eTech Ohio Connections
Volume 2, Issue 10

• eTech Ohio will host the Fall 2006 Technology Training Academy (TTA) over three consecutive weeks, beginning Monday, October 30. The TTA provides K-12 district technology staff the opportunity to participate in highly specialized, advanced training about network hardware, application software and operating systems to acquire knowledge and skill sets recognized by industry standards for foundation-level informational (IT) skills.
  
  Courses are taught by nationally recognized, manufacturer certified trainers and are hosted at various K-12 district sites, Information Technology Sites (ITCs) and vendor training sites across the state.
  
  Registration is currently open. Information about course offerings, training locations and registration for select courses is available on the eTech Ohio website.

• eTech Ohio will provide nine E-Rate Workshop sessions for the 2007-08 funding year for school officials at locations across Ohio in October and December 2006.
  
  October workshops will include information on the many program changes for the new funding year, program compliance and deadlines, as well as step-by-step instruction for filing the Form 470, the first form in the application process. eTech Ohio October 2006 E-Rate Workshops are scheduled for:
  
  
  • October 3: Muskingum Valley ESC, Zanesville
  • October 6: Upper Arlington Library, Columbus
  • October 10: Jefferson Community College, Steubenville
  • October 12: NOECA, Sandusky
  • October 13: NWOET Conference, Lima
  • October 18: Butler Tech Center, Hamilton
  • October 19: SCOCA, Piketon
  • October 20: WNEO, Kent
  • October 24: NWOCA, Archbold/Toledo area
    
    
  December eTech Ohio E-Rate Workshops will offer step-by-step instructions on preparing and filing the Form 471, the form requesting discounts on eligible services ordered. eTech Ohio December 2006 E-Rate Workshops are scheduled for:
  
  
  • December 1: NWOCA, Archbold/Toledo area
  • December 4: Auglaize ESC, Wapakoneta (AM)
  • December 5: SCOCA, Piketon (AM)
  • December 6: Upper Arlington Library, Columbus
  • December 7: NOECA, Sandusky (AM)
  • December 8: WNEO, Kent (AM)
  • December 11: Jefferson Community College, Steubenville (PM)
  • December 12: SOITA Conference, Dayton (PM)
  • December 14: Muskingum Valley ESC, Zanesville (AM)
    
    
  Details and registration will be provided on the eTech Ohio website. Registration will take place using the eTech Ohio Opportunity Tracking Tool, which requires a Hall Pass account. Potential registrants will need to login with an existing Hall Pass account or create a new account to begin the registration process. Registration information for all workshops is available NOW in the Current Opportunities section of the eTech Ohio website.
  
  Through Wave 23 of the 2006-07 funding year, Ohio applicants have received $42.5M in E-Rate discount awards. Funding waves are being announced by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) program administrators every week.
  
  eTech Ohio provides E-Rate program support including technology planning, annual workshops, listserv news and information and individual problem resolution. For more information on the federal E-Rate program, contact Dan Farslow at 877.383.2406.

• The Ohio K-12 Network application is available online through Tuesday, October 31, 2006. Districts need to use their Hall Pass accounts to apply for the subsidy.
  
  There are some important changes to the program requirements this year, including increased eligibility for additional wireless WANs and metro-Ethernet service offerings. Districts will still need to complete the online application including an updated WAN diagram, and applicants are still required to have completed an eligible Funding Year 2006 E-Rate application. The per-building allocation for FY07 remains at $3,000 per eligible building.
  
  Eligible entities include all Public Schools, Community Schools, Educational Service Centers, Joint Vocational Schools, Ohio School for the Deaf, Ohio School for the Blind, and the Dept. of Youth Services. In order to receive funding, all entities must be in compliance with the program guidelines.
  
  The application deadline for this year is Tuesday, October 31, 2006, and there will be NO LATE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED.
  
  Should you have any questions concerning the application process, please contact program manager Scott Gaughan at 614.485.6004.

• Audios: As the year begins a series of audios have been scheduled for the EETT District Contacts. The audios will be held at 10:00 am the third Wednesday of each month for new recipients and the following Thursday for continuation recipients respectively. Information regarding these audios has been disseminated to the district contacts. The next set of audio calls will occur on Wednesday, October 18 (New) and Thursday, October 19 (Continuation).
  
