Linking for learning: Computer-and-communications network support for nationwide innovation in education

Just as the grand challenges in scientific research require computer-communications network support for collaboration among geographically disparate institutions, disciplines, and individuals, so the grand challenges of educational reform require new kinds of collaborations across previously separate institutional boundaries and among individuals whose work was previously isolated from one another. The national and international computer communications infrastructure is being engineered and deployed at the same time as new structures are sought for education. Know-how about productive educational applications of computer communications has been gained from previous and current projects. Productive projects in educational telecomputing will focus on the grand challenges of education, and at the same time help to build appropriate telecommunications infrastructure for education. A reasonable goal is to have in operation, by the mid-1990s, the intellectual, technological, educational, and organizational foundation necessary for productive and efficient use of computer-communications networks for education.Opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the National Science Foundation.