2002-2003 Webcasts

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Copyright & Distance Education

June 5, 2002

It has been almost thirty years since Congress last examined the copyright law and its relationship with distance learning. Now Congress is considering the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act, which will rewrite the distance learning exemption to the copyright law in order to bring the law into the digital age. The current distance learning exemption made it possible for courses broadcast directly to the classroom to include displays or performances of a limited set of works without infringing upon copyrights. But in the Internet age of rich multimedia and anytime anywhere learning, the narrow exception made little sense. The TEACH Act will allow educators to use much of the same rich material in distance learning over the Internet that they use in face-to-face classroom instruction, without the need for permissions or payments. It will also eliminate the current law's outmoded requirement that only permits the exception to apply to distance learning delivered to a physical classroom.

• Leslie Harris, President, Leslie Harris & Associates
• Gary Becker, Manager of Media Production, Seminole County Public Schools, FL and Copyright Law Consultant

Internet Safety: An Update on the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Schools

September 18, 2002

In May, a three-judge federal court panel declared the portions of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) that apply to libraries unconstitutional. Under CIPA, all schools and public libraries that receive federal funding (including and especially some kinds of E-rate funding) must implement a technology protection measure that blocks and filters certain kinds of Internet content. Since this decision only focused on libraries, the portions of CIPA that applies to schools still remain in force. To get an update on the steps schools are taking to comply with CIPA and related developments at other government agencies, register for our inaugural Webcast. PLUS, hear about a new Toolkit f rom CoSN on "Talking to Your Community about Internet Safety."

• Bob Moore, Executive Director of IT Services, Blue Valley USD #229 and Chair, CoSN Board (Moderator)
• Liza Kessler, Senior Policy Counsel, Counsel to CoSN on public policy, Leslie Harris & Associates
• Sara Fitzgerald, Project Director, Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse, and Funds for Learning
• Jenny House, PhD, Vice President, Strategic Relations, Classroom Connect (Invited)

What Does Scientifically Based Research Mean?

October 16, 2002

The program will consist of three parts: (1) the "facts" about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and its scientifically-based research (SBR) requirements; (2) a specific focus on the relationship between the SBR and technology requirements of NCLB; and (3) a practitioner's perspective on the implications for state and local practice.

• Doris Redfield, Executive Director, Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education at AEL (Moderator)
• John Bailey, Director of Education Technology, US Department of Education
• Valeria Reyna, PhD, Senior Research Advisor, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, US Department of Education
• Dean Bergman, Administrator Educational Technology, Nebraska Department of Education

E-Rate's New Realities: A Discussion of New Program Rules

November 20, 2002

The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to issue a decision on a wide array of E-Rate issues that could drastically affect the program's operation. Next year, E-Rate applicants could find their choices of eligible services limited only to those pre-approved by the program's administrator, their options to receive support for wireless services and voice mail expanded, their ability to transfer E-Rate supported equipment between buildings curbed, and their ability to violate program rules without punishment ended. To find out how you will be impacted by these and other rule changes, tune in to CoSN's Webcast on November 20, 2002, where experts from the federal Communications Commission, the Universal Service Administrative Company, and CoSN's Policy Committee with provide analysis and answer your questions on the ins-and-outs of the new E-Rate rules.

• Jon Bernstein, Vice President for Government Relations and Policy, Leslie Harris and Associates, Inc. (Moderator)
• George McDonald, Vice President, Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company
• Mark Siefert, Deputy Division Chief, Accounting Policy Division, Federal Communications Commission

Virtual Schools: Policies and Issues

January 29, 2003

Virtual learning, whether part of a traditional school day or as an alternative to on-site education, offers a rich array of courses and learning opportunities to students that enhance both their experiences and potential. Whether a school is just starting out, or effectively operating an online program, they face several key policy, funding and political issues.

• Irene Spero, Chief Operating Officer, CoSN (Moderator)
• Karen Middleton, Senior Project Coordinator, Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET)
• Liz Pape, Chief Executive Officer, Virtual High School, Inc.

Diminishing Resources and Greater Expectations

March 26, 2003

Reporting and accountability requirements are growing, and expectations - both for student performance and district management - are greater than ever before. At the same time, state and local budgets are struggling with reductions that mean cuts in education funding. Rather than growing to meet the needs, resources are shrinking to disastrous levels. School districts need new ways of managing so that they can do more with less. Panelists on this Webcast will explore how innovative districts deal with cuts in funding while addressing new mandates, including those of No Child Left Behind.

• Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Technology, Plano Independent School District (Moderator)
• Marla Davenport, Director, Learning & Tech, TIES
• Neil Delerson, Chief Information Officer, Richardson ISD, TX
• John Porter, Associate Superintendent & Chief Information Officer, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD

Data-Driven Decision Making

June 4, 2003

Educators are being asked to collect, analyze and report data to demonstrate that their efforts are resulting in increased student learning. The question many educators now face is no longer "why use data?" but rather "how can it be used to improve student learning?" With the passage of No Child Left Behind, data collection, analysis and reporting have become even greater imperatives. The data are powerful tools, but educators often need assistance in understanding how to use them appropriately to make decisions.

• Tracy Jones, Data Systems Supervisor, Poway Unified School District
• Katie Lovett, Chief Information Officer for Fulton County Schools
• Tom Olson, Coordinator, Executive Director, Western States Benchmarking Consortium