Expanding Educational Possibilities
===================================
by Lynne Schrum


How will technology affect education? The 7th Annual
Telecon Conference, held in Los Angeles last November,
featured two topics which have the potential to make a
significant impact on education: distance learning and
teleconferencing. The conference was jointly sponsored by
The International Teleconferencing Association, the National
University Teleconference Network and the Public Service
Satellite Consortium, in conjunction with the California State
University System. It was attended by hundreds of participants
many of whom seemed to be involved in business; however, many
people commented that there were more educators this year than
ever before.

Distance Learning
=================

First, distance learning provoked great interest and
enthusiasm. Basically the term covers any classes or lectures
conducted from one central place and sent via satellite to
other locations. This is not a new idea, but it has certainly
become much more popular in recent years. Currently, many
college classes are transmitted using telecommunications, and
it is even possible to obtain a degree this way, but for
students in K-12 that would not be a very effective way to
teach. The goal of multisensory, interactive education is most
probably limited to the classes that include video, audio and
some form of data transmission.

One of the most effective uses of this technology is
enabling schools to offer to a few students classes that they
would not otherwise be able to take. In many small schools,
there is no money, availability or need for a teacher in a
highly specialized field. In the past, if perhaps three
seniors in a remote area of Idaho wanted to take a class in
advanced physics or German literature, a single school would
have to deny the request. Now, with distance learning more
easily available, schools can meet such student needs. There
are several universities offering a variety of classes to high
schools, to small colleges and to teachers wishing to take
advanced training. It is possible to find excellent classes
which use the very best features of this technology. These
classes can be highly interactive, personalized and model the
best educational practices.

One of the most exciting examples of this technology was
presented by Dr. Roy Lundin, Coordinator of Continuing
Education for the Brisbane College of Advanced Education in
Australia. Dr. Lundin talked about the remote areas of
Australia where it is not unusual to find one or two
students of high school age in several isolated locations at
any given time. The Australian Government has made the
education of these students a high priority. To this end, they
have erected satellite dishes on the property of these
students. Next, courses have been developed to teach
everything from the 'basics' to such specialized classes as
flute making and playing, advanced physics, and typing. These
classes are truly interactive, goal-oriented and begin with a
high degree of planning and organization.

Concerns About Distance Learning
================================

As in every new adventure, it is possible to find distant
learning classes that do not model all that we would like to
see. Without the planning, the interaction and competent,
trained teachers, this could become a negative approach to
learning. We have seen the same problems with computer assisted
instruction. There have been cases where learning theories are
totally ignored, little check is made on what learning
is actually taking place, and the end result is, not highly
motivated and involved students, but a class full of people
doing rote memorization.

There is one other area of concern regarding possible
misuse of distance learning. There are some discussions about
whether or not a teacher needs to be in the room during the
distance learning class. As with Instructional
Television,(ITV), it is possible that someone could
just let the program run without any preparation, follow-up or
pointed discussions. This clearly would not be the most
beneficial to the students. It is even possible to imagine
some administrators who envision an aide in every classroom
with a monitor whirring away!

Distance learning is now possible in all areas of the
world. It is not an inexpensive proposition; however, it does
have the potential of expanding the horizons for everyone. It
is essential that we remember to demand the best in teachers
and curriculum in these courses and that we expect the
technology will be used to enhance the educational process.

Teleconferencing
================

The second major focus of Telecon was
teleconferencing. Industries have used this very successfully
for some time. As an alternative to telephone tag, using this
multimodal and interactive technology, all the necessary
planning to set up a meeting or organize a joint project might
be finished in a one-hour live session of people all over the
country. This is more involved than the computer conferencing
we think of first. Right now, the hardware and technology are
available and are being used; however, the price is a major
consideration for schools.

The hardware that supports this technology is quite
remarkable. There are audio, video and hard-copy capabilities
that allow as a result the feeling that all participants are
in the same room. One person can write notes and correct them
as the meeting goes along while everyone gets to observe. At
the end of the meeting, every person takes home the same page
of comments. The ability to make these meetings highly
interactive is also a plus. If the need is clear and the
technology and expense are necessary, this form of interaction
can prove to be a highly satisfactory way of solving
problems, training staff, or culminating an event.

The people that have actually participated in this type
of project tended to stress the preparation necessary for
success. In education it is easy to think of the ways a highly
organized and interactive video, auditory and hard-copy
capability could be used. Imagine the members of a school
reform committee finalizing a report or a cross country
exchange of electronic mail culminating in the students
actually meeting each other.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS
================

Telecon presenters offered several tips for successful
teleconferencing, beginning with planning to insure that
everyone involved has the same agenda for results. Also,
materials that arrive well in advance of the teleconference
seem to be essential. These materials should spell out all
details and include the background information that all
participants need to have. There also should be a
pre-conference of the people in each of the remote sites to
plan and discuss what will be taking place. After the
conference -- and apparently equal in importance to the
pre-conference activities -- there needs to be some follow-up.
The participants could discuss what each felt happened and,
most importantly, what actions each participant and site will
tackle next.

The most interesting example of the uses of this
technology in education that I heard was discussed by Dr. Mark
Tisone of Old Dominion University. The university has been
involved in local, state and national teleconferences before;
they now have branched into the international market. The
series they are working on is titled "The Ultimate Challenge"
and will provide interaction between high school students in
the USA and the USSR. This will be a group of three videos
(February 12, 26, and March 11, 1988). The first two
experiences, which will not be interactive, will explore the
areas of food, fashion, entertainment, education and family
life as experienced by the Soviet teenager. Dr. Tisone
explained that many teachers had commented upon the lack of
materials available about the Soviet youth of today.

The culminating event, on March 11, will be a live,
interactive teleconference with 50 American teenagers talking
with 50 Soviet teenagers. This will be accomplished via the
space bridge (a satellite transmission system) and will have
taken over a year to plan and organize. High schools will
get curriculum materials before all the shows, and Old Dominion
University is offering a special price to encourage
participation. This use of the technology to expand
understanding and encourage dialog could have one of the most
exciting and far reaching outcomes ever imagined.

SUMMARY
=======

It appears that two things are necessary to remember when
using distance learning and teleconferencing in educational
settings. First, we need to guard against those that would
use either one of the methods only for its high visibility,
and forget to include substance. Also, there needs to be a
specific purpose that is best accomplished in this way. Most
importantly, it is hoped that education will begin to
seriously explore the positive results that might occur by
carefully using the state of the art for our students and
teachers.

--------
author's note: For further information regarding this
conference or the next one, readers may wish to contact:
Applied Business TeleCommunications, Box 5106, San Ramon, CA
94583.

Lynne Schrum is a Resource Specialist in Ventura, Ca. In
addition, she is a moderator on the McGraw-Hill Information
Exchange and has taught telecommunications for the Elementary
Summer Technology Training Institute.