TO:     Education Liasons, School Media Specialists, 
        ITV Coordinators  
FR:     PBS Elementary/Secondary Service 
RE:     Videoconference, "Telecommunications: Bringing the World
        Into the Classroom" 
DT:     Sept. 1, 1992

The following program will be broadcast on many PBS stations in October. 
Please check with your local PBS station Education Services Director to
see  if this will be broadcast in your area:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS: BRINGING THE WORLD INTO THE CLASSROOM, a professional 
development videoconference for educators and school boards will be 
presented on October 22, 1992, from 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern Time by the 
National School Boards Association's Institute for the Transfer of 
Technology to Education, the PBS Elementary/Secondary Service and The 
National Foundation for the Improvement of Education.  The videoconference
 will originate from INFOMART, Dallas, TX, site of the annual "Making 
Schools More Productive" NSBA conference.  This live, interactive 
videoconference will investigate issues in telecommunications use in 
schools from a variety of perspectives-- from policymaker to
practitioner.

The videoconference will feature NFIE's 1992 award-winning Christa 
McAuliffe Educators -- Bonnie Bracey, Arlington, VA; Misty Brave, Kyle,
SD;  Carol Gilkinson, Covina, CA; Marilyn Schlief, Garden City, MI; Jim 
Zimmerman, Urbana, IL -- who employ some of the most innovative 
applications of technology in schools today, such as:

*Connecting Students from Around the Globe Via Lumaphones and 
slow-Scan-Video: Voice and picture messages are carried over telephone 
lines from Michigan to Japan connecting students and teachers in the
Garden  City Public Schools with their Japanese contemporaries.

*Teaching About Cultures Close to Home: Technology is being integrated into
 multicultural curriculum programs in Little Wound School in South Dakota
to  educate and instill value of traditional native American customs.

*Achieving Real Life Studies of Our Earth: Students in Arlington, Virginia 
are taking part in the National Geographic Kids Network to share current 
information in an international telecommunications-based science and 
geography curriculum studying acid rain.

*Opening Up the World of Science: Students are utilizing a variety of  
technological tools including computers, video disc, scanners, 
telecommunications, and robotics to complete classroom assignments and 
discover the world of science.

*Creating a Global Perspective, Community, and  Classroom: Students in 
Covina, California are being introduced to Prodigy and E-mail and other  
educational technology to engage students in collaborative efforts to 
examine worldwide problems, increase cultural awareness, and promote a 
global perspective.

By offering this videoconference, educators in your area will learn how 
(and be able to ask questions of) these motivated, innovative teachers are
 applying telecommunications-based programs in new and exciting ways.
Their  insights and experiences will prove invaluable to educators who are
 striving to change education.

Date/time and related videoconference information is as follows: 

TITLE           :   TELECOMMUNICATIONS: BRINGING THE WORLD 
                    INTO THE CLASSROOM NUMBER/LENGTH   
                :   1/120 minute videoconference

DATES/TIMES     :   October 22, 1992
                    1:30-2:00 PM/Eastern Time  Test Time
                    2:00-4:00 PM/Eastern Time  Videoconference

TRANSPONDER INFO:   Will be announced to registered sites

DESCRIPTION     :   The videoconference will examine issues in 
                    telecommunications use in schools from a
                    variety of perspectives - from policymaker 
                    to practitioner.  The 1992 NFIE Christa
                    McAuliffe Educators will demonstrate 
                    projects currently in place in their
                    respective districts and help participants
                    explore the challenges and opportunities
                    presented in implementing telecommunications-
                    based programs in today's classrooms. 
                    Telecommunications issues for schools, 
                    including planning and policy issues,
                    governance, curricular issues, technical
                    requirements, and financial impact will be
                    addressed. 
PRODUCER       :    Produced by the National School Boards 
                    Association's Institute for the Transfer of 
                    Technology to Education, with support from 
                    the Regional Bell Operating Companies
RIGHTS         :    Unlimited broadcast and duplication rights.

COST           :    $150 per downlink site.  This is a 
                    non-exclusive offering.

PRINT MATERIALS:    A reproducible resource guide and a local 
                    promotional packet will be distributed to all 
                    sites registered through PBS.

FOR INFORMATION:    To register contact Tom Flavell at PBS 
                    Elementary/Secondary Service at 
                    (703) 739-5402, 
                    or fax (703) 739-8495. 

HOW TO ACCESS THIS PROGRAM 
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Step 1:  Contact your local PBS station Education Services director to 
find out if this program will be available through your local station.

Step 2:  If this program is unavailable through your PBS station, your 
organization may license it for C-band downlink.  Simply mark "NSBA 
Videoconference Event" on the Interest Form Below to obtain more 
information, including a registration form.  The program may be licensed 
for $150 per downlink site, including recording and site duplication 
rights for one year from the date of broadcast plus a guidebook which may 
be reproduced.  Copies of the program may be retained for the 
life-of-tape!  The broadcast will occur on regular C-band satellite.  

Cooperative arrangements with your local PBS station are encouraged! 
Cooperating with a nearby educational organization is one way to share 
costs.  The PBS Elementary/Secondary Service maintains an active roster 
of all parties interested in licensing this program and will gladly help 
link you up with those nearby who may want to form a partnership.  Simply 
call Tom Flavell at (703) 739-5402 or fax a note to (703) 739-8495.

The PBS Elementary/Secondary Service is the school television arm of PBS
dedicated to serving the instructional needs of students and teachers 
through and on behalf of public television stations and other education 
agencies nationwide.  PBS E/SS acquires and distributes educational 
programming and related curricular support materials for K-12 grade 
classroom use; promotes the use of PBS's primetime programming as a 
curricular resource; provides professional development for educators; 
serves as an outreach liason to the education community; supports 
research and development and serves as a national advocate for the use of
video and related technologies for learning.

Please contact the Learning Services Director at your local PBS  station(s)
for information on LOCAL programming and resources.  More than  80% of all
PBS stations currently provide K-12 instructional programming  for school
use.  In addition, they also provide professional development 
videoconferences, community outreach resources, and much more!

  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
  |   From the America Online - New Product Information Services  |
  +===============================================================+
  | This information was processed from data provided by the      |
  | above mentioned company. For additional details, contact the  |
  | company at the address or telephone number indicated above.   |
  |    All submissions for this service should be addressed to    |
  |   BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A.  |
  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
