THEME -Technology Support and Training UPFRONT -Aligning Training with the Organization
FOCUS -A Perspective on Technology/Learning Training Decisions '99
NEW TECH - A New Breed Of Thinking Computer? Designing Web Pages for Sight Impaired Users
DID YOU KNOW? - Unext Enters Online Graduates Course Field; More on Unext; Web Storage Sites Loom as Next Big Thing
TECH LAW - Senate Committee OK's Digital Signature Bill
TECH READS - Study on Distance Learning in Higher Ed; Currents in Electronic Literacy; Online Reviews Raise Questions in Cyberspace; No Significant Difference
TECH TRENDS - New from PictureTel, eVideo Services; More Projects, Less Time; Online Course on Online Courses
TECH POSITIONS - UW-Madison, WI; Valley City State University, ND; St. Louis Community College, MO
NEW ON THE LIST -Welcome to New Subscribers
FYI - News, Conferences, Institutes, Events

UPFRONT - FOCUS Introduction

Training and support are integral to teaching and training via technology. Without these two components, successful courses and programs just won't happen. Instructional Communications Systems (ICS), located in The Pyle Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is a successful example of this critical combination.

FOCUS
Where Training and Support Meet - ICS at The Pyle Center
Bruce Dewey
InfoSource Manager/Distance Education Specialist
Rosemary Lehman
Senior Outreach/Distance Education Specialist
Instructional Communications Systems, UW-Extension (ICS)

For over a century, the people of Wisconsin have looked to the University of Wisconsin - Extension (UWEX) as their gateway to the University. Extension is the "Wisconsin Idea" - extending the resources of the University to the State borders and beyond - truly the people's University connection. Through its programming divisions, and its collaborative relationships with the 26 UW universities and colleges, the 72 Wisconsin counties, and countless local, state, and federal agencies and groups, Extension provides a spectrum of lifelong learning opportunities for Wisconsin citizens

The size of the effort is extensive. Each year, more than one million Wisconsin residents participate in extension programs, through a wide variety of delivery methods, from workshops and one-on-one counseling to interactive networks and correspondence study - all designed to make education accessible. Supporting these programs, faculty, and staff is an array of administrative and program support services, including our unit - Instructional Communications Systems (ICS). ICS is an academic support unit of UWEX. In 1965, ICS began by launching the Educational Teleconference Network (ETN), linking 200 sites throughout the state via two-way audio contacts with speakers anywhere in the world. In 1969, the Statewide Extension Education Network (SEEN) added video to the telephone system to present slides, graphics, and other visual materials in continuing education and credit classes at 26 sites. The UWEX teleconference networks, which now include the WisLine dial-up teleconference service linking phones anywhere in the world, and compressed videoconferencing, are widely acknowledged as the world models for national and international teleconference systems in business, industry, government, and education.

In 1995, the state budget authorized construction of a $13 million renovation and a state-of-the-art addition to the Wisconsin Center conference facility. In 1997, Thomas and Judith Pyle of Madison presented a naming gift of over $2 million for the renovation of and an addition to the Wisconsin Center- Extension's flagship continuing education conference and distance education facility now known as The Pyle Center.

Director, Marcia Baird, and Assistant Director/Technical Director, Denny Gilbertson provide the leadership for Instructional ICS. Six unit managers oversee: Audio Production, Computer Services, Electronic Publishing, Scheduling & Program Coordination, Technical Services & Development and Teleconference & Classroom Operations. In addition, there is an Instructional Design and Training Services Team that works directly with faculty and staff to utilize the technologies most effectively. In total there are more than 35 full time staff and more than 20 student workers. The major systems supported by ICS include: * Interactive Compressed Videoconferencing, as part of this support, ICS also operates the bridging service that connects other sites can be connected on a course-by-course basis, worldwide; * The Educational Teleconference Network links 100 classroom sites statewide; WisLine Teleconferencing Service link up to 140 telephone lines anywhere in the world; * The WisView Audiographics network combines audio teleconferencing with computer graphics; * Satellite Services includes a variety of services to support satellite videoconferences. ICS also supports WisSat, the UWEX Cooperative Extension system of satellite downlink sites everyone of the 72 county Extension Offices in Wisconsin. * InfoSource is a user-friendly educational service, allowing consumers to access more than 600 short messages via the telephone and the World Wide Web. * Web Based Support Services, a unit that provides support to several Web based operations throughout Extension and the UW System, including The Distance Education Clearinghouse. * Technical Support Services provides technical consultation and demonstrating of equipment, testing emerging technological equipment and systems and evaluating project proposals

