The CyberCity Initiative:
... Other Societies, Agencies and Associations with similar aims
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Preface
This page contains background and status information on other Societies, Agencies and Associations whose aims are similar to, or which complement the CyberCity Initiative.
The CyberCity Initiative also sponsors an open and free newsletter distributed through e-mail by the City of Grande Prairie to anyone who subscribes. It contains the ideas, proposals and discussion of all who are interested in Grande Prairie's CyberCity Initiative. On-going discussion in the newsletter (also called a mailing list) concerning the project and its current status is posted in the mailing list archive. Significant postings concerning current status are also highlighted.
For further information, e-mail us directly from your forms-capable browser.
Other e-mail and contact information may be found below.
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Common Problems/Common Solutions
... ... Telecommunications Subcommittee
A regional Grande Prairie consortium supported by the City and County of Grande Prairie, the public and separate school boards, the Regional College, the Grande Prairie and Regional Libraries and the Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society (NATNS; see below).
The current initiatives and status of each participant are listed below along with a contact person at that institution. ...[Telephone numbers, Fax numbers and e-mail addresses will be complete as soon as they are available].
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Mistahia Regional Health Authority:
Contact: Tony Suttis, Chairman, Tel: 403+538-7135; Fax: 403+538-5455.
E-mail: {t.suttis@resonet.com} .. [direct e-mail]
- Status: The Regional Health Authority is in the process of connecting all its regional hospitals.
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Peace Wapiti School Board #33:
Contact: Leslie Cage, Tel: 403+532-8133; Fax: 403+532-4234.
E-mail:
- Status: Welcome to the Peace Wapiti School Board No. 33. We are a rural school board comprised of 26 schools. We currently have more than 5500 students enrolled and due to the rural nature of our Board, we transport approximately 4200 students daily about 2 Million kilometers every year. Peace Wapiti encompasses more than 8,000 square miles of the Peace River Area - from Ridge Valley School in the East, Savana School in the North, Hythe Schools in the West, and Grovedale Schools in the South. The Peace Wapiti School Board has a wide area network in place to connect their schools and central office mainly for administrative purposes. This wide area network will become our schools' access to the global community via the Internet and other communication links.
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City of Grande Prairie:
Contact: Brad Emond, Tel: 403+538-0427; Fax: 403+539-1056.
E-mail: bemond@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca ... direct e-mail.
World-Wide Web: http://www.ccinet.ab.ca/city-of-gp/homepage.html
- See the CyberCity Initiative introduction page, the CyberCity Discussion Paper and its call for Expressions of Interest. See also the announcement concerning the goals and membership of the CyberCity Committees. The City is leading this effort "to ensure that Grande Prairie is neither left behind nor bypassed by the electronic telecom revolution that is reshaping Canada." In a summary of the goals of this initiative, the Task Force encourages the CyberCity of Grande Prairie to invest in and use modern information technologies:
- to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of all that we do in Grande Prairie to equip our people with the skills and experience necessary to thrive in the emerging economy,
- to enhance quality of life in our northern community,
- to achieve economic advantage by positioning our city on the global information highway - as the INFOPORT of North America's north-west, and
- to fully involve citizens in decisions that will shape our future together in the information age.
- The City is hosting a free, open e-mail mailing list to circulate the ideas, discussion and on-going debate surrounding the CyberCity Initiative. A detailed description of the CyberCity Mailing List, subscription procedures, posting guidelines, its archive, etc., may all be seen on the City's World-Wide Web site.
- Reach us anytime concerning the CyberCity Initiative via e-mail:
CyberCity@city.grande-prairie.ab.ca ... direct e-mail.
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Grande Prairie Regional College:
Contact: Evans Forsyth, Tel: 403+539-2911; Fax: 403+.
E-mail: eforsyth@gprc.ab.ca ... direct e-mail.
- Status: GPRC is focusing on distance learning and internal networking.
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Grande Prairie Catholic School District #28:
Contact: Dennis Grant, Tel: 403+532-3013; Fax: 403+532-3430.
E-mail: {gp28@gpcsd28.ab.ca} .. [direct e-mail]
- Status: The GP Catholic Board is considering options on which to build a network for both administrative and teaching/learning purposes.
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Grande Prairie Public Library:
Contact: Rick Leech, Tel: 403+532-3580; Fax: 403+538-4983.
E-mail: rleech@incentre.net ... direct e-mail.
- Current status statement (21 January 1996) follows.
