Links 

Department of Eduction-Technology (challenge)
 http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

The Teacher's Guide to the U.S. Department of
Education
 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/TeachersGuide/index.html

The Future of Networking Technologies for Learning
 http://www.ed.gov/Technology/Futures/index.html

The Department of Education has sponsored a variety of network projects, such as state initiatives, listservs, capacity building at the regional labs, a virtual library of documents for all their programs, town meetings via satellite, and projects. An overview of all the programs in the department can be found in the The Teacher's Guide. If you are interested in receiving notices from the listserv(edinfo@inet.ed.gov), please email kwinters@inet.ed.gov.

The Challenge 2000 program just began in October 95. Hundreds of schools in many different communities and states, more than 100 industry and affiliated agencies who provided matching funds to multiply the impact exponentially, museums and libraries, and even the public parks system, will explore innovative telecommunications models aimed at preparing the workforce for the 21st century and raising academic standards. Each project will expand gradually over five years and yield new applications for adoption in other community and school settings. All projects embed comprehensive assessment strategies. Challenge 2000 is a showcase project for the Department of Education. Here is a sampler of the diversity amongst the Challenge projects:

• Chula Vista CA-wireless technology
• San Diego CA-oceanic themes
• Hawaii-Electronic School and Teacher Turnkey Training (online courseware to supplement core offerings-See also concord.org)
• Pekin ILL-school, hospitals, libraries, newspapers
• Anderson IND-school, home, summer camp
• Natchitoches LA-almost the whole state
• Morgontown WVA-career prep
• Olympia WA-students teach teachers
• Seward NE-teachers' college
• Laguna NM-Native Americans
• Philadelphia PA-recruiting 10,000 volunteers for schools
• Black Hills SD-chat and usegroups
• Colorado (REMOTE)-rural mountaineous regions
• Florida (BEACON)-databank for curriculum aligned with standards
• Imperial County, CA (Borderlink)-courseware delivery to remote schools
• Oakland, CA(Urban Dreams)-improve teaching skills
• Lewis and Clark Re-Discovery-technology infusion in 14 school districts along Lewis and Clark Trail to create content to show changes during the past 200 years (using Global Positioning)
• South Dakota (DIAL)-lifelong learning and economic development for 16,000 students (54% Native Americans)
• Alaska (ARCTIC)-statewide technology consortium
• Montana (TALES)-study Montana culture and history
• Marietta, Geogia-sustainable development

For more information call 202-708-6001.

A series of concept papers about the future of technology in education can be found in The Future of Networking Technologies for Learning -- good source material for presentations to policy-makers.