CONTENTS

UPFRONT - Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning
FOCUS - Voice, Video and Data, Any Time, Any Place by Linda Albertson and Ann
Alvarez of Milwaukee Public Schools
UW - RFP's for Three UW Grants, TTT

LINES - March News Highlights
ED - New Surveys on Online Learning and Teaching, Higher Education Document
Management, Evaluation Strategies for Distance Education
BIZ/GOV/ED - Ten Top Business Ideas from 2001, Distance Learning Lobby Praises
Internet Bill, Army Online University Expands in Second Year
COPYRIGHT - Internet Copyright Ruling, Hollings' Digital TV Promotion Act Introduced
DIGITAL DIVIDE - Attraction of Public Use Computers, Is Online Equality Gap Closing?
TRENDS - A Collaborative Taxonomy for Technology
TECH/TOOLS - Multimedia Production Tool from Seton Hall, WebBoard 5.0 Basic at
Lower Price, Research "Holodeck" Launched by the U of Calgary
READS/RESOURCES - F-LIGHT, Computers and IT: Resources for the Post-secondary
Education of Students with Disabilities, Making Sense of Learning Specifications and
Standards, Development and Management of Virtual Schools: Issues and Trends

POSITIONS - Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas - Executive Director Continuing and
Distance Education
NEW ON THE LIST - Welcome to New Subscribers
FYI - News, Events, Conferences
ENDNOTE - The No Significant Difference Phenomenon Revisited
________________________________________________________________________

APRIL DESIEN ISSUE FOCUS - Learning Technology Development Centers at the UW
by Hal Schlais and Glenda Morgan of UW System
________________________________________________________________________

UPFRONT - As new technologies emerge for teaching and learning, educators are
becoming more knowledgeable about selecting and using the various technologies that will
best fit their needs and their budgets. Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) in Wisconsin is a
case in point. In this month's FOCUS article, Linda Albertson and Ann Alvarez discuss the
process used by MPS to assess the various technologies as their school system moved
through 10 years and three videoconferencing transmission systems. For a variety of
reasons, the new Internet Protocol (IP) video is their school system's technology of choice,
offering the flexibility, accessibility and reasonable cost that is so critical to the MPS plan
for the future. Rosemary Lehman
________________________________________________________________________

FOCUS

Voice, Video and Data Anytime, Any Place
(Using the Internet to Transmit Voice, Video and Data in Milwaukee Public Schools)
by
Linda Albertson, English Teacher-Washington High School
and
Ann Alvarez, Interactive Video Coordinator-Washington High School

Interactive video in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) began about 10 years ago and has
taken a technological approach that has implemented three transmission systems - fiber
optic, digital phone lines (ISDN) and Internet Protocol (IP).

The MPS entry into interactive video began with an Ameritech Super School grant in
1993 which established two Ameritech Super Schools, HI-Mount Community and
Washington High School. The two schools were equipped with DS-3, or fiber optic,
and single ISDN line transmission systems, plus videoconferencing room modifications.
Each of the Super Schools was given a designated partner, Allen-Field Elementary School
for HI-Mount and Marshall High School for Washington High, that were also equipped
with fiber optic video systems. Twenty-First Street Elementary, South Division High School
and Madison University High School soon had DS-3 interactive video capabilities, too, as
they bought into the interactive video system.

The Virtual School Project, designed to interconnect the elementary, middle and secondary
schools with higher education for sharing, enrichment and teacher training, brought three
ISDN line transmission systems to HI-Mount Community, Audubon Middle and
Washington High Schools.

As the role of interactive video in the world of communications, generally, and education,
specifically, grew, MPS visioning saw the need to construct its own transmission
infrastructure. Though able to provide connections with more than one site at a time and
superior in quality to ISDN line transmissions, the fiber optic systems proved costly to install
and operate and lacked flexibility in implementation. The district's planning and construction
of its own network infrastructure proved a windfall as Internet Protocol or Video over IP
came on the scene.

