Anytime, Anywhere Learning

Utah State Office of Education
Dr. Vicky Dahn
Coordinator of Instructional Technology
Utah State Office of Educationv www.usoe.k12.ut.us

When NetDay was launched, we already had an initiative to connect all schools to the Internet. We looked at where we were and where we wanted to be and what we were missing to accomplish it. We used the NetDay contacts to assist districts to get better funding for internal wiring and community organizations willing to assist them. We also provided opportunities for mentoring kids interested in IT fields. We had a matching service between interested students and volunteers in the state.
-- Dr. Vicky Dahn

The State Department of Education encouraged each school to implement their technology plans through NetDay. They provided schools with discounted resources, and information about community organizations willing to assist with wiring. The National Guard provided the largest number of volunteers. The department also started a matching service between to connect students interested in IT fields with volunteer mentors.

Today, each classroom is wired and has at least one computer. The current priority is moving the technology to where the learning takes place, from lab environments into classrooms. Educators and officials in Utah also are exploring innovative uses for bandwidth such as video on demand, and blending voice, data, and video over IP networks. Governor Michael Leavitt was influential in launching the Utah Electronic High School, Electronic Community College, and Western Governors University. The K-12 schools collaborate with higher education and libraries to provide services and purchase instructional materials to give patrons and students education anytime, anyplace.

Creative Solutions to Tight Spaces

Carbon County School District

The cat's name was "Tater" and he was employed by the Carbon County School District. To avoid the high cost of pulling cable through tight crawl spaces in the ceiling, this school district opted for a feline fix. They attached monofilament fishing line (12 lb. test recommended) to Tater's collar, and placed him in the far corner of a suspended tile ceiling. The "trainer" would call from the remote side of building. (Here Kitty, Kitty, most effective, or in times of stress Get over here you stupid cat!) The cat would weave his way through the ceiling to the other side and receive a reward. The supervisor detached the monofilament fishing line from Tater and connected it to a Cat 5 network cable enabling the assistant supervisor to pull cable back through the ceiling.

We are creative and get the job done cheap. We solicit volunteers from all species.
-- Dr. Vicky Dahn