UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 34, Page 5
June 8, 1995
University involved in electronic education initiative

     The University of Delaware has joined an alliance of more than 25
elementary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and state
educational institutions throughout the region to explore ways
teachers can make better use of evolving distance learning
technologies.
     The primary purpose of this alliance, known as MANTLE (Mid-
Atlantic Alliance Network for Teaching Learning Enterprises), is to
create and distribute materials and services that support distance
education in the curriculum from kindergarten through lifelong
learning, according to project director Lynn Fontana of George Mason
University's Instructional Development Office.
     Funded by a one-year grant from the Bell Atlantic Foundation,
MANTLE will allow participants to share existing resources and
collaborate in the creation, development and distribution of new
materials and services that support faculty education in distance
learning, she said.
     "The University of Delaware is pleased to belong to this alliance
of neighboring educational institutions that will be working closely
with Bell Atlantic," Susan Foster, vice president for information
technologies, said. "We hope that some of these institutions will
benefit from our years of experience with distance learning, as we
surely will benefit from theirs, and from the innovative tests of new
technologies that are being undertaken by Bell Atlantic."
     Participating institutions in MANTLE are from Virginia, West
Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the
District of Columbia.
     The wide range of participants- both in terms of geographical
location and the various educational levels represented-strengthens
the alliance and increases opportunities for developing a rich set of
tools that will enable the effective use of distance-learning
technologies, Leila Lyons, director of User Services, said.
     Since distance education is still in its formative stages and it
will take different forms at different levels of education, the
network is both dynamic and diverse, Fontana said. While the network
addresses issues associated with technology, it also provides forums
for the invention of complementary pedagogy.
     To be responsive to ongoing changes and the diversity of its
members, MANTLE will offer educators a wide range of products and
services, including:
        * A variety of print, video, CD-ROM and software products
          aimed at specific educational levels and curricula, to be
          integrated into professional development seminars, teacher
          training courses and faculty seminars on distance education;
        * Summer workshops for professional development personnel and
          teachers in training at all levels, to update them in
          technological and pedagogical advancement in distance
          education; and
        * On-line conferences that foster discussion among educators
          about technology, pedagogy and emerging research.

     The ultimate structure of MANTLE and the nature of products and
services to be offered will be determined by the member institutions,
Fontana said.