TECHNOLOGICAL VISIONS - a More Sophisticated Debate Needed
SOME PREDICTIONS - Instant Information Surround; Projecting the Telecommunications Industry in 2009
WHAT A DEAL! - An Interactive Web site With Free Materials
WHERE'S K-12 AT? - Half of U.S. Classrooms are Now Wired, New Report Details Teacher Preferences in Continuing Education
FUNDING SOURCES - Funding for Distributed Learning Projects, Dept. of Education Announces Star Schools Competition, The Progressive Technology Project (PTP)
RESOURCES! RESOURCES! - Learnativity, EDUCOM Review Articles
SPECIAL ISSUES CALL FOR PAPERS - Education Technology & Society; TELE3.HTM
REMINDER - Call for Presentations-GWETC '99; Plan for the August Distance Learning Conference
FYI - News, Conferences, Institutes, Events
A QUOTE OF VALUE - Kevin Kelly

TECHNOLOGICAL VISIONS

A MORE SOPHISTICATED DEBATE NEEDED - Leading scholars, journalists and Internet figures debunk predictions that technology will bring utopia - or apocalypse - to our everyday life. This cybercast of the recent Technological Visions Conference tells us that we swing between the extremes - utopia and disaster, when we should instead be becoming more sophisticated in our debate. Sherry Turkle of MIT; John Barry Barlow of Wired, Sandra Ball-Rokeach of USC and David Nye of Odense, University in Denmark. Visit the site at: http://www.metamorph.org/confer/ (Chronicle of Higher Ed, 20 Nov 98)

SOME PREDICTIONS

INSTANT INFORMATION SURROUND - Brian Halla, chair and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp., predicts that the information appliance market will dwarf the PC market: "Man will be surrounded by these information appliances. We always use the analogy of the electric motor. All day long you've been surrounded by electric motors. And you've never once thought about the electric motor, certainly not about who made the electric motor. It's the same with these information appliances. Literally, in the information age - we're not quite there yet - but man will want an infinite amount of information instantaneously, anytime, anywhere. And it'll be interactive. That means he won't want to carry his box around with him, but he'll always want access to the database...When a consumer gets in his car, he'll look at the dashboard and say, 'E-mail, please.' And that's different from being in the age of the computer. It's not like you're going to sit at your desk and calculate prime numbers. You want to sit at your desk and get access to the Web and your database on the Web. And you want to do the same thing when you're sitting on an airplane. You'll stick your card in the back of the airplane seat in front of you and have access to your database." (Investor's Business Daily 11 Mar 99)

PROJECTING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY IN 2009 - The telecommunications environment available to the average consumer in 2009 will be dramatically different than it is today. It will differ from the current environment in fundamental ways. Specifically, the network of the future should be different from the current environment in five ways: 1) It will be digital, 2) It will be broadband (high speed), 3) It will be "always on," 4) It will be ubiquitous and 5) It will be intelligent. Each of these changes is important in its own right; cumulatively, they will open up a vast range of new possibilities. (The New Global Telecommunications & Consumers, Penn State University's Institute for Information Policy).

WHAT A DEAL!

AN INTERACTIVE WEB SITE WITH FREE MATERIALS - This interactive Web site offers free educational and training materials from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Westinghouse Electric Company of CBS, Inc. The site includes information on: leadership, instruction, management and general employee needs, analysis tools and surveys, training manuals, management self-study), TQM, and grant writing courses. There is an on-line form to request materials, along with terms and conditions. The newest addition is a grant proposal self-assessment tool (GrantSAT). For more information go to: http://www.t2ed.com Fill out the online form, approvals will be obtained and you'll receive a password and user ID to download the materials.

WHERE'S K-12 AT?

