Statewide Telecommunications Networks An Overview of the Current State and the Growth Potential Research Report by Dr. Barbara Kurshan December, 1990 Introduction The growth of statewide telecommunications networks has been phenomenal during the past 18 months. The growth of networks for administrators, teachers and students has been changing the way educators address the important issues of restructuring, site-based management, performance assessment and practitioner isolation. Several recent studies (Lavin, McAnge, Berger, King) have addressed the topic of statewide educational telecommunications. These studies have found that virtually every state is currently implementing some form of state networks for education at the K-12 level, higher education or both. Where these networks exist, gateways are rapidly being established to international and other state networks, thus, providing the framework for immediate local call connectivity into the global village. In addition, one study (Lavin) found that over 60% of the states now operate some form of a statewide computer network. While the McAnge study found that 25 statewide networks serving K-12 education are currently in operation in 20 states with at least 10 additional networks in various planning stages. The use of the term statewide network often refers to a variety of activities. These include statewide networks in which nearly every school in the state is connected at the administrative and/or instructional level; intrastate networks that provide the option for each school to connect to a large network of choice such as Internet; network projects refers to those activities where networks exist for a specific function such as a teacher training network or the National Geographic Kids Network project; and proposed networks are those that are still in the planning stages and not yet fully operational. This report will address statewide networks from three perspectives including computer, video and voice networks. This report is only a summary of activities and does not claim to be complete. Summary of State Educational Networks Alabama Alabama has some beginning network services available to educators. A statewide telecommunications network is currently being designed to connect all state departments through an X.25 protocol. This network is initially being designed for administrative use only but local school districts will be able to connect district hosts to the system for both instructional and administrative use. In addition, the 11 in-service areas of the state are now connected through a MAC platform on AppleLink; and all school districts can access the supercomputer in Huntsville through dial-in connections. Alaska UACN is a statewide system linking all parts of the university with each other and national/regional networks by satellite and landline communication facilities. In addition, the State of Alaska Computer Network, consisting of interconnected mainframe computers is operated by the State Department of Administration. This network is used by the Department of Education and does connect some of the local school districts. K-12 school districts have access to either network. At present, most of the network use is for administrative educational purposes. Arizona AZ EdLink provides bulletin board services to Arizona educators. For a small cost, subscribers can use email and access outside databases and FrEdMail services. Arkansas Arkansas is currently waiting for state funding to implement a statewide administrative network for all schools. The GEMIS network will initially provide student record keeping and help with classroom management. Instructional activities are not planned for the first implementation of the system. California California statewide networking has been developing in several areas. FrEdMail started in California and is an informal grassroots telecommunications network to help students and teachers exchange information. It consists of a collection of cooperating bulletin boards. Currently FrEdMail is exploring gateways to Internet and BITNET nodes for expanding access to and from the local systems. Also, the California School Community is able to subscribe to a statewide telecommunications network run on GTE. This is optional. At the present time, California does not have a statewide network. It is in the process of investigating networks for education. This network would incorporate existing data, video and satellite projects. Colorado The UNC (University of Norther Colorado) Telecommunication System is designed to deliver graduate teacher education programs statewide. The teacher centers are linked to each other and the UNC campus in Greeley by a telecommunications system, which carries data, voice and compressed video signals on a T-1 dedicated network. Five other states are currently linked to this system and as many as 15 will be linked in the future including K-12 institutions in member states. Connecticut Statenet is a fiber-optic and copperwire network being built by Southern New England Telecommunications (SNET). This new network will be used by all state agencies including the Department of Education by 1992 to carry voice, data and video. The DOE will support the transfer of administrative and student data. Delaware The Statewide Telecommunications Network is a dialup system that connects school districts, state agencies and universities through a time-sharing service subsidized by the state. Administrative uses are supported for school districts and plans are underway to develop bulletin board services for instructional use. Florida FIRN links all state universities, community colleges and public schools to a comprehensive data communications network. Students and faculty have access to computing capabilities on all higher education campuses, a library search