ALTP News April 7, 2001
Edited by Richard Brincefield

Recent ALTP News

Reminder: ALTP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (OPEN)

Wednesday, April 25, 2001
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

  • Phoenix: US WEST, 3033 N. Third St., Room 208.09
  • Tucson: US WEST, 333 E. Wetmore, Room 323

Dial-in attendance: contact tkraver@qwest.net

033101  
032401  
031701  

To: ALTP Associates
From: Ted Kraver, Chairman 
225 West Orchid Lane 
tkraver@qwest.net 
Phoenix, AZ 85021 
602-944-8557 (off) 
602-861-9150 (fax)

ACTION AGENDA         Saturday,  April 7, 2001

Arizona Learning Technology Partnership, Inc.
Governors Strategic Partnership for Economic Development


SPEAKER-SPEAKER-SPEAKER – WORLDLEADER ON ONLINE EDUCATION

Dr. Linda Harasim, a world authority on online learning, will visit ASU on Tuesday, April 17th, 2001 to give a seminar. The open seminar entitled "The Future of e-learning," will be given in the Computing Commons auditorium (CC 120) at 2:00 pm) Tuesday, April 17th. Dr. Linda Harasim is Network Leader and CEO of the TeleLearning Network of Centres of Excellence and a professor in the School of Communications at Simon Fraser University. Recognized internationally as a pioneer in designing, testing, delivering, and demonstrating the effectiveness of online education, she also leads the Virtual-U research projects, involving the largest field trials of post-secondary education in the world, and is the director and chair of Virtual Learning Environments Inc. Since the early 80s, Dr. Harasim has researched network learning, presenting her work throughout Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. On the home front, Dr. Harasim has been a key player in Canada in merging education and economy. http://www.eas.asu.edu/ceasnews/#online

CURRENT ALTP SITUATION:

  1. Waiting for the results of the APNE –GSPED – ADOC reorganization to see how E-Learning Hot Team recommendations are institutionalized.
  2. Waiting for the legislature to see if the APNE E-Learning funding requests for the K-12 teacher and workforce professional development portal planning allocation and other E-Learning initiatives and support are funded.
  3. Waiting for the study-plan for Arizona K-12 technology adoption from ASU’s Center for Research on Education in Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (), headed by Dan Evans, and funded by a stakeholder group of businesses, that could be out by mid May.

4. Action: With all this waiting going on, we decided that the critical time had arrived to facilitate the formation of an Arizona E-Learning economic cluster along the lines of a GSPED cluster.

I. REPORT: SECOND E-LEARNING CLUSTER MEETING.

II. SCHOOL FACILITIES BOARD => SPEAKER EVENT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

III. MIT TO MAKE COURSE MATERIALS FREE ON THE WEB

IV. BACKSLIDING BY NEW ADMINISTRATION

X. MINI-BYTES OF WISDOM

I. REPORT: SECOND E-LEARNING CLUSTER FORMATION MEETING.

AGENDA ITEMS AND RESULTS, 15 ATTENDEES

Name idea thanks to the creative work of Lola Purdy, Training ala Carte. GLOBAL ARIZONA E-LEARNING (Or Greater Arizona E-Learning???)

Note: Gazel Ministry in Canada (Gazel.ca), GAZEL.org is Namezero; GAZEL.com does not have a page up; GAZEL.net is a French multimedia operation with a good-beat musical greeting.

VISION

  1. Vision: The group all contributed "yellow sticky" visions and vision elements of what Arizona E-Learning would become within 5 years based on the able efforts of GAZEL.
  2. First Draft Arizona E-Learning Vision

    Arizona raises to seize the global leadership in E-Learning. As a global player Arizona collaborates in initiatives, such as Advanced Distributed Learning Systems, to develop excellence through E-Learning. Broadband telecommunications and information/knowledge infrastructure has permeated into all corners of the state. E-Learning has propagated in Arizona until its performance is both efficient and effective in serving all citizens. Arizona’s E-Learning system delivers the full promise of informal learning across a lifetime, which complements the strengths of formal education. Knowledge and skills about information engineering and the use of information cuts across all education. The Arizona professional development infrastructure uses Internet portals and emerging e-learning technology is the prime mover for workforce and economic development. How our people learn is totally transformed.