With its potentially more universal, less expensive and more portable capabilities, video over
IP allowed the transmission of voice, video and data over the internet. An interconnection device
called the Accord Bridge made possible the connecting and conversion of signals so as to
implement interactive video via a combination of the fiber optic, ISDN and video over IP
transmissions.

Video over IP first went into use at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, Custer
and Pulaski High Schools. At the same time Washington High and HI-Mount setups were
expanded, making them the only two schools in MPS to be equipped with all three systems. In
2001, video over IP was extended to 25 MPS schools and the Central Services Facility.

As soon as the hardware is in place, 30-40 schools will have the capability of transmitting voice,
video and data. The existing fiber optic and ISDN line systems will be phased out in MPS, but
the bridge will allow fiber optic or ISDN systems outside of MPS to connect with MPS sites
and allow multiple sites within MPS to connect with each other at the same time.

Being internet-based, video over IP has the potential to be totally universal, global and beyond.
The operation cost is far less than the fiber optic or ISDN line systems that carry monthly line
charges and charges for individual calls. With the IP implementation there will be no charges
for connections within MPS and only the cost of long distance phone calls outside the district
will be incurred. Other connection sites calling into MPS from fiber optic or ISDN line
systems will pay the cost of the calls they initiate. Video over IP becomes very flexible as the
ability to call up or transmit voice, video and data can be located in any classroom that is
networked. Ultimately the MPS system goal will be to have every classroom able to send
and receive voice, video and data on demand at low cost or no cost.
_______________________________________________________________________

UW

RFP's FOR THREE UW GRANTS

- CURRICULAR REDESIGN GRANT - The Learning Technology Development Council
(LTDC) seeks proposals aimed at efforts to support curriculum redesign, particularly related
to faculty and staff development in the effective use of technology in teaching and learning
within the University of Wisconsin System. LTDC funding covers activities undertaken
between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003, with some flexibility. Proposals are due to UW
System by May 1, 2002. For complete information see:
http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ltdc/crpage.htm

- LEARNING OBJECTS AND PEDAGOGY GRANT - The LTDC at the University of
Wisconsin System is seeking faculty who are in the process of planning and designing
courses to be taught in Summer or Fall of 2002 to participate in a grant program on
incorporating learning objects into their courses. Faculty selected for the program would
receive a stipend and would be brought together for a brief training workshop on
learning objects and how to use them in teaching. Proposal deadline is April 15, 2002.
For complete information go to: http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ltdc/grants/lo.htm

- EXAMINING FUNCTIONALITY FOR COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - The
ADL Co-Lab, working with the University of Wisconsin LTDC is calling for proposals for
a new program. Projects funded by this program will be exemplar pilots that examine
individual software products (middleware) in a variety of course management software
functional areas. The goal of the project is to examine the extent to which the process of
conducting and administering classes in the web environment can use but be made
independent of CMS. Funding is available to UW System institutions for projects this
fiscal year. Submission deadline is April 15, 2002. For full information visit:
http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ltdc/grants/jawsrfp.htm

TTT - A special edition of Teaching with Technology Today (TTT) focuses on hybrid
courses and is now on the web at: http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/ Included in the issue are:

* Introduction to Hybrid Courses by Carla Garnham and Robert Kaleta, UW-Milwaukee
http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/garnham.htm

* Approximately "Real World" Learning with the Hybrid Model by Rachel Spilka,
UW-Milwaukee http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/spilka.htm

* Reflections on Teaching a Large Enrollment Course Using a Hybrid Format by John
(Jack) Johnson, UW-Milwaukee http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/jjohnson.htm

* Inside Outside, Upside Downside by Peter Sands, UW-Milwaukee
http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/sands2.htm

* Teaching Scholars Forum: Lessons Learned from the Hybrid Course Project by
Alan Aycock, Ph.D., Carla Garnham, M.A. and Robert Kaleta, Ph.D. Learning
Technology Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/garnham2.htm

* Meet the Experts! Featuring Kayt Sunwood, Faculty Development Center, UW-
Superior http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/meet/sunwood.htm
________________________________________________________________________

