net!utcsri!devnull
Subject: Distant Education : Globewide Network Academy - FAQ
Summary: This posting contains the frequently asked question concerning GNA, a non profit organization coordinating on-line learning provided by our member institutes. 
Date: 4 Mar 96 18:21:14 GMT

Posting-Frequency: monthly on *.answers and related newsgroups (first Monday)
URL: http://www.gnacademy.org:8001/HyperNews/get/documents/faq.html


G L O B E W I D E   N E T W O R K   A C A D E M Y
S E C R E T A R I A T

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Issued: 01 January 1996
THIS FAQ EXPIRES NINETY DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE

A current copy of the catalog as well as course submission and member application forms may be found at our web server at:

   http://www.gnacademy.org/

Questions and comments about this catalog or the Globewide Network Academy
   should be directed toward: gna@uu-gna.mit.edu

CREDITS

Billy Chan (billy@eecg.toronto.edu)
    GNA Catalog Group Coordinator
Evan Schaffer (ejs@netcom.com)
    Author of the /rdb database used for this catalog

Many thanks to Revolutionary Software for donating the /rdb database
used to produce the GNA catalog.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL QUESTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1a) What is the Globewide Network Academy?
 1b) Where do I turn for information about GNA?
 1c) How can I access the GNA distance learning catalog?
 1d) How do I access GNA information ...
                            if I don't have web access?
                            from America Online?
                            from Delphi?
                            from Prodigy?
 1e) What can I do to help?
 1f) How do I volunteer for adminstrative and technical work?
 1g) How do I donate computer resources to GNA?
 1h) What is the structure of GNA?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 2a) How do I submit a course proposal?
 2b) Why should I submit a course proposal?
 2c) How are course submissions processed?
 2d) What about credit?
 2e) What about payment?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTITUTIONAL LISTINGS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 3a) How can an insitution become involved in GNA?
 3b) Is there any cost to join?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL QUESTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------

1a) WHAT IS THE GLOBEWIDE NETWORK ACADEMY?

The Globewide Network Academy is a non-profit organization whose
mission is to create a competitive market for distance learning
courses and programs as well as to provide technical services to
distance educations.

GNA is organized as a non-profit corporation incorporated in the state
of Texas.  All corporate activities take place online and as such, GNA
is the world's first virtual corporation.

At the GNA web site, you can find
   * a course catalog with thousands of distance learning programs and
     courses,
   * discussion forums for distance educators,
   * help wanted databases for distance educators.

1b) WHERE DO I TURN FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GNA?

The first source of information about GNA is this FAQ and other
documents related to GNA.  These can be found at the GNA web server at:

   http://www.gnacademy.org/

GNA holds a monthly council meeting at which users and institutions
involved with GNA can comment on GNA activities.  This meeting occurs
at 1800 GMT on the fourth Friday of each month.  To attend,

   telnet moo.du.org 8888
   connect guest
   go #6490

1c) How can I access the GNA distance learning catalog?

A Course Catalog listing active and planned courses is available from
the GNA web server, whose address is listed at the beginning of the
FAQ.  Each course listing contains the e-mail address for the
instructor of the course.  If you are interested in registering for a
course, please contact the instructor listed.

You should hear from the instructor within 2 to 3 weeks.  If you do
not get a response, please e-mail the GNA e-mail address at the top of
this file.

1d) HOW DO I ACCESS GNA INFORMATION AND COURSES .........

FROM AMERICA ONLINE?

To get to GNA from America Online, you will require a AOL frontend of version
2.5 or higher.

1) Type "go www"
2) If you have an older browser, a screen will appear letting you know how
   to download a new version.
3) If you have a new browser, enter into the text box at the top of the
   WWW window type

   http://www.gnacademy.org/

   followed by return.

FROM DELPHI?

These instructions are for the current text baseed Delphi system.  Access
to GNA after installation of the Netscape system will be conventional
usage of the Netscape browser, or the browser if the users choice.

