To protect privacy, some information can be accessed only by parents, students, and appropriate staff with individual access privileges. Table 1 shows the types of information that can be made available and the technology used to access it. Provide technology that will allow for two-way communication between district staff and the community. Although electronic mail and voice mail clearly play an integral role in both learning and access, they are separated here to identify some distinct two-way uses of each medium. It should be noted that all staff members have a telephone, voice mail, and electronic mail accounts.
All students have electronic mail accounts.
There are many important issues involved in electronically connecting communities and schools. Here are some thoughts on a few pertinent topics. Equity of Access. It has to be assumed that a large percentage of the community will not have the capacity to participate. We still have a fairly large number of residents with rotary phones, which makes it impossible for voice mail and IVR applications to be successful.