X-Resent-From:  Sally Laughon <LAUGHON@VTVM1>
Approved-By:  "EDTECH Moderator" <21765EDT@MSU.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edtech
Date:         Sun, 26 Jul 1992 10:09:14 EDT
From:         Jon Utin <jutin@radford.vak12ed.edu>
Subject:      team email

Dear Dr. Exline:

I'm back again with another idea that I wish you would advise
me about.

As a 6th grade teacher for 24 years there are some "frailties"
with the system that are constants. One of these is the need to
have ready and frequent contact/interaction between the school
and home environments. So often we hear parents say, "If only
there was a way for me to know what assignments my child
had...or to keep in touch with the teachers until this or that
problem was aleviated...etc". And there are only two ways to do
that "reasonably"! One is a daily initialing of a homework
sheet which so often falls by the way because one party or
another doesn't hold to their end of the arrangement. The other
is to have an answering machine installed and to place each day
the assignments, etc. on it. The parent calls the number and
wades through umpteen different teachers' proclamations until
the desired one is reached.

I want better. I want hi-tech . I want interaction if possible!
WHY NOT!

So here's my idea. Recognizing that in the Blacksburg school
environment there are numerous parents associated with the
university and /or technical businesses; a greater percentage
than might otherwise be found in other school populations.
Many of my students have access to computer modems in their
homes...while others have, indirectly, through their parents'
work establishments.

How? Why not? Let's! develop a PILOT system whereby each day I
have sent via modem to VTVM1 or VAPEN@radford (as examples) a
communication with and to and for parents and students.
Obviously homework would be a natural. Reminders about an
upcoming field trip. Science fair projects. Requests for
parental participation...an announcement requesting m,aterials,
or a speaker, or information...there are untold ways to use
this system!

However, we face the problem of reaching those families with no
computer in the home...remember that despite the high level of
academic orientation we are still a basically rural county and
have students from homes where survival is higher on the list
than homework and academic achievement. For these homes we need
to "invent" something that will allow 100% participation for
the students in the pilot project...i.e. my team (I teach math
and science and my partner (Becky Smythers) teaches English and
social studies to approximately 52 students.

Norman Dodl, of the Educational Technology Dept. at Va Tech
tells me that there is a device...whatever that will do
something of what I speak. I have yet to persue this tack. I'm
thinking about a "box" that has a phone line feed and connects
to the family TV set. Basic controls allow for dialing the
telecommuncations number (VAPEN@radford???) and receiving the
email announcement. However, if one really wanted "interactive
communication" then there should be a way for the
"computerless" family to send instead of just receive.

I strongly feel that this would be an excellent and wonderfully
innovative system. The already "high-tech" interest and
involvement of so many people in our community lends itself to
the development and success of such a program more easily and
less expensively than almost any other place that you can name.
And indeed, with Blacksburg in the planning stages of
developing the town into a "Fiber Optic Village", this would be
more than a "sign of things to come".

AND I WANT TO DO THIS! Which means that I'm willing to give of
myself to do what has to be done. I like the concept of...If
it's not broke....BREAK IT! And do I have the facility to
embark on this project...and I've got the kind of
administration in this county that will jump at the chance! By
the way...come see us! A "meant" invitation.

So waht do you think? Are you ready to do it? Since this is
email you can stay right in touch...you can see my every
communication yourself because we can put you on the mailing
list! How about that?

But I can't do it alone...and I just cannot this time afford to
buy the stuff myself unless I win the lottery (boy then you'd
see something!).

You'll notice that I have sent this communication to several
colleagues whose opinions and feedback I respect greatly.

Sorry this is so long...good things come from small beginnings,
but GREAT things come from bigger ones! (Utin...1992)

Sincerely:

Jon Utin
********************************
Jon Utin, 6th gr. Math and Science
Blacksburg Middle School
501 South Main Street
Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
jutin@radford.vak12ed.edu
********************************

Submitted to EDTECH by: Sally Laughon   LAUGHON@VTVM1
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU