If you're a teacher, you've probably already begun to see the potential the Net has for use in the class. Usenet, ftp and telnet have tremendous educational potential, from keeping up with world events to arranging international science experiments.
Because the Net now reaches so many countries and often stays online even when the phones go down, you and your students can ``tune in'' to first-hand accounts during international conflicts. Look at your system's list of Usenet @news{soc.culture.*} groups to see if there is one about the country or region you're interested in. Even in peacetime, these newsgroups can be great places to find people from countries you might be studying.
The biggest problem may be getting accounts for your students, if you're not lucky enough to live within the local calling area of a Free-Net system. Many colleges and universities, however, are willing to discuss providing accounts for secondary students at little or no cost. Several states, including California and Texas, have Internet-linked networks for teachers and students.
In addition, there are a number of resources on the Internet aimed specifically at elementary and secondary students and teachers. You can use these to set up science experiments with classes in another country, learn how to use computers in the classroom or keep up with the latest advances in teaching everything from physics to physical education.
Among these resources:
Today, there is a whole series of satellite SpaceMet BBSs in western Massachusetts and SpaceMet itself is now linked to Fidonet and Internet.
In addition to the K12 conferences, SpaceMet carries numerous educationally oriented conferences. It also has a large file library of interest to educators and students, but be aware that getting files to your site could be difficult and maybe even impossible. Unlike most other Internet sites, Spacemet does not use an ftp interface. The Sternheims say ZMODEM sometimes works over the network, but don't count on it.
To subscribe, send a request by e-mail to @email{kidsphere-request@vms.cis.pitt.edu} or try @email{joinkids@vms.cis.pitt.edu} and you will start receiving messages within a couple of days. To contribute to the discussion, send messages to @email{kidsphere@vms.cis.pitt.edu}.
KIDS is a spin-off of KIDSPHERE just for students who want to contact students. To subscribe, send a request to @email{joinkids@vms.cis.pitt.edu}, as above. To contribute, send messages to @email{kids@vms.cist.pitt.edu}.
When you connect, you'll be given an overview of the system and asked to register. The system maintains a large file library of GIF-format space graphics, but note that you can't download these through telnet. If you want to, you have to dial the system directly, at (205) 895-0028. Many can be obtained through ftp from @host{ames.arc.nasa.gov}, however.
You'll be asked to provide your name and address. When you get the main menu, hit 4 for the various conferences. The ``Ask a Scientist'' category lets you ask questions of scientists in fields from biology to earth science. Other categories let you discuss teaching, sports and computer networks.
There are numerous Usenet newsgroups of potential interest to teachers and students.
As you might expect, many are of a scientific bent. You can find these by typing l sci. in rn or using nngrep sci. for nn. There are now close to 40, with subjects ranging from archaeology to economics (the ``dismal science,'' remember?) to astronomy to nanotechnology (the construction of microscopically small machines).
One thing students will quickly learn from many of these groups: science is not just dull, boring facts. Science is argument and standing your ground and making your case. The Usenet @news{sci.*} groups encourage critical thinking.
Beyond science, social-studies and history classes can keep busy learning about other countries, through the @news{soc.culture.*} newsgroups.
Most of these newsgroups originated as ways for expatriates of a given country to keep in touch with their homeland and its culture. In times of crisis, however, these groups often become places to disseminate information from or into the country and to discuss what is happening. From Afghanistan to Yugoslavia, close to 50 countries are now represented on Usenet.
To see which groups are available, use l soc.culture. in rn or nngrep soc.culture. for nn.
Several ``talk'' newsgroups provide additional topical discussions, but teachers should screen them first before recommending them to students. They range from @news{talk.abortion}, via @news{talk.politics. guns} to @news{talk.politics.space}, and @news{talk.environment}.
There are also a number of Bitnet discussion groups of potential interest to students and teachers. See section Mailing Lists and Bitnet for information on finding and subscribing to Bitnet discussion groups. Some with an educational orientation include:
biopi-l ksuvm.bitnet Secondary biology education chemed-l uwf.bitnet Chemistry education dts-l iubvm.bitnet The Dead Teacher's Society list phys-l uwf.bitnet Discussions for physics teachers physhare psuvm.bitnet Where physics teachers share resources scimathl psuvm.bitnet Science and math education
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll @flushright ``A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry. Hence University education.''
--- George Bernhard Shaw
``Education is the process of casting false pearls before real swine.''
--- Irsin Edman
``It is against the grain of modern education to teach children to program. What fun is there in making plans, acquiring discipline in organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail, and learning to be self-critical?''
--- Alan Perlis @end flushright