In the June Issue of MacSense I detailed Apple's Virtual Campus, an Internet-based education support environment (http://www.info.apple.com/hed/home.html). In order to get a better perspective on Apple's intentions for the VC and its role on the Internet in general, I contacted Fontaine Roberson at Apple’s Public Relations and asked her (via email) to explain Apple’s vision in greater detail.
MacSense: In the AVC home page says, "The VC transcends the barriers of space, time, and form."
(a) Would you describe AVC as a tangible entity (a collection of tools) that Apple is developing for educators, or a corporate philosophy towards academic integration on the net?
(b) What does Apple feel are the strategic components (software and hardware) it is putting together for use in the AVC?
Apple: (a) It's both. The ideas of schools without walls is at the heart of Apple's vision for the 21st century. This vision translates directly to the specific technologies of The Apple Virtual Campus. The AVC combines the hardware, software and networking technologies to create a technological foundation upon which to build a campus for tomorrow.
(b) There are six main areas of technology that Apple brings to play in its AVC:
1. Learning technologies such as multimedia tools that integrate dynamic media to
create interactive classroom experiences
2. Distance Learning where electronic remote access, networking technologies, the
Internet and other interconnected international computer networks mean
students are no longer bound by one campus.
3. Collaboration technologies that let people work together and share information
freely, regardless of their physical location.
4. Information Access technologies that give students and educators access to
information at anytime they need it and from wherever they happen to be.
5. Work-flow solutions to link information from disparate sources and bring to
fruition the promise of a paperless work environment.
6. Mobile products that allow students, faculty and administrators to record, send,
and receive information and messages from any location to any location, at any
time.
MacSense: The Internet has been around for some time. The home page of web site carries the statement "The VC links people with shared resources, anywhere, anytime." What does Apple feel it can bring (or has brought) to the existing Internet structure?
Apple: Higher education is no stranger to the Internet. In fact, it is a pioneer in its use. Apple believes that advanced communications technology is a critical element in bringing the NLII (National Learning Infrastructure Initiative) to schools, and therefore, works in collaboration with other technology providers, professional education organizations and public agencies to support the funding and the implementation of technology for the improvement of education.
MacSense: Where does Apple see Distance Learning going in the next 5 years?
Apple: Apple believes that within the next five years, distance learning will reach a new level. Through technology—such as video conferencing, multimedia and the proliferation of wide bandwidth networks—we will move from a passive, one-way distance learning model to a truly interactive and collaborative one.
MacSense: Are there any conferences planned to discuss the future of Apple involvement in computer education (either on the net or in physical reality)?
Apple: Apple will participate in two national conferences dealing with computers in higher education this year: EDUCOM `95 and CAUSE `95. (Information about these conferences can be obtained through their Web sites. EDUCOM's URL is http://educom. edu and CAUSE's URL is http://cause-www.colorado.edu/conference/cause95/ cause95.html)
EDUCOM `95 is the premier conference on information technology in higher education and will attract approximately 3,500 attendees this year.
CAUSE provides information and services to more than 1,200 member colleges and universities and nearly 3,300 individual members who are engaged in planning for and/or managing their institutions' information resources.
In addition to these public conferences, Apple participates in several regional and local conferences, including The National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII) and New Media Centers. (NLII's URL is http://educom.edu/program/nlii/about. nlii.html and New Media Center's URL is http://www.csulb.edu:80/gc/nmc/)
The National Learning Infrastructure Initiative is a membership coalition of institutions and organizations sponsored by Educom. Educom's role is to serve as a catalyst to bring together the affected parties to create joint solutions to the problems inhibiting the creation of a National Learning Infrastructure.
New Media Centers is a non-profit organization committed to helping institutions of higher education enhance teaching and learning through the use of new media.
MacSense: For a number of years, Macintosh computers have had fairly direct connections to the Internet (through software). Does Apple see versions of Internet software, like Mosaic, Fetch, TurboGopher etc. being integrated directly into the system software (possibly in System 8)?
Apple: We are looking at many possibilities, but have nothing to announce at this time.
MacSense: Is Apple participating in the discussion of the proposed HTML 3.0 language? Does Apple have any plans to implement a hypertext language of its own or maybe an even more sophisticated language?
Apple: Again, this is certainly an area we are looking into, but we have nothing to announce about future products at this time.
MacSense: What is the Apple Open Collaboration Environment? How will it impact on the interaction of educators on the Internet?
Apple: The Apple Open Collaboration Environment (AOCE) is an umbrella of technologies designed to weave collaboration into the fabric of the Macintosh computing environment. Apple's first two products based on AOCE—PowerTalk system software and PowerShare Collaboration Servers—are now delivering on this promise. PowerTalk is system software that integrates collaboration capabilities directly into the operating system. PowerShare Collaboration Servers provide tools to deploy collaboration services in larger, client/server configurations.
MacSense: What is the AppleSearch? How will it impact on the interaction of educators on the Internet?
Apple: AppleSearch, an information search and retrieval application, provides an easy-to-use, cost-effective solution for accessing information on local-area networks, as well as the vast wide-area networks of the Internet. In other words, it gives customers an easy-to-use, centralized on-ramp, as well as a road map, to the Information Superhighway.
This system is ideal for educational use, as it allows system administrators to pre-select the Internet's Wide-Area Information Server (WAIS) databases that contain the most relevant information for a particular organization or project.
Another useful means of customization is a feature known as a "reporter" which is a sophisticated search agent that quickly searches through documents on file server or WAIS database to deliver specific information. Reporters can be scheduled to keep users updated as new and relevant information appears on the LAN- or Internet-base servers.
 
Apple has made its intentions clear. With the introduction of Apple's "Internet Server Solution" packages, and its presence on the web as the Virtual Campus, it is committed to being a big part of the evolution of education through the Internet. With the release of System 8 (Copland), we are likely to see a greater integration of Internet related tools that will make the Macintosh a synergistic component of learning for researchers, teachers and students around the world.
 
Stuart Chalk is a research associate in the Chemistry Department at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He would be delighted to here from anyone who is having fun with Macintoshes in education. He can be contacted at chalk@nexus.chemistry. duq.edu. The next Macademia will take a close look at how to set up a winning term paper, thesis or dissertation…the easy way.