LINES - February News Highlights

- Hundreds of core language and subject reference content will be made
available online by Oxford University Press. This will be one of the largest general
knowledge resources on the web. The first phase was launched last week with the
Concise Oxford Dictionary, the Oxford American Dictionary and Fowler's Modern
English Usage. Subscription fee will be $250 annually. For more information, go to:
http://www.oxfordreference.com

- Apple has announced that it will add $100 to the price of the iMac because of a rise
in prices of memory and flat panels. A huge demand for the iMac has run Apple into
supply difficulties. The company plans to redouble efforts to meet deadlines. Also
announced was add-on software that would allow the OS X operating system to
communicate with Bluetooth devices. This should prove popular in Europe, where
many use their Bluetooth-equipped cell phones to connect to the Internet.
(SiliconValley.com, 20 Mar 02)

- New pricing structures recently introduced by Blackboard and WebCT will mean
significantly higher costs for many colleges and universities using their products. The
companies are trying to move from a system that charges customers flat rates regardless
of the number of users, to pricing based on user numbers. For some colleges, this will
mean much higher costs without additional functionality. This move may generate new
interest in open-source course management projects, such as the Open Knowledge
Initiative. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 19 Mar 02)
________________________________________________________________________

ED

NEW SURVEYS ON ONLINE LEARNING AND TEACHING - Two survey reports
related to the use of the Internet in teaching and training are now available online. "Online
Teaching in an Online World" looks at the preferences of 222 college instructors who have
used the Web to share syllabi and course resources in the World Lecture Hall or
MERLOT.org The report examines instructor training, support, resource exchange,
e-learning attrition rates, decision-making and tool preferences. The second report, "Online
Training in an Online World," based on survey responses of 201 corporate trainers, looks
at the types of training offered online, organizational factors limiting the adoption of
e-learning, preferred e-learning instructional approaches and e-learning assessment. For the
full article see: http://publicationshare.com/ (infocus Newsletter of UCEA vol. 7 no 2, Mar 02)

HIGHER EDUCATION DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT - SCT, a provider of e-education
solutions for colleges and universities, and Software Services of Delaware, Inc. (SSD) signed
an agreement that will allow SCT to resell SSD's document management technology in the
higher education market. SSD is the provider of Easy Admit, a customizable form-scanning
solution developed for higher-education admissions processing. The system reduces data
entry requirements by processing student applications and other forms, including handwritten
materials. Key information is electronically extracted through optical character recognition
technology from admissions forms and automatically uploaded into SCT Banner, a document
management solution jointly developed by SCT and OTG Software, Inc. In addition, SCT
and SSD will look to expand the use of OCR/ICR capabilities into areas beyond admissions,
such as financial aid and human resources. For more information, visit:
http://www.sct.com/industrysolutions/education/index.htm (Syllabus News, Resources,
Trends, 26 Mar 02)

EVALUATION STRATEGIES FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION - "The many factors
involved in the success of distance offerings makes the creation of a comprehensive
evaluation plan a complex and daunting task. Unfortunately, what may seem the most
logical approach to determining effectiveness is often theoretically unsound. For example,
comparing student achievement between distance and face-to-face courses may seem a
simple solution, yet the design is flawed for a number of reasons. However, theoretically
sound approaches do exist for determining the effectiveness of learning systems, along
with many different methods for obtaining answers to the relevant questions." In
"Measuring Success: Evaluation Strategies for Distance Education" (EDUCAUSE
QUARTERLY, vol. 25 no 1, 2, pp. 20-26), Virginia Tech faculty Barbara Lockee,
Mike Moore and John Burton explain the factors to consider when evaluating distance
education (DE) programs. Sharing the experience gained from DE evaluations at
Virginia Tech, they provide guidance to readers who want to set up evaluation plans at
their institutions. The article is available online (in PDF format) at
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0213.pdf

