IN THIS ISSUE:
The 2006 MiCTA Spring Conference Recap
Six of the MiCTA 2006 Conference Sessions Are Now Available On the Internet
Today is World Telecommunications Day!
MICTA Welcomes Gabby Castillo
MiCTA and the ATAlliance unanimously endorsed Desire2Learn's Learning Management System and Learning Object Repository
ANGEL Learning, MiCTA Endorsed LMS Vendor, Releases ANGEL LMS 7
Request to Update Contact Information
West Virginia focuses on 21st-century learning from ESchoolNews.com
Welcome New Members
Cable VoIP booming for Sprint, wireless next from TelephonyOnline.com
Gateway Online Ordering Procedure Is Near Completion
Check out This Month’s Vendor Specials
Just For Fun
The 2006 MiCTA Spring Conference Recap
Many thanks to the member attendees and our vendor partners who contributed to the success of this spring's conference held on May 8 - 10 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This year's conference featured two tracks, Current Issues & Future Solutions. Please click here to view the streamed sessions. Handouts from the presentations will be posted to the website shortly.
There were several “firsts” at the conference this year:
- First MiCTA conference in Kalamazoo in a newly remodeled facility
- New vendors exhibited this conference and vendor attendance was higher
- Member attendance at the conference was higher than last year
- First live video streaming of the keynote and other sessions
- First conference session with TeleManage on Disaster Recovery
- Two lucky attendees won laptops
- First time workshop presented by eRate Central and George McDonald
The Program Committee is currently working hard to secure a location for the Spring 2007 Conference. At this time, they are looking at holding the conference in a southern state! Planning for the 2007 conference will begin soon! We invite vendor participation in the planning process. Others interested in participating should contact Tim von Hoff, or Heather Nostrant. Most Program Committee meetings are held via phone conference.
Six of the MiCTA 2006 Conference Sessions Are Now Available On the Internet
It’s already been a week since the 2006 MICTA Spring conference! The conference was filled with multiple learning sessions, and one on one contact with MiCTA vendors and colleagues. Many of the presentations were streamed live earlier this week. Follow the link below to access the archives of these valuable, informative sessions with your peers.
http://mediasite.1ici.com/MediaSite/Viewer
Available via the above link:
- Keynote Address: Future of the Wireless Industry - John Barcomb, Sprint
- "Something's Gotta Give: Handhelds Forecast Classroom R" - Corrine Calice and Sharon Texley, Learning Point
- Internet 2 - Walt Magnussen, Texas A&M University
- MTA / Legislative / Regulatory Update
- The Future of Dorm Phones - (Panel Discussion) - Jan Felker, Grand Valley State University, Dewitt Latimer, Notre Dame University, and Mark Strandskov, Central Michigan University
- Not All IP Carriers Are Alike - Ken Schindler, Saginaw Valley State University, Roger Hatcher, State of Georgia, Mark Strandskov, Central Michigan University, and Tim Scherer, Kirtland Community College
Today is World Telecommunications Day!
As the business of Information Communications Technology (ICT) is increasingly global in scope, and because a number of ACUTA members have projects and partnerships with institutions abroad, we wanted to make you aware of today’s event.
"World Telecommunications Day" will be celebrated May 17, 2006. The event recognizes the founding of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on this day in 1865. Since 1947, the ITU has operated under the auspices of the United Nations.
In recognition of the evolution of telecommunications and IT technologies and the importance of global communications, the World Summit on the Information Society, held in two-phases in 2003 and 2005, proposed that World Telecommunications Day be celebrated as World Information Society Day.
This year, the theme of World Telecommunications Day/World Information Society Day is "promoting global cybersecurity". ACUTA and its members are well aware of the importance of the security of ICT systems and networks.
Today on World Telecommunications Day, we may wish to take note of how communications and information technologies facilitate our institutions' global education and research objectives.
Thanks to ACUTA for this informative reminder.
Gabby Castillo Joins the MICTA Team
MiCTA is pleased to announce that Gabby Castillo has joined the team. Gabby is a sophomore at Central Michigan University and she is majoring in creative writing. Gabby will be updating and verifying that member contact information is current. You should be hearing from Gabby in the near future. If you would like to get a head start on the process please feel free to call her at 1-888-870-8677.
MiCTA and the ATAlliance unanimously endorsed Desire2Learn's Learning Management System and Learning Object Repository
SYNOPSIS: MiCTA and the ATAlliance unanimously endorsed Desire2Learn's Learning Management System and Learning Object Repository to all MiCTA/ATAlliance members
MiCTA and the ATAlliance have unanimously endorsed Desire2Learn, a world provider of mission-critical enterprise learning systems, as the leader for combined Learning Management Solution and Learning Object Repository, and stand alone Learning Management System.
