Nancy Donaldson
Lesson 12

Develop a who's who listing of people and places forming telecommunications networks for delivering instruction in which you are personally and professionally interested in gaining more in-depth learning and familiarity.

Make an on-line visit to at least three of the websites and these people and places and develop a one-page handout listing the URL addresses and interesting information you learned to share with other students in class and instructor.

1. http://www.cdlr.tamu.edu/

I am especially interested in this organization since I was privileged to attend a two-week technology training by CDLR in the summer of 1998. I also had the opportunity to tour their facilities in the summer of 1999.

The Center for Distance Learning Research (CDLR) was established in 1991 and approved in January of 1992 as an official center of Texas A&M University within its College of Education. In 1996, a public/private partnership was formed between TAMU and GTE (now Verizon). This is a unique partnership between a public university and a private corporation. It allowed the CDLR to locate in a 26,000 square foot Verizon facility in Bryan.

The mission of the Center for Distance Learning Research at Texas A&M University is to provide timely and appropriate information on the development, application and maintenance of information technology systems. This information is provided through demonstration, training, publications and technical assistance. The Center's services are available to all public agencies and private businesses that are interested in the welfare and education of people through the use of appropriate information technology and distance education.

Center Services

1. Instructional Course Conversion, the transformation of current course materials to distance education and technology applications.

2. Development of New Technology Applications to enhance educational success.

3. Technology Plan Development for grants, contracts, and other opportunities.

4. Proof of Concept Applications, the development of innovative teaching and delivery techniques.

5. Funded Research and development activities.

6. Faculty Development activities that involve technology and distance learning.

7. Continuing Education and Educational Services, these include development, marketing, use of technology for delivery, and use of the facility.

8. Planning and Implementation of school, university and business partnerships.

9. Program Evaluation, experienced program evaluators help institutions develop evaluation plans and conduct program evaluations for specific projects.

2. http://www.cuseeme.com/

CUseeMe Networks is the pioneer in interactive voice, video, and data collaboration over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It provides technologies that facilitate standards-based collaborative communications, both one-on-one and in groups, over corporate intranets, virtual private networks (VPNs), and the open Internet. CUseeMe Networks partners with resellers, integrators and service providers to deploy its solutions worldwide. The company supports multiple platforms, including Windows 95/98, NT, Sun Solaris, and Red Hat Linux.

On March 22, 2001, CUseeMe Networks and First Virtual Communications, Inc. announced they have merged to create one of the market's leading rich media communications providers. The merged company will deliver integrated end-to-end rich media communications solutions to enterprises and service providers worldwide. The merger combines First Virtual's expertise in broadband rich media networking and CuseeMe Networks' software-based visual collaboration technologies

3. http://www.dlrn.org/

The Distance Learning Resource Network (DLRN) is the dissemination project for the Star Schools Program, a federally funded distance education program which offers instructional modules, enrichment activities and courses in science, mathematics, foreign languages, workplace skills, high school completion and adult literacy programs. Some of the services DLRN provides include:

• General Information. Information about distance education, highlighting Star Schools programs, instructional methods and strategies, and emerging technologies.

• www.dlrn.org. An extensive website that includes current research and news items and covers a multitude of topics from information on the Star Schools projects to K-12 courses offered at a distance.

• Course Design Tools. Online tools to assist with designing courses for web-based instruction.

• 800# Helpline. Response to specific requests for distance education information by telephone.

• dlrn@wested.org. Response to specific requests for distance education information by e-mail. Client requests are also answered via regular mail.

• Online Forums. Provide educator networking opportunities through online forums.

DLRN is a project of WestEd, a non-profit research, development and service agency dedicated to improving education and other opportunities for children, youth and adults. WestEd serves as the regional educational laboratory for Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, with a designated national focus on assessment.