93-12-24 Teachers Gain Increased Opportunities For Collaboration, Research Through New Partnership

TEACHERS GAIN INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COLLABORATION, RESEARCH THROUGH NEW PARTNERSHIP

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Dec. 24 -- The Universities of Virginia and
Houston are
exploring ways teachers can benefit from the worldwide information sources
available by computer.
     The two universities, through the Society for Technology and Teacher
Education (STATE)
organization, have established a server -- a kind of electronic "on-ramp" --
to connect educators to
the Internet, an international "data highway" system.
     The Teacher Education Server, physically located at U.Va. on a
workstation donated by
IBM, gives educators access to archived documents, stored electronically as
text, digitized video,
images and sounds.  
     The server also gives teachers access to more than 2,000 
special-interest discussion groups
that exchange information on a variety of topics.
     The server enables educators to obtain "Teach-It Modules,"
self-instructional units on various
subjects that use the latest in interactive technology.  Teachers will also
be able to peruse
newsletters and articles explaining telecomputing opportunities for use in
classroom instruction.
     Tim Sigmon, director of advanced technology and academic projects at
U.Va., developed
the software that supports the server.  In creating the software he used in
part the tools and
concepts previously employed in developing Virginia's statewide K - 12
Internet network for
teachers.
     "The server should give teachers a wealth of new and useful resources,"
Sigmon said.
                               ###
                                                December 23, 1993

 
Karen Castle, Office Services Specialist, University News Office
P.O. Box 9018, Booker House, Charlottesville, VA  22906
(804) 924-7116, kac@virginia.edu

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Mon, 3 Jan 94 12:57:01 EST]