Submitted by:
Chuck Friesen
Director
Instructional Technology
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, NE USA
e: wfisher@nde.unl.edu (Wayne Fisher)
The Story:
Senator Kerrey:
I am a daily user of Internet. It is the first telecommunications system that has really done something for me. I use the Internet for a number of things, but let me describe one major use that illustrates how an individual can be empowered with this service.
Twenty years ago I conducted an ERIC search by driving to Love Library on the Univ. of Nebr.-Lincoln campus. In order to conduct the search I shared the keyword descriptors of my research topic with a library employee who entered them into a computer. A search was conducted on-line. All this time
“the meter was running.” That is I was being charged for computer time. Sometimes my descriptors were too broad and I would obtain several hundred references-far more than I could realistically use. On other occasions, I would define the research topic too narrowly and obtain no references. I would then need to make alternate descriptor choices “on the fly and with the meter running” to obtain the information I desired.
Then about three years ago our district office media center obtained an ERIC CD-ROM. During the hours that this office was open, I could use a computer to conduct independent ERIC searches. I could modify my descriptors at will and with no charges. This worked quite well but I could only conduct these searches “during the 40 hour work week.”
However, I now conduct ERIC searches from my home via the Internet. I can do this at any time of any day of the week. This has really helped me because I prefer to do these searches at night or on weekends. By being able to conduct them from my home also is a real bonus and allows me to conveniently extend my work week.
I am very appreciative that the NDE Technology Center under the leadership of Melodee Landis and Wayne Fisher have made this service available to NE schools. I am a firm believer in the current and future telecommunications benefits to NE schools.
Sincerely,
Chuck Friesen, Director
Instructional Technology
Lincoln Public Schools
