News for and about the Internet2 community

["Millerd, Kimberly (CPE)" <>]

KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: June 2, 2008

KENTUCKY'S INTERNET2 INITIATIVE RECOGNIZED AS 'MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF
TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION' 

            (FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Kentucky's Internet2 Initiative was
recognized as the "Most Innovative Use of Technology in Education" at
the Commonwealth Office of Technology's third annual Kentucky Digital
Summit. As part of the "Best of Kentucky" awards, Kentucky's Internet2
initiative was chosen from nearly 50 possible nominees for making
outstanding information technology contribution to the public sector. 
            Internet2 is a national non-profit organization established
in  1996. Internet2 operates  a high bandwidth, high performance
nationwide network dedicated to education and research. Applications
that utilize the Internet2 Network offer interactive access to advanced
content, information and resources -- such as remote instrumentation or
high-speed video conferencing -- in a way not possible on today's
commercial Internet.      
            "As the world becomes flatter, the Kentucky P-20 education
community must be in a position to bring the world to the classroom by
using these applications to engage students and teachers," said Dr. Lee
Todd, president of the University of Kentucky. "Integrating these tools
into the curriculum becomes imperative for developing the 21st century
skills for Kentucky students." 
            Kentucky's Internet2 Initiative is a collaboration of
numerous organizations. In addition to the Council and COT, the partners
include Kentucky Education Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of
Education, Educational Professional Standards Board, ConnectKentucky,
the Center for Rural Development, Kentucky's public colleges and
universities, K-12 school districts, Windstream, and AT&T.
            Nationally, the Internet2 networking consortium is comprised
of more than 200 U.S. universities; approximately 60 leading
corporations; 45 government agencies, laboratories and other
institutions of higher learning; 30 research and education regional
networking organizations; as well as over 50 international partner
organizations. In Kentucky, the University of Kentucky and University of
Louisville are existing members of Internet2 and have access to the
Internet2 Network 
            In 2005, Kentucky joined as the 34th state in Internet2's
Sponsored Education Group Participants (SEGP) program under the
sponsorship of the University of Kentucky.  This opened Internet2
Network access to public colleges and universities, K-12 schools and
state agencies and departments within the Kentucky Education Cabinet. 
            A few examples of how the Internet2 Network can enhance and
expand instruction and research in Kentucky's education system include: 
*       K-20 interactive collaboration - A science teacher in Owsley
County can dissect an anatomical specimen for her class and discuss this
virtual dissection with researchers at Murray State University and
Stanford University in real time.

*       Resource-sharing - Math teachers in Taylor County can
interactively participate in professional development workshops
conducted live from University of North Texas and Western Kentucky
University without leaving their classrooms. 

*       Remote instrumentation - A student in Frankfort High School
taking a biology class can operate a microscope located in Lehigh
University in real time.

*       Digital libraries - A student in Bowling Green can perform
simultaneous, intelligent search and retrieval of KET's rich reservoir
of videos, Kentucky History Center's oral tapes and artifacts, and
Filson Club's photographs as she works on her multimedia assignment on
Western Kentucky's history.

*       Performing arts - A student of violin in Paducah can audition or
take a master class with the Manhattan School of Music via Internet2
videoconferencing with low latency in audio and video transmission.  
 
            To allow all of Kentucky's education system to access
applications and resources via the Internet2 Network, the Kentucky
Education Network was established in 2006. KEN is a high-speed statewide
network that supports audio and video-intense learning and research, and
is scalable and adaptable to support future growth. 
            "The Kentucky Education Network breaks down the physical and
political boundaries between secondary, postsecondary and adult
education and allows for sharing of rich content and resources
throughout the P-20 system," said Al Lind, vice president for
information and technology at the Council on Postsecondary Education.
"In tight budget times, this type of resource-sharing and innovation is
vital to ensure we keep moving forward."
            To further meet the growing demands for networked
information in teaching and learning, the Kentucky Regional Optical
Network was developed in April 2007 to connect Kentucky to one of the 26
nodes in the U.S. for the new Internet2 national network.  KyRON is the
next generation network that brings advanced networking resources into
Kentucky classrooms or wherever teaching, learning and research occur.
            For more information about the Kentucky Internet2
Initiative, visit http://i2.ky.gov/. For more information about the
Kentucky Education Network, visit http://ken.ky.gov/.  

Contact: Sue Patrick
Phone: 502-573-1555 ext. 308
Cell: 502-330-6596


###
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