The NII makes it possible for Americans to access and use all kinds of information in the 21st century
States need to work hand in hand with the federal government in order to set up information centers that are accessible to every student in the K-12 educational system. One example of a state taking the initiative is New York. New York State established a high speed data network (connecting the state to the general community of computing networks and resources known as the Internet) called the New York State Education and Research Network. It's mission is to "advance effective and ubiquitous access to information and computational resources, collaborative tools, and leading edge technologies to all individuals and sectors within the state of New York to realize an affordable information structure to all." The NYSERNET also provides a training center called the NYSERNet Internet Training & Education Center (NITEC) to educate individuals and organizations from all sectors so that they make effective use of network technologies and to expand them to manage and use networked information.
If only all states provided the opportunity for educators to be able to access and utilize netwoprk technology in the classroom. The digital libraries and on-line information is out there in cyberspace. It is a matter of both funding and cooperation by administrators that dictate the fate of schools' abilities to access the information.
In an information age society we have factory era schools. In classrooms that could be modern communication centers for learning, the basic media of instruction continues to be blackboard and chalk. The abundant learning resources on the information superhighway are out of reach for most students, teachers, and parents. Administrators must find time for teachers and those in schools of education to learn to use technology in creative and innovative ways as a way to link students up with one another and the world.
One example of bringing the Internet into K-12 schools is the Web66 Project developed by the University of Minnesota. Projects such as this are integral in providing access to resources on the Internet.
To establish Internet access within schools the Department of Education has set a goal to have at least one computer per school to be connected to the NII by 1996. Realization of this goal will allow schools the access necessary for acquiring much needed electronic information.
