Apple Expands Family Computing Workshops to Reach Thousands of Schools

CUPERTINO, California--April 2, 1996--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced
the expansion of its Family Computing Workshops, and sponsorship of the
workshop by the Bring Learning Home Alliance, an outreach program led by
Apple Computer, Inc., the National Geographic Society, the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS), Scholastic, Inc., and the Computer Learning
Foundation. (See companion press release titled, "Leaders in Learning
Technologies and Resources Form Alliance to Bring Learning Home", April 2,
1996.) The Family Computing Workshops educate families about the benefits
of technology for children's learning, and develop creative ways to help
parents and children use technology together.

Based on a pilot program launched by Apple last May, the workshops are the
first in a series of programs, products and services to be offered by the
Alliance. Beginning this month, the Family Computing Workshops provide
educators and technology coordinators at thousands of schools throughout
the U.S. with the materials and guidance they need to host free technology
workshops at their local schools or community centers. Parents and
children are invited to learn about the benefits of technology by
listening to a short presentation and participating in a hands-on computer
technology session.

"Educators recognize the value of developing a strong relationship between
learning at school and learning at home, and they want to participate in
the process of bringing technology into both of these experiences," says
Mike Lorion, senior vice president and general manager of Apple's consumer
marketing group. "When they host a Family Computing Workshop, they are
encouraging parents to become partners with schools in improving
children's education through the use of technology."

"This kind of encouragement works," says Mary Fischer, technology
coordinator for Sweet Home Central Schools in Williamsville, N.Y. "Parents
are amazed at what their children are doing, and grand-parents are
astonished at how schools have changed," she says. "They recognize that
technology is not a passing phase. It's in the curriculum, it's working,
and students need to know how to use it. We're seeing kindergarten
children coming to school with two year's experience on computers. It's
important that they come into a school that has the technology, and it's
important that parents support this."

Jackie Lipsitz, technology coordinator for the school district of Clayton,
Mo., agrees that showing families how technology is used is important, and
it's also a community service. Lipsitz sponsored a Family Computing
Workshop called "Leap into Technology" on Feb. 29. "Our goal was to show
parents how we use technology to support learning, and to supply them with
information on quality software that they can use to support learning at
home," she says.

Apple introduced the program last year to more than 1,000 schools
throughout the nation. Last fall alone 96,000 people, including parents,
grandparents and children, attended. Response was so positive, with an
average of 80 people attending each workshop, that 85 percent of the
workshop leaders said they would do it again.

Lipsitz is one of them. She says her district received positive response
from parents as well as school board members. "The parents were amazed,"
she says. "They knew their children were using computers, but many didn't
know how much our schools have infused technology into the curriculum, or
how skilled their children had become. The day after the workshop our
superintendent received email messages from our board members
complementing the district on this event."

Program Designed for Educators

The workshops are designed to be simple, fun, and interactive. Workshop
leaders are provided with all the tools necessary to host a successful
workshop. Materials can be easily customized to fit the needs of parents
of children from three to 18 years of age.

Each school participating in the program receives a free workshop kit that
includes:

* a planning guide
* a multimedia presentation on CD-ROM and a presentation script
* a set of educational CDs for hands-on sessions
* posters and flyers to promote the event
* a National Geographic Society kit with technology catalog, brochures
  and map -- the book "Everything You Need to Know (But Were Afraid
  to Ask Kids) About the Information Highway," developed by the
  Computer Learning Foundation with a grant from Apple
* a letter from Apple Computer that includes information on how
  to order additional materials, replace missing items, and receive
  technical assistance for the presentation CD

Attendees receive a free Family Activity Guide from Apple and Scholastic.
The guide features activities, ideas and tips that families might consider
to enrich the computing experience.

Participating schools are automatically entered into the Family Computing
Workshop Sweepstakes by mailing in the workshop evaluation form.
Sweepstake prizes include Apple Macintosh computers, Apple QuickTake
cameras, and Apple Color Stylewriter printers. A random drawing will take
place in February 1997. Winners need not be present.

How to Host a Workshop

In order to host a workshop, schools must have the following equipment: a
Macintosh with eight megabytes of RAM and a double speed CD-ROM drive, a
VCR and a large-screen projection device. In the future, the Bring
Learning Home Alliance plans to extend the workshops to community centers,
clubs and organizations. For information, or to register for a Workshop,
call 1-800-365-7080, ext. 200.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online
services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and
markets products, technologies and services for the business, education,
consumer, entertainment, scientific & engineering and government customer
in over 140 countries.

Computer Learning Foundation is an international nonprofit foundation
dedicated to improving the quality of children's learning and preparation
for the workplace through the use of technology. The Foundation offers a
number of resource materials for parents and educators, including software
review guides, parent guides and teaching materials, and videos. For
additional information, or to receive a copy of their annual guide,
Computer Learning Software Review, at no charge, contact the Computer
Learning Foundation: Department AHL, P.O. Box 60007, Palo Alto, CA
94306-0007, (415) 327-3347.

The National Geographic Society is the world's largest nonprofit scientific
and educational organization. It was founded in 1888 to increase and
diffuse geographic knowledge. Today, in addition to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
MAGAZINE and WORLD magazine, it continues to support that mission by
providing teachers and parents with exciting new ways to bring geography,
history and science into the classroom and home. For more information,
please call (800) 368-2728. After June 20, 1996, the National Geographic
Society's Internet address is: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/.

PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation owned and operated by the nation's
345 public television stations. An important community resource, PBS and
its member stations use the power of noncommercial television to enrich
the lives of all Americans through quality programs, and education
services that inform, inspire and delight. For more information write 1320
Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, visit PBS ONLINE at
http://www.pbs.org, or call (708) 739-5000.

Scholastic, Inc. is committed to producing multimedia resources that tie
directly to the curriculum to enhance your child's learning experience.
Scholastic offers one of the broadest selections of education software on
the market today through its Software and Books Clubs and Technology
Fairs. For additional information or to receive a free software catalog,
please call (800) 724-6527, that's 800 SCHOLAS (TIC).

NOTES TO EDITORS: (1) A report on the findings of the Apple Classrooms of
Tomorrow (ACOT), a research project that investigated the relationship
between technology and learning, is available by calling 1-800-825-2145.
The report is entitled "Changing the Conversation About Teaching, Learning
and Technology: A Report on Ten Years of ACOT Research." The part number
is L01567A. To order the report electronically, see ACOT's Web site at the
following address: http://www.atg.apple.com/acot.index/html. (2) If you
are interested in receiving Apple press releases by fax call
1-800-AAPL-FAX (1-800-227-5329) and enter your PIN number. If you do not
have a PIN number, please call the Public Relations Hotline at (408)
974-2042. If you would like to receive Apple press releases by email,
please send an email message to pressrel@thing2.info.apple.com. Include
the text "subscribe [your full name]" in the body of the message.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
