible technical expertise within Internet2 who might like to collaborate on a project to improve the current backpack VC technology.
  • Kim/James/Sherilyn – schedule meeting to talk about possibilities of connecting HP-REN to CalREN
  • ALL – Investigate opportunities to get additional NPS sites connected via your state SEGPs. Report findings back to the K20 Advisory Committee group.
Muse Refresh:
  • Based on conversation within the K20 community, still desire to maintain and further develop a social media driven online presence to facilitate communication across K20.
  • Our current platform called Muse was originally put together with University of Washington student talent in 2007. The platform needs a refresh.
  • We have secured budget to re-envision/rebuild and have engaged a web design firm in the DC area to do the redesign.
  • The new site will go live in the April 2012 time frame.

NEXT STEPS:

  • Let James know if you have cycles over next few months to help with needs assessment and discovery phase of project. Just need your best thoughts – the actual development work will be done by web development firm.
  • John Korb and Larry Gallery offered to assist.
SEGP Connectivity Survey:
  • Our group has driven this effort forward since since 2002, so have some decent longitudinal data built up over the years and who is (and isn't) connected in each state as well as some detail on capacity.
  • Much of data was pre-BTOP, so now is a good time to refresh the data in 2012. James will look for everyone's participation and support to proceed and collect the data.
Spring Member Meeting (SMM) 2012:
  • Time to begin planning for the K20 activities at the Spring MM. We've generated at least half a dozen speakers/sessions possibilities on the call today.
  • The K20 MM planning group is looking for additional volunteers to help organize the agenda. Commitment is flexible based upon your availability. It could involve just providing ideas for sessions.
  • The group will begin to meet for weekly 1 hour planning calls starting in January.
  • Please let James know if you'd like to join in the Member Meeting planning effort
NEXT MEETING of the K20 Advisory Committee:

Tuesday January 10, 2012

8am HST/9am AKST/10am PST/11am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST
duration: 1 hour

DIAL INSTRUCTIONS
+1-734-615-7474 (preferred)
or +1-866-411-0013 (use only if free Long Distance service is not available)
Access Code 0176476#
DRAFT AGENDA (please send James additional items)

  • K20 topics/session ideas for Spring Internet2 Member Meeting - April 22 - 25 Apr  Arlington, VA
  • 2012 SEGP connectivity survey update
  • 2012 conference presentation opportunities
  • Progress reports on K-20 Initiative's "2 museum challenge" (effort to connect 2 "content providers" to each SEGP in 2012)
  • SEGP project updates
  • Other business

Thanks everyone for participating and Happy Holidays!!

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