Approved-By:  "EDTECH Moderator" <21765EDT@MSU.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edtech
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 17:17:52 EDT
From:         Gleason Sackman <sackman@plains.nodak.edu>
Subject:      K-12 Networks (fwd)

---------- Text of forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 13:55:38 LCL
From: Gerardo Moenne <gmoenne@LASCAR.PUC.CL>
To: Multiple recipients of list CMC <CMC@rpiecs.bitnet>
Subject: K-12 Networks

Hello,

I am working in a national project (in Chile) which is related to the
use of computers in education.  The project is focused on the use of the
computer as a communication medium.  With this purpose we are
implementing a Computer Based Communication Network that will connect
more than 100 primary schools.

One of the main focus of the project is to have a simple and easy to use
user interface, hiding most of the technical aspects of the tool. Our
current prototype is developed in full color Macintosh computers, where
users navigate trough different workspaces (Post Office, Kiosk, Museum,
...).  In each workspace, users can communicate with other schools
(teachers and students), receive information (bulletins), work in
collaborative projects, participate in interest groups and access
educational software.

Most of the software is based on multimedia technology, so the
educational software and many of the messages contain text, graphics and
in some cases sound and video.

The schools will be connected to the network trough modems & dial up
telephone calls.  Most of the work is made off-line, so schools are
connected to the network once or twice a day (mainly at night, during
low cost periods).

My specific job in this project is the implementation of the
communication platform that will support the traffic among the schools,
and the purpose of this message is to get in touch with people that are
working in technical aspects of K-12 Networks.

I am extremely interested in getting information about different
educational networks and the technological solutions involved.  I would
appreciate if you could send me messages with a brief educational and
technical description of projects, you may be working on.  I am
specially interested in a description of the communication platform used
to connect schools (urban & rural) to the network (Internet, Bitnet,
Fidonet, Private Network, ...).

This information would be useful for a research in  which I am working
on. This research is related with possible solutions for low cost & wide
access computer based networks, specially for developing countries.

Please send me messages to my personal address: elaval@lascar.puc.cl .
(I will post back a summary with the information.)

Thanks in advance,

Ernesto Laval
Chief of Communications Area
Centro de Informatica Educativa
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Internet:  elaval@lascar.puc.cl

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gleason Sackman                           BBS:       sackman@sendit.nodak.edu
Coordinator                               Internet:  sackman@plains.nodak.edu
SENDIT - NoDak's K-12 Telcom Network      Bitnet:    sackman@plains.bitnet
BOX 5164,  NDSU Computer Center           Voice: (701)237-8109
Fargo, ND  58105                          Fax:   (701)237-8541
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU