Chase employees will volunteer their time to install the computers and provide technical support. In addition to Apple, Cisco, Time Warner and Chase Manhattan, companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, CompTIA, IBM and Toshiba have contributed to the board of education's technology initiatives. While these programs have been quite successful, what is evident is that a piecemeal approach has had the effect of affording some students in the system a distinct advantage over students not similarly educated. Acknowledging the importance of instructional technology and its spotty record of integrating technology into its school system, the city's board of education established a Teaching and Learning in Cyberspace Task Force in July 1999. The objective of the task force was to create an instructional technology program that would be self-funded.
Portals are gateways to a community of users, rich in content with e-commerce opportunities.
An educational portal would combine a portfolio of pedagogical content, communication and commerce services. A portal would serve as the impetus for organizing and building a network through the Web that would allow for the discussion of issues and concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is the board's belief that this new vehicle of communication would create a ubiquitous, online sophisticated learning community for the entire public school community. At present, students, parents, teachers and administrators are navigating through the Internet using various ISPs as they conduct research, engage in activities and participate in e-commerce transactions, such as buying airline tickets. The partner portal zone would allow access to the Internet targeted to the needs of the adults and family of the community.