UW NEWS - LTDC Grant Program, TTT
LINES - Compiled from News Releases and Listservs
ED - First DE Masters in USA, Double Digit Growth in Distance Education, Internet Raises Sticky Questions, Colleges Get New Tool to Train Tomorrow's Teachers in Technology
BIZ/ED - Workers Approve of High Tech Advances, Hold the Mortar, Top Learning Decisions for 2000 Released, The CE Channel, Paul Allen Launches a Wired Workforce Education Initiative
FUNDS - Clinton Unveils $2 Billion Proposal for Online Access, TOP Grant Program TOOLS/TRENDS - The Softbook Reader, Wireless Mail ISSUES - The Web: Medium or Message?
RESOURCES - Headcount.Com, The Industry Standard, The Internet and Higher Education
FYI Ð News, Institutes, Conferences
ENDNOTE - Quote for Today

NEXT DESIEN ISSUE - MARCH 2, 2000 FOCUS: - A Perspective on the Florida Educational Technology Conference - Rosemary Lehman

UW NEWS
LTDC Grant Program, TTT

LTDC GRANT PROGRAM Ð The Learning Technology Development Council (LTDC) announces the deadline for the next round of the Curricular Redesign Grant Program. The LTDC seeks proposals aimed at supporting curriculum redesign, particularly related faculty and staff development in the effective use of technology in teaching and learning within the University of Wisconsin System. The new deadline is March 31 2000. The Request for Proposals can be found at: http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ltdc/newrfp.htm

LTDC funding covers activities undertaken between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001. Questions about the grant program and your proposal should be directed at the LTDC representative on your campus or to Hal Schlais or Glenda Morgan at the Office of Learning and Information Technology at UW System Administration.

TTT - The February issue of Teaching with Technology Today (TTT) is now on the Web at http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ttt/

Articles in this issue:
** First Contact: The Use of Schemas by Students Taking Their First Online Course by AnnMarie Paulukonis, Instructional Technology Developer, UW Oshkosh
** UW System, Technical Colleges, and Department of Defense Create New
Partnership for Web-based Learning
** Patrolling the Information Superhighway: UW-Madison's BadgIRT

 

LINES
Compiled from News Releases and Listservs

As distance education comes of age, the challenge is keeping the students. Online courses have a 10-20% higher dropout rates than traditional courses. Experts say creating personal ties and being flexible are essential ingredients and believe retention will improve as technologies mature and
instructors gain more experience. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 11 Feb 00)

By 2002, the market for online learning software, services, and content will reach 15 billion, according to a survey by International Data. Corporations will conduct 96 percent of training online by 2003, predicts Corporate University Exchange. Organizations are turning to online distance learning to cut costs and save time. An added bonus is the collaboration encouraged by online learning programs, building team effectiveness. (Computing Canada Online, 4 Feb 00)

George Mason University has succeeded at the difficult task of providing Internet and intranet access to a mostly unsecured multicampus network by making users accountable for their own IP addresses, relying on proven technology, and forming strategic alliances. To secure the network,
firewalls are used to protect sensitive networks and systems, although the school could not configure a firewall to protect the campus network as a whole. (Network Magazine Online, Feb 00)

Ford Motor employees will get home computers and cheap Internet access in a three-year program the company hopes will boost technology skills, help with training and improve communications. Each employee will receive a Hewlett-Packard computer, a color printer and unlimited Internet access for $5 a month. (USA Today 4 Feb 00)

ED
First DE Masters in USA, Double Digit Growth in Distance Education, Internet Raises Sticky Questions, Colleges Get New Tool to Train Tomorrow's Teachers in Technology

The first Masters in Distance Education program in this country has been developed by the University of Maryland at University College, in conjunction with Oldenburg University. Visit
the Web site at: http://www.umuc.edu/mde/ (James D. Gill, Adjunct Faculty Tri-C East; email: jimgill@infinet.com)

In December, the National Center for Education Statistics released its second comprehensive study of post secondary distance education. The first Study was released in 1998 and presented data collected in the fall of 1995. The second study reports results from data collected in 1997-98. The report covers trends in distance education regarding course offerings, enrollments, technologies and student costs. The obvious conclusion of the report is that distance education is
growing rapidly. The number of schools offering distance education courses, the number of courses offered and total enrollment all grew significantly between 1994-95 and 1997-98. Somewhat less obvious is exactly how fast it is growing and what segments of the distance education market account for the most growth. The text of both reports is at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98132.html (Inforcus - a newsletter of UCEA Jan 00)