The Grande Prairie Public Library is committed to increasing patron access to the rapidly expanding electronic information sources now available. These include disk, CD-ROM and on-line based sources. A failure to provide this access ignores the importance of these sources and the public library's role in giving equitable access to information to everyone.
In order to accomplish this, the Library has undertaken a number of initiatives. In 1990, an automated library system was installed providing an on-line catalogue and automated cataloguing and circulation functions. A public access computer was first installed in the Library in 1994 and provided access to CD- ROM titles. The number of titles has increased since that time. This computer also provided dial-in access to the Athabasca University and Grande Prairie Regional College catalogues. In preparation for public Internet access, our Reference Librarians began to use Gopher, FTP, Telnet and text based World Wide Web Browsers in March, 1995. Their knowledge base and expertise has increased since that time.
Funding was needed to upgrade the public access computer in order to establish a viable public Internet and CD-ROM service. This was accomplished with the Library's 1995 Gala fund-raiser. Sufficient moneys were raised to purchase two public access Pentium computers with 6 pack CD-ROM changers and 28.8 bps modems. These were purchased December, 1995 and January, 1996. One has been installed in the Adult Department and one in the Children's Department.
The first computer has been set up as a public Internet/CD-ROM station providing dial-in Internet access and five CD-ROM titles. This service was introduced January 2, 1996. The Internet access has been donated to the Library by a local Internet commercial provider, TerrAffirmative (Terranet). World Wide Web, FTP and Telnet capabilities are provided through the Netscape web browser. E-mail is not supported, although patrons with e-mail accounts can telnet to their mail host computers. Patrons can sign-up for the computer in person or by phone for one-half hour time slots. Patron use has been very high since the service was introduced. The second computer provides access to three CD-ROM titles at present, with more titles on order. Public Internet access for children will be provided soon.
Future plans include an upgrade to the library automation system, which will support dial-in and telnet access to the Library's catalogue. In addition, the Library is working to become a community access point in any community electronic information system. This would involve increasing the number of public computers and tying these into the library automation system. In addition, Library administration is seeking ways to partner with other local groups interested in providing electronic information and increasing the capacity of local electronic infrastructure.
For further information or to provide comments please contact the Library administration as follows:
- Grande Prairie Public Library, 9910-99 Avenue, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada T8V 0R5
Voice: (403) 533-3580; Fax: (403) 538-4983
E-mail (Administrative Librarian): {rleech@incentre.net} .. [direct e-mail]
E-mail (Grande Prairie Public Library): {gppl@incentre.net} .. [direct e-mail]
Submitted by: Rick Leech, Administrative Librarian.
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Grande Prairie Public School District #2357:
Contact: Wes Brooks, Tel: 403+532-4491; Fax: 403+539-3665 or 539-4265.
E-mail: {wjbrooks@gppsd.ab.ca} .. [direct e-mail]
- The Future is Now - A Plan for the Implementation of Educational Technology in the Grande Prairie Board of Education
A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This document presents a "plan" for expanding the use of technology in the instructional programs offered at all district schools over the next number of years. The plan places teachers and students at the center of attention in the development of educational technology. Instead of describing a "vision of technology- based education", the theme of this plan is "technology-aided people." Technology is viewed as a means to extend the capabilities of teachers, students and all who are involved in the educational process. Technology is not seen as an end in itself.
Technology as a tool holds much promise for the improvement of teaching and learning. There is sufficient evidence of its usefulness in educational settings to support the position that technology has a place among the tools that should be available to both teachers and students. It is, however of no more inherent value in the educational process than the chalk board. Its power to improve schooling is entirely dependent upon two factors. They are, first, development of the capacity of people--teachers, students and others--to use this tool in ways which support the attainment of educational goals; and second, development of the capacity of the schools to provide reasonable access to the equipment and software needed to make instructional use of computers feasible.
The purpose of this "plan" is to provide direction for the Grande Prairie School District in building both of these capabilities over the next few years.
THE TECHNOLOGY AIDED SCHOOL - A VISION
The District's Educational Technology Plan "steering committee" shares a belief that the core "technology" employed in the educational process will continue to be the interactions between teachers and students, and among students themselves. The role of each, however, is changing. Advances in instructional technology have made vast stores of information readily accessible. The role of the teacher can no longer be viewed simply as one of "dispenser of information". The teacher must be looked upon as a guide whose main role is to help students learn how to acquire information and make sense of it. The role of the student can no longer be viewed as a passive receptacle of knowledge passed on by adults. The student must be looked upon as an active discoverer of knowledge. In order to perform their emerging roles effectively, teachers and students must have access to the tools of the "information society", and learn to use those tools effectively.