HALF OF U.S. CLASSROOMS ARE NOW WIRED - The Department of Education says that, largely thanks to government subsidies, 51% of classrooms, school computer and science labs, and school libraries had Internet connections in the Fall of 1998 (compared to 27% in 1997 and only 3% in 1994). Smaller and poorer schools are now just as likely to have Internet connections as larger and wealthier schools. (Reuters/San Jose Mercury News 1 Mar 99)

NEW REPORT DETAILS TEACHER PREFERENCES IN CONTINUING EDUCATION - There is a strong preference among K-12 teachers for continuing education activities which involve interaction with fellow teachers, according to a recent National Center for Education Statistics report, Status of Education Reform in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: Teachers' Perspective. Seventy- four percent of the participating teachers reported using institutions of higher education for their source of information and training as they seek to comply with state reform strategies. However, of these teachers, only 26 percent found higher education an effective means to support their efforts. The most effective sources cited included other teachers, inservice training and institutes or workshops - all representing activities which allow for peer evaluation and consultation. Continuing educators working with school reform efforts in their state and local communities should take note of these findings. Complete copies of the report may be downloaded at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=1999045

FUNDING SOURCES

FOR DISTRIBUTED LEARNING PROJECTS - The Paul G. Allen Virtual Education Foundation, which sponsors competitive grants in distributed learning, is distinguished by a strong academic ethos and emphasis on faculty involvement. Guidelines are available online and applications are accepted by e-mail. Those seeking funding for for-profit ventures may also e-mail business plans for consideration by Allen's Vulcan Ventures investment group. Complete information is available on Allen's Website: http://www.paulallen.com/

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES STAR SCHOOLS COMPETITION - The Star Schools initiative will create four to five statewide or multi-state higher ed telecommunications partnerships that will encourage improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, literacy skills and vocational education; and will serve underserved populations, including the disadvantaged, illiterate, limited-English proficient persons and individuals with disabilities. Available Funds: $9,850,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000,000-$2,000,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,000,000. Applications that propose a budget exceeding $2 million per year or amounts exceeding $10 million for five years will not be considered. Estimated Number of Awards: 4-5. Deadline: March 26. For more information and an application go to: http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/StarSchools/99starappl.html

THE PROGRESSIVE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT (PTP) - PTP is a new collaboration that seeks to raise the scope and scale of technology resources available to grassroots organizing groups working for progressive social change. PTP's goals include: developing a program of technical assistance that addresses the unique needs of organizing groups, building the capacity of groups to sustain new technology skills, leveraging resources, creating models that are effectively shared and spread and creating a place for strategic discussions about the relation- ship between technology and grassroots organizing. PTP Grants Pool will award grants up to $10,000 to support the technological component of strategic programs that advance the goals of an organization and create replicable models or address critical challenges. PTP grant funds may be used for: needs assessment, planning, purchasing hardware and software, designing applications, setting up systems, training, support and other strategic uses. Proposals must be received by April 9, 1999. Grants will be awarded in May of 1999.

RESOURCES! RESOURCES!

LEARNATIVITY - A great source of resources on the changing world of learning is a web site maintained by Wayne Hodgins, the leading figure in the world of learning standards who works at AutoDesk and Marcia Conner from PeopleSoft, also the force behind the Training FAQ List at that site. To visit the site, go to: http://www.learnativity.com (The Masie Center)

EDUCOM REVIEW Articles that are worth your time can be found in the , Jan/Feb 1999, "Learning,. Communication and Information Technology issue".

- Education or Training: Reflections of a life in Computer Computers are the means, not the end.
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9911.html

- Closing in on Distance Learning
German Institutions start to embrace Distance Learning
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9914.html

- Langdon Winner:Building the Basics
Digital Technology role in good education
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9910.html

- Technology, Education and The Changing Nature of Resistance Observations from Educom Medal Award Winners
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9915.html

- Internet Based "Collaboratories" Help Scientist work together. Researchers use the technology equipment and to discuss their work
http://www.chronicle.com/free/v45/i27/27a02201.htm

- How "Collaboratory" was set up
http://www.chronicle.com/free/v45/i27/collaboratory.htm

- Surfing with a Purpose
Process and Strategy put to the Test on the Internet
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9851.html

- The Internet: Library or Encyclopedia? By Edmund Burke
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9855.html