  
• EETT Site Visits: Monday, October 23 - Friday, November 10 Recipient buildings will be contacted by eTech Ohio Education Technology Consultants for scheduling EETT site visits. In addition, the EETT state evaluator from the University of Akron will contact and visit randomly selected buildings for data gathering purposes. It is vital that the EETT building contact, building administrator and project team teachers participate in the on-site review process as this is an informational process of the project in which issues may be addressed and assistance may be provided. For additional information please contact Scott Kane or Verda McCoy at 877.383.2406.

• Mark your calendars! eTech Ohio presents the ninth annual Educational Technology Conference, Ohio Connects! Technology for Learning February 12, 13 and 14, 2007, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
  
  
• Registration is now available through the Conference website. The Early Bird Registration deadline is Wednesday, December 13, 2006.
  
  Note that Conference registration rates remain unchanged for Conference 2007. eTech Ohio Professional Development Grant funds may be used to offset Conference registration costs. Details are available on the eTech Ohio website.
  
  
• Keynote and Featured Speakers: eTech Ohio is pleased to present a variety of national and international experts and leaders in their field for the 2007 Educational Technology Conference. A complete list of speakers is available on the Conference website.
  
  
  DEADLINE APPROACHING!
  
  
• Call for Proposals: Interested in sharing new ideas or successful practices for improving learning through the use of technology? Consider presenting at Conference 2007. The Call for Proposals for Concurrent Sessions, Panel Sessions (NEW for 2007), Student Displays and Teacher Displays (NEW for 2007) is now available through the Conference website. HURRY! The deadline for proposals is this month!
  
  The deadline for Concurrent Session and Panel Session proposals is Wednesday, October 11, 2006. The deadline for Student Display and Teacher Display proposals is Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
  
  
• Call for Submissions: 2007 Student Video Contest: eTech Ohio and the Ohio Public Television Stations are pleased to announce the 2007 Student Video Contest. Student Video Contest 2007 recognizes outstanding student achievement in grades 6-12 in the use of video production technologies. Complete details - including the application form - can be found on the Conference website.
  
  
  DEADLINE APPROACHING!
  
  
• Call for Nominations - 2007 Educator Awards: eTech Ohio is currently accepting proposals for Educator Awards presented in conjunction with the 2007 Educational Technology Conference. Educator Awards honor annual achievements and accomplishments in support of learning and student achievement through the use of educational technology in Ohio PK-12 education. The Call for Nominations for Technology Teacher of the Year (TTOY) and Technology Coordinator of the Year (TCOY) is NOW OPEN. Submit a nomination online. The Call for Nominations for Technology Leader Administrator of the Year (TLAY) will be available soon. HURRY! The deadline for nominations is this month! The deadline for all Educator Award nominations is Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
  
  
• 2007 Exhibition Space: Is your company or organization interested in exhibiting at Conference 2007? Join the hundreds of other private companies and public entities who exhibit during the three days of the Conference. 49% of Conference attendees report spending 3 or more hours in the Exhibit Hall while at the Conference. It's an excellent opportunity to connect with current customers/clients while also discovering new ones. Contact Conference exhibit hall staff for information about available booth space and rates for Conference 2007.
  
  Additional questions or inquiries about the eTech Ohio Educational Technology Conference can be directed to the Conference Team at 1.877.383.2406.

• On August 26, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream opened the doors of Idea Center to approximately 300 members and their families for their "Welcome Home" event. Close to the 1st year anniversary of the gala grand opening of Idea Center (September 10, 2005, was the date of the Wired! gala fundraiser), the special event showcased the new, hi-tech capabilities the facility brings to the organization and the Northeast Ohio community. It was also seen as a way of thanking the organization's members for their help in making it all possible. Activities and entertainment were around every corner as guests toured the building. Members got to experience what it's like to be a television anchor and to be behind the radio microphone. They tried their hand at various math and science games, got connected with other organizations through video conference distance learning and received demonstrations of other new technology from the educational services department. PBS Kids characters Clifford and Arthur were on hand, helping kids and their families create masks and paint a collaborative mural. There was also musical and dance entertainment, meet-and-greets with ideastream personalities and more.
  
