Iowa

The state of Iowa has a history of investing in educational telecommunications and technology. The state-owned and operated Iowa Communications Network (ICN) provides two-way interactive videoconferencing, T-1 connection (or better) for Internet access and long-distance telephone service. The ICN is connected to virtually every public and non-public high school in Iowa, as well as to the state's community colleges, Regents' universities, independent colleges/universities, public libraries, National Guard Armories and state/federal governmental sites. The use of the ICN for distance learning is supported by state funds so the cost for schools to use the distance learning network is very affordable.

The General Assembly of Iowa has also appropriated $30 million a year that is allocated directly to local school districts to support the purchase of educational technology, software and teacher training.

Iowa schools have benefitted from federal resources as well. The Iowa Star Schools Project through the U.S. Department of Education Star Schools program has provided resources to local school districts to support use of the ICN. Star Schools funds have supported the following:

• hardware and software for schools to connect to the Iowa Communications Network to support K-12 educational opportunities including access to AP courses, college classes and professional development for teachers
• teacher training in use of distance learning technologies
• live interactive "virtual field trips" via the ICN distance learning classrooms to such locations as the locks and dams on the Mississippi River, backstage at the road show of Cats, mammals and owls of Iowa, Johnson Space Center (NASA) as well as student-produced special events such as storytelling and inventions
• school to Career linkages via distance learning with career professionals
• funds to teachers to plan and establish their own distance learning events with their students

On the horizon in Iowa is a proposal to create a 21st Century Learning Infrastructure that will take advantage of the full potential of the ICN. While still in its formative stages, the 21st Century Infrastructure is being designed to provide storage and access to educational content for learners throughout Iowa. Currently a pilot project is being implemented to test how teachers and students might access "on demand" mathematics content from their own classrooms through a broadband connection.

For additional information, see: Iowa Distance Learning Database: www.iptv.org/iowa_database and http://www.state.ia.us/educate

Contact
Pamela Adams Pfitzenmaier
Director, Educational Telecommunications
Iowa Public Television
P.O. Box 6450
Johnston, IA 50131
515-242-4180 (p)  515-242-3155 (f)
E-mail: pam@iptv.org