With the development of its Instructional Design and Training Services Team, in 1995, ICS expanded its support for UW System faculty, UW distance education teams and state agencies. Reaching beyond the borders of the state, this team is also providing training, consulting, information sharing and materials nationally and internationally. The past four and a half years have been ambitious, progressive and rewarding ones for the team. Activities have included: 1) the development of training sessions, workshops and individual consultations; 2) involvement with conferences, presentations and papers; 3) participation in leadership and liaison roles; 4) the development of resources and information sharing; 5) the creation of products and materials; and 6) participation in professional development programs.

1) Training for the UW System institutions has been a top priority for the Instructional Design and Training Services Team, working with UW faculty to assist them in learning about audioconferencing, audiographics, videoconferencing and the blended use of technologies. With the University of Wisconsin System and UWEX's critical interest in K-12 professional development, the team is now developing plans to work with K-12 teachers through a number of the fiber networks. Reaching beyond the university, the team has also assisted state governmental agencies that include: the Public Service Commission, the Quality Improvement Network, the Division of Workforce Development, the Department of Health and Family Services, the State Adoption Network and the Governmental Affairs Commission, to help them assess needs, become familiar with a spectrum of technology and media and experience and develop training and meeting strategies. Through an Alliance collaboration with AT and T, The Pennsylvania State University and Indiana University, ICS works in the development of workshops and training materials. The team has also become involved with national training and mentoring with clients that include: Webster University- MO; Pennsylvania Power and Light-PA; Bell Atlantic Learning Labs-MD, PA & WVA; Owens Corning-OH; The Federal Highway Administration-DC; the Chicago Consortium of Higher Education-IL; and Pershing Securities.

2) Team members have reached state, national and international audiences, as well, through presentations and papers at a wide spectrum of conferences, seminars and symposia.

3) In addition, they provide leadership and serve as liaisons between a wide variety of groups and the Chancellor's and Dean's offices.

4) A variety of resources have been developed that provide opportunities for information sharing statewide, nationally and internationally: the DESIEN electronic newsletter, the University of Wisconsin Distance Learning URL book, an ICS quarterly newsletter, a systemwide Distance Learning Catalog, InfoSource and the Distance Education Clearinghouse.

5) Highlighting the past several years has been the development of a variety of new technology training materials: "Successful Uses of Video Conferencing" - fact sheets describing various applications; four AT and T "Client Case Studies;" twelve Case Studies that include higher education academic experiences, K-12 experiences and experiences in government and the private sector; "Breaking New Ground: Faculty Perspectives," a videotape/print package about the experiences of five UW System faculty; and "The Essential Videoconferencing Guide: 7 Keys to Success." The Guide is a valuable component to systemwide faculty and team training sessions. Both "Breaking New Ground" and "The Essential Videoconferencing Guide" are being successfully marketed nationally and internationally. A new book "Videoconferencing - Designing the Environment * Designing the Experience" is in progress and will be published in spring of 2000.

6) To continue to grow in their work and prepare for ongoing changes in instructional technology, team members are continually involved in their own professional development programs. These have included training in the use of new technologies, new technology applications for education and training, leadership roles in distance education and distance education and cultural diversity.

The Pyle Center provides a unique teaching, learning and support facility enabling learners and instructors to keep pace with the rapidly changing face of education in the information age and offering tools and services for flexible education choices for the 21st Century.