Consistent with those beliefs, the members of the Committee share a vision of the school of the future as one that continues to center on the classroom--the place where students and teachers interact. Both the classroom and the school as a whole, however, must be equipped with the tools necessary for both teachers and students to carry out their respective roles, and both teacher and students must be given the opportunity to learn to use those tools effectively.
GOALS
- Make the allocation of funds for the purchase of technology a district-wide priority so as to prepare all district students for the twenty-first century.
- Plan the integration of modern instructional technologies into the district curriculums, classroom instruction and staff development to maximize student learning and staff productivity.
- Provide the necessary access and ongoing technical training and awareness for district staff to be current with present and future technology.
- Provide a district-wide network to connect offices, school sites, classrooms and homes.
A MODEL NETWORKED SCHOOL - COMPONENTS
Classrooms will have computers and printers. These computers will be networked to school file servers. As a goal of the technology plan each classroom will have access to media devices such as large screen monitors, overhead projectors, VCRs etc. This network will allow access to the library media resources and other workstations within the building.
The Library Media/Technology Center will have on on-line card catalogue and multimedia devices such as CD-ROMs, VCRs and laserdisk players and may have an automated check-out system and mini-labs for on-line research and composition.
Each office will have networked workstations for administrative and office support staff. Each station will be connected to the school's file server. Each office will have access to a fax facilities, adequate phone lines, copy machines and printers.
For further information contact Wes Brooks at the Grande Prairie Public School District office at 403+532-4491 or via e-mail at {wjbrooks@gppsd.ab.ca} .. [direct e-mail]
Submitted by: Neil Dobson, teacher, Montrose Junior High School, Grande Prairie, Alberta 403+532-8861. E-mail {ndobson@agt.net} .. [direct e-mail]
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County of Grande Prairie #1:
Contact: Jean Rycroft, Tel: 403+532-9722; Fax: 403+532-4234.
E-mail:
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Peace Regional Library System:
Contact: Sharon Siga, Tel: 403+538-4656; Fax: 403+539-5285.
E-mail: peacelib@telusplanet.net ... direct e- mail.
- Library Telecommunications Initiatives:
- The Peace Library System is a partnership of 24 public libraries throughout the Peace Region. As well, the System performs services on contract for 48 school libraries. Because of telecommunication costs, the libraries are not electronically linked to each other beyond long-distance telephone calls and dial up access to the System's central database which lists library resources. However, libraries are at the crossroads. They have the opportunity to become the information centers of their communities. For example, an application under Industry Canada's Community Access Program was submitted in October by the Mackenzie Region of northwestern Alberta to provide five public Internet access points around High Level.
- Provincial Initiatives:
- The Libraries Section of Alberta Community Development is working towards linking all libraries in Alberta electronically to provide:
- an efficient way to identify and request resources held by libraries in the province,
- administrative e-mail capabilities, and
- access to the Internet for all public libraries.
- To provide access to library resources, a report commissioned this past summer recommended a hybrid approach be used. A centralized union catalogue, or listing, on CD-ROM would be created and distributed in the short-term so there would be just one place to look to find who has what resources. Up- to-date information about holdings would involve networking the distributed local library catalogues. The long-term goal is the virtual union catalogue.
- The Peace Library System has been involved in two pilot projects that are fore-runners to the network just described.
- CD-ROM Union Catalog:
- The Peace Library System maintains a database listing 190,000 unique library resources (over 300,000 copies or volumes) held in school and public libraries across northwestern Alberta. Since 1993, this database can be searched by member libraries and interested individuals by dialing in via modem. From 1990 to 1995, copies of this database were distributed to all member libraries in microfiche format. Starting January 1996, this information will be distributed on CD-ROM. In fact, the CD-ROM database will include the library holdings of three other library systems as well as the Peace Library System. The next step is a listing of all provincial library holdings.
- Telecommunications Pilot Project:
- For the past year, the Peace Library System and three member public libraries (Grande Prairie, High Level, and Peace River Municipal Libraries) have been linked electronically using the provincial government's AGNpac lines. A total of 30 libraries across Alberta can search each others library holdings. AGNpac lines are also used to allow e-mail messaging between these linked libraries. There have been many technical glitches, but the pilot project has provided a taste of what is possible if the right hardware and connections were in place.
