


        SchoolNet: Canada's Educational Networking Initiative

                                        Tue  07-12-94   00:52:00

_________________________________________________________________

Funding Sources



SchoolNet is supported by the Canadian government at the federal,
provincial, and territorial levels, and by a number of private
companies. The Federal Government has committed $1.6 million to
SchoolNet, beginning in 1994-95. Canada's full-service telephone
companies have invested $100,000 in this venture through the Stentor
Alliance. SchoolNet has also received significant contributions from
Apple Canada Inc., Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc., The Globe and
Mail, Southam News, and KAO Infosystems Company.


Schools Participating in SchoolNet

Provincial/territorial selection committees were responsible for
selecting official SchoolNet schools for the 1993-1994 phase.
Interested schools submitted applications listing their computer
   hardware and software inventory (i.e., computers, modems,
communication software, phone lines, etc.) and a description of aa
planned interactive project to develop and run using SchoolNet. The
most technologically intensive schools along with those that had the
best projects were selected. A new selection process will probably be
used to choose official participants for the 1994-95 school year.
Previous participants are welcome to apply again.

For the initial phase of SchoolNet (September 1993-September 1994),
the SchoolNet staff planned to connect only the schools selected to
participate in the project. However, due to the large membership of
British Columbia's CLN (Community Learning Network), Nova Scotia's
NSTN (Nova Scotia Technology Network), and Newfoundland's STEM-NET
   (Science & Technology Education and Mathematics Network), and the fact
that some schools already have Internet access, the number of schools
accessing SchoolNet far exceeds the original target.



Access Providers

Schools are accessing SchoolNet in a variety of ways. Some schools
connect through one of the commercial and non-commercial regional
networks in British Columbia [CLN], Saskatchewan (SaskNet), Manitoba
(Manitoba Information Network [MINET]), Nova Scotia (NSTN), New
Brunswick (New Brunswick Education Network [NEWBED]) and Newfoundland
(STEM-NET).

Schools in Alberta will access SchoolNet and the Internet through
universities and the Alberta Research Network (ARNET), along with
schools in the Northwest Territories. Some universities and community
colleges are providing Internet access for schools in Ontario and
Quebec.

FreeNets in Ottawa, Trail, and Victoria are also providing access to
SchoolNet. FreeNet-organizing committees are forming in many
communities across Canada; when operational, these FreeNets will
   provide SchoolNet access. SchoolNet is also investigating the
feasibility of providing Internet access to schools via cable
television and ISDN technologies.

How to Access SchoolNet



SchoolNet services are provided on a Gopher server.

[GO] usinggophertoernest.ccs.carleton.ca

SchoolNet can also be found on the National Capital FreeNet in the
Science and Engineering Technology Centre (#8) and in the Schools,
ndUniersities section under Academy One (#1).

GO usingtelnettofreenet.carleton.ca

Anyone with Internet access is welcome to make use of SchoolNet
resources and services. The SchoolNet staff asks that all schools
using SchoolNet be sure to register. Schools that register will gain
access to the SchoolNet Whitepages and other protected databases,
which are secured for privacy reasons.



Services and Resources

Studentndteachershaveaccessto the followingservices
and resources:

Online Resource Guide
	Aguidetothe100bestInternetscienceandtechnologyrelated
	resources.Alloftheresourcesarefullydocumented,including
	accessinstructionsforeachresource.

Electronic Innovators
	Over 400 scientists, engineers and other advisors from around
	theworldwillprovideonlineexpertadvicetoteachersand
	students.


	ElectronicInnovatorsareavailableinthefollowing
	capacities:

	1. School Advisors, who advise teachers and students on areas of
curriculum and project development. School advisors can also
act as role models to students.

	2.DiscussionLeaders,whomonitorsubject-specificUSENET
newsgroups and answer questions posted by students and
teachers.

        3. In-class Visitors, who visit SchoolNet classrooms.

Training
	StudentswillbeabletocompeteinSchoolNetscavengerhunts,
	searching for information on the Internet while learning how to
	navigate the Net using common Internet commands. Also, a
	SchoolNet Navigator tool will help students navigate online.

