Goal #1:
Distance Education in Iowa using the fiber optic telecommunications network will be conducted in a COORDINATED and systematic manner.

Activities:
1.1) Identify a project director and establish a project office to manage the activities of the project.

1.2) Establish a system of Regional Partnerships to coordinate the planning and delivery of distance education courses within the 15 educational regions of the state and between the regions.

1.3) Establish a Teacher Education Alliance that coordinates the preservice preparation of teacher education students, the inservice/staff development activities for teachers and administrators, curriculum reform efforts, and research and evaluation activities.

1.4) Establish a Communication and Resources Clearinghouse to coordinate the collection of dissemination of information and data related to distance education and the project and to link Iowa to other computer and telecommunications networks.

Goal #2:
Instruction using a statewide two-way full motion interactive fiber optic telecommunications network will be UNDERSTOOD and ACCEPTED by Iowans.

Activities:
2.1)Familiarize the citizens of Iowa with the purposes of the project.

2.2) Inform educators about the effectiveness of distance education and the purposes of this project.

2.3) Familiarize students and parents with the concept of distance education and the purposes of this project.

2.4) Provide access to the statewide two-way full motion interactive fiber optic telecommunications network to appropriate school groups for meetings, conferences, and other educational activities.

Goal #3:
Iowa educators will be PREPARED and SUPPORTED so they can effectively teach students at a distance.

Activities:
3.1) Develop curriculum materials for teacher education programs so preservice teachers will be prepared to teach students at a distance.

3.2) Offer inservice and staff development activities to Iowa teachers and administrators about how to teach in a distance learning environment and how to integrate courses taught to students at a distance into existing curricula.

3.3) Offer inservice and staff development activities to Iowa teachers and administrators focusing on innovative instructional strategies and curriculum reform efforts.

3.4)Provide support to teachers and school districts involved in teaching students at a distance.

Goal #4:
Iowa schools will be CONNECTED to the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and through it to other telecommunications networks.

Activities:
4.1) Identify schools and colleges in each of Iowa’s 99 counties to participate in this project and connect them to the ICN

4.2) Provide assistance to Iowa schools to help them in planning for connecting to the ICN and for equipping distance teaching classrooms.

4.3) Make national computer networks, such as Internet, NREN, PSInet, and others, available to Iowa educators.

4.4) Link the schools connected to the ICN to other telecommunications networks, especially to other Star Schools projects, using the state’s system of satellite uplinks and downlinks.

Goal #5:
Instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, literacy skills, and vocational education will be IMPROVED and the number of opportunities will be INCREASED because of the activities of this project and the use of the Iowa Communications Network.

Activities:
5.1) Offer mathematics, science, foreign languages, literacy skills and vocational education courses using the Iowa Communications Network in a way so these courses can be readily infused into the curriculum. Special attention will be placed on the reform efforts of national professional groups such as the National Science Teachers Association, the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Language and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

5.2) Attract traditionally underserved groups to mathematics, science, foreign languages, literacy skills and vocational education courses of study that are offered to them over the ICN.

5.3) Evaluate the teaching and technologies used in Iowa for teaching students at a distance.

Goal #6:
A program of RESEARCH and EVALUATION will be established to document the impact and effectiveness of the live two-way interactive concept of distance education practiced in Iowa.

Activities:
6.1) Conduct scientifically appropriate studies on interactive telecommunications in Iowa.

6.2) Communicate the activities of the project, with special emphasis on disseminating the results of research and evaluation.