New information technologies are a driving force for change in society, giving rise to new industries, greater efficiencies and increased personal freedom.

In the four years since The Concord Consortium was founded, we have focused on implementing educational innovations that use information technologies. Major federal grants have allowed us to make important advances in developing NetCourses--online courses--for training, moderation and course delivery; in using hand-held, portable computers in the classroom; in developing new computer environments for science education; and in the design of technology-rich education for sustainable development, math, and physics.

By merging appropriate new technologies with the best educational research, we have been able to create vigorous, innovative and inclusive learning experiences.

The excitement generated by our research has led to a demand from educators for our innovations. In response, we have created CC Services, a service division of The Concord Consortium, specifically designed to disseminate our developments worldwide. Our grant supported work has given us considerable expertise in online courses, technology-rich materials development, software design, and portable computers. Through CC Services we are able to share this expertise with schools and businesses through workshops, online courses, consultation, and public speakers.

The Virtual Classroom

Two introductory workshops which CC Services is offering in November [of 1998] highlight one of our most exciting and successful research areas--online learning and the virtual classroom. [for upcoming workshops contact ccservices@concord.org] Many schools and businesses that are developing virtual learning environments are looking for sound advice on how to implement a virtual classroom. As the developer of the successful Virtual High School project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, we have become an acknowledged leader in development and pedagogy of online learning. Our fall workshops, held at Shelburne Farms, near Burlington, Vermont, at the site of our Center for a Sustainable Future, are for teachers, administrators, and others interested in understanding more about online learning.

At a later date, we will also be offering comprehensive NetCourses that can help you create virtual institutions:

• A package of courses for administrators, staff and teachers who want to create their own virtual institution.
  
• A series of three courses for becoming a part of a Virtual High School.
  
• An advanced course on multimedia for NetCourse faculty and teachers.

CC Services will be offering workshops in science education, including how to implement a hands-on physics curriculum for high school and how to use a manipulable software package for teaching genetics. We also have developed courses that explain how to bring inquiry into the science and math classroom, and how to use scientific probes to support learning.

All of our NetCourses and Workshops are based on our research in educational technology.

Consultation

The staff of CC Services is available for consultations on specific projects, including the virtual classroom, mobile computing, international networking, online collaboration, and new approaches to modeling in education.

We hope you will join us in exploring new and exciting frontiers.

Robert Tinker is President of The Concord Consortium. Contact CC Services at ccservices@concord.org.

Copyright © 1999 The Concord Consortium, All rights reserved. Last updated: 31-Mar-99
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