Distance Education Networks @ MSTC

A distance education network is an organization of geographically separated locations using fiber-optic communications and interactive television (ITV) technologies to share educational programming and resources. Wisconsin has over 40 distance education networks in current operation (Fall, 2000). New networks are in all phases of development.

Mid-State Technical College is a member of two distance education networks: South Central Instructional Network Group (SCING) and Wisconsin Technical College Network (WTCN). Both networks distribute full-motion, continuous, two-way video, data and audio over a digital fiber optic telecommunications system – enabling everyone at up to four linked locations to see and communicate with each other simultaneously. As a result, an instructor and students at several different distant locations can interact as if they are in the same classroom.

Educational programming is the first priority of both the SCING and WTCN networks, followed by professional enrichment or development and community educational programming. By far the most frequently scheduled sessions in our distance learning classrooms are college-level classes. Twenty (20) such classes were delivered on our ITV system during the Fall 2000 semester.

We also host and receive educational seminars or presentations and conduct some technical college system administrative meetings via our distance education networks.

What have we done with our distance network system?
	Shared technical college classes
	Provided dual credit (DC) technical college courses to high school students
	Brought in graduate and undergraduate university courses
	Shared speakers and special presentations with multiple sites
	Conducted meetings between campuses, WTCS districts, and other entities
	Hosted and received workshops
	Provided community service programming. One of our Wisconsin Rapids sites served as a receiving site for a Marshfield Clinic Lawton Medical Series presentation which was open to the public.
Contact: Lois Slattery Technology Specialist - ITV Scheduler 715.422.5463 or e-mail: lois.slattery@mstc.edu