Although there is a general acceptance among K-12 educators that technology is an integral component of educational reform, many acknowledge that they do not have an adequate understanding of technology beyond computers. The area of communication technologies, in particular, is often an unfamiliar one to educators even though connectivity and communications are highly valued intuitively. A significant number of K-12 educators have expressed how difficult it is to plan for the effective use of communications technology, mainly because it is difficult to envision what is possible with communications technologies in educational environments.

AMERITECH'S RESPONSE

To assist K-12 educators in planning for the effective use of communications technology, Ameritech developed a piece of innovative software.

The Educational Communications Technology Consultant The Consultant allows you to interactively: Explore how communications technology might help to attain educational goals Participate in a step-by-step process to develop or revise a technology plan, emphasizing communications technology. Obtain information on federally legislated discounts for telecommunications services.

You are asked a series of questions and those responses are saved for inclusion in the final plan.

Uniquely, the style of interaction within the Consultant is modeled after the style of interaction on the Internet. If you've never used the Internet, using this tool help you will become familiar with the interface you'll experience when you do access the Internet. The CD-ROM will run on both Windows and the Macintosh platform.

The CD-ROM is free to you if your school is located in Ameritech's five-state region, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, or Wisconsin. There is a nominal fee for if your school is located outside of Ameritech's five-state region.

To obtain the CD-ROM, call (800)719-5822 ext. 252.

PLANNING TOOL PREVIEW

Below is an outline of The Educational Communications Technology Consultant. The CD is divided into three major sections, Technology Exploration, Legislation and Funding, and Planning.

Technology Exploration

• Population: Students, Teachers, Administrators, Parents & Community
• Goal Categories: Teaching & Learning, Management & Operations

Legislation and Funding

• Governments: Federal, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
• Information: Overview, Requirements, Web Resources

Planning

• Getting Ready

• What Is

• What Could Be: The Possibilities

• What Will Be: Developing the Plan

• Getting It Done

The Consultant is not just a great reference tool, it is truly interactive. By answering questions generated by the Consultant, your responses are saved and formulated into a personal, well-formatted technology plan.

The matrix below allows you to explore how communications technologies can help you achieve particular educational goals. Within the CD, clicking on a goal in the matrix will result in appropriate voice, video, and data applications to consider.

		Students	Teachers	Administrators	Parents & Community
	Teaching & Learning	Collaboration Authentic     Achievement Curriculum     Opportunities	Curriculum     Development Staff     Development Effective     Instruction Collaboration	Curriculum     Development Staff     Development Collaboration	Student     Support Community and     Adult Education Home-School     Relations
	Management & Operations	Shared     Resources Portfolio     Development	Shared     Resources Student     Records Communication	Shared     Resources Communication Financial     Records Effective     Scheduling	Communication