Minutes from April 16, 2009 Meeting

From Extension Collaborative Wiki

PLN IT Meeting Minutes 4/16/2009

Attendees: Jonathan Davis(Auburn), Steve Garner(Kentucky), Rich Phelps(Kentucky), Lalit Rainey(North Carolina A&T), Jenell Hinsey(Tennessee State), Ray Kimsey(NC State), Karen Craig(Tuskegee), Dewayne Hunter(Oklahoma ST), Travis Zetterower(Georgia), Jim Segers(Texas A&M), Nina Boston(Arkansas), Terrance Wolfork(Fort Valley ST), Rhonda Conlon(NC State)

1. Roll Call: Meeting began at 10AM

2. Report from PLC Representatives of last PLC conference call (Nina Boston & Lalit Rainey)

Nina: Recent PLC conference call was mainly concerning the issue of possible low attendance at this year’s meeting. There was discussion of whether to go forward with the conference; the decision was made to have this year’s meeting since contracts have already been signed. Agenda has been finalized; discussion items include the new farm bill. More cross committee work is planned; there will be a formal cross committee session. Issue based discussions and come up with two issues that are opportunities for Extension in the current environment to further serve our clients in a multi-disciplinary way or issues that cross those disciplines that are affecting Extension directly. Our committee will need to come up with two issues by the end of May. The state report process and use of the wiki was discussed. The IT committee will be using the wiki for the state reports.

3. Review outstanding items on Plan of Work

1. Work with committee advisor to identify PLN IT representatives from states which have not been represented recently and to encourage their participation (Nina Boston)

Nina identified the states that were lacking members. Dr. Jimmy Henning helped in the process to get reps from the states that have been lacking a representative(South Carolina, Florida), we will hopefully have reps from these states now. COMPLETED

2.Complete development of the Moodle module on Information Security located at http://pdc.extension.org (Jonathan Davis)

Jonathan has posted a PDF at this location

http://www.aces.edu/user/davisj8/public/Information-Security-module.pdf

Please review and provide feedback. The material is being loaded into Moodle and will include several quizzes. He would appreciate feedback.

3.Engage in discussions on best practices for training (Jim Segers)

Jim recently conducted a connect session on TAMU training best practices; you can access it at this location:

http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p14113508/

There is also an Extension IT Training Facebook group that everyone should consider joining.

There is also an IT training wiki page, it can be found here: http://collaborate.extension.org/wiki/IT_Training_and_Support_Group

Jim also mentioned a conversation with Larry Lipke concerning consolidating some of the eXtension Moodle sites and possibly revamping the Collaborate wiki, at this time there is no additional information on this.

4.Continue communicating and promoting eXtension activities to our state constituents (individual efforts)

The eXtension ask an expert widget is being rolled out in several states(Alabama, Kentucky, and North Carolina among the ones mentioned). Rhonda mentioned concerns over how questions are assigned and processed; hopefully this will become less of an issue over time. Jenell Hinsey stated they are looking at getting more involved in using the Ask an Expert system.

Rhonda asked about how states are training personnel on the AEW. Rich Phelps said that Kentucky used the eXtension sessions on AEW for training purposes. Jonathan said that Alabama has done the same. Jonathan stated that Alabama Extension has been approached by an external group(Div of Farmers Coop) that gets lots of questions on their website and they would be interested in how Extension can help with this. Possible use of AEW in some way has been discussed.

5.Additional Items

1. Budget outlooks sharing/updates/discussion

Budgets outlooks are bad in most states, cutting back in expenditures (travel, etc) seems to be the primary cut so far.

2. New PLC rep to replace Nina

Nina said that we need to be thinking if they are willing to serve in this position. Nina will be leaving July 1, 2009. Nina mentioned that the job is very rewarding.

Adjourn 10:40AM EDT (Next meeting: July 9, 2009)