"MiCTA and the ATAlliance are thrilled about their continuing partnership with Desire2Learn," said Kim Ellertson, CEO MiCTA Service Corporation. "Desire2Learn continues to be the leader in innovation and we are very excited about all the services they will be offering our membership. Desire2Learn combines unique and customizable LMS and LOR platforms with excellent pricing to offer our membership the best value possible." Mr. Ellertson concluded that, "This agreement represents the second consecutive three-year agreement with Desire2Learn, the first of which proved to be mutually beneficial to MiCTA, MiCTA Members and Desire2Learn."
After reviewing numerous responses to the fully competitive and comprehensive proposal process, the eLearning Evaluation Committee of both associations recognized Desire2Learn as sole endorsed vendor for both the Desire2Learn Learning Management System and Learning Object Repository. Desire2Learn's endorsed Learning Management System exceeded the competition in the following areas:
- Standards and interoperability
- Research and development
- LMS functionality
- Scalability
- Past performance
- Ease of use
The endorsed vendor classification enables many MiCTA/ATAlliance member colleges, universities and other state entities to purchase products and services from resulting contracts at their own discretion and in accordance with state law and local policy without going to bid.
"Given MiCTA's and the ATAlliance's tremendous and continuing support of our company and products, we are committed to providing the most cost effective solutions to MiCTA/ATAlliance members," states John Baker Desire2Learn President & CEO. "It is important to us to continue to increase the benefits to MiCTA/ATAlliance's schools and colleges, through providing a higher quality product which translates to the best possible teaching and learning technology for faculty, staff and students."
Desire2Learn also won endorsed status for their overall Learning Management System Solution in 2003. MiCTA/ATAlliance will assist endorsed vendors in promoting the products and/or services for the term of the endorsement which is usually a minimum of three years.
About Desire2Learn Inc.
Desire2Learn, Inc. is a world-leading provider of mission-critical enterprise learning systems that empower academic organizations to build teaching and learning environments that reflect their vision and objectives. Desire2Learn clients include colleges, universities, schools, as well as associations and other leading organizations. There are more than 4 million users of the Desire2Learn enterprise eLearning technology worldwide. Founded in 1999, Desire2Learn is headquartered in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. For more information, please visit: http://www.Desire2Learn.com.
About MiCTA, the ATAlliance and MiCTA Service Corporation
MiCTA is a non-profit association which provides valuable services in the way of product assessment, integration strategies, testing and cost avoidance for its membership. MiCTA boasts a membership of over 19,000 organizations from Higher Education, Healthcare, Libraries, K-12, Governmental bodies and other non-profit groups. MiCTA focuses on telecommunications and technology related products and services.
The American TelEdCommunications Alliance (ATAlliance) is an organization launched in 2001 by MiCTA; the Midwestern Higher Education Commission (MHEC); the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB); and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The three participating regional education compacts were established as instrumentalities of the state government in which they serve to provide educational opportunities and service for the collective good of the member states. Each compacts' involvement allows states and institutions to take advantage of the volume generated by a larger group to make purchases, where appropriate, without undergoing the added cost and burden of individual, repetitive bids.
MiCTA Service Corporation (MSC) was founded in 1996 to serve as the exclusive agent for MiCTA. In 2001, MSC also signed an agreement to serve as the exclusive program administrator for the ATAlliance.
For more information on MiCTA and the ATAlliance, please visit: www.micta.org and www.atalliance.org.
ANGEL Learning, MiCTA Endorsed LMS Vendor, Releases ANGEL LMS 7
With ANGEL 7 creating technology-rich teaching and learning environments is easier than ever before. ANGEL 7’s streamlined interface has undergone extensive human factors engineering – reducing time required to learn to use the system and increasing adoption. ANGEL Agent Technology automates actions: analyzes data, identifies at-risk learners, sends email, and releases materials conditionally increasing instructor efficiency and engaging learners. An extremely open system, ANGEL’s Application Programmer Interfaces (API’s), published database schema, environment variables, portal framework, and data integration tools enable institutions to extend and tailor ANGEL to meet institution-specific needs. Learning Object Repositories and ANGEL LIVE communications capabilities, live office hours, live chat, IM, application sharing, and whiteboard, included in base ANGEL price provide MiCTA members even more value in their LMS. Register for a no obligation ANGEL demonstration account on the ANGEL Learning website, www.angellearning.com, or contact ANGEL Learning Sales for a private product demonstration.
Request to Update Member Contact Information
To ensure useful and timely distribution of MiCTA communications, the staff is now working to update member contact information. We are asking that each member email Gabby Castillo, gcastillo@mictaservice.com, at the office. Gabby will return the datasheet to you for your organization. We ask that you review the data sheet, update appropriately and return to Gabby. If you have questions, please give Gabby a call. Your help with this important effort will be greatly appreciated.
Gabby Castillo
888-870-8677
West Virginia focuses on 21st-century learning
State ahead of the curve in training teachers to prepare students for new challenges
From eSchool News staff and wire service reports
As educators nationwide consider ways to address the need for 21st-century learning, West Virginia appears to be ahead of the curve and could serve as a model for other states to follow.