Career Selection Guide
	The guide lists educational requirements, salary expectations,
	and projected demand for a chosen field of work. It is produced
	by The Government of Canada, Minister of State for Youth under
	 the Canadian Occupation Projection Systems and by the Public
	Affairs Branch of Employment and Immigration Canada.

USENET newsgroups for students
	 SchoolNet students can participate in discussion groups with
	other students from around the world in an electronic forum,
	sharing information, ideas, and establishing electronic "pen
	pals."

USENET newsgroups for teachers
	Thesediscussiongroupswillworktowardsendingthe
	professional isolation that many teachers currently experience
	by providing them with a forum to exchange ideas and
	experiences with other teachers from across Canada and around
	the world. Discussion issues include curriculum development,
	teaching and learning methods, educational resources, upcoming
	conferences,andtrainingprograms.

Electronic newsfeeds
	SchoolNet participants will have access to direct,
	up-to-the-minute electronic newsfeeds from the Globe & Mail
	(Classroom Edition), and Southam News. Initially, these
	newsfeeds will be updated on a daily basis, with updates
	becomingmorefrequentinthenearfuture.Userswillbeable
	to find out about world events prior to watching/hearing about
	them on the evening news.

Libraries
	Students and teachers will have access to 42 libraries
	(includingtheNationalLibraryofCanada)acrossCanadaand
	around the world. Online search capabilities will permit access
	to the most updated editions of published works on a wide array
	of topics (an improvement on text books, which often become
	outdated soon after they are printed). Some electronic systems
	allow books to be reserved electronically as well.

Databases
	Teachers and students can access databases worldwide and obtain
	relevantfiles.SchoolNetparticipantscanaccessdatabasesof
	software, educational resources, research data, worldwide
	Internet email addresses, and Internet guides.

Networking projects
	ScholNet usrs will have opportnity to participatin
	collaborative projects with students across the country and
	around the world. SchoolNet facilitates this process by having
	students from different classrooms work as a team to solve
	problems,conductexperiments,holdemaildebates,and



ScholNet: Canada's Educational Networking Initiative (p10
	challenge each other in network resource hunts. The projects
	also provide a forum for students to work with professional
	researchers in solving real life problems.

Online technical support
	SchoolNet has two newsgroups set up to assist students and
	teachers with any technical or procedural questions that they
	have. Members from the SchoolNet Support Group monitor these
	newsgroups,andproblemsaresolvedwithin24hours.SchoolNet
	also ha 800 number tossitfirst-time users with
	connectivity problems.


Exploring Information Technology

Canada remains at the forefront in terms of developing and marketing
advanced telecommunications systems. However, until recently, only a
handful of Canadian schools have had the resources to effectively
exploit the tremendous learning potential which information technology
is now able to deliver into the classroom.

The SchoolNet project recognizes that educators who are plugged into
worldwide networks are better positioned to expand the learning
experiences of their students. SchoolNet aims to accelerate the
emergence of electronic networking in Canadian classrooms, and to
stimulate the development of electronically based learning projects,
especially in the areas of science, technology and mathematics.

SchoolNet participants become, by the very act of participating,
players in a technology that is changing the traditional aspects of
the educational system by replacing text books, overcoming isolation,
   extending the classroom walls to encompass the world and promoting
learning by exploration rather than lecturing.

See Contact Information for SchoolNet for more information.

(Go to next article...)


Contact Information for SchoolNet
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 Contact Information for SchoolNet


  _________________________________________________________________

For more information on SchoolNet, please contact:

	National SchoolNet Office
	IndustryCanada
	Room805F
	235QueenStreet
	Ottawa, Ontario
	Canada
	K1A 0H5

or

	Freenet Science and Engineering
	ConsultingGroup
	(SchoolNet Support and Development)
	email:schoolnet-admin@carleton.ca

For service in English:

	tel: (613) 991-6057
	fax:(613)941-2811
	email: charlton@sci.istc.ca

For service in French:

	tel: (613) 998-7166
	fax: (613) 941-2811
	email: boisjoly@sci.istc.ca

