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About the Project

Purpose

Digital Bridges, a project of the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC), is a set of resources to assist K-12 teachers and administrators in designing, implementing, and supporting instructional and other projects using the Internet and videoconferencing technologies. Projects for improving the instruction of students, and for improving the interaction between school personnel and others involved in the care and growth of children are presented as models of promising practice in both online education and interactive videoconferencing (IVC).

Description

Digital Bridges presents examples of appropriate uses of both Internet-based and IVC technology for communication, collaboration, and instruction. Accompanying this material are explanations of what it takes to effectively create and carry out programs and courses using these technologies. This Web site is the first step in offering information about Web-based teaching and learning, with some checklists of important issues to consider. In the area of IVC, the information provided here is in combination with other formats, including two videotapes, Promising Practices in K-12 Videoconferencing and Issues for K-12 Decisionmakers, and a printed Teacher's Guide to Videoconferencing.

Audience

This Web site and these products are best suited to the needs of K-12 educators, parents and students, and other community members who are seriously considering

  • Creating and implementing online, Web-based courses and programs, and/or
  • Taking an online or video-based class, and/or
  • Using two-way, interactive videoconferencing technology for communication, collaboration, and/or instruction.

The examples, planning questions and guides, check-sheets, and resources found here will be of interest to teachers, counselors, students and parents, curriculum planners, administrators and legislators who are interested in distance learning, and/or who want to communicate and collaborate with colleagues in another region of the state or nation.

Funding

This web site was developed under contract number R302A000016 from the U.S. Department of Education. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department or any other agency of the U.S. government. Information in this site may be reproduced and distributed without permission for nonprofit educational and professional development purposes. Please acknowledge the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory as the source.

Credits

Assistance in content development and review was provided by the following expert practitioners:

Jan Bleek, Director (ret.), Internet Academy, Federal Way (WA) School District.

Barry Jahn, Teacher, SK Online, Salem-Keizer School District, Salem, OR.

Marty Karlin, Former Director, Southern Oregon Online School/O2, Southern Oregon ESD, Medford, OR.

Donna Vakili, Director, Idaho Distance Learning Academy, Boise, ID.