Debates over the ownership of intellectual property are mounting as the Internet creates opportunities to capitalize on writings, lecture notes and inventions developed by university faculty members. One especially controversial issue relating to intellectual property is the online sale of professors' class notes. Professors can obtain copyright protection by scripting their lectures, and students can take notes without violating the copyright because of fair use laws, says Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, DePaul University College of Law professor of intellectual property. However, copyright issues arise if the notes are sold, Kwall says. The sale of class notes is part of the larger issue of whether professors or universities own the materials created by professors. The American Association of University Professors has formed a special group to review intellectual property
issues such as the sale of class notes and to create policy proposals. (IP Law Weekly Online, 28 Jan 00)

School administrators' new challenge is finding teachers who know how to use new computer equipment in the classroom. The CEO Forum on Education and Technology last month announced a new component of its plan to address this problem. The latest version of the School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart, called "Teacher Preparation," aims to provide teacher colleges and universities with a self-rating tool to help programs produce technology-skilled teachers. The forum has challenged teacher colleges to make the data that they gather public within six months. U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley, who helped announce the Star Chart, cited a recent study indicating that only about 20 percent of new teachers feel very well prepared to integrate education technology into classroom instruction. The study also found that fewer than half of U.S. teacher-preparation programs require their students to take classes on technology-based instruction, and only Virginia, Idaho and North Carolina require teachers to be proficient in technology integration. (eSchool News, February 00 ­ Edupage 4 Feb 00)

BIZ/ED
Workers Approve of High Tech Advances, Hold the Mortar, Top Learning Decisions for 2000 Released, The CE Channel, Paul Allen Launches a Wired Workforce Education Initiative

The majority of American workers no longer feel threatened by today's world of rapid technological change, according to a survey conducted last month by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut. Of the 1,000 workers interviewed, 75 percent view information innovations positively, believing them to have both economic and individual benefits rather than implications of decreased job security. Approximately 19 percent of those surveyed, a group the Heldrich Center nicknamed the "exiles," do not use computers on the job nor at home due to financial difficulties or a lack of opportunity. The survey also found strong support for programs that offer incentives to companies for computer training and ownership, subsidies to schools to provide computers and Internet access and the need to require all high school students to be computer literate. (Washington Post, 11 Feb 00 Ð Edupage 11 Feb 00)

The most successful retailers will combine Internet presence with physical assets, write Philip Evans and Thomas S. Wurster, senior vice presidents at the Boston Consulting Group. The concept of "clicks and mortar" may be better suited for Internet ventures than traditional retailers, say the authors, because it is easier to add physical infrastructure to a business than to minimize an existing one. Witness the recent difficulties of Toys "R" Us and Barnes & Noble in setting up an e-business: Toys "R" Us damaged its online offering because it refused to criticize its existing processes, while Barnes & Noble spun off its Internet venture after having difficulty merging it with its physical stores. To succeed, traditional retailers must identify the most lucrative synergies between their physical and online presences, then leverage these synergies using the least amount of reorganization possible, say the authors. Soon, predict the authors, the best online ventures will team with the best providers of physical services. (Industry Standard, 7 Feb 00 Ð Edupage 7 Feb 00)

A recent survey at the Masie Center reveals the top five issues that business learning departments are facing in 2000. Responses from over 1,240 learning professionals indicated these concerns: a. aligning training with business goals and objectives; b. evaluating the effectiveness of training; c. integrating instructor led and technology delivered training; d. developing an e-learning strategy for an organization and e. changing the corporate culture regarding learning & training. The complete results and analysis of the data, along with comments from senior Learning Officers, is being distributed to all Learning Decisions Interactive Newsletter subscribers. If you would like to subscribe, just go to: http://www.learningdecisions.com (TechLearn Trends #158 2 Feb 00)