NEW TECH - A New Breed of Thinking Computer?

A team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a handful of other groups are working to develop hybrid biocomputers that marry living nerve cells with silicon circuits to create smarter computers. If they succeed, they could set the foundation for brain-like computer systems that could find solutions on their own, with no need for step-by-step programming instructions. So far, researchers have joined two neurons from leeches and linked them to a personal computer, which sent signals to each cell and correctly extracted the answer to a simple addition problem. The program that links the neurons and the PC, dubbed "wetware," is based on chaos theory, using the results to tune the neurons and alter the way they communicate. Ultimately, brain-like chips will be more creative and may mirror both the good and bad aspects of human thinking. William L. Ditto, who heads the project at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says it will be 10 years or more until biocomputers are commercially available. (Business Week 06/21/99 - Edupage 21 June '99)

DESIGNING WEB PAGES FOR SIGHT IMPAIRED USERS - If you are involved in making Web pages accessible for users with sight impairments, check out "Disabled Accessibility: The Pragmatic Approach," by Jakob Nielsen ("The Alertbox," June 13, 1999 issue). Nielsen includes a link to the W3 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, the W3's prioritized list of design rules, and a very useful checklist for Web page designers. The article is available at http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990613.html; "The Alertbox: Current Issues in Web Usability" is a biweekly column by Dr. Jakob Nielsen, of the Nielsen Norman Group. Back issues are available on the Web at: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ (CIT INFOBITS June 1999 )

Did You Know?

UNext ENTERS ONLINE GRADUATE COURSE FIELD - UNext.com has struck deals with the University of Chicago, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Along with Columbia University's business school, the first school that signed on, each school plans to help UNext.com create course materials that it can sell to major corporations for employee training and education.

International Business Machines Corp. was the first company to sign up as a customer of what UNext.com describes as an "online business-education community called Cardean" - named for a Roman goddess - that will allow employees to take courses electronically on their own schedule, from work or home or even while traveling. The courses will be delivered through a product created by IBM's Lotus Development unit called LearningSpace, and Lotus's sales force will sell the educational materials to its corporate customers around the world. The web site is: http://www.unext.com (TechLearn Trends, #131, 14 June 99)

MORE ON Unext - Ultimately, UNext.com wants to gain accreditation as an online business school with the authority to grant MBA degrees. UNext.com will compete with Caliber Learning Network, a company with similar goals that has already signed up the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Johns Hopkins University. IBM is UNext.com's first Cardean online business education customer. As a Cardean customer, employees will be able to take courses online from remote locations. The courses will be delivered to employees using Lotus' LearningSpace. (Wall Street Journal 06/23/99 - Edupage 23 June 99)

WEB STORAGE SITES LOOM AS NEXT BIG THING - A number of Internet companies are offering online file storage to attract users who may want to access their files from any networked computer. Although Apple first declared the floppy disk drive to be obsolete by excluding it from its iMac, it took the innovation of a number of companies, such as NetFloppy.com, My Docs Online, and Visto to offer an alternative to floppy drives. Most of these companies provide free storage of 15 MB to 20 MB of data that can be accessed through the Internet. Although Web-based file storage has yet to achieve notable success, the companies cite the popularity of free e-mail and online calendaring services as a sign that the service will catch on. My Docs Online has used its file-sharing feature to attract customers; as current customers post files, those who access the files instantly learn about the service. My Docs has attracted 40,000 registered users in over 40 countries since its launch in March. (C|Net 06/24/99 - Edupage 25 June 99)

TECH LAW - Senate Committee OK's Digital Signal Bill

A nationwide standard for electronic signatures moved one step closer to reality this week when the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill that would make electronic signatures as valid as handwritten signatures. Several states have already passed laws that validate electronic signatures, but Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), the Senate bill's sponsor, says federal guidance is needed. Abraham says, "If we're going to be able to move forward and experiment with the Internet, the key vehicle we need is electronic verification methods." The bill, which doesn't endorse a specific technology, follows legislation passed last year by Congress requiring the federal government to use digital signatures for electronic transactions. The bill is expected to receive the endorsement of the Clinton administration. (Bloomberg 06/23/99 - Edupage 25 June 99)