- Next Steps:
- The Libraries Branch is submitting a proposal for funding so that 17 resource libraries in the province can be linked electronically via AGNpac for messaging, database searching and Internet access. The Peace Library System will likely be involved in installing dedicated lines that would link member libraries to the nearest AGNpac node and some ongoing operating costs. With all these potential projects ahead, we are definitely interested in cooperative ventures, whenever approval is received to proceed with the library network.
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Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society (NATNS):
Contact: Leigh Hill, Tel: 403+624-6433 (direct); or 403+624-1388 (evenings); Fax: 403+624- 6184.
E-mail: leigh_hill@ccinet.ab.ca ... direct e- mail.
- The Society was formed to help Albertans harness the power of modern telecommunications to create and access opportunities and to improve their lives and communities.
- See the Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society (NATNS) section below.
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The Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society (NATNS)
- Helping Albertans harness the power of modern telecommunications to create and access opportunities and to improve their lives and communities.
The Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society (NATNS)
... Background and Context.
The Northern Alberta Telecommunications Networking Society (NATNS) was formed in May 1995 as a not-for-profit organization. Representing key sectors, the Society is a response to concerns and interests expressed by northerners during the past few years, most recently at the '95 Telecommunications in Northern Alberta conference. Operations began in the fall of that year, following hiring of a Coordinator.
The Society is dedicated to increasing the awareness, understanding, and innovative use by northerners of modern communications technologies, and to improving access to and affordability of telecommunications services throughout northern Alberta.
The Society believes that:
- WE SHARE RESPONSIBILITY - All Albertans - including government - share a responsibility for making sure we take advantage of available opportunities and all appropriate tools - including modern communications technologies - to improve our lives and our communities.
- WE NEED TO EXPLOIT THE TECHNOLOGIES - Innovative use of modern telecommunications technologies can help northern Albertans offset significant disadvantages associated with distance and sparsity, and foster long-term well-being and economic prosperity of our communities.
- WE MUST WORK TOGETHER - Only if we work together (across sectors and organizational lines, and as communities) will we have the resources and effort required to use modern communications technologies in northern Alberta to overcome our basic problems of small numbers and great distance.
- WE MUST LEARN - The more northern Albertans know and understand about modern communications technologies, the more effectively we can use them as individuals and as communities, to improve our lives, our businesses, our institutions, our communities and to keep pace with developments in other parts of the province, the country and the world.
What Are the Goals of the Society?
- Make northern Albertans aware of the social and economic benefits of modern communications technologies, and help them understand the opportunities and implications for their lives, families, careers, institutions and communities.
- Create opportunities for northern Albertans to learn firsthand new ways to use modern communications so that they can assume greater control over their personal, community and work lives and help make better informed public policy choices.
- Help extend and enhance existing telecommunications services throughout the North (voice, data, image, video) so that Albertans in the rural and remote reaches of the province also can participate fully in the benefits of modern communications.
- Help reduce the price and costs of telecommunications services so that northerners and their communities can continue to grow and develop, and keep pace with other parts of the province, the country and the world.
How Will the Society Achieve Our Goals?
- By joining in partnership with other key organizations and institutions in both public and private sectors, NATNS works to extend the range and level of affordable telecommunications services available to northern Alberta communities.
- Through cooperative information programs and services, NATNS helps northern Albertans learn about, stay up-to-date on, and understand the implications of significant developments in the applications and uses of interactive communications technologies - locally, nationally and internationally.
- Through its collaborative projects, the Society helps individuals and organizations discover first- hand how to harness the power of information and the potential of interactive, wide-area communications as a means for overcoming the challenges that face them.
- Today, the Northern Alberta Telecom Networking Society is in the early stages of exploring with local and provincial agencies and organizations possible collaborative projects. The intention is to be able to launch a number of these early in the New Year.
Membership
Organizational and institutional members of NATNS currently include Mistahia Regional Health Authority, Peace Library System, Northland School Division, Alberta Vocational College - Lesser Slave Lake; Daishowa Marubeni International, and the Northern Alberta Development Council.
Contact Information
W. Leigh Hill, Coordinator
.
Snail-mail: c/o NADC, 2nd Floor Provincial Building, Bag 900-14, Peace River, Alberta T8S 1T4.
Phones: Day: 403+624-6433 (direct), Evening: 403+624-1388, Fax: 403+624-6184.
E-mail: leigh_hill@ccinet.ab.ca ... direct e- mail.
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