The CE Channel - http://www.thecechannel.com/ is a full-service site for anyone in a profession that mandates CE units annually, such as healthcare, law, finance, insurance and real estate. When the site is fully operational, members of professional communities will receive custom updates on CE requirements in their field, automated tracking and storing of their CE units, course reviews by experts and other community members, and use of the site's professional education database, along with ancillary features such as news updates, job postings, chat, e-mail and volume pricing on professional goods and services. The CE Channel will derive its revenue from employers who opt to outsource their professional CE management process. There is no charge to users of the site or to professional education providers wishing to list courses, however an optional suite of services that streamline provision and marketing of CE courses will be available on a transaction fee basis. For further information about The CE Channel, contact Gary Goldman at: ggoldman@thecechannel.com (E-News from UCEA #24 3 Feb 00)

Over the past few years, Paul Allen, the former business partner of Bill Gates, has been building the infrastructure to actualize his vision of a wired world of education, acquiring cable companies, learning companies and academic content with equal enthusiasm. Last week he launched a three- pronged workforce education initiative centered on his learning company, click2learn.com (formerly Asymetrix). Under the new initiative, click2learn becomes an Application Service Provider (ASP), providing access to thousands of off-the-shelf courses stored on its servers as well as to the tracking software required to monitor student progress. Services will be provided on a pay-as-you-go basis, eliminating the need for companies and professional associations to invest in server and network hardware, expensive software packages and additional IT support personnel.

The second prong in Allen's strategy is the creation of a new click2learn spinoff. The Corporate e-Learning Site, which will combine the ASP capabilities of click2learn with an exclusively business-to-business focus.

Lastly, this week Allen announced a partnership between click2learn and the career site Vault.com, known as The Workplace Network. Under the terms of the agreement, click2learn's content will be provided on the Vault.com site, along with click2learn.publisher, a browser-based authoring tool for custom course design and publishing. For further information, see Paul Allen's Web site at: http://www.paulallen.com (E-News from UCEA #24 3 Feb 00)

 

FUNDS
President Clinton recently revealed the details of his multi-billion-dollar proposal to ensure that all Americans have equal access to the Internet. Clinton's plan to bridge the digital divide offers $2 billion in tax breaks to tech companies in exchange for their participation in the effort, $150 million in technology-training funding for teachers, $100 million for the creation of 1,000 tech centers in low-income areas, $50 million to help low-income families purchase computers and $45 million to fund the creation of tech projects in low-income areas. In addition, Clinton's plan asks for $25 million to help the industry provide broadband service to rural and other areas and $10 million to help train Native Americans for careers in technology. Clinton says he hopes the plan will make Internet access as common as telephone access in America. (Investor's Business Daily, 3 Feb 00 Ð Edupage 4 Feb 00)

The US Department of Commerce has issued guidelines and application forms for its Technology Opportunities Grants (TOP) program. TOP provides matching monies for colleges and universities interested in implementing advanced telecommunications and information technologies in several areas of public interest. Applicants may request up to $600,000 in federal support. Last year's average grant size was $375,000. The deadline for applications is March 16. Those interested are invited to register online for TOP workshops at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/index.html (E-News from UCEA #24, 3 Feb 00)

 

TOOLS/TRENDS
The Softbook Reader, Wireless Mail

Are you ready for this? The new Softbook Digital Reader with its protective leather cover, actually looks like a book. For $299, plus a $19.95/month minimum charge for content, you can sit down to read one of the classics. No computer is necessary. Simply connect to the SoftBook Network via the built-in 33.6 Kbps modem and download your choice of dozens of digital books and articles on a backlit 9.5 inch touch screen. A rechargeable battery gives up to five hours of reading time. (Access 13 Feb 00)

Looking for wireless email? Check out the eLink Agent from American Mobile, in Reston, VA. It's a small handheld email device, an interactive pager. The most amazing feature is a tiny but effective keyboard you operate with your thumbs. It's coupled with a radio-based network called Ardis that American Mobile operates. Together they allow you to send and receive real Internet e-mail, using the same address and mailbox you use on your PC. The pager device costs $359 and the service $60 per month for unlimited emails. There's also a $25 monthly plan for light users. Both parts are sold at: http://www.elinkmail.com (Wisconsin State Journal 11 Feb 00)

 

ISSUES
The Web: Medium or Message?

