TCI Education Project Joins the AT&T Learning Network
WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T Broadband & Internet Services
(AT&T BIS -- formerly known as TCI) today announced the launch of the
TCI Education Project's national educator web site, offering unprecedented
access to a vast array of resources for teachers and administrators alike.
The educator-designed site is the newest addition to the AT&T Learning Network
and the latest component of the TCI Education Project (TEP). The site can be
found as a link from the AT&T Learning Network website:
www.att.com/learningnetwork.
"The joining of AT&T and TCI promises to deliver a powerful new
combination of products and services designed to serve our customers in the
new millennium. Where better to start than with schools, teachers and
children," said Leo J. Hindery, Jr., President and CEO, AT&T Broadband &
Internet Services. "Combining the new TCI Education Project resources with
the award-winning AT&T Learning Network fulfills our joint mission to support
educators in using technology effectively to do what they do best: teach."
"We are passionate about our commitment to education," Hindery added.
"The Internet offers an unsurpassed delivery system for providing additional
support to the educational communities we serve through TEP. Teachers are
excited about the great possibilities technology brings to K-12 education.
TEP's web site provides educators with expanded tools to help turn that
excitement into new learning for students."
A special reception celebrating the launch of the TEP web site will be
held at the offices of the National Cable Television Association in
Washington, D.C. today. Local dignitaries will join education,
telecommunications and technology leaders for a special demonstration of the
site and for a reception to celebrate the addition of TEP to the AT&T Learning
Network.
The new online element of TEP complements the project's existing
educational outreach efforts. For the last 10 years, TEP has provided K-12
public and private schools in AT&T BIS service areas with complimentary
services and support, such as cable TV installation and services, Cable in the
Classroom resources, teacher training, and, in areas where such service is
available, a connection to the Internet.
Searching the Internet takes time and expertise, a major concern for many
classroom teachers and an impediment to its efficient use. Communication with
other teachers, whether across the city or across the country, and the ability
to develop collaborative projects and share information is desired. Keeping
professional credentials current is also an ongoing interest.
Today's launch of the TEP web site provides educators with links to
resources in three key areas (designated as separate sections to the TEP
website), specifically addressing those concerns and needs:
-- Curriculum Resources: quick, easy access to the Internet and its
educational content and information sources.
-- Reach Out: interaction with colleagues from across the country.
-- Staff Development: professional development opportunities.
Curriculum Resources offers teachers direct links to web-based educational
content and information sources provided by cable television programming. For
example, the site offers clear guidance to content that is searchable and
organized by subject area, grade and topic, compiled from over 1,000 websites.
This section also includes links to Cable in the Classroom resources, virtual
fieldtrips, reference libraries and non-profit educational organizations.
Reach Out connects teachers to their colleagues through multiple online
forums broken into specific interest groups that teachers themselves define.
For example, second grade teachers may want to come together to create a
collaborative writing or science project, with students participating from
across the nation.
Staff Development links visitors to national educator organizations and
online continuing education opportunities. For example, AT&T Learning
Network's Virtual Academy links teachers to online course-providers, providing
teachers with a new avenue to maintain their professional credentials.
"Last year, we made a commitment to bolster our education outreach to help
local TCI systems enhance the connection to each of their local communities,"
added Kathy Consigli, Executive Director of TEP. "The Internet gave us a
powerful means to make an even more dramatic difference. We wanted to extend
the NCTA's very valuable education initiative to include a commitment to help
bring high quality, instructional content to teachers everywhere. The site's
content was developed by educators for educators because we knew that to be
truly useful, we had to build it from an educator's perspective, and meet
their practical, day-to-day needs."
"As a nation, we are constantly asking our teachers to use technology, to
collaborate and to work together to find the best resources for our children,"
said Joan Fenwick, National Director, AT&T Learning Network. "That's why as
industry leaders, we are pleased to 'walk the talk' of collaboration with our
colleagues from the TCI Education Project. We welcome these wonderful new
resources to the AT&T Learning Network."
The TEP web site was designed and implemented in collaboration with
Denver-based Online System Services (www.ossinc.net), which develops and
markets Internet products that enable the creation of online communities and
that provide Web-based commerce and banking solutions. Special focus groups
helped hone the site's content and structure into an easy-to-access, valuable
site for online resources, learning and professional development.
AT&T Broadband & Internet Services is one of the nation's leading
providers of video and broadband data services. Formerly known as
Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) prior to the Company's recent merger with
AT&T, AT&T Broadband & Internet Services provides cable television
entertainment and information programming services to more than 10 million
customers across the country. The Company also provides a host of advanced
services through its Digital Cable offerings and its high-speed cable Internet
service TCI@Home, and is actively developing development for future cable
telephony services. AT&T Broadband & Internet Services is a wholly owned
subsidiary of AT&T Corp. (NYSE: T), the world's leader in telecommunications
services and technology.
For more information about the AT&T Learning Network, the company's
award-winning $150 million commitment to help improve teaching and learning
through the effective use of technology, and the Virtual Academy, visit the
company's Web site at www.att.com/learningnetwork or call 1-800-354-8800.
For more information on TEP and to access the TEP web site,
visit www.att.com/learningnetwork on the World Wide Web.
SOURCE AT&T Broadband & Internet Services
CONTACT: LaRae Marsik of AT&T Broadband & Internet Services,
720-875-5273 |