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TECH READS - Study on Distance Learning in Higher Ed; Currents in Electronic Literacy; Online Reviews Raise Questions in Cyberspace; No Significant Difference

According to a recent study published by Primary Research Group, Inc., an estimated 93 percent of distance learning (DL) programs in North American colleges and universities use email as their DL medium. The study, "The Survey of Distance Learning Programs in Higher Education," is based on a random sample of sixty-one college and university distance learning programs throughout the United States and Canada. The report provides a comparison of data reported in 1997 and 1998. Findings show that 36.68 percent of DL instructors in 1998 were adjunct faculty, compared with 1997 in which 27.34 percent of the instructors were adjunct faculty. Instructor/tutor salaries account for the highest percentage of the DL programs' total costs and expenditures - 31.72 percent. In 1997, instructor/tutor salaries accounted for 37.21 percent of the total costs and expenditures. (CIT INFOBITS June 1999)

CURRENTS IN ELECTRONIC LITERACY - The Computer Writing and Research Lab (CWRL) of the Division of Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Texas at Austin is publishing a new, free electronic journal, CURRENTS IN ELECTRONIC LITERACY. Currents is a "scholarly discussion of issues pertaining to electronic literacy . . . addressing the use of electronic texts and technologies in reading, writing, teaching, and learning in . . .literature, rhetoric and composition, languages, communications, media studies, and education. The focus of the first issue (Spring 1999) is "Electronic Pedagogy in Literature Classes." You can read Currents at: http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/currents/ Currents [ISSN 1524-6493] is published two times a year, in the spring and fall. For more information, contact John Slatin, General Editor, or David Barndollar, Coordinating Editor, c/o Computer Writing and Research Lab, Parlin 3, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA; email: @lists.cwrl.utexas.edu CWRL also provides links to the online edition of Computers and Composition: An International Journal for Teachers of Writing (published by Ablex Publishing Corporation.) For more information about CWRL, see their Website at: http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/ (CIT INFOBITS June 99)

ONLINE REVIEWS RAISE QUESTIONS IN CYBERSPACE - Anonymous public commentary on commercial Web sites such as Amazon.com is a growing problem, say authors and members of the publishing industry. Publishers say that, because of Amazon.com's high profile, reviews on the site can make or break a book. Tim O'Reilly, CEO of book publisher O'Reilly & Associates, says the reviews at Amazon.com are "increasingly significant as a measure of what's important out there." The site uses more than 2.5 million customer reviews, according to a company spokesman. However, the site does not prescreen anonymous reviews and rarely removes negative reviews. Some publishing industry insiders suggest that some publishers could be using the anonymous reviews to slam competitors' books. (Los Angeles Times 06/29/99 - Edpage 30 June 99)

NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE - The "No Significant Difference Phenomenon" site has changed to: http://teleeducation.nb.ca/nosignificantdifference/ Since the publication of the book version, the web site no longer includes the complete collection of individual listings. Instead, there is a representative listing of studies conducted on a variety of technologies through the decades, starting with the 1920s. The book is fully indexed and includes a foreword by Richard E Clark. The previous web-based version contained 248 titles. The book, copyright 1999, lists 355. Many of the 107 additional entries concern the "newer" technologies. The site will have a new section featuring comparative studies which DO find significant differences. Studies are being solicited for inclusion in either section - both significant differences and no significant differences. Please send all submissions to Tom_Russell@NCSU.edu For information about obtaining copies of the book,go to: http://www2.ncsu.edu/oit/nsxflyer.jpg or contact the author at: Tom_Russell@NCSU.edu

