"Technovation Circle" continues its aim of gathering the comments, opinions, and ideas of teachers on issues involving the application of technology to education. We believe the new technolobies of the Internet, computers and multimedia can be inclusive, even to those unfamiliar with educational technolgies. We hope to assist teachers in the effective application of technologies to teaching. "Technovation Circle" is written by the Compumedia group at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon -- teacher Russ Brown and students Travis G., Grant S., Ryan G., Tyler M., Dave K., Brent T., Dave S., and Justin M.

Please feel free to answer our Talkback question: "We invite you to share with us your thoughts n any problems you see with the introduction of new education technologies to instruction. Are there better ways to introduce new technologies?

"Are there some technologies that should not be introduced? Are new technologies being introduced at the expense of other things that should be happening in our schools?" Ath the same time, we nvite you to continue sending us your examples of instructional uses of educational technologies.

There are a growing number of computer resources available in Saskatchewan. One such resource is Saskatchewan Education's Learning Technologies Unit -- a unit within the Curriculum and Instrucion branchof the department of education. The unit's objective is to support the use of technology in the teaching and learning process, including multimedia resources and Internet services for schools.

It has also developed a website at http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca where documents are available and online discussions can take place.

One source of funding for Internet support for schools came from a business, the Trans Canada Pipeline Corporation (TCPC). Once the schools receive the funding, TCPC only requested that the funds be used to support the school's use of the Internet. Businesses supporting the use of technology in schools are chiefly concerned with helping to create an information-oriented workforce for the future.

The Learning Technologies Unit hears proposals from businesses for multimedia productions and provides some funding for those resources. The 1997 procedures and timelines for multimedia proposals can be found on the Saskatchewan Education website at http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/documents.html. Successful proposals are then produced with Saskatchewan Education sharing in the rights as well as having input into the project development and production.

Mr. Schad also believes that the role of the teacher will be to facilitate in an information-based society.