The Four Lakes Distance Education Network in Wisconsin is a fiber optic system that allows for fully interactive voice, video and data transmissions. Four Lakes connects its consortium member sites via fiber optics and other technical components so that each site may originate and receive real-time, live, educational programming. Four Lakes has been designed to enhance the educational opportunities for its consortium member districts and their respective communities.

Programming includes courses for both high school and post secondary credit, staff development and enrichment programs, continuing education and other programming designed to meet the needs of school, business, community and governmental entities.

The Four Lakes Distance Education Network is composed of 9 public schools, which include Deforest, Lodi, McFarland, Middleton/Cross Plains, Stoughton, Monona Grove, Waunakee, Verona and Oregon. The following post-secondary members are UW-Extension/UW-Madsion, Edgewood College and Madison Area Technical College. The CESA #2 agency in Milton, Wisconsin is the thirteenth member of the group.

Electronic field trips to the Simon Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles was one highlight of last year's programming. More than 250 students participated in a live discussion with a Holocaust survivor. Electronic field trips with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Columbus Zoo were both very popular. The fall 2000 semester includes 8 high school courses. Over twenty students from 7 different high schools will be taking Japanese I over the network.

A highly successful training session was held on June 12-13, 2000, for seventeen staff from 10 of the thirteen member schools. Rosemary Lehman and Bruce Dewey from ICS at UW-Extension assisted the Four Lakes Director Don Holmen in presenting this activity. The teacher projects that were produced were outstanding.

This technology is available for teachers, staff and students from all thirteen of the member institutions to use for meetings, workshops, enrichment activities and other uses limited only by the imagination of the participants. A very effective Web site is available for all to access to learn more about Four Lakes CLICK: http://www.fourlakes.k12.wi.us/. This is an exciting technology that can bring people together in a cost effective manner so that learning and sharing can take place in a new and exciting way.