For more on DE evaluation, see "Relevant Assessment Strategies for Online Colleges
& Universities" (USDLA JOURNAL, vol. 16 no 1, Feb 02) by Brent Muirhead who
teaches in the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program in curriculum and
technology for the University of Phoenix Online (UOP). The article is available online at
http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/FEB02_Issue/article04.html CIT INFOBITS, Feb 02)
________________________________________________________________________

BIZ/GOV/ED

TEN TOP BUSINESS IDEAS FROM 2001 - Trying to keep up with the latest trends and
ideas in business and management? MeansBusiness, hosts a large online database of business
ideas, and has created a list of the 10 most important business ideas and articles published in
2001. From this website you can read summaries of the ideas and link to the original articles in
such publications as The Economist, Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review
and Financial Times. See: MeansBusiness.com. "Ideas in the News," vol. III no 1, 9 Jan 02 at:
http://www.meansbusiness.com/ideas_archive.asp (infocus Newsletter of UCEA vol. 7 no 2, Mar
02)

DISTANCE LEARNING LOBBY PRAISES INTERNET BILL - A distance learning
lobbying group said it supported the House's passage of H.R. 1542, the Internet Freedom
and Deployment Act. U.S. Distance Learning Association executive director John Flores said
passage of the bill is "good news for the nation's distance learning industry whose future
prosperity depends on universal access to broadband technology in our nation's homes, schools,
universities and workplaces." The bill, sponsored by Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and John
Dingell (D-Mi.), requires Bell companies' central offices to have high speed data capabilities
within five years. For more information, see: http://www.usdla.org (Syllabus News, Resources,
Trends, 5 Mar 02)

ARMY ONLINE UNIVERSITY EXPANDS IN SECOND YEAR - The U.S. Army's
e-learning portal, EArmyU.com, attracted 12,000 students during its first year of operation,
and the Army plans now to increase the size of the program by almost 100%. The portal,
which is managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Army, connects soldiers who enroll
with university and certificate programs that are available through the program. Students get
computers and Internet access from the Army to complete their programs of study. The
Army hopes to add 10,000 students to the program by the end of fiscal year 2002.
(GovExec.com, 26 Feb 02 - Edupage 1 Mar 02)
________________________________________________________________________

COPYRIGHT

INTERNET COPYRIGHT RULING - If you use images or display third party content on
a Web site, an important decision reached last month will be of interest to you. In the case,
Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corporation, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit covering
California ruled that an image search engine website that copied and displayed thumbnail
images in response to a user's query was not a copyright infringement but rather
(non-infringing) "fair use" allowed under copyright law. However, the Court also ruled that
the Web site's use of inline linking and frames to display content residing on a third party's
server "was" a copyright infringement. The reason - the full-size display did not enhance the
search engine but rather, served the artistic purpose of the original images. Electronic Frontier
Foundation, on behalf of the search engine company, has asked the Ninth Circuit to reconsider
the ruling. For the full article by Stephen Filler, see:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article/0,,3_992371,00.html (Nanotech Planet,
Spring 02)

HOLLINGS' DIGITAL TV PROMOTION ACT INTRODUCED - A new law recently
introduced by Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee,
would require that new technologies include features that would prevent illegal reproduction
of copyrighted works. Titled the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act,
it would place responsibility for curtailing copyright problems on the makers of electronic
equipment and applications. Opponents contend that this would place too much control in
the hands of copyright owners, stripping consumers of traditional rights of use. (Washington
Post, 22 Mar 02)
________________________________________________________________________

DIGITAL DIVIDE

ATTRACTION OF PUBLIC-USE COMPUTERS - Many who would like to use computers
have neither the funds nor inclination to buy a computer. For this group, public access PCs are
very attractive. An example is North Carolina where household computer penetration rose from
53% in 1999 to 68% in 2001; 39% of those without access say they can't afford PCs. A
recommendation to address this situation is to provide public-access computer centers to all
85 rural N.C. counties and any participating urban counties by the end of 2003. With funding
from both the federal government and the private sector, six to 25 computers would be located
at each center. A survey of county residents who use or have access is now underway to
estimate how many computers are needed. Other states can learn from this - across the nation,
the household penetration rate for computers has leveled off at about 60%. (NewsFactor
Network, 8 Mar 02)

