If technology programs are well-designed and effectively managed they can play widely
varied and important roles in our lives. Last month, in the first of our Five-Part Series on
Effective Practices Molly Immendorf described the step-by-step process of designing the
successful computer-skills classes being taught to University of Wisconsin (UW) Cooperative
Extension faculty and staff via the computer. This month, we hear from Patricia Ploetz,
UW-Stevens Point (UWSP) who, along with UWSP technical staff, has guided the university
faculty and staff through the process of using streaming audio and video in innovative and
effective ways. Don't miss her story in this issue!

Next month, Anne Kanckert will talk about her innovative use of videoconferencing,
connecting her Milwaukee classroom of middle school students to the city's courtrooms.
In the fourth of our series, UW-Extension Small Business Development Center staff will
describe their dynamic use of Webconferencing to share "entrepreneurship" information
and expertise statewide and nationally. Rounding out the series will be an article that
looks at blending a variety of technologies, synchronous and asynchronous to engage
learners. Rosemary Lehman