The "DISTANCEducation" section of the Georgia Center Quarterly On-Line is designed to provide a forum for discourse and comment about the practice of distance education -- its administration, operation, programs, and activities. For the last three years, The University of Georgia's College of Education has conducted a multifaceted series of teleconferences -- the Interactive Teaching Network (ITN). The producers of that project prepared the following research report that profiles the evolution of the ITN Project. The ITN Project offers a model for institutions who extend educational opportunities at a distance through technology.
The Interactive Teaching Network (ITN) at The University of Georgia is an innovative approach to providing in-service and pre-service training to educators and parents of children with disabilities. Two U.S. Department of Education Special Project grants provide funding for this distance-education program, which has experienced phenomenal growth. ITN telecasts reached an estimated 5,000 participants the first year (1993), 10,000 the second (1994), and 18,000 the third year (1995). The popularity of the ITN programs resulted in a number of changes to meet the needs of the diverse audience. What follows is an examination of the growth of the ITN Project over a three-year period, the evolution of the international audiences, and the structural changes that have occurred within the project itself.
The ITN telecasts, transmitted via a C-Band satellite signal, allow sites throughout the U.S. to "bring" nationally recognized speakers to their local communities through the use of cost-effective technology. Each satellite telecast features live question-and-answer segments with live call-in questions from participants at receive sites around the country. Participants may also FAX or e-mail questions to the project prior to each telecast. The Internet worldwide computer network is also used to interact with ITN participants -- presenters' scripts and curriculum materials are made available via Internet. The network also provides information exchange for ITN staff and the teleconference audiences.
In an attempt to expand the West Coast audience during the 1994-95 telecast season, ITN broadcast each telecast twice -- once from 3:45 - 6:00 p.m. Eastern and again from 6:45 - 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Both broadcasts included live interaction with the speakers. Site facilitators hosting the 1994-95 ITN telecast series had the option of receiving each telecast at either or both times, giving sites the option of receiving the telecasts at a more convenient time or having two different audiences or multiple viewing of each program.
Over the three-year period, ITN staff have refined many marketing strategies. When an interested individual contacts the ITN office, the staff work with them to identify local facilities that have the capacity to receive a C-Band satellite signal. Such locations typically include public schools, cooperative education agencies, technical or trade schools, community colleges, universities, and hospitals. As a requirement of participating in the programs, a "site facilitator" is identified for each downlink location to be responsible for coordinating the receive site. The site facilitator also serves as the primary contact for the ITN staff.
Camera-ready promotional materials are provided to local receive site facilitators for the addition of their own local information. These flyers assist facilitators in advertising the availability of the ITN programs in their localities. Site facilitator guides which include a user-friendly overview of hosting an ITN telecast and the participants' curriculum materials are provided two weeks prior to every scheduled telecast.
CHADD A national support group, Children with Attention-Deficit Disorders (CHADD) arranged two sites during 1992-93. CHADD facilitators were responsible for eight sites during 1993-94, and three during 1994-95. It is difficult to estimate the importance of this group as CHADD members have been responsible for the establishment of a number of sites by other entities. Hospitals Hospitals or health-care entities accounted for no site arrangements during 1992-93. During 1993-94, eight hospitals facilitated ITN sites. During 1994-95, one hospital arranged a site. The inconsistency noted within this market is reflective of ITN's marketing plan which does not specifically target health-care entities. Other The other category includes entities such as universities, parent information projects, centers for educational enhancement, state chapters of the Council for Exceptional Children, and local mental health or community service centers. Grouped as such, these entities accounted for 14 sites during 1992-93. This number increased to 35 during 1993-94. During the 1994-95 telecast season, 25 sites were arranged by individuals classified as "other."
From the first year to the second year, ITN experienced nearly a 50 percent return rate of these groups of site facilitators. From the second year to the third year, the site facilitator return rate was 70 percent. In sum, ITN has established a core number of site facilitators which continue to be ITN's most-valued customers.
The ITN Project has experienced a steady growth over the three-year period. During 1992-93, ITN had 101 sites throughout the U.S. and Canada. During 1993-94, ITN programs reached 275 international locations. For the 1994-95 telecast series, ITN staff established more than 600 international receive sites for one or both series of telecasts. These numbers represent a growth of more than 600 percent over the three- year period. It is estimated that during its first year, the ITN telecasts reached approximately 5,000 participants nationwide, 10,000 during the second year, and 18,000 during the third year.
Telecast evaluations are completed by each ITN participant following each program. As part of this evaluation process, personal data such as the participant's employment setting, years of experience, and previous involvement with distance-learning programs have been gathered. ITN Organization
This tremendous growth has led to a number of changes in the organizational structure of the ITN Project. ITN staff functions and responsibilities have evolved due to the demand for the programs. During the first year of the programs, two project directors and a coordinator comprised the project staff. During the second year, a second coordinator was added to assist in meeting the program demands, and during the third year an additional coordinator was hired.
The teleconferencing process can logically be divided into two interdependent functions. One function, the marketing and coordination of downlink sites, is supervised by Phillip J. McLaughlin, ITN Project co-director and an associate professor with UGA's College of Education. The Georgia Center's Department for Program and Conference Development and the Center's Graphics Services and Printing Services assist the ITN marketing function by producing the promotional materials and assisting with the mailings of these materials. During 1994-95, two coordinators responded to the international demand for the availability of the ITN programs.
The other function of teleconferencing is the program production which is supervised by William N. Bender, ITN Project co-director and also an associate professor with the College of Education. The Georgia Center's Department of Television Services is an integral part of each successful telecast. One coordinator assists with the production duties of the ITN telecasts and acts as the liaison between the ITN staff and the Georgia Center staff.
ITN's 1996 telecast schedule includes eight teleconferences. For more information about ITN, contact Laura Clark, Interactive Teaching Network, 577 Aderhold Hall, College of Education, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, 706-542-4770.
For more information about the "DISTANCEducation" section of the Georgia Center Quarterly, or if you'd like to submit an article for consideration, please contact Editorial Services, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-3603, 706-542-1223, FAX: 706-542-5990. E-mail can be sent to shoresj@gactr.uga.edu.
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