Goal #1:
Instructional materials for improvement of instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects, such as literacy skills and vocational education utilizing distance learning technologies will be developed and made available to educators and students of Iowa.

Activities:
1.1) Develop multimedia curriculum and/or instructional development for K-12 ICN-related uses.

1.2) Develop strategies to keep development of instructional materials occurring past the funding cycle of the grant.

1.3) Identify and disseminate information about current exemplary educational technology applications.

1.4) Develop a traveling educational technology demonstration presentation unit.

Goal #1 total: $1,225,000

Goal #2:
Iowa educators and students will be supported in distance learning technologies by training and access to ICN video and data resources.

Activities:

1. Provide resources to K-12 and AEA sites, which will connect, to the ICN during the 95-96 and 96-97 school years.

Goal #2, Activity 2.1 total
- 108 ICN FY96 Part III sites @ $6,000/site: $648,000
- 129 ICN FY97 Part III sites @ $6,000/site: $774,000

Each region will receive funds to support and/either of the following based upon documented needs of local school districts:

Activities:
2.2) Provide staff development opportunities for K-12 educators in the use of educational technology and telecommunications for classroom applications.

2.3) Provide resources to partially offset school district costs for access to Internet.

Goal #2, Activities 2.2-2.3 total: $628,000

Activities: Provide training opportunities to regional and local educational personnel for:

3.1) Help Desk (Internet) functions.

3.2) Front-line "troubleshooting" for ICN video classroom equipment.

3.3) Front-line "troubleshooting" for local area and wide area networks.

4. Planning and preparation for distance learning technologies at the local level.
5. ICN computer-based skills and tools for educators.

Goal #3 total: $200,000

Goal #4:
Iowa educators and students will access to information concerning distance education opportunities and will be provided with actual experiences utilizing distance education technologies in targeted curricular area.

Activities:

4.1) Provide information to Iowa educators about ICN resources and services available.

4.2) Provide opportunities for students and educators to utilize the ICN for instructional purposes especially in targeted curricular areas.

4.3) Develop PC-based software to assist educational users of the ICN in scheduling use of video sites.

4.4) Acquire equipment necessary for connection ICN classrooms to other teleconferencing networks across the world.

4.5) Produce and distribute information/resources about the Iowa Communications Network and its uses for Iowa educators and students.

4.6) Conduct a statewide meeting of educational "web masters" to coordinate web pages and to avoid duplication of services.

Goal #4 total: $350,000

Goal #5:
Support will be provided for distance education training needs of preservice programs in colleges and departments of teacher education in Iowa’s public and independent universities and colleges.

Activities:

1. Coordinate technology training among the Iowa teacher preparation colleges and universities.
2. Hold at least three seminars using the ICN for faculty of teacher education programs.
3. Develop an updated monograph on effective strategies for the distance education teacher to be used in teacher education programs.
4. Produce a newsletter dealing with preservice teacher education and distance education.
5. Fund 15 action research studied that deal with the implementation and practice of distance education in Iowa.
6. Publish an updated Encyclopedia of Research on Distance Education in Iowa.

Goal #5 total: $100,000

Goal #6:
Evaluation will document the impact of, and provide direction to, activities of the Iowa Distance Education Alliance partners.

Activities:

1. The evaluation team will assist each of the partners in designing evaluation plans and components, will compile evaluation data, and will report findings to project management and to interested stakeholder groups.
2. The evaluation team will work with key stakeholder groups in determining future policy development issues and implications.

Goal #6 total: $75,000