    First Draft GAZEL Vision

    Gazel was the facilitator/driver that achieved the Arizona E-Learning Vision. It took Arizona from a want-ta-bee global player, to the real thing. It delivered significant value to the E-Learning economic chain. One of many possible examples was the founder of the knowledge engineering discipline. Its private/public stakeholder cluster supported and implemented statewide E-Learning initiatives. Gazel is the focal point for the E-Learning industry by providing liaison to research, coordinator of trade shows and meetings, and generator of new business models and ideas. As a clearinghouse for major Arizona E-Learning initiatives it becomes active arena for and a force behind networking. Its success is do to being a dynamic group that includes all the core competencies necessary to create both an E-Learning industry in Arizona and the rapid adoption of E-Learning in all aspects of education, training and life-span learning.

    Sub-committee volunteered to take these drafts and hammer out the "Vision Thing."

  3. WORK THE STAKEHOLDER LIST FOR ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS.

The group reviewed the list and and made a number of recommendations. Because of the time consuming nature of this process, it was decided that each member of the group would go off line. They would review their files send name, e-mail address, phone number for their recommendations for membership in GAZEL. These includes you: Email to my new address tkraver@qwest.net.

  1. DETERMINE THE MAJOR LAUNCH ELEMENTS FOR GAZEL:
  2. Again the yellow stickees came out and we came up with the following elements-tasks that require task teams to implement.

    OUTSIDE-OUTREACH GOALS: Statewide broadband telecommunications and statewide information/software infrastructure. GAZEL.ORG – Internet Portal. Have "Greater Arizona" reach (CA, Mexico, NM, Utah, NV???) and the world??. Be an ADLS state, providing we can determine what this means.

    CONSTITUENCY: Have all GAZEL groups become partners with GAZEL. Identify all E-Learning centric Arizona companies. Engage core stakeholders through communications and involvment. Include adopters: education, corporate learning and training educators.

    ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Need to follow the cluster model of an interoganizational-stakeholder coalition design. We need short term task teams to produce: vision, mission, shorter term strategic plan, operational plan, potential associate list and funding requirements. Incorporate non-profit association as legal entity with normal board and officer slate. Operational committees needed are marketing, content meetings, Sigs, and funding. Determine linkages with ALTP, GSPED, and other organizations. Items needed are branding concept, logo, hosted web site, checking account and accounting system, listserve, domain name (URL Gazel.com, .org, .net are taken, Mark suggests Gazelonline or how about Gazelcluster). We need collateral materials (message pieces, presentations, articles, benefits selling piece, news releases, weekly e-newsletter,…),

    REAL VALUE ADDED TO THE CHAIN: Platform - Learning Management System – Content; support formation and use of industry standards (IMS, AICC, SCORM,…); study E-Learning industry in Arizona; study and promulgate best and worse enterprise practices; support E-Learning research at Arizona and federal level; facilitate E-Learning technology transfer to Arizona enterprises; find and define best content sources for E-Learning including type, level, and commercial or public sector source, and study-define for Arizona the E-Divide and how to address, philosophy, vested interests, and barriers to E-Learning; and facilitate-implement within Arizona pilot projects and beta testing of any new technology or product from any global source.

    MEETING: Organize regular meetings and specials like a trade show.

    SUPER HUB for all aspects of Arizona E-Learning education.

    FUNDING SOURCES: Create funding model and determine need. Collect $5 to $10K + in-kind from early-adopter sponsors to get started. Contact foundations, corporations with vested interest, and deliver a well-presented value-benefit.

  3. DECIDE/PLAN FOR THE FORMATION MEETING, GAZEL will target the middle of May, 2001. Ted, Galvin and Preston will setup the meeting place and sponsor. Our next founding team meeting will be the week of April 16th, we are targeting Thursday at Rio Salado following the ATIC Video and Net-Meeting conference with Tucson at 3:30 to 5:00. Steve Peters and Ted are following up. Contact Ted Kraver if you are interested in attending.

ACTION ITEMS

Email recommendations for GAZEL participants to Ted at => tkraver@qwest.net.

