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DDN-IT

Madison—For several years the Dakota Digital Network (DDN) has been used by school districts state-wide to provide educational opportunities to students who may have otherwise been affected by geographical barriers. DDN allows school districts to share educational resources, broaden course offerings, allow teacher collaboration and save time, travel and other expenses for the districts.

Although this technology is available to all school districts, not all teachers have had the opportunity to learn how to use the DDN to its full capacity. To facilitate that learning, Dakota State University is partnering with Mitchell Technical Institute, the Distance Interactive Learning Consortium (DIAL), the SD Bureau of Information Technology, and the SD Department of Education to develop a training series focused on developing teachers’ skills in using the Digital Dakota Network.

The DDN—Information Technologies (DDN-IT) program is a two year training series available to teachers, school technology coordinators, and network administrators at all technological skill levels. The program is free to participants but current Bachelors degree holding participants have the opportunity to achieve DSU graduate credit by paying the Board of Regent self-support rate which is a fraction of what general tuition rates are. Funds for the project are being provided through a federally funded Star School Grant. The first course delivery will start in the summer of 2004.

According to Mark Hawkes, coordinator for the Masters of Computer Education program at DSU, this project was part of a campus wide collaboration at Dakota State University. “Vice President (of Academics) Dr. Cecelia Wittmayer provided the leadership necessary to shepherd the process through state and Regental channels, as well as encouraging the partnerships needed to make the program successful. (Dean of College of Education) Dr. Tom Hawley and (DSU Chief Information Officer) David Zolnowsky provided administrative support. Tom Farrell (assistant professor in the College of Business and Information Systems) and I provided curriculum support and closely reviewed the development of the courses to be offered. Mike Waldner (DSU’s Communications Network Administrator) has been on the DDN-training development team since its inception and has been one of the strongest advocates in the state for delivering this curriculum to teachers.”

Hawkes adds that guidance DSU has given to the curriculum development process will allow qualifying students to transfer their DDN-IT coursework directly into DSU’s Master’s program in Educational Technology. Conceivably, DDN-IT participants can transfer up to one-third of the required credits for Masters degree completion at significantly reduced tuition costs.

Whether it is used for the receipt or delivery of distance learning courses or as a multimedia instructional tool for on-site classes, the Dakota Digital Network has provided another link in South Dakota for delivery of educational opportunities to rural students. Dakota State pleased to be working with some of the state’s most progressive agencies in developing this training opportunity for educators. This program will make sure that the DDN will be used to its full potential, providing benefits to school districts and students throughout the state.