TECH TRENDS - New from PictureTel, eVideo Services; More Projects, Less Time; Online Course on Online Courses

On June 28, PictureTel introduced a comprehensive services solution for streaming-media applications over IP networks. The first eVideo Services offerings are PictureTel eVideo Streaming Service, PictureTel eVideo Streaming System and PictureTel eVideo Consulting Service. These services are the first from the recently announced strategy of Visual Collaboration for the Net. eVideo Services are designed to complement desktop, compact and group videoconferencing systems, as well as streaming-media products.

eVideo Streaming Service features high and low bit-rate streaming based on a variety of standards, including broadcast, rebroadcast, video archiving, video-on-demand and various pre- and post-production services. eVideo Streaming System is designed for customers who want to control their own systems and take advantage of high-bandwidth local area networks. Each system provides support for multiple, simultaneous bit-rate streams, ranging from 28.8 kbps to MPEG, enabling organizations to reach audiences with the highest quality video image that various network segments will sustain. eVideo Consulting Service complements these services by offering PictureTel ProStart, an IP-centric service that identifies the steps necessary for success.

eVideo Streaming Service will be generally available on July 6. eVideo Streaming System is currently available worldwide for on-site enterprise installation in conjunction with eVideo Consulting Service. Service pricing starts at $1,000 per broadcast hour for low bit-rate streaming. Optional services, such as presentation slides, chat-back capability, rebroadcast and high bit-rate streams are individually priced. Typical enterprise costs are likely to be priced between $2,000 to $4,000 per streamed hour, depending on services selected. (PictureTel User's Group Electronic News - 29 June 99)

MORE PROJECTS, LESS TIME - IT executives are finding they have to reset their priorities much more frequently than in the past, as the pace of change in business continues to increase exponentially. According to a recent Information Week poll, 75 percent of IT executives are resetting their priorities more frequently, with some changing priorities as often as once a month. Among the reasons for the urgency, they say, are the Internet, deregulation, globalization, ever- changing technologies, and more technologically sophisticated customers, suppliers, and partners. Further, IT has evolved to take on a more central role in business, and is no longer simply an enabling unit. Indeed, in their list of IT priorities, respondents said the top three were understanding and meeting customer needs, improving customer service, and streamlining business processes - more business-related goals than traditional technology objectives. (InformationWeek 06/14/99 - Edupage 21 June '99)

ONLINE COURSE ON ONLINE COURSES - World Campus 101 is an orientation for students taking online courses at Pennsylvania State University. It acquaints students with the skills they need to be a successful participant in a virtual classroom. Although the materials are focused on Penn State's specific computer systems, some of the topics are applicable for use at any campus: the differences between online courses and on-campus classes, "Netiquette" for online communication, and the use of Web-based resources. World Campus 101 is available at http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu:8900/public/wc101/ (CIT INFORBITS June 99)

TECH POSITIONS

**DISTANCE EDUCATION OUTREACH SPECIALIST, UW-Madison. For information visit: http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/position.htm Application deadline July 9, 1999 (PVL#31904)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks an individual with experience in developing and implementing continuing education programs in distance education. This is a 50% to 100% time academic staff position in Continuing and Vocational Education (CAVE) and School of Education Outreach.

Contact: Christine Olgren, UW-Madison, B136 Lathrop Hall 1050 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706 - Phone:608-262-8530; Fax: 608-262-7751; Email: cholgren@facstaff.wisc.edu UW-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

** DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMIZED AND DISTANCE LEARNING - Valley City State University, Valley City, North Dakota. For full information visit: http://www.vcsu.nodak.edu Application deadline July 30, 1999.

The Director of Customized and Distance Learning will be responsible for overall coordination of university policies, procedures and systems supporting learning activities that vary by time, place and mode of delivery. The Director of Customized and Distance Learning will identify and facilitate relationships with potential partners and work with academic and administrative departments to meet customer-identified needs. This position is initially funded by a five-year Title III grant.