  In September, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream collaborated with other Northeast Ohio broadcast organizations in an historic news and public information project called "Make Your Choice." A collaborative effort with the Voices & Choices organization, the project was conceived to educate Northeast Ohio residents about key economic and social challenges facing the region and to encourage citizens to weigh-in on solutions to those challenges through the Voices & Choices grassroots effort. Eight stations located in Northeast Ohio and Youngstown aired the half-hour "Make Your Choice" special produced by WVIZ, and also dedicated time on their newscasts to air V&C segments, both self produced, as well as by the other collaborating stations. "Make Your Choice" was aired on WVIZ September 10, with a repeat broadcast on September 13. Additional coverage was featured on Ideas, the weekly news and information program produced by WVIZ, and during WVIZ primetime news breaks. Voices & Choices was also featured on 90.3 WCPN on The Sound of Ideas program and on Morning News segments.
  
  Applause, the Emmy Award-winning WVIZ series kicks off its 9th season on Thursday, October 5 with a special performance by Red {an Orchestra} in Idea Center's KeyBank studio. Also featured on the season premiere are David Hansen and Sarah Morton who preview their upcoming performance of Hamlet at The Beck Center for the Arts. Each week, host Dee Perry highlights Northeast Ohio's rich arts and cultural activity through in-studio interviews, performance segments, and out-in-the-community reviews and previews. Applause airs on WVIZ/PBS Thursdays at 7:30 pm, with regularly-scheduled repeat broadcasts on Saturdays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 1:00 pm.
  
  The national radio program Says You! makes a stop in Cleveland for two special performances at the Idea Center's Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre that will be taped for later national broadcast. Hosted by 90.3 WCPN, the tapings will take place Friday, October 13 and Sunday, October 15. Each live performance includes the taping of two hour-long shows, with intermission. Hosted by Richard Sher, the witty word game features six panelists - divided into two teams of three - that bluff, guess and expound their way through the fast-paced program.
  
  
• The WMUB News Team received five awards from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) on September 10, 2006. This is the only Ohio competition that awards prizes to those print and broadcast journalists who fulfill what is at the heart of the SPJ mission: Defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance against censorship, advocacy of open access to public records and meetings, media self-criticism and service by journalists to the less fortunate in their community. WMUB's 2006 awards are:
  
  
  • Best Coverage of Minority Issues, First Place, "Miami Benefits Lawsuit," Tana Weingartner
  • Best Consumer Reporting, Second Place, "Risky Remedies," Gary Scott
  • Best Coverage of the Environment, Second Place, "Searching for Salamanders," Tana Weingartner
  • Best Social Justice Reporting, Second Place, "Miami Benefits Lawsuit," Tana Weingartner
  • Best Newscast (Small Market), "December 15th Newscast," Ben James and WMUB staff
  • Best Human Interest Coverage, First Place "Kentucky Soldier Obit," Cheri Lawson; Second Place "Searching for Salamanders," Tana Weingartner
    
    
• The WOUB Center for Public Media dedicated its new digital master control on Friday, September 29. Participants in the dedication ceremony included Ohio University President Roderick McDavis, Scripps College of Communication Dean Gregory Shepherd, WOUB's Director and General Manager Carolyn Bailey Lewis, WOUB's Associate Director for Technology and Operations David Wiseman, WOUB's Associate Director for Telecommunications Mark Brewer, Scripps College of Communication Student Zachariah Ross, Former PBS Digital Television Systems Engineering Manager Edmund Williams, and the Vice President of WOUB's Community Advisory Council Milena Miller.
  
  The digital master control is designed to provide 10 distinct digital services. The project has been under construction for the past year at a cost of $1.5M and is part of the station's ongoing conversion from analog to digital as required by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). WOUB has been preparing for the change since 1992, including the latest installations of the WOUC tower in Cambridge, the new digital transmitters in Athens and Cambridge, and now the new digital master control in Athens.
  
