Andy Dunau
Director, LALCNet
The Los Angeles Learning Community Network [LALCNet - www.lalc.k12.ca.us] provides educators, students, and others in the K-12 learning community with low cost, toll-free access to the Internet and its wealth of educational, health, and social service resources.
It is a collaboration of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership [LAEP], the Los Angeles County Office of Education [LACOE], and local school districts and schools whose planning and development process is overseen by an Advisory Group comprised of representatives from industry, universities, K-12 education, and community organizations.
The co-chairs of this ambitious service are LACOE Superintendent Dr. Donald Ingwerson and the RAND Corporation's Director for Education, Instruction, and Training, Dr. Roger Benjamin.
LALCNet began offering accounts in April, 1995, and now has over 2,000 teachers logging on to discuss issues, form news groups, access a diverse range of content on the World Wide Web, improve learning environments, and develop new methods to support educational reform. Though LALCNet is proud to have so many participants, those 2000 educators are just a beginning.
In 1990, there were 4 million users "connected" to the Internet. By 1994, the number grew to 40 million and, by the year 2000, some estimate the number will reach 100 million.
The World Wide Web is now reported to be doubling in size every 50 days. It is extraordinary growth, but it is not always reflected in the learning environment for children.
A 1994 survey of Los Angeles area teachers by LAEP found that only 13% of teachers and 5% of students had access at school to a computer connected to a phone line. Less than 4% of the combined group could connect to a school-based local area network providing Internet access. A 1995 survey by LACOE revealed an equally challenging picture.
When looking at the ratio of students to computers, Los Angeles County schools have the unfortunate distinction of being ranked in the bottom 10% nationally. As a state, California ranks 50th in the nation.
As a consequence, 78% of teachers surveyed by LAEP said they access the Internet only from home. The lack of access to computers and the Internet at Los Angeles schools makes LALCNet's low-cost, dial-up access from home as well as school even more valuable.
Home is where teachers and administrators are most likely to have the time and incentive to access the Internet, experiment, learn, and develop ideas. Educators can then use the school day to present and test those ideas among students and others in the learning community.
This is why LALCNet's mission is to continue to bring the learning community on-line quickly and inexpensively, providing low cost access; high quality, original content; comprehensive training opportunities; and reliable technical support.
Through its use of the World Wide Web, LALCNet offers new, Internet-based learning opportunities for students, more effective communication among educators; new professional development opportunities for teachers; and access to global resources that can be used locally.
LALCNet also develops and provides original materials and services that are of immediate interest to its subscribers and offers direct links to other Web sites which support the education reform agenda.
Examples of original content include
As part of this training program, extensive and detailed training modules have been developed and are provided to each participant to facilitate guided self-study and practice at home, while newsgroups provide a means for continued on-line discussions with trainers.In addition to newsgroups to help every subscriber get the most from the service, LALCNet subscriber assistance includes phone support for new members, on-line tutorials, and help with developing and posting homepages.
The latest technical support enhancements include on-line Macintosh and Windows Technical Support Centers offering detailed instructions on a host of issues plus solutions to problems, all posted and maintained on a daily basis.
In 1995-96, over 350 teachers received Internet and Web Authoring training.
LALCNet was researched and developed as part of a substantial grant from the New American Schools Development Corporation with major support from the corporations and foundations that provide resources for the SMART Initiative.
These include the Ahmanson Foundation, AT&T, Avery Dennison, Citibank, First Interstate Bank, Nissan, Pacific Bell, Pacific Enterprises, Rockwell International, and Toyota.
With continued support and commitment from subscribers and benefactors, LALCNet plans to move forward as a substantial and specialized telecommunications network serving all school teachers, students, and families in Los Angeles County.