Bridget Call's class at Matewan High School in Charlestown, West Virginia, isn't your ordinary English class. From producing a play about the county's local history to embracing classic literature, West Virginia's 2006 Teacher of the Year relies on technology and creativity to help students become critical thinkers. This article is courtesy of the ESchoolNews.com staff, the remainder of the article is available by clicking this link.
Welcome New Members!
Adams State College
City of Coppell
Culver-Stockton College
Goshen College
Indian Hills Community College
King's Daughters Hospital
Learning Institute of Family Education (LIFE)
Montcalm County
Municipal Employees' Retirement System
Pan American Relief Organization
Rose State College
Sheridan Memorial Hospital
St. Thomas Aquinas School
Universal Fundraising Org
Valor Christian School
Yampa Valley Medical Center
NCTA: Cable VoIP booming for Sprint, wireless next
Sprint Nextel now serves more than 1 million voice-over-IP customers through its cable TV partners, the company announced today. In addition, the company is adding new cable companies to its partner roster, including WEHCO Video, NPG Cable and Shrewsbury Electric and Cable Operations.
Separately, the company's CEO, Gary Forsee, said at the NCTA show that Sprint is adding cable partners to its fixed mobile-convergence partnership and will roll out service over a national footprint in 2007.
"We are pleased with the progress" of that partnership, Forsee said at a press conference following his appearance on a CEO panel. "We have been in get-ready mode." This article is courtesy of Carol Wilson and Telephonyonline.com, the remainder of this article can be accessed by clicking this hyperlink to the TelephonyOnline.com homepage.
Gateway Online Ordering Procedure Is Near Completion
MiCTA and Gateway are pleased to announce that the online ordering system is nearly complete. This means that members can take advantage of MiCTA pricing on many of Gateway’s top-notch products all over the internet. This process should be implemented within the next few weeks which means that members can begin designing and ordering their custom computer solutions by the end of the month. If you have any questions about the new online ordering procedure please call any of the company representatives listed below.
Jerry Hartman
Director of Operations, MiCTA Service Corporation
1-888-870-8677
ghartman@mictaservice.com
Matthew Barry
National Account Representative, Gateway, Inc.
800-846-2042 Ext. 25373
775-898-5047 (FAX)
matthew.barry@gateway.com
Beautiful Wood and Glass Exhibit Cases – 20% Off!
Display Treasured Items Safely in Handsome Display Cases from Brodart!
Display your collections with pride in elegant solid oak exhibit cases! Choose table-style glass cases, cube displays and cabinet cases, many with optional lighting features and adjustable shelves. Mirrored back exhibit cases will showcase your items in stunning beauty, while safety laminated glass side panels and sliding glass doors keep your treasured items safe and secure. Brodart also features solid wood display cases by other famous manufacturers such as Balt ®, Waddell and Best-Rite ®.
See our complete selection on pages 718 to 725 in our 2006 catalog, or go online at www.shopbrodart.com.
For more information on products and services for MiCTA members from Brodart:
Call: 1-800-233-8467 ext. 4338
Click: www.shopbrodart.com/pricing/micta/
Fax: 1-800-578-1064
supplies.quotes@brodart.com
As a MiCTA member participating in a McLeodUSA program, you will benefit from our exclusive StarQuality® Certified Customer Service and 99.999% network reliability. From now until June 30, 2006, you can earn up to 2 free months of service. Simply purchase a qualified circuit-based product for a minimum term of 24 or 36 months and you receive your 13th month free (with a 24-month term) or your 13th and 26 th months free (with a 36-month term). It’s that easy.
Because at McLeodUSA, we believe in treating our customers better than they’ve been treated before.
Circuit-based products from McLeodUSA include:
Local T1/PRI
Private Line
Dedicated Access Line
Integrated Access
Dynamic Integrated Access (VoIP)
Dedicated Internet
Managed Dedicated Internet
IP/VPN
Our current promotions include:
The McLeodUSA Star Quality Promise to You
The McLeodUSA Month on Us Promotion
Just For Fun
What was the "Ferdinand Magellan"?
- A bomb
- An expedition
- FDR's private railroad car
- A World War II weapon
In what year did Joe DiMaggio hit 46 homeruns?
- 1937
- 1940
- 1946
- 1939
Who won the 1943 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness?
- Citation
- Avila
- Secretariat
- Count Fleet
It is the 1940's. You go into a diner and place an order. The waitress yells out "Abbott and Costello!" to the cook. What did you order?
- Two poached eggs on toast
- Grilled cheese with bacon
- Liver and onions
- Franks and beans
For answers to "Just for Fun", please visit the Members' homepage.
PREVIOUS MICTA ALERTS
• April 2006
• March 2006
• February 2006
Alert Index
|
