From: Bill.Kerr@f804.n800.z3.fidonet.org (Bill Kerr)
Newsgroups: k12.sys.projects
Subject: ARE YOU INTERESTED ???
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 02:13:04 PDT
Organization: FidoNet node 3:800/804 - Oracle PC-Network, Flinders Park Sth Aust Austra


Hi Roland,

 > Paul has been an inspirational help with Jeff Clement at getting 
 > this up off the ground.

I have a copy (from Paul) of your joint paper, "Raising the Level of Access to Computer Communications in Schools" delivered to the ACEC (Australian Computer in Education Conference), July, 1992. I thought it was *excellent* the way you have set things up to make comms as accessible to students as word processing by combining the network with the point. This is a *plug* to others who are interested and may want to read your paper. 

 > Say, where is Paralowie. Looked but couldnt find it in my Atlas.

It sounds like a country town but in fact is metropolitan - in the Salisbury/ Elizabeth area. Classified as "disadvantaged" - high unemployment. I'm happy to be there since I find that such schools are more receptive to innovative ideas. 
 
 > What are their problems? The mail stuff ran the best over the 
 > network here...  any problems we had were of a more technical nature 
 > that were readily worked out.

Have to get back to you when I know more, Roland. 

 > Novell is fine if you coped and understand how Dos works. It is a 
 > good network and the Ministry of Ed in victoria took out a kind of 
 > site licence arrangement to encourage its use. It is very powerfull 
 > and that is where some users get tangled up. Just be clear about 
 > what you want it to do and get some good advice about how to do it.. 
 > dont take ANYTHING as gospel till you try it yourself. Does the 
 > school backup everything on a tape drive or have individual student 
 > access. Dont be frightened about it. Bernard Holkner and Mark Dods 
 > run a Education Network network (sic) that also has an ednet
 > (fidonet) type echo for discussions here in victoria so with this 
 > mail system on our network, I am really plugged into what is
 
Yes, I suppose if you can understand DOS then you can just about understand anything :-) Your words are encouraging, sounds promising. 
I am interested in the Education Network network (sic) ... is this entirely a Fidonet style setup? What is the phone number? We live in the shadow of Nexus over here, which is meant to be the centre of the Universe, ie. the known Universe for SA ED bureaucrat-technocrats. I'm trying to break out of this stifling insularity so Fidonet seems to be the go if setup along the lines suggested in your ACEC paper.


 > PS: Hope this message gets to you ok, our kitten is chewing on the 
 > serial cable at the back of the mode45\87666=\nmm and insists on 
 > sitting on my number pad.  (shoos cat away for the upteenth time)

I have a problem with a Whippet that occasionally chews the telephone extension lead. Things have improved since I converted the bomb shelter to a dog kennel.

Stay in touch in '93!

Bill

ps. do you still advocate Ezycom as the best software package? Is it public domain?
 do you have an opinion about BinkleyTerm + QM + MessageEd which is the package I have in my hot little hand right now?
 also interested in more details about the functioning of your system:
eg. do students have their own IDs? Is that managed OK through the point arrangement? Is it taking off in the sense that some students are now starting to get into comms from home, ie. it is becoming part of their lifestyle? Do you see security as a problem, ie. students passing on their passwords to friends etc.?


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