WORKING LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS

GAZEL STAKEHOLDERS

Colleges and Universities

Computer and Software Companies – Primary Business not E-Learning

Consultants

Dept. of Commerce (AZ and Federal)

E-Learning Hosting Companies/Organizations Networks – Portals

E-Learning Delivery Companies - Knowledge and Learning Management Systems

E-Learning Technology Based Software-Content Companies

E-Learning Technology Research Operations

E-Learning Technology Directors AZTEA

Libraries

School Facilities Board

State IT Policy and Technologists GITA, ATIC

Telecommunications Providers

Training Providers

SUPPORTING STAKEHOLDERS AND CUSTOMERS

Businesses – General

Concerned Citizens

Economic Development Organizations (GPEC, GTEC, GFEC, GYEDC, GPCC, ACC, …)

Emerging Technology Groups

Foundations/Advocates/NGO’s

Government – Local

Government – State (in general)

Governor’s Office

GSPED Clusters

Industry & Business Associations

Legislature (State and Federal)

Legal – Attorneys

Native American Organizations

Non – Public Schools/Programs

Professional Development and Training Professionals

Teachers/Trainers

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II. SCHOOL FACILITIES BOARD =>

SPEAKER EVENT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

Dr. Arthur Levine, president of Teachers College-Columbia University, will be conducting an educational symposium and reception at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 26th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Governor Hull and State Superintendent Lisa Keegan are expected to participate along with numerous members of the Arizona State Legislature. This will be an excellent time to hear Dr. Levine’s nationally recognized thoughts on the future of public education and to interact with many of the state’s decision makers and opinion leaders. Please RSVP using the forms enclosed. Feel free to invite others who might wish to attend. Columbia University will be providing refreshments as well. The meeting will take place in the second floor conference room of the Capitol West Tower. Free public parking is available across the street.

Please mail, fax or email your personal information and response by Monday, April 23, 2001 to:

Teachers College Alumni Office

525 West 120th Street, Box 306

New York, NY 10027

Fax: (212) 678-3723

E-Mail: tcalumni@columbia.edu

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III. MIT TO MAKE COURSE MATERIALS FREE ON THE WEB

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology said it will spend up to $100 million over 10 years to make course materials from all of its classes freely available on the Internet. At a time when many universities have begun offering online classes for a fee, MIT said it hopes its effort leads other institutions to offer online educational resources free-of-charge. University officials said they hope other institutions, particularly in developing countries, will use the material to develop their own curriculums. the effort -- dubbed MIT OpenCourseWare -- will encompass lecture notes, course outlines and reading lists for more than 2,000 courses. "We see it as source material that will support education world-wide, including innovations in the process of teaching and learning itself," said MIT President Charles M. Vest.

[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Robert Tomsho]

(If they had had this idea in the 50’s I could have saved 5 cold year in Cambridge. Ted the Ed.)

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IV. BACKSLIDING BY NEW ADMINISTRATION =>

STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD CHARLES BENTON ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM BUDGET CUTS

President Bush's proposed FY 2002 budget represents, in my view, a step backward in our efforts to provide digital opportunities for all Americans. His education proposal, "No Child Left Behind," called for the consolidation of existing educational technology programs into a state block grant. His FY 2002 U.S. Department of Education budget delivered on this promise with, not only a consolidation, but also a decrease in funding and a retreat from federal leadership. We see a similar pattern at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Educational technology has the power to enhance teaching and learning and vastly improve the productivity of the education enterprise. In 2001, U.S. Department of Education funding for the eight ed-tech programs authorized under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act rose to an all-time high of $872 million. This was a 5,700 percent increase from the $23 million appropriated in 1993. President Bush has proposed a cut of $55 million for these programs, a 6 percent decrease. In our Information Society, this is the time for more educational technology funding and innovation, not less.

Moreover, it is questionable whether educators will be better off without the direct, categorical Title III edtech investments. Past experience with block grants and consolidation have shown:

· The focus of the specific programs block grants replaced get lost

· Funding is often reduced from previous levels

· Block grants significantly reduce program accountability

· The impact of federal funds is diffused

At the Department of Commerce, their Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) has helped bring the benefits of the national information infrastructure to all Americans. TOP funding has also been an important source of funding for testing innovative and practical applications of new telecommunications and information technologies that serve the public interest. President Bush has proposed slashing TOP's budget by 66 percent to $15.5 million, down from $45.4 million in FY 2001.

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X. MINI-BYTES OF WISDOM:

http://www.satirewire.com Weekly hit for New Economy types with satirical sense of humor.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

-- Edmund Burke

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

-- Francis Bacon

There's only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.

-- P.J. O'Rourke

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The ALTP News/Action Agenda is produced by the Arizona Learning Technology
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