system, administrative connections between all school districts and instructional activities for students. Georgia Georgia has three active statewide networks: GC EduNet, GEIS and the University of Georgia College of Education Bulletin Board. GC EduNet was developed by Georgia College to bring educators together and provide resources of interest to them. A primary focus of the GC EduNet is the reduction of teacher isolation. GEIS is a statewide network operated by the State Department of Administrative Services. It is designed to connect all 186 school district offices and local school buildings. Presently there are 48 school district offices connected to exchange financial and student information. In addition, the University of George College of Education offers a bulletin board system to administrators, educators and students at all educational levels to provide instructional and administrative support through conferences and email. Hawaii The Hawaii Global TELEclass project is designed to enhance the learning of foreign languages. All classes are linked through the University of Hawaii's computer email and electronic bulletin board systems. In addition, ChemNet is a network in Hawaii for chemistry teachers. It is a cooperative venture between Hawaiian schools, the University of Hawaii Lab School, the Hawaii Science Teachers' Association and the Department of Education. The network uses telecommunication media such as email and bulletin boards and synchronous telecommunications media, such as telephone, slow-scan TV and the Hawaii Interactive Television System. Idaho Using the Learning Link network in cooperation with Boise State University first year teachers maintain contact with university faculty and peers. The project has been partially funded by U.S. West, the local telephone company and the State Board of Education. Illinois A Distance Learning Network (DLN), although initially planned to be operational in the Fall of 1991, is now being pushed back until Fall, 1992. Approximately 1/3 of the system is operational now. The system is designed to be microwave-based and with the potential to incorporate fiber-optics. DLN has been examining business partners for the project. At present the potential partners are two cable companies and two telephone companies. DLN will have 2-way audio, video and data. The system will be implemented regionally within college districts with the hub at Illinois Central Community College. Currently, some of the state cable companies offer canned first-year college-level telecourses. Wabunse Community College is connected with a local school district using interactive 2-way video and 2-way audio through microwave. A school district in St. Clair County is connected to the public cable system for course delivery. In addition, the Illinois Department of Education is studying the implementation of a statewide network system that would work within the DLN network. This effort reflects the commitment to education in the state. However, the current state funding decreases will have a significant impact on the implementation of a new network. Currently, Illinois is divided into eighteen Electronic Educational Service Centers (ESCs) under a state technology mandate to deliver services that include administrative training and staff development. ESCs are linked to the State Board of Education and to each other via an electronic network. The State Board of Education has a bulletin board on the network that offers email, discussions by interest group, access to educational consultants and database capability. Presently this system is only for administrative uses but plans are underway to put schools on the system this January or February for instructional uses. Indiana There are currently several very effective network activities in place in Indiana. These include: ESD, Electronic School District; IDEAnet and INTELENET. ESD, a model electronic school district, is an experimental computer network simulating academic and administrative functions in a school district. The EST project is a cooperative effort among IBM, the Department of Education at Purdue University, Computing Services Department at Indiana University, Indiana State Department of Education and several school districts in the state. The project is designed to determine the benefits of network usage by administrators, teachers and students. Using STEPS, Students and Teachers Electronic Productivity System, users can explore the educational and administrative possibilities of large-scale computer connectivity. The system is connected to Internet. IDEAnet (Indiana Department of Education Access Network) is sponsored by the DOE and includes databases, bulletin boards, conferencing and professional employment referrals. All educators have access to these services with no charge. INTELENET is a statewide fiber-optic network managed by the Intelenet Commission and built by GTE. It is designed to provide telecommunications services to state, county and municipal government offices and primary, secondary, vocational and higher education institutions in Indiana. This system will serve as the backbone for the state and will connect all other agency networks. The system is capable of switching voice, video and data. Iowa Iowa has three state networks operating and/or being planned: ICN, ICC & EDS and the Kirkwood Community College Network. The ICN (Iowa Communications Network) based on the Kirkwood Community College Network has been funded by the state legislature for $50 million dollars over the next five years to link every school, library and state agency. ICN is a multi-level system which will be developed in three phases to handle distance learning needs, teachers' meetings, continuing education, government related data transmission and town meetings. The ICC & EDS (Interactive Computer Conferencing and Electronic Distribution System) connects elementary through post-secondary teachers around the state via computer conferencing to coordinate policy and administrative issues related to student teaching. This network will become part of ICN. The Kirkwood Community College Network is a microwave- based two-way audio, two-way video network that connects students within seven counties to the campus. In addition, a secondary school network connects K-12 school districts to provide shared high school programs and college credit courses. All of these regional networks will be incorporated into Phase I of the ICN network. Kansas UNITE (Unified Network for Informatics in Teacher Education) is a computer network which facilitates communication and exchange of instructional resources among students, teachers and administrators. With a grant from Apple Corporation, faculty and students in the School of Education at the University of Kansas use computers to develop educational resources for educators for the network. Future plans include connecting all public schools in the state and connecting to national and international networks. Kentucky KENS (Kentucky Educational Networking System) has been funded by the legislature to link the State Department of Education and all levels of public school districts. The network is planned as one component in an overall Education Reform Act. The system will provide each school district with access to curriculum information, lesson plans and software reviews and it will provide for the exchange of management performance data between the Department of Education and local school districts. The first phase of the project will make the system available to administrators. KENS will incorporate the existing Kentucky Network for Educational Communication, the Vocational Education Networking System and various Kentucky Department of Education data systems. Louisiana Superlink is an administrative network in the state that connects district level offices to the State Department of Education for student record keeping. This system is not used for any instructional activities. Use within each district is determined at the local level. However, there are some instructional uses of networks at the local level related to special education and projects in collaboration with the Southwest Development Laboratory in Austin, Texas. Maine The Community College of Maine is the name of Maine's statewide distance learning network which uses -optic cable, point- to-point microwave, ITFS (Interactive Television Fixed System) and telephone lines to provide courses across the state. The system will also electronically distribute course materials and data between sites. ME_LINK is an electronic telecommunications network that is part of the Maine Computer Consortium. It is a dial-in email and bulletin board system for teachers and computer coordinators in the schools. Students have access to the system through teachers for projects. Maryland METNET (Maryland Education Technology Network) is sponsored by the State Department of Education for institutions of higher education and K-12 schools to share information and ideas. METNET uses Learning Link services and a Unix-based bulletin board. Educators access the network through toll-free telephone lines and students share writing projects on the system through participating teachers. Learning Link (National), operating from individual PBS Stations and State Department of Education, provides databases, information resources, inservice teacher training, email and gateways to other networks. Massachusetts The Beginning Teacher Computer Network is a teacher-link program run by Harvard's Graduate School of Education to support new teachers through a bulletin board system based on Common Ground software. SCHOLE, run by Boston University School of Education, is a computer network to teach children, assist teachers, aid researchers and link students and teachers. It includes services such as email, teleconferencing, databases, an encyclopedia and an educational film library. Michigan Michigan has no statewide networks for instruction at this time. However, the University of Michigan is part of the MERIT system and as a result many services are used by educators in the state. MERIT is the backbone for NSFnet. Through MERIT, many teachers hold conferences, and have become involved with FrEdMail (through a gateway to MERIT), TERC, Kids Network (National Geographic). MERIT is now working on developing a statewide system for K-12. Another computer network active in Michigan but also on an international scale is the ICS (Interactive Communications and Simulations) which is based on a mainframe at University. The system is used by schools worldwide in grades 6th through adult education. ICS features role playing activities, and long-term large-scale simulation projects. They are currently developing new global awareness projects called the Odysseys. In this curriculum plan, interdisciplinary curricula is being developed to supplement travelers and their communications. Several additional activities exist throughout the University system. The Michigan Science Teachers' Association has a conference on the University of Michigan mainframe. The School of Education has all student teachers on a conferencing network to share issues related to student teaching; and the School of Natural Resources sponsors GREEN (Global River Environmental Education Network) an environmental water quality monitoring project for high school and middle school classes. Minnesota STARS (Statewide Telecommunications Access and Routing System) is a network system being planned to develop a network for transmitting voice, data and video. The network will service government agencies and educational institutions. Currently in Minnesota there are several local and regional networks that will be connected to STARS. Mississippi The state of Mississippi has been very active in the use of networks for distance learning. As a member of the last group of Star Schools recipients, 162 sites received downlinks for courses. At the present time, the state is putting together a grant proposal to use this process for all districts. The ITFS (Interactive Television Fixed System) will provide distance learning in every school. At the present time, a computer network exists for email for use by superintendents. This network is used by less than 50% of the school district administrators and is not available for instructional use. The only instructional activities are sporadic uses through national computer network projects. Missouri Currently a statewide network is being planned for the state. At the present time there are several cooperative network activities with higher education including a project with the University of Missouri and the Southeast University. MELNET, a math network is being implemented in January, 1991 and the state science teachers are linked through PSI-NET for the exchange of curriculum materials, discussion and resource sharing. The state also operates a satellite network in conjunction with the Missouri School Board Association. PSI-NET (People Sharing Information Network) is a telecommunications network for science educators built and available through IBM. It is organized around conferences. Montana The Big Sky Telegraph network in Montana is a grassroots telecommunication system linking rural schools. The network provides email, conferencing, educational databases, gateways to other networks, library services, software loan and online training. It was founded by Frank and Regina Odasz with support from Western Montana College, U.S. West and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. In addition to being used within the state, 15 other states use it for economic development and health-care data. Nebraska K-12 teachers in the state can access the IRIS network to communicate with each other or to supplement their classroom teaching. The state subscribes to and privately contracts for the IRIS Network services. Currently only a small number of teachers use the network. The state is discussing the implementation of a statewide educational network. IRIS is a network for teachers and schools that is run by Metasystems in Washington, D.C. The network provides email, bulletin boards, online discussions and information sharing for teachers. In addition, NEB*SAT is a satellite/video network run by the State Educational Telecommunications Commission. The network provides support and courses for public radio, public television and higher education. A plan for a statewide X.25 network is under development. Nevada At the present time, the state has only conducted a survey to assess the telecommunication needs for the state. Individual districts have begun to purchase and use satellite technology and computer networking within the district and at the instructional level for specific projects. New Hampshire EDLINK, funded by the Governor's Initiative for Excellence in Education, is a statewide network for educators planned for 1991-1992. The network is being designed as a flexible information and communication utility that can adapt to operate as a LAN to serve individual unit needs, serve as a network for educators and administrators and act as a resource link for teachers. New Jersey The Education Technology Network features email, discussion centers, forums and databases. This network is primarily for data transfer, bulletin boards and information retrieval services. Membership is open to anyone in education and includes universities, teachers, administrators, board members, parents and classrooms. New Mexico Technet was formed to encourage economic development through the use of data generated by the state's national laboratories, universities and government offices. The system can be reached through some fiber-optic corridors in the research areas and through normal phone lines. Technet also supports NEDCOMM, the New Mexico Network for Educational Communications, which offers email and facilitates administrative reporting, conferencing, bulletin boards and statewide databases. IN addition, ENAN (Educational Native American Network out of UNM) connects America Indian schools across the U.S. CISCO-NET is a bulletin board in the state for science and social studies teachers. New York In New York there are several operational networks and many more being planned and implemented. These include: TNT, Teacher Resource Centers' Electronic Network and NYSERNET. TNT is a comprehensive, statewide network linking school districts, BOCES, libraries and other educational agencies with DOE. It is designed for use at all educational levels and includes email, conferencing, resources, databases and in the future will include administrative uses and instructional applications. THe Teachers Resource Centers' Electronic Network provide bulletin boards, email, satellite broadcasts, information services and support for teachers through materials, collaboration and research. The host is located at the New York Institute of Technology. NYSERNET, the New York State Education and Research Network, has several K-12 networking pilot projects in place. These include a distance learning program in cooperation with Rochester Institute of Technology; CREST (Connections to Research and Education Networking for Science Teachers), is a pilot project organized to advance high school science, mathematics and computer science exchange between teachers; SCHOOLNET connects New York City schools to NYCENET, the New York City Board of Education network; and NYSERNET K-12 Interest Group to connect teachers with the higher education sector. North Carolina WCU MicroNet has been operational since 1982 as a network service for students and teachers. Operating out of Western Carolina University, network services include email, conferencing, databases, classroom materials, and access to libraries. North Dakota North Dakota has a statewide computer network, ND HECN, that links the State Department of Education, state agencies, eleven colleges and universities and the library system. It is a distributed network system with 13 nodes. All state agencies also use the system. A distance learning system, DLND, is planned to support voice, video and data transmission. Ohio The Ohio Data Network is a statewide computer network originally designed for administrative data retrieval. The Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN) is a footprint on the Ohio Data Network. Currently, 80% of the state's school districts are linked. OECN is a national model and has been in operation since 1979 in a microwave system operated by the state. OECN is a network of 25 sites linked electronically via state microwave over the Ohio Data Network. The 26th site runs on a unisys platform which is incompatible with the network. Of the 25 networked sites, 20 have Digital VAX machines and the remaining five have Hewlett Packard systems. An X.400 gateway allows the exchange of email and file transfer across the state with the DOE and other state agencies. Gateways exist to Internet, BITNET, AppleLink and CompuServe. At the present time, this facility is not being effectively used for instructional purposes. There is some instructional use and some inter-high school use. All schools work on solving mathematical problems in a bulletin board math problem solving project. In addition, all math and science teachers will be networked with the National Science Teachers Association. Instructional activities on OECN also include a Learning Management System project that features math labs, spreadsheets, word processors and CAD/CAM applications used by vocational schools. The Learning Management System consists of instructional information in file format including class objectives, test banks, course maps, record keeping templates, test analysis programs and models to teach parents and students about specific topics. With the Learning Management System, students can individualize their instruction. The system provides a variety of instructional support activities including: objective based mastery lessons with individual placement at last mastered skill, messaging to and from teachers, worksheets, pretests, homework assignments, study sessions, mini-lectures, and tests. The system grades the work and provides feedback, on how to proceed on a lesson including pass or restudy assignments. There are 43 terminals for 19 teachers in grades 3 through 12 presently available for accessing the system. The system is used in Science, Math, Reading, Civics and Government classes. PSI-NET is a national science and soon to be math bulletin board system. The American Geological Institute (AGI), National Science Foundation, all Math and Science teachers, and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) will be networked over PSI- NET. PSI-NET originated through a grant from NSF in cooperation with IBM. Each state science supervisor received the hardware (a workstation) to use as the system began its development. Later six states were given grants to set up a system. A third grant gave each state a server. Ohio is using Eisenhower Funds to purchase PSI-NET software for its schools. It will hold workshops for inservice training and use in February and March. Currently, 450 schools (out of 612) are linked into PSI-NET systems for math and science in grades 12 through college. The only cost is for calls into the server. The PSI-NET system will be used for teachers and their conferences. It is not for students. Oklahoma Oklahoma has been actively involved with satellite network courses delivered through Oklahoma State University. At the present time, there does not exist a statewide computer network. A pilot for report school data is in place at this time for a few districts. The library services technology committee is developing a state plan for networking and resource sharing throughout the State Department of Education. Oregon The Ed-Net Committee submitted a bill to the Oregon legislature in May of 1989 to establish a statewide telecommunications network. The network will use an existing network and add satellite transmission and incorporate the Oregon Public Broadcasting system. The network will transmit data for state offices, libraries, email, computer conferencing, bulletin boards and databases in addition to video. Pennsylvania PENN*LINK is the official electronic communications network of the state. It provides email service to school districts, school superintendents, intermediate units and vocational and technical schools. An electronic bulletin board provides users with information on current topics. Penn State's Cooperative Extension Service operates the network. Rhode Island A statewide network is being developed at this time. A study on the project has been completed and is currently being validated. The planned network will service both administrative and instructional needs. At the present time, there are several smaller network projects in operation. A math/science telecommunications network connects 18 of the 37 school districts. PSI-NET is being used to host a network of for science supervisors. MELNET (Math Educators Learning Network) is being planned for implementation in this year. South Carolina CUFAN (Clemson's Forestry and Agriculture Network) has established a statewide data communications system to provide service to the South Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Offices located in each county. In addition, Clemson is involved in developing a distributed network system for K-12 schools. South Dakota Currently there is a task force studying the issue of a statewide network using data, voice and video. A science teachers network that is PC based is in operation with bulletin board facilities and email. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has had several Indian schools connected to the TERC Star Schools Project. They are also using an audiographics system for delivering some course materials. Tennessee Under the Governor's 21st Century Challenge Program, a statewide network is being designed and implemented to connected all school building, district office and the state agency. At the present time, the plan is only on paper. Several satellite networks including TIE-IN and the Oklahoma system are being used for course delivery. A pilot if being implemented at present for whole language learning using 2-way audio and 1-way video for teleconferencing with the participating schools. Texas Texas has two existing network projects and currently has an RFP out for the implementation of a statewide network. SchooLINC uses fiber-optic to link schools in Dallas, Waco, Austin and San Antonio. Classrooms will have the latest technology in video, data and voice to implement technology in the classroom. The project is being funded by a consortium of businesses, corporations and non-profit groups called Project Bluebonnet. TEA-NET, using Electric Pages (now part of GTEES), connect agency school districts with regional service centers and the Texas Education Agency. The services include email, bulletin boards and teleconferencing.Currently, Texas is attempting to link all educators via an electronic network. The EITS (Electronic Information Transfer System) will be used in school districts, the agency and regional service centers as well as higher education and other state agencies. A distributed network design is planned with local workstations to communicate in batch mode. Utah Utah is currently planning for a statewide network called UTAHNet. This network is being planned with the support of US West and a new fiber backbone. This program is part of Utah's Education Technology Initiative. It will connect to NREN, other national networks and higher education institutions in Utah. Vermont Vermont is involved in several network projects involving instructional activities (there are presently no administrative network activities). These include Vermont EDNet, a bulletin board service; several mini-networks connecting students involved with a River Watch project to monitor the health of the streams Vermont; an acid rain project with the Canadian government, BARC, to collect data on acid rain; PSI-NET project for science superintendents; and VIT, Vermont Interactive TV, to send slow scan images for course delivery from the state colleges. In addition, Vermont is studying the implementation of a statewide network in cooperation with New England Telephone. Virginia Virginia has three projects serving K-12 schools: Teacher LINK, VT-HSNet and VA.PEN. Teacher LINK allows local educators to access users across the nation via BITNET. It has been primarily used with new teachers and interns through a project with the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. The VT-HSNET is a pilot project to connect school districts with BITNET for use in the classroom and for implementation of telecommunications into the curriculum. VA.PEN (Virginia's Public Education Network) is a newly implemented distributed network for K-12, the Community College and higher education. The system is PC based and almost every school can connect to the system with a local call. From the system, users can access Internet, use email, bulletin boards, share resources and databases. Washington WISPIC, Washington Schools Information Processing Cooperative, runs this network for administration and budgeting activities of the regional data centers for the school districts. In addition, the state has a legislative proposal in review for a state instructional computer network based on a state survey that among other information determined the number of local area networks and modems currently in the schools. Washington Department of Education is one of the current recipients of a Star Schools Project. This project will include a transmission component that will use a MAC platform for sending data and establishing email for the project 400 sites in the program. Also, part of the STEPS Star Schools Project will involve the development of an electronic clearinghouse for educational video. West Virginia WYMEN is an instructional network for all West Virginia residents. It offers community service postings, grant information, calendar of events and legislative activity information. Students, teachers, parents and businesses access the system to use email, bulletin boards, conferences and to download public domain software. In addition, West Virginia Department of Education runs a system for educational administrative information. This is accessed by local administrators through three dial-in lines. It includes email, bulletin boards and financial updates. The state is also very involved with developing a satellite network for distance education. Wisconsin Currently, Wisconsin does not have a statewide network. Planning for a network is tied to the state program Twenty Standards which mandates practices, strategies and policies in education. Many of these standards relate to technology in the education. Goals and objectives have been developed on a K-12 sequential basis for all classes and programs were to be implemented by September, 1990, but that date has been extended. Therefore, work on a state network plan has not been completed. The University of Wisconsin was awarded an NSF grant In January, 1990, to establish the backbone of a network for all higher education and private colleges for teacher training and data retrieval only. The Department of Public Instruction is writing an NSF proposal to tie into the network for the first year. It is planned that in five years each school district (428) will select participate on the network. The system is to be used for lesson plans and bulletin board access. Plans include access to services available nationwide like libraries and supercomputers. Initially nationwide access will be achieved through Internet, and later, and possibly through NREN. PSI-NET will also be tied into the network of which the K-12 portion is to be called WISCNet. The state has also been active in library media technology. The state superintendents have a school library media task force with issues to be presented in a forthcoming recommendation. In addition, the Commission for Schools in the 21st century, jointly formed by the Governor and State Superintendents, has nearly completed its task and will present over 150 recommendations in December including those related to statewide networking. An implementation committee has already been formed. SERC, the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium, a consortium of 23 states, is also used within the state. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Educational Communications Board will provide in-service training to teachers in technology, staff development, computer integration, and new technology using grassroots educators and live broadcasts over SERC. This "Teleworkshop" costs $150. In Green Bay, a consortium called NEWIST, uses ITFS (Interactive Television Fixed System). This group produces video tapes for live broadcast and television programs to support education. Wyoming At the present time, Wyoming does not have a statewide educational network. The Department of Education does run a small bulletin board service for communication with district administrative offices. Local schools are involved with GTE Teacher Talk, data collection for special education and TIE-IN for satellite courses. Conclusions The growth of statewide networks has been phenomenal. As reported almost every state is currently implementing or planning a statewide computer and/or satellite network for use in instruction and/or for use by administrators. In addition, there has been a growing collaboration between K-12 and higher education in designing, implementing and maintaining statewide networks. Key networking applications for K-12 are in the following areas: Access to information, resources, databases and bulletin boards Peer-to-peer applications including shared lesson planning,software review and sharing, curriculum development and administrative site-base management support Classroom uses by students including data collection, shared writing, global explorations and access to other resources including higher education scholars, scientists and writers Mentoring for interaction between teachers and teacher trainers, student teacher support, curriculum guidance and administrative contact Distance Education uses that include curriculum transfer, individualized guidance, feedback and conferencing through data, voice and video To insure the success of networking in education at all levels, but specifically at the state level, several important issues will need to addressed and solutions found. These include overcoming problems of access, defining the infrastructure for network use and for locating information about networks and finding "good" information to place on networks. Although access to computers is becoming less of a problem for teachers and administrators, access to networks will require further support. Users will need to have modems, phone line connections and new rate schedules. In addition, to physical access, states will need to address the way people will interconnect on networks. This will involve training, design and planning for network implementation. Finally, state planners need more access to information about what is happening in other states and how to connect to these networks. In exploring other network applications, information access and acquisition will become central to the success of the network. Without useful online data, users will not use networks. State networks will develop in some form over the next three to five years. These network will succeed if the designers and developers pay careful attention to the needs of the users. These include: Improved access and linkage between users, resources and services User-friendly interfaces which incorporate the use of graphics, video and multi-media transfer Gateways between other national and international networks Increased participation by the K-12 community at both the administrative and instructional levels Evolution toward a complete national system Development of useful online information products (This will require the growth of a new network industry to develop information products that are network independent such as the Grolier Encyclopedia.) The development of networks that meet these needs will be dependent upon new alliances between information providers, education, business and government. These alliances will provide access to experts in communication such as telephone companies, experts in data such as resource providers and experts in learning. The time is now and the opportunities are so immense that everyone in the field of telecommunications, today and tomorrow will be able to serve and service education. However, only those that truly see the beneficial uses of networks for education will succeed.  Barbara Kurshan "Bobbi" Computer Education Consultant Educorp Consultants 4940 Buckhorn Road Roanoke, Virginia 24014 Bitnet: kurshan@vtvm1 Applelink: B.KURSHAN CompuServe: 71420,3512 Office: (703) 774-0193