Contact: Dan Pullen, Chairperson, Director of Customized Learning Search Committee, Valley City State University, 101 College Street SE, Valley City, ND, 58072. VCSU is an EE/AAE.

** DIRECTOR OF TELELEARNING SERVICES - St. Louis Community College. Review of application materials will begin June 4. For full information see website: www.stlcc.cc.mo.us

Provides Collegewide vision, leadership, advocacy and coordination for all distance learning technology enhanced instruction; plans for appropriate training and support of faculty and staff for effective development and delivery of courses and programs. Plans for the implementation of technical and programmatic support for telecourses, teleconferencing, interactive video classes, web-based courses, videoconference production and marketing, and enhances availability of educational programs through partnerships and collaboration with other institutions.

Send to St. Louis Community College, Human Resources Dept., 300 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102 FAX: 314/539-5493 TDD: 314/539-5397 email: mroberts@cc.stlcc.cc.mo.us AA/EOE:

NEW ON THE LIST - Welcome to New Subscribers

Welcome to: Stacey Stoffer, Phyllis Tichi, Arthur Jones,Dean Care, Bobbi Warner, Ryan Walter, Mary Montz, Fairfax O'Riley, Ron Irvine, Patrick Hickey, Barb Shopland, Steve Douglas, Dana Hudspeth,Elena Gorbunova, Anneliz Mancillas, Richard Pauli, Hilde Reno, Terry Thompson, Jim Mazoue, Theresa Ott, Rod Davies, James Moulder, Mohamed Kassem, Erik Buelinckx, Shariem Saterfield and Jack McClymont.

FYI - News, Conferences, Institutes, Events

* The 1st Annual Syllabus Institute will be held in conjunction with the Syllabus99 Conference during the post-conference at the Santa Clara Convention Center July 28-30, 1999, Santa Clara, CA. The Institute is an invitational seminar for practitioners at the forefront of today's educational information technologies and will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to discuss and explore a number of issues confronting faculty at the beginning of the new millennium. Issues include curricular change and development, faculty rewards and evolving roles, technology developments, and assessment criteria. For more information on the Syllabus Institute, including detailed track descriptions and online registration forms, go to: http://www.syllabusinstitute.org

* Register now for DISTANCE LEARNING '99 - the 15th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning August 4-6, 1999, Marriott Madison West, Madison, WI. Keynote Speakers this year are: Dr. Peter Cochrane, University of Kent and Dr. Brandon Hall, editor and publisher of the Multimedia and Internet Training Newsletter. For the complete program, visit the Web site at: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/ To receive a printed brochure e-mail distel@education.wisc.edu or call 608-265-4159. Include your postal address.

* The The Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (C.R.E.A.D. Conference "Engaging Partnerships" is being held September 21-23, 1999, in downtown Vancouver at The Empire Landmark Hotel and Conference Centre. C.R.E.A.D. seeks to increase access to education worldwide and acts to encourage international partners to move forward together in confronting some of the most important political, economic and social problems. For up-to-date information visit: Web site: http://cread.cstudies.ubc.ca

* It's time to register for GWETC '99 - The 1999 Governor's Wisconsin Educational Technology Conference (GWETC '99), scheduled for October 12-14, 1999 at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee, WI. Keynote Speakers this year are: Alan Chute, Director of the Center for Excellence in Distance Learning, Lucent Technologies; Rick Inatome, Chairman of Inacom Corporation and Janice Gordon, Team Leader of the Laptop Programm. For complete information on the Conference visit the Web site at: http://www.gwetc.org To receive a printed brochure call 608-264-9689. Include your postal address.

* Adult Education Research Conference from Generation to Consolidation will be held March 16-18, 2000 at the Penn Stater conference Center Hotel, State College, PA. Proposal submissions will be accepted in three categories: Papers, roundtables and symposia. All proposals are due by October 1, 1999. For up-to- date information, visit: http://www.outreach.psu.edu/C&I/EasternAdultEducation/