K14
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May 16, 1995
The NERO (Network for Engineering and Research in Oregon) Project is exploring
networking as a means of collaboration and Instruction. A small part of the NERO
project is looking at the connection between OJGSE (Oregon Joint Graduate Schools
of Engineering) and schools in K-14. NERO has 4 K-14 Outreach projects this year
that will explore educational issues around networking. This includes connections
to several schools and to Pine Mountain Observatory.
Introduction
The focus for NERO is to facilitate collaborative research and teaching among
the engineering and computer science faculty of the member institutions. In addition
there is a component focused on collaboration with business and K-14 education.
The NERO project has deployed a high-speed, high-bandwidth data connections (including
digital video and audio) within and between the OJGSE sites (Oregon State University,
Oregon Graduate Institute, Portland State University, University of Oregon, the Biological
Information Center at Oregon Health Science University, and the Oregon Center for
Advanced Technology). As a part of the K-14 outreach component, several K-14 schools
are being connected to the network.
K-14 Projects
The goal of the K-14 Outreach projects is to provide a stronger connection between
Oregon Higher Education Schools and the K-14 schools. In addition, the goal is to
try to carry some of the lessons learned about using computers and networking effectively
from NERO out to the K-14 schools. By connecting K-14 schools via data networks,
the possibility opens up for collaboration between Higher Education and K-14 in a
way that has not been possible before.
There are four basic projects:
Each of these projects enhances the educational process by bring new resources
and opportunities for communicating to the classroom. The NERO K-14 projects have
a specific focus on helping the Science and Math educational process. However, at
the same time, these projects are following the current school reform process in
Oregon, and so provide opportunities to explore contextual learning following an
integrated curriculum model.
By addressing both technical and educational issues directly, NERO projects help
create a connection between the schools in the state.
HMSC - TAFT
The Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center supports a program
called Earth and Sea Investigators which brings a "student as investigator"
informal science program to several schools. The HMSC - Taft project explores the
opportunity to create a curriculum following the same model as the Earth and Sea
Investigators project, but using Internet tools as an integral part of the project.
Taft Middle school in Lincoln City will be connected directly to the network and
use that as a basis for collaborative work with HMSC. As a result of this project,
there will be several curriculum modules available on the network.
Pine Mountain Observatory
The University of Oregon Pine Mountain Observatory will get connected directly
to the Internet. This will provide K-14 students (as well as higher ed) with the
ability to directly configure the telescope and access the IMAGES directly. This
direct access to the telescope will allow the educational process to focus on the
model of "Science as Discovery" and provide a hands-on opportunity for
learning.
Geophysical Data Server
A World Wide Web Server will be established that contains Geophysical Data Sets
available for the K-14 to access. These data sets include:
- Precipitation and temperature
- Wind, solar radiation, humidity
- Satellite IMAGES including IR
- Radar IMAGES
Coordinated projects
Several projects were joined together as a way to maximize the utilization of
resources. This effort will connect 6 schools, including a focus on connectivity,
training, curriculum development, technology transfer and informal science materials
for K12.
Many of the schools are actively involved in existing projects and the focus is
to enhance the educational projects that are already in place. Two of the schools
are under the Science Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) program. And
2 schools are under the Math Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program.
Both of these programs are aimed at improving math and science opportunities for
under-served populations. The locations for these schools include urban schools in
Portland as well as rural schools in Siletz, Madras, Albany and Mollala.
By addressing the spectrum from network access to curriculum development, these
NERO outreach projects explore the integration of Internet technology as a tool for
collaboration in Education
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