A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Challenge Grants for Techonology In Education - FY95

Towanda Area School District

Towanda, Pennsylvania

New Vision

"New Vision" is a consortium of school districts, post-secondary institutions, museums and private industries that demonstrates the dynamic ability of emerging technologies to expand and improve educational opportunities in rural, remote, poor school districts. Under the leadership of the Towanda Area School District, New Vision is establishing "distance learning centers" at 23 local education agencies (LEA), six post-secondary institutions, and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. These sites are being linked electronically to a network of 40 schools and agencies committed to sharing local educational resources through interactive videoconferencing. Through its network, New Vision can offer high-level classes that are not commonly offered due to low enrollment; use exemplary teachers to cover hard-to-fill positions in several districts at once; conduct unique student workshops; and offer advanced placement courses. The project is establishing one of the largest interactive networks in the country, involving over 54,000 students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Each of the LEA's has demonstrated its commitment to the project by agreeing to match 50% of all equipment costs with local funding. This program addresses recommendations of the Goals 2000 Act, emphasizes school to work training, and contains strong professional development and evaluation elements.

New Vision builds upon the success of the Northern Tier Rural Distance Learning Consortium, a distance learning organization established in 1992. This model program consists of six rural school districts in Northern Pennsylvania, and it is funded by a grant from Commonwealth Telephone Company. (No Technology Learning Challenge funding is being used to support Northern Tier programs.) The basic governing bylaws of the Northern Tier Consortium have been adapted for New Vision to form a network of regional consortia alliances consisting of the Cape May Consortium (New Jersey), the Adirondack Consortium (New York) and the Southeast Consortium (Pennsylvania). These organizations have agreed upon a four-phase implementation plan for New Vision:

1) Establishing Distance Learning Centers

Equipment purchases and inventory controls are centrally managed through the Northern Tier Consortium. All equipment purchased through New Vision is the property of each individual school district. All learning sites are fully equipped with the technology required to support distance learning classes.

2) Linking Schools

In cooperation with College Misericordia and the Northern Tier Consortium, New Vision provides a training program for coordinators at all sites to ensure understanding and proficiency in using the system. Training conferences create opportunities for all schools to define strategies for expanding participation of other districts and to modify the program to meet the needs of schools new to the program.

3) Sharing Resources

Each post-secondary participant provides services, programs and activities that can be shared cost-effectively with LEA's. Service components include adult evening programs, career counseling, academic counseling, dual credit high school courses, electronic field trips, peer tutoring programs, staff development, pre-college and pre-technical education, and curriculum development projects.

4) Linking to State Museums

The Pennsylvania State Museum offers electronic field trips, a teacher-to-historian information exchange program, curriculum development initiatives, and program packages that deal with issues and developments in state history and culture. New Vision is working with New York and New Jersey to develop a tri-state exchange agreement between museums, historic sites, science centers, and participating school districts.

Each of the partners in the New Vision consortium provides a unique contribution to the program. College Misericordia conducts dual-credit college level courses. Penn State (Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg campuses) offers college courses for adults, professional development, career counseling, and guest lectures. Lackawanna Junior College presents Adult Basic Education programs over the network, and provides network connections to the National Tele-Consortium and the Mid-Atlantic Consortium. Commonwealth Telephone company provides free bridging access and is assisting in linking the full consortium. The Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association is helping to disseminate information on New Vision throughout the country. Mansfield University is promoting post-secondary educational opportunities through the network. Atlantic County Community College (New Jersey) is providing technical/vocational training opportunities via New Vision. The PictureTel Corporation is establishing a videoconferencing system at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, assisting with network optimization, and helping to adapt the network for connection to such resources as historic battlefields, zoos, aquariums, science centers, and performance centers. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is supporting a staff position to operate a networked cultural awareness program. Also, through the network, the State Museum of Pennsylvania provides links to its exhibits, planetarium, and other comprehensive educational resources.

New Vision is a comprehensive, replicable program that utilizes the technology of telecommunication to expand and improve educational opportunities in isolated school systems in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

PROJECT DIRECTOR:: Dr. Daniel M. Paul, Superintendent
Towanda Area School District
101 N. Fourth Street
Towanda, PA 18848
Telephone:: 717-265-9894
Fax:: 717-265-4881

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[School District of Philadelphia]

[Black Hills Special Services Cooperative]