1.  From any prompt, type:  GO INT GOP
2.  Select WWW from the Navigator menu.
3.  Select Lynx from the menu.
4.  Type /ECHO HOST
5.  Select a Lynx server from the menu, and logon.
6.  When logon is complete, type a G (Cap G), and then

    http://www.gnacademy.org/

thanks to Bob Weaver (weaverr@delphi.com)

FROM PRODIGY?

All Prodigy subscribers have to do is "jump" www or web to access the
Prodigy Web browser.  From there, they can highlight the existing URL
listed at the top of the page (our home page address), delete it or
type over it with

    http://www.gnacademy.org/

Once they're there for the first time, if they would want to remember
your address, they can simply add it to their hot list by clicking on
"hot list" in the upper tool bar portion of the browser.

If they haven't put you on the hot list, but want to return to your
page during the same session, they do this by clicking on the
down arrow located at the upper portion.

thanks to Sandi McCusker (FSET71A@prodigy.com)

1e) WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

There are several ways that you can help GNA

   * let us know about any distance learning courses on the web
   * volunteer for an administrative or programming position
   * donate computer resources

1f) HOW DO I VOLUNTEER FOR ADMINSTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL WORK?

To volunteer for administrative and technical work, please visit our
web server and fill out a personnel form at the GNA web site.  This
will get you on the internal mailing lists we use to coordinate
volunteers.

1g) HOW DO I DONATE COMPUTER RESOURCES TO GNA?

GNA is always looking for donations of computer time and disk space to
run web servers and mailing lists.  If you wish to donate computer
time and disk space please contact our technical group at
gna-tech@mcmuse.mc.maricopa.edu

1h) WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF GNA?

The Globewide Network Academy is divided between the core organization
and member organizations.  Each member organization is fully
autonomous and determines all internal policies as well as all
curriculum and course content decisions.

The core organization is responsible for encouraging cooperation
between the member organizations and for providing staff services.
The governing body of the core organization is the five member Board
of Directors.  Advising the Board of Directors and the GNA
administration is the GNA Council which consists of one member per
school.  The GNA President is elected by the Board of Directors and is
responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of GNA.  Also
within GNA are the staff working groups which include:

   the secretariat
   the finance group
   the technical group
   the library

----------------------------------------------------------------------
COURSE SUBMISSION QUESTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2a) HOW DO I SUBMIT A COURSE PROPOSAL?

To submit a course proposal, browse the GNA Web server with a forms
compatiable Web browser and fill out a course submission form.  If you
do not have a forms compatible web browser, please email
gna@mcmuse.mc.maricopa.edu to ask for a course submission form.

2b) WHY SHOULD I  SUBMIT A COURSE PROPOSAL?

If your course is approved, it will be listed in the GNA course
catalog.  In addition, it will be eligible to receive support services
from GNA in areas such as web and mailing lists.  Furthermore, your
course will be forwarded to GNA consortium members, who may choose to
incorporate you course into their curricula.

2c) HOW ARE COURSE SUBMISSIONS PROCESSED?

The course review process takes about two to three weeks.  Course
submissions are forwarded to consortium members for review by the
individual members, any of whom may approve the course for listing in
the catalog.  A course submission may also be approved as an
"unattached course" by the GNA President.  If the GNA President
refuses to approve a course submission, the decision is subject to
appeal to the GNA Council or Board of Directors.

2d) WHAT ABOUT CREDIT?

The GNA central organization does not assign transfer credit.
However, if a course is approved by a accreditted member organization,
it will be marked as credit in the course catalog.

2e) WHAT ABOUT PAYMENT?

Each GNA member organization has different policies and systems for
payment of teachers.  The GNA core organization is currently
developing a financial administration system which will handle payment
for teachers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBER APPLICATION QUESTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------

3a) HOW CAN AN INSTITUTION BECOME INVOLVED WITH GNA?

If your institution would like to get involved with GNA, please fill
out an institution listing form at the GNA web server.  This form will
get your courses listing in the database as well as add you to the
mailing list on which our weekly newsletter and meeting announcements
are made.

3b) IS THERE ANY COST TO LIST COURSES?

No

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