Microsoft's Bill Gates, AOL's Steve Case and Viacom's Sumner Redstone met recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to debate whether technology makers or content providers will lead the Internet economy. "What will propel the Internet ultimately is content, not technology," said Redstone, whose company owns Paramount Pictures and is purchasing CBS. In arguing the importance of content, Redstone pointed to the AOL-Time Warner merger. Gates responded by noting that Microsoft's expertise is in making technology rather than running movie studios or magazines, adding that software will continue to be the company's main focus. Meanwhile, Case took the middle ground, saying the consumer, rather than content or technology, rules the Internet age. AOL's deal with Time Warner will use new technologies to enable services that neither company could have developed alone, Case noted. Looking ahead, AOL will consider new alliances aimed at offering localized Internet branding worldwide, and the company plans to move aggressively into the European market, Case said. (International Herald Tribune, 1 Feb 00)

 

RESOURCES
This Web site is home base for information on who's online worldwide and the nature of their demographics. Constantly updated, this site offers search capabilities by country, by region and by language, as well as free custom e-mail briefings and periodic articles on Web demographics. See: http://www.headcount.com

Silicon Valley's hometown magazine, is running a special section this week on "The Net World in Numbers," including an impressive array of printable charts in PDF format, as well as a printable map of the world by Internet usage. http://www.thestandard.com/metrics/display/0,2149,1131,00.html (UCEA Listserv 9 Feb 00)

This Quarterly Review of Innovations in Post-secondary Education is a refereed journal "targeted at those faculty, administrators and librarians charged with the responsibility of fostering the use of information technology and the Internet on their respective campuses."

Themes for upcoming issues include: 1) designing collaborative learning environments, 2) developing online learning communities and community forums, 3) connecting IT strategic planning to organizational strategic planning, 4) devising guidelines for developing hypertext courses, 5) surveying good design practices for online trainers and educators, 6) changing instructional models (from traditional to constructivist), 7) distance learning administration in higher education, 8) the future of online learning environments and 9) human-computer interaction considerations for online distance learning. The Internet and Higher Education (IHE) [ISSN: 1096-7516] is published by Elsevier Science; Web: For more information about IHE, including subscription costs, see: http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/6/2/0/1/8/7/index.htm (CIT INFOBITS Jan 00)

 

FYI
News, Institutes, Conferences

Creating a Virtual Campus is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, noon-1:30 pm (PST). There is a free virtual campus publication if you register by March 3. Along with the coursework, colleges and universities need to integrate student services, registration, the library, the bookstore and
many other services that campus-bound students take for granted. And they need to begin rethinking the teaching and learning process. This free 90-minute conference brings together national experts in both distance and distributed education for a lively discussion of the whys, hows and whats of creating a totally online university. You can register for this free teleconference and get the satellite coordinates by calling Shirlene Major (559-278-2058) or emailing her: (smajor@csufresno.edu).

EDUCAUSE announces a new award for "Systemic Progress in Teaching and Learning" with an application deadline of March 15. Criteria might translate into worthwhile goals for educational uses of technology. For additional info, see: http://www.educause.edu/awards/tl/tl.html. Winners
will be recognized at EDUCAUSE 2000, October 10-13 in Nashville.

Plan to attend the Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA) Annual Conference April 9-12, 2000, in San Antonio. This year's theme: "Texas 2000: Linking for Learning" celebrates a new educational millennium. For additional conference information, visit the TxDLA Website:
http://www.txdla.org.

UCEA holds its 85th Annual Conference April 16-18, 2000 in San Diego, CA. The conference theme is "Strategies for the New Futures of Higher Education ­ Riding the Waves". For more information see: http://www.nucea.edu.

An International Conference will be held on August 25-27, 2000 on Samos Island, Greece. Themes will include: Faculty Use of Technology, Dealing with Technology Change, Distance Learning and Technology-Based Partnerships. The forum will bring together faculty, students, staff, administrators and other interested parties involved with the organization and delivery of distance education and technology issues. The conference is jointly organized by National-Louis University, United States; the Research Institute of East Aegan, Greece and WSB-NLU, Poland. Proposal deadline: March 20, 2000. For more information go to: http://www.nl.

ENDNOTE

"If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it." - Abraham Lincoln