  The facility contains equipment that receives, monitors, and routing signals in and out of the RTVC Building. This includes the satellite feeds from PBS and support for the Ohio University Learning Network (OULN), which sends and receives classroom feeds to the university's regional campuses.
  
  WOUB began broadcasting additional digital services in September. Those who want to view the new channels or the High Definition (HD) channels will need a television set that is digitally compatible. Viewers without digital tuners will continue to see WOUB/WOUC as they always have in the past, until February 17, 2009, the date set by the FCC when all analog signals will not be viewable on any television (new or old) and an HD television set or digital tuner will be required.

• Ready to improve your in-service skills? INFOhio announces two "Train the Trainer Workshops" during October. Both sessions highlight INFOhio's Core Collection of Electronic Resources, one for SIRS Discoverer, the other for Britannica Corporation resources (Annals of American History, Britannica Online School Edition, Enciclopedia Universal en Espanol and World Data Analyst). The sessions are free for Ohio K-12 educators, but space is limited.
  
  The hands-on sessions begin at 9:15 a.m. and extend for three hours. Computer labs will remain open until 2 pm for those wanting further practice. Morning refreshments will be served, but no lunch will be provided.
  
  For more information, a link to online registration and site directions, visit the INFOhio website.
  
  The sessions are designed for Ohio library media staff and other educators who plan to conduct in-service sessions in their buildings/districts. INFOhio Technical Support Providers are also welcome. Register today!
  
  
• E 4 ME: The Tools of a Successful Future:
  
  "I really enjoyed this course. I learned a lot about distance learning. I now know that this is a great way for me to continue my education and I'm currently researching various universities that offer bachelor's degree's through distance learning. Thanks for all your help."
  
  Ohioans are learning - online - with the help of the Ohio Learning Network's (OLN) E 4 ME program, a free, non-credit introduction to eLearning. Since its debut in August 2004, more than 3,600 students have enrolled and over 60% of them have full-time jobs.
  
  E 4 ME is self-paced and anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can enroll. New classes begin every month. E 4 ME students learn about distance learning in general and how to start taking classes online as they work through the course readings, quizzes, and discussion board. The course instructor provides guidance. Students explore various careers, learn how education makes an impact on careers and gain insight about possible career changes with the career assessment tool. The course allows busy adults to make their own schedule and introduces them to the time management skills needed to successfully complete a course. At the end of the course, students can find online courses and degrees that will help them meet their personal and career goals.
  
  Students who complete the course receive a Certificate of Completion that entitles them to financial benefits at selected institutions, including fee waivers, tuition reductions, and gift certificates to the campus bookstore. In addition to the financial benefits, students also can have an E-Guide to help the student in finding the educational "fit" that meets their needs.
  
  
• Shawnee Conference 4.0 on Interactive Digital Technology - October 27, 2006
  The Wide World of Immersive Arts and Technology
  Keynote Speaker: Peter Tamte, Founder of Destineer Studios in Raleigh, NC
  
  Tamte was also Executive Vice President of Bungie Studios, now owned by Microsoft, during the HALO development days. The computer game HALO is considered one of the most successful computer games of all time. Prior to founding Destineer Studios where Peter is now President, he developed MacSoft and later worked with Steve Jobes at Apple as senior director of worldwide consumer marketing.
  
  The conference includes hands-on workshops, presentations by game development faculty from Kent State University Tuscarawas, Ohio University, Ohio University GRID Lab, Washington State Community College, Shawnee State University, by game development companies, and researchers. Student displays, college and company displays, and computer game tournament will give students(high school and college), faculty, administrators, game developers, and financiers an exciting picture of the growing Region of Excellence in Interactive Digital Technology.
  
  Special Luncheon Session and Panel Discussion for Economic Development Officials, Educators, County Commissioners, Elected Officials, and Workforce Development Professionals on the growth of the REGION OF EXCELLENCE IN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY - IDT in the Ohio Valley region.
  
  Sponsored by: ITAAO, Ohio's IT Alliance, Shawnee State University, Adena Ventures, Ohio Learning Network
  
  Hundreds are expected; register before the closeout!
  
  Information and registration