SPECIAL ISSUES CALL FOR PAPERS

ETC is issuing a Call for Papers for a Special Issue: Learning Individually: Lifelong Perspective. Educational Technology & Society (ISSN 1436-4522) is a peer-reviewed journal. Deadline for proposals is Friday April 16th, 1999. Publication is January 1st, 2000. Topics for address are: 1) specifics of adult learning, advise of psychologists and findings of tutors; 2) innovative, technology-enhanced retraining methods; 3) tools and resources for learning individually; knowledge-based performance support systems, open learning environments and 4) other relevant issues. Articles may be full length-about 7000 words; short feature articles presenting case studies, and work in progress-about 3000 words and critiques, reviews, individual experience-about 1500 words. For more information visit: http://zeus.gmd.de/ifets/periodical

TELE3.HTM - The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education issues a Call for Papers. To contribute articles to a forthcoming Special Issue of the Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education (devoted to the New Millennium.) go to the Web site at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/CASAE/maineng.html Guidelines for contributors have also been posted to the site at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/CASAE/guidelnq.html The New Millenium issue will look at educational technology concerns as well as other topics, listed at the site.

REMINDER

* March 19 is the Deadline for Applications to Present for THE GOVERNOR'S WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (GWETC '99). The conference is scheduled for the October 12-14, 1999 conference to be held at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee. Proposals are for one-hour sessions and two-and-a-half-hour workshops. Please download and print a copy of the GWETC '99 Application to Present located at: http://www.gwetc.org

Presenters will receive a discounted registration for the conference. Ample exhibit space is available this year, and exhibitors are encouraged to partner with educators for presentations. GWETC brings together faculty, staff, and administrators from preK-12 schools, technical colleges, public and private higher education, state agencies, and libraries, as well as training directors from business and industry. Those who attend discover that GWETC gives educators from all levels a chance to participate together, generating alliances that result in greater effectiveness and efficiency for all. For more information contact the conference manager by e-mail, by phone at 608/264-9724 or by fax at 608/264-9685.

GWETC is sponsored by: TEACH Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

* Plan to attend the 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON DISTANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING, to be held August 4-6, 1999 in Madison, Wisconsin at the Marriott West.

The Annual Conference is recognized internationally for its quality and integrity. Each year it provides a forum for the exchange of information on distance education and training. It addresses the needs of educators, trainers, managers and designers throughout the world. The conference will feature 90 sessions and workshops with an emphasis on "how to" guidelines and techniques, best practices, successful solutions and new developments and trends - in addition to Exhibits. There is also a call for Cracker-barrel Discussion Facilitators and - new this year - Advanced Roundtable Facilitators. For more information see: www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/

Conference Sponsors are: University of Wisconsin-Madison/ Extension, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Wisconsin Technical College System, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, University of Wisconsin Extended Degree Programs and University of Wisconsin System.

FYI

* Syllabus Conference and Workshops, Dallas, TX, April 22-25, 1999. Two Keynotes and over 40 sessions or workshops will strengthen your knowledge of technology for teaching and learning. The conference is hosted by Southern Methodist University. Visit the Web site at: www.syllabus.com

* The theme this year for ComNEd'99 is "Communication and Networking in Education," with the conference opening on June 13 and ending on June 18, 1999 in Aulanko, H„meenlinna, Finland. More than 100 different presentations are expected from over twenty countries, with special attention being paid to the state-of-the-art technology education in Finland. For further information and registration, please visit the frequently updated website at: http://www.hyvan.helsinki.fi

* EdMedia '99, The World Conference on Education, Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, will be held in Seattle, Washington June 19-24, 1999 at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport. For an advanced program, registration and all activities and more information see: http://www.aace.org/conf/edmedia/sessions.htm

* TOOLS USA '99 - Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems "DELIVERING QUALITY SOFTWARE" will be held in Santa Barbara, Calif., August 1-5, 1999 at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort. For More information go to: http://www.tools.com/usa

* Computer Support for Collaborative Learning '99, will be held at the Stanford University, Stanford California on December 12-15, 1999. CSCL '99 is the third international conference devoted to the exploration of the roles for technology in collaborative forms of learning and teaching. Deadline for proposals is: April 1, 1999. For Guidelines go to the CSCL '99 Web site: http://learninglab.stanford.edu/CSCL99/

A QUOTE OF VALUE

" In learning, content may approach FREE, but relationship and mentoring may be the highest priced and valued element."
Kevin Kelly (paraphrased) at Business of Online Learning Conference (The Masie Center)