I) The Latest Update:
When we started, few classrooms had Internet access
of any kind, even fewer schools had Local Area Networks,
and just a handful of districts had Internet-connected
Wide Area Networks.
Our immediate goal was to promote widespread awareness
of the educational value of network technology, to
provide a model that would allow schools to start wiring
their buildings, and catalyze state-wide activity to
not only put that model into practice but to then also
deal with the issues required to put the network tool
to good classroom use.
After three state-wide NetDays efforts (October 1996,
April and October, 1997), we felt we had accomplished
that goal. Since that time, over a dozen communities
have used our model to organize local NetDays. A state
Dept. of Education survey in the spring of 1998 showed
that 92% of replying districts were creating or expanding
their networks. According to the technology profiles
submitted by districts in June, 1998, the percentage
of Internet connected classrooms has jumped from 24%
to 40%.
In addition, the state has created a program providing
all public sector educators dial-up Internet access
for $25/year, and is now exploring the possibility
of providing high-speed connections in every community.
Districts have been given networking grants as well
as professional development grants. Mass Networks
is organizing a series of policy Roundtables to help
focus attention on the technical, evaluation, training,
and legal issues that are now coming to the fore.
And in cooperation with Lesley College, MassCUE, and
other partners, Mass Networks is starting a year-long
Leadership program to help districts push to incorporate
this new tool into their instructional practice.
II) NetDay Numbers:
A. Schools -- Over 900 schools participated in the three
Mass Net Days. This includes a majority of the state's
public schools representing over 2/3 of the state's
public school districts. In addition, the major parochial
school systems and a number of private schools have
also been involved. Feedback from participating schools
indicated that they benefited several ways:
* The technical materials created by Mass Networks' volunteer teams on how to design a school network and organize a wiring project were well written and very helpful.
* Being part of NetDay made it much easier for them
to reach out to the community --to both non-parent
residents and local businesses -- to mobilize support
and increase public awareness.
"MassNetworks provided the publicity and created
the awareness both within the districts and the community
for the need for networks in schools. It created a
climate in the business community that made it somewhat
more possible for schools to be able to afford the
networks....Overall, about 700 people visited the schools
to learn about technology and the Internet."
Theresa Duggan, Concord-Carlisle
* The momentum of the state-wide NetDay effort helped
them move rapidly forward in their technology planning
and implementation process, shortening their expected
timetable by anywhere from six months to two years.
"NetDay collapsed our Technology Plan [implementation
period] from 3 years to 6 months."
Bob Cornacchioli, Shrewsbury
* The technical assistance and product discounts offered
by participating businesses cut their costs and/or
provided invaluable expertise.
"NetDay provided a way to make a $20K job into
a $5K job."
Anthony Gasbarro, Ashburnham/Westminster
B. Volunteers -- During the two NetDays held last year,
over 19,000 people volunteered their time and expertise
to local schools. Dozens of businesses, big and small,
sponsored teams of employees who volunteered at schools
across the Commonwealth. Among the participating firms
are Apple, 3 Com, DEC, Lotus, BankBoston, Quantum,
Boston Edison, Sun Microsystems, and many others.
Members of IBEW Local 103 have pledged to provide the
labor needed to wire every school in the city of Boston!
Some firms provided help building networks, others
provided Internet training for educators, some did
both.
"I feel that we are 1 to 2 years advanced from
where we would have been without NetDay. The focus
on volunteerism and the sense of community and ownership
in technology in the schools was worth the effort
even if there had been no other gains."
Ray Tombari, Braintree
C. Corporate Donations -- Massachusetts businesses have
provided nearly $25 million worth of donated products
and services to schools. This includes wiring, network
equipment, computers, servers, and other supplies.
"The IBEW workers have donated their time to pull
wires and terminate connections. Water and Sewer and
State Street Bank have donated 486 machines to get
us up and running on the Internet in the classrooms.
We are so excited!!!!!"
Mary O'Loughlin, Henry Grew School, Boston Public Schools
D. National Standing -- Two years ago a GAO survey found Massachusetts to rank 48th in the nation in percentage of classrooms with Internet connections. In a little more than a year the state's ranking is estimated to have risen to 35th -- and is still moving up.
"We're on!!! All 4th and 5th grade classes now have direct access to the world!!"
John B. Waggett, Hugh Roe O'Donnell School, Boston Public Schools
III) Attitudes:
A. Two years ago it was often difficult to convince
educators that stand alone computers were an appropriate,
much less an essential, educational tool. Today, every
school district in the Commonwealth has created a technology
plan that specifically describes the ways they will
use networking and telecommunications to revitalize
their curriculum and implement education reform.
"NetDay gave the [school] administration the 'push'
it needed to commit time, personnel and resources to
the endeavor."
