Re: Schools and IETF

[Tony Rutkowski <[e-mail]>]

>I perhaps ought to think more on this, but it seems to me that in many
>respects, the US K12 community is a lot like the groups that ISOC assembles
>the week prior to an INET meeting.
>In brief, ISOC hosts a weeklong series of indepth, hands on training seesions
>for "developing nations" to get a handle on networking technologies. A good
>chunk of the time is related to FIDO bbses, Localtalk, IP/UUCP relays
>and the like. The intent is to provide the "information starved" with
>the tools to bootstrap themselves into connected status.
>
>It seems that our (IETF) outreach to the "information starved" K12 folks may be
>enhanced with some cooperative work in this type of program.

Bill,

With the Internet Society significantly scaling - including now moving
into its own headquarters complete with a rather nice demonstration
platform with numerous machines interworking using different vendor's
products - we're in a position to begin doing continuing workshops for
a variety of different groups both in developing countries and in the
K-12 realm.  There is really growing interest in doing this.  We even
have attracted volunteers and potential secunded staff.

The ISOC K-12 committee has its own discussion group <isoc-k12>
which is joinable <isoc-k12-request> and stands as global neutral
ground in assisting with k12 initiatives, as needed.  This is an
area with many good existing groups.  But it seems to me that this
is important enough, the the Internet's global organization should
be involved in assisting in whatever way appropriate.

tony

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
 Tony Rutkowski
 Executive Director
 Internet Society


 1895 Preston White Dr #100  (until 31 March)
 12020 Sunrise Valley Dr #270  (after 31 March)
 Reston VA  22091
 USA

 tel: [phone]
 fax: [phone]

               THE INTERNET IS ITS OWN REVOLUTION
               Internet est sa propre revolution
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+