Meeting+Minutes

**Added January 6th:** The next OPUG meeting will be Jan. 20th, 4:15 at St. Margaret Marys. NOTE: this is one week later than originally scheduled. Hope to see everyone there. Discussions may include suggestions for future training sessions and what is next in assistive technology. What can the committee do to further the use of technology in the classroom? Any other suggestions?????? Also, what equipment does your school have that it is willing to share. Example: Holy Name has 10 GPS systems that we will loan out to any school wishing to borrow it. For those of you who do not get Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine, the following site were listed for open source software: MAC: neooffice.org, opensourcemac.org, nothickmannuals.info/doku.php/opensourcemac PC: openoffie.org, opensourcewindows.org, osswin.sourceforge.net No December meeting is scheduled. November minutes: Mike Mansour from Jesuit brought 2 of his students (Ki-jana and Todd) to demonstrate the WIImote whiteboard for the group. (This is an inexpensive alternative to an interactive whiteboard like a SmartBoard or Promethean.) The students gave a demonstration similar to the video below. (The students were a lot cuter, though!!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ&feature=related The students also showed a couple of voice threads they made explaining how to make light pens and step by step instructions. The videos are located on: http://wiimotewhiteboards4macs.wikispaces.com/ There is a link to download the software for MAC but the link also has the Windows version available. Required items: projector ($400-600), WIImote (about $40), tripod for the WIImote ($40), bluetooth compatible computer (included with MACS—Windows computers can purchase a Bluetooth Dongle about $20) and IR (infrared light pens) either purchased or made following video. http://kindlelab.com/hardware.html Has pictures and descriptions of the pieces. It uses a clamp instead of a tripod to hold the WIImote to save even more money. NOTE: The software and setup will work on any surface. The whiteboard in your classroom might give the best resolution, but you can project on the tabletop, the floor, or anywhere you can shine a projector. It also accepts up to 4 light pens at one time. Mike also recommends downloading software called Kindlelab which is similar to Notebook software that comes with Smart Boards. http://kindlelab.com/software.html Thanks to Mike and his students for a wonderful presentation. A  very happy holiday wish to everyone on the committee. God Bless and see you next year.