IS ONLINE EQUALITY GAP CLOSING? Recent data from the Commerce Department
indicates that the digital divide is closing. Experts, however, say that measuring Internet
access is not a good enough indicator of online equality. The e-Rate program has connected
nearly all public libraries and schools in the United States, but such public access does not
ensure equality. Commerce Department data also show, for example, that less than 1/3 of
children aged 10 to 17 from black and minority homes can access the Internet at home. This
is compared to at least 2/3s of children from white and Asian homes. Not having access at
home often means waiting in line, limited time on the computers and lack of privacy.
(Associated Press, 3 Mar 02)
________________________________________________________________________

TRENDS

A COLLABORATIVE TAXONOMY FOR TECHNOLOGY - LoadSpring Solutions lists
six levels, four data types and eight categories of tools in technology collaboration for a
useful taxonomy:

Levels:
Collaboration Level 1 Messaging And Calendaring
Collaboration Level 2 Project Management
Collaboration Level 3 Data Management
Collaboration Level 4 Neutral Data Access
Collaboration Level 5 Native Data Access
Collaboration Level 6 Real Time Design Reviews

Data Types:
1) Objects
2) Documents
3) Conversations
4) Tasks
(While most of the tools have functions that would fit in other categories in this taxonomy,
their major functionality is still in one category.)

Eight Tool Categories:
1. e-Learning
2. Real time collaboration tools (RTC) (audio, video and data conferencing)
3. Project management tools (DPM) (including knowledge management (KM))
4. Collaborative portals
5. Collaborative CRM (customer resource management)
6. e-Community
7. Virtual workplace and process (asynchronous collaboration tools and workflow)
8. Unified and wireless (the underling infrastructure to support collaboration)
(LoadSpring Solutions, Inc., http://www.loadspring.com) in Collaborate Newsletter
vol. 2 no 6, 15 Mar 02)
______________________________________________________________________

TECH/TOOLS

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION TOOL FROM SETON HALL - Software that helps
faculty produce multimedia presentations from lectures is available for free from Seton
Hall University. Other institutions have developed similar software, but Seton Hall may
be the first to make theirs available online. Their tool, called SyncStream, allows users to
synchronize an online slide show with a lecture recorded using RealVideo streaming video
format. Officials at Seton Hall said that such presentations are more interesting for students,
and giving faculty a simple tool for producing multimedia means many more faculty will
participate. SyncStream is available online at
http://tltc.shu.edu/initiatives/streaming/syncstream.htm (Chronicle of Higher Education, 27
Mar 02 - Edupage 27 Mar 02)

WEBBOARD 5.0 BASIC AT LOWER PRICE - The newest version of WebBoard comes
with a lowered price, according to Akiva Ideas Technologies. The company announced that
this opens up the software to an entire new category of business and education users.
WebBoard Basic includes a threaded discussion style, one conference board and unlimited
users. It allows for administrator control and moderation over the WebBoard community
and it comes with a rich registration system. WebBoard Basic is tailored for smaller
communities with a single administrator/moderator and is part of the WebBoard
family of software. WebBoard is available for Windows Servers in Standard and
Premium Editions and as a Unix/Linux version (WebBoard/USX). For more information
see: http://www.webboard.com

RESEARCH "HOLODECK" LAUNCHED BY U of CALGARY - Remember the
"holodeck" from the Star Trek television series? The University of Calgary is using
Java 3D to create virtual models of things ranging from a whole landscape to a single cell.
Wearing 3D glasses, scientists enter a 10 x 10 foot laboratory to view the models that have
been created. While companies such as pharmaceutical firms, oil companies and
meteorologists will be able to use the facility, the primary goal is to further medical
research, particularly in the area of complex genetic diseases like Alzheimer's or cancer.
(Reuters, 28 Feb 02)
________________________________________________________________________