Marc Richmond, Littleton
B. As a result of NetDay, MassCUE (Massachusetts Association of Computer Using Educators), along with a variety of other educational professional groups, has significantly stepped up their efforts to help teachers learn how to incorporate networking into their curriculum.
C. There is widespread media coverage of the progress Massachusetts has made and the types of learning activities that educational technology facilitates. NetDay stories have appeared in nearly every regional and local newspaper as well as on all the major TV and radio stations.
IV) Public Policy:
A. Partly as a result of the momentum created by Mass
Networks Education Partnership Inc.'s NetDay campaign,
the state implemented a $30 million education technology
bond bill; included $15 million for education technology
professional development in last year's surplus budget;
promised to provide all state educators with a $25/yr.,
toll-free dial-up Internet account; and is now working
towards providing high-speed dedicated network access
to every school district. Knowing how to use Education
Technology is now recognized as a vital part of every
educators' skill set.
B. A Mass Networks/NetDay working group began the development of an on line state-wide directory of technology-related professional development opportunities to make it easier for all educators to find out what is available and register themselves. This project has been taken up by the state Department of Education and is now about to become operational -- one of the first of its kind in the nation.
C. NetDay has helped prepare schools to more efficiently deal with detailed student record-keeping, school-based management responsibilities, and the electronic data collection efforts required by the Education Reform Act.
Massachusetts' NetDay campaign was unique among national state campaigns in several ways. First, it was a bi-partisan effort. Senator Kennedy was instrumental in pulling together the people and resources. The Weld and Cellucci Administrations have supported the effort. The Congressional delegation and state Legislators were all active.
Second, it began by focusing on curriculum rather than wiring. Mass Networks started from the premise that the process must be "owned" by local educators if it was going to have any significant impact: the wire must follow the teacher, not the other way around. The first NetDay task group formed was for Professional Development and Mass Networks has worked closely with other groups to encourage them to provide training.
Third, Mass Networks emphasized partnership among a wide range of groups: business and labor, government and educators. The need for this kind of broad coalition is obvious, but seldom implemented. The first two NetDays were funded entirely through private donations, the third also benefited from a grant by the state Department of Education via the federally funded Technology Literacy Challenge Grant program.
Fourth, the Massachusetts campaign stressed community involvement and the creation of solid public-private partnerships. Given the perception differences about the status of education reform that have emerged between schools and their communities in recent years, the community organizing aspect of NetDay was treated as equally important as the actual wiring.
Fifth, Massachusetts used NetDay as simply a hook for what was always acknowledged to be a much longer-term effort to not simply install wires but to create networks, not simply to set up data-transport systems but to use the power of the technology as a tool for curriculum reform.
Sixth, Mass Networks acted as a catalyst rather than a service agency. It saw its role as helping to mobilize broad numbers of people and groups to carry the job forward. Mass Networks' job was to give local leaders meaningful strategic vision, practical action plans, technical training, purchasing opportunities, and public support. In these ways, the local technology groups that ran their local NetDay would have the tools needed to carry on the job even after Mass Networks stopped sponsoring state-wide NetDays.
As the feedback from teachers, schools, and the press
indicate, the NetDay campaign has been a major success.
"NetDay was the most incredible occurrence! Our
initial goal was to wire 6 rooms in the South School,
however we received enough donations to wire the entire
building! We had about 40 volunteers, including our
Superintendent, Dr. Malcolm Patterson, and our Principal,
Robert Ettinger. It was a wonderful event....Thanks
to all the volunteers for making it happen."
South School, Holbrook
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM MASS. EDUCATORS
"It was wonderful to see the community spirit. It enabled us to network our schools; mostly because of the directions, discounts, and expert volunteers."
Lela Male, Lunenburg
"The efforts of our forty plus volunteers resulted in an outcome that far surpassed our initial goals; and much of our success was due to the efforts of your organization... The opportunities are so exciting, and we owe it all to the jump start initiated by MassNetworks and our NetDay volunteers."
Suzanne Gillam & Linda Colvin, Walpole
"Because of NetDay] we hope to meet our infrastructure goals one year earlier and at a 20% savings."
Andy Sorenson, Chelmsford
"Our community came out in a big way. Now, other schools' teachers, parents, and businesses want to get involved. This event has helped bring community awareness and commitment for our district technology plan. MassNetworks made this all come about. Couldn't have done it without you."
Barbara Knight, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional
"NetDay gave us the idea to use volunteers for
wiring installation and the momentum to do it. (I
had about 25 volunteers I have never met before! It
was very gratifying.) It helped me connect to other
towns with info I could use. It provided a PR opportunity
to put technology on the agenda, to have it in people's
minds."
Jean Tower, Wayland