From: flt@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Frank L. Topping)
Newsgroups: misc.education,k12.chat.teacher
Subject: "OERI" XCHANGE Conference - New focus desired?  Needed?
Date: 8 Apr 92 08:08:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: sactoh0.1992Apr8.080844.22702
Reply-To: flt@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Frank L. Topping)
Organization: Sacramento Public Access Unix, Sacramento, Ca.


 
 
New focus for the XCHANGE conference on "OERI"
 
Posted 4/4/92 in MAIN and XCHANGE conferences on "OERI" to "ALL".
 
=======
 
...Subj:  NREN, XCHANGE Conf. New Focus
 
One of the greatest needs in pre-k-12 education today is that of 
coming to grips with the needs of our children up against their 
future as it relates to the effective utilization of technology.
In particular - intimate familiarity with internet, it's various 
sub-sets and the giant National Research and Education Network - 
(NREN, in the planning stages) and hardware / access techniques 
required for it's fluent utilization is desperately needed.
 
There are many that feel input from the k-12 educator isn't being
sought after in the NREN planning process anywhere near as much 
as need be.  The fear is that "education theorists" who "haven't 
seen a classroom situation in 30 years" are expected to delineate 
the "real time needs" of today's modern K-12 educator and being 
"substantially technically illiterate" are ill-equipped to do so.
 
Do you know what TELNET, uucico, FTP, IP and SLIP connection are?
Do you know that live, real-time connects, IRC chat, file transfer,
database search and information retrieval are most likely available
to you FREE, NOW, through your local university or state college?
      - and even if you aren't ABLE to get a phone line -
Inexpensive equipment is available that would avail "packet" 
"digital radio" connection for remote schools to the phenomenal 
wealth of resource material and collaborative opportunity of the 
internet and peripheral links.  ...admin balking at a phone line 
for your class?  ...you needn't deny children the opportunity for 
truly global connectivity.  You can shoot a radio or satellite 
transmission of your darling "digital dialog" out the window of 
your classroom NOW!  I was recently able to acquire a "notebook"
industrial machine made by PROXIM (watch for the name) for $159.00
that was made for inventory use in the Army's "Red River" project.
It's a full blown "XT" with a Hewlett Packard bar code and _choice_
of using RS-232 cable, infra-red (like your t.v. remote ctl.) or 
915mhz FM transceiving from the antenna buried in the handle as i/o.
You _NEED_ to know what your options are.  ...for little more than
what telephone _installation_ costs:  Forever & Free(!) is possible
though you'll never hear the telephone companies volunteer that.
Live "high-bandwidth" internet utilization is possible with these
technology yet SIGs are jockeying to mandate "proprietary $witches"
etc. ...are _your_ interests being represented well?  Are you sure?
...would you like to _be_ sure?  ...stay tuned and be informed!
 
=======
 
 
Frank Topping, Sacramento                        (916)455-5154 (voice)
 
                          conference moderator:
 
  "The Educational Exchange Conference",  "OERI" BBS,  (800)222-4922
 
           The Office of Educational Research and Improvement,
                      U.S. Department of Education
                            Washington, D.C.
 
Disclaimer: ...I don't work for USDOE, I moderate the XCHANGE area for
international education discussion. Opinions expressed would be my own.
 
 
 ....what is your opinion of having a "full blown" conference on
 "OERI" to keep you informed of developments and possible pitfalls?
 
-- 
Frank L. Topping     INTERNET: flt@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US
UUCP: {ames | apple | att | sun}!pacbell!sactoh0!flt
  or: ucbvax!csusac!sactoh0!flt