READS/RESOURCES

F-LIGHT - The March issue of F-LIGHT features:
* resources to help faculty take the first steps toward scholarship of teaching: studying their
own courses in order to map and improve the use of technology to improve learning.
* pointers to a vastly expanded and upgraded set of Flashlight tools for institutions that
subscribe
* notes about a video series it is helping to produce on uses of technology in teacher
education and the schools: PT3 Now!
* notes about a new study package for improving educational benefits from the use of
WebCT and other course management systems (plus a special offer for institutions that
use WebCT)
* upcoming events, including a Webcast this coming Tuesday, April 2 at 2 pm (ET):
helping provosts develop their "Top 10" priorities for improving learning with technology
at their institutions. The webcast is free, but registration in advance is required at:
http://www.quickslides.com/quickreg/sq.cfm?ObjectID=364 The F-LIGHT Web site
is as: http://www.tltgroup.org/resources/F-LIGHT/2002/Mar.html(F-LIGHT (Mar 02)

COMPUTERS AND IT: RESOURCES FOR THE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES - The Adaptech Project, http://www.adaptech.org
a Montreal-based group that conducts research on the use of computer, information and
adaptive technologies by post-secondary students with disabilities, has released a new report:
"Computer and Information Technologies: Resources for the Post-secondary Education of
Students with Disabilities." The 143-page report analyzes the results of interviews conducted
in the spring of 2000 with 156 college and university staff members who provide services to
students with disabilities.

Key findings include: 1) although more than 100,000 students currently enrolled in post-
secondary institutions have disabilities, only between 1/4 and 1/2 of those registered
receive special services; 2) although staff members who provide services to students with
disabilities have, on average, between nine and ten years of experience, most do not
consider themselves knowledgeable about the computer technologies used by those
students; 3) for institutions to be "technologically welcoming" to students with disabilities,
they must ensure sufficient funding for and access to appropriate technologies, adequate
training and support and accessibility of computer-based curricular materials and library
resources.

The study concludes with a set of recommendations for service providers and a collection
of resources for further consultation. The report is freely available online in HTML at:
http://www.adaptech.org/pubs/olt01; in PDF at: http://www.adaptech.org/pubs/olt01pdf.exe
and in Word at: http://www.adaptech.org/pubs/olt01doc.exe (NETWORKING vol. 6 no 3,
20 Mar 02)

MAKING SENSE OF LEARNING SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS - The
phrase "learning standards" is one of the most powerful and most misunderstood aspects
of the e-Learning revolution. As organizations make significant investments in digital learning
content, there is a strong desire to have greater assurances of portability and reusability. As
organizations focus on providing learners with the "just right" content and activities, there is a
strong desire to have the ability to more easily store, search, index, deploy, assemble and revise
content. All of these hopes are part of the story of "learning standards." To lower industry
confusion about learning standards and to accelerate their adoption, The MASIE Center's
e-Learning Consortium organized and facilitated a group of learning professionals who
worked together for several months to generate a collection of information and job aids.
This free report is available at: http://www.masie.com/standards/ (TechLearn Trends, 8
Mar 02)

DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUAL SCHOOLS: ISSUES AND
TRENDS - Edited by: Cathy Cavanaugh, University of North Florida. For over a century,
children have learned at a distance from their teachers. Correspondence lessons were the
primary education mechanism for children of remote farmers, migrant workers and others.
Beginning in the 1990s, the Internet replaced mail, radio and fax transmissions for many
students. So far only tens of thousands of students at the K-12 level in the U.S. have
taken online courses, a very small proportion of the over 50 million K-12 students. The
number, however, of students in virtual schools on a full-time or part-time basis is growing
rapidly, especially at the K-8 level. The number of virtual schools in North America currently
hovers around 100. The movement of students and teachers into virtual schools has
important implications for education. It is time to explore the impact of virtual schools on
elementary and secondary education.

The study of virtual schools is in its infancy, but enough is known to bring together a review
of best practices from concept and development, through implementation and evaluation. The
primary purpose for the book we are developing is to bring together knowledge of virtual
schools as a reference for scholars and other groups. A second purpose for the book is
exploring virtual schools to offer authors and researchers what may be the first volume of
its type as a compendium and a conduit for their findings. Researchers and practitioners are
invited to submit on or before April 20, 2002, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal clearly
explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals
will be notified by June 15, 2002. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by September
30, 2002. Publication by Idea Group Inc., is expected in 2003. For complete information
contact Cathy Cavanaugh, University of North Florida at: mailto:ccavanau@unf.edu
________________________________________________________________________

POSITIONS

Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas - Executive Director Continuing and Distance
Education - Applications and nominations are invited for this position of executive director,
responsible for the Division of Continuing and Distance Education. The executive director
reports to the executive vice president for academic affairs and is a member of the university's
academic council. An earned doctorate and five years of higher education experience in
administration of continuing and/or distance education programs are required. Applications,
nominations will continue until the position is filled. Contact: Dr. Kevin B. Smith, Chair
Search Committee, Lamar University, Human Resources Office, PO Box 11127, Beaumont,
Texas 77710
________________________________________________________________________

NEW ON THE LIST - Welcome to new subscribers: Julian Ferrer, Kim McDonald, Amber
Lycan, Connie Latson, Polu Satyanarayana, Derek Chirnside, Perine Cassidy, Laurel
Stanford, Denise Carmonus, Leonard Tillitson, Jennifer Camron, Melissa Toranado, Lyle
Carstensford, Hilary Peterson, Carole Porter-Reynolds, Lenore Cassidy, Tanya Felton and
Jayne Marshall.
________________________________________________________________________

FYI - News, Events, Conferences

* THE 6TH SCI CONFERENCE, 2002 - The World Multi Conference on Systemics ,
Cybernetics and Informatics (SCI) will be held July 14-18, 2002 in Orlando, FL at the
Sheraton World. For complete information go to: http://www.iiis.org/sci2002/
________________________________________________________________________

ENDNOTE - Most distance education educators and trainers are aware of the compilation
of reports, surveys and summaries by Thomas L. Russell of North Carolina University
that resulted in his "no significant difference phenomenon." In this month's issue of CIT
INFOBITS, an article about Russell's research by Thomas R. Ramage (Associate Vice
President, Parkland College, Champaign, IL) is cited. The article is "The No Significant
Difference Phenomenon: A Literature Review" (e-Journal of Instructional Science and
Technology vol. 5 no 1, Apr 02.) The article attempts to answer the question "Does
technology impact learning?" It is available online at:
http://www.usq.edu.au/electpub/e-jist/docs/html2002/ramage_frame.html An important
article to read and consider as we continue to explore the impact of technology on learning.
(CIT INFOBITS Mar 02)
________________________________________________________________________

APRIL DESIEN ISSUE FOCUS - Learning Technology Development Centers at the UW
by Hal Schlais and Glenda Morgan
________________________________________________________________________

DESIEN ARCHIVE: An Archive has been created for past issues and interaction
comments. To access the archive go to: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/desien/

DESIEN includes subscribers from institutions and organizations around the globe.
DESIEN encourages information exchange of distance education issues concerned with:
1) distance education progress and course/program development, 2) team development
and collaboration, 3) technology, 4) policy, 5) funding and 6) research. Subscribers
outside of the UW System are encouraged to submit information and contributions.

* To submit articles or questions, email: lehman@ics.uwex.edu
* Encourage your colleagues to subscribe to DESIEN. To subscribe they
should do the following:

To: listproc@uwex.edu
Subject: (leave blank)

In the body of the message:

Subscribe DESIEN-List firstname lastname

To CHANGE your address or UNSUBSCRIBE your name from the list, send
an eMail with that information to: lehman@ics.uwex.edu
_____________________________________

Owner/Editor: Rosemary Lehman, Ph.D.
lehman@ics.uwex.edu
Copyright 2002 Board of Regents
University of Wisconsin