This year's conference was held in Haliburton, Ontario. Just for the conference, we debuted a new presentation entitled "Doug and Grover Stay Current on the Internet." The premise was fairly simple; we decided to share some of the tips that we've used over the years to stay on top of technology and teaching. When we started, we figured that it would take about half an hour. How long could it take?

As we started to prepare, we realized that this was not going to be as simple as all that. What we did was look at how we really do stay on top of things. It was quite all-encompassing when it was done and we were pushed to get it all in during a 2.5 hour afternoon session.

During the presentation, we touched upon:

• Mailing Lists
• Distribution Lists
• Subscription Services
• Web Site Subscription thought Internet Explorer
• Web Site Monitoring

What's important when working with these things is to find out exactly how to get subscribed to the various services. What's even more important is how to unsubscribe as well.

Once the whole presentation was finalized, we realized exactly why we both receive over 200 messages a day! Becoming a discriminating speed reader is definitely a skill for the communication age.

One of the parameters that we were given for the presentation was that there had to be a hands-on element to it. Checking the map again reveals just how far into cottage country Haliburton actually is. How fast and what quality of Internet feed could we get? On the drive up, passing through all of the lakes and forests, we had this feeling of impending doom.

After finding the conference (ok, I'll admit it...I left the map on my desk), we proceeded to find our workshop location. It was in an old made over elementary school. Now, the walls are really closing in.

In we go and fire up one of the 15 computers in the training lab and onto the Internet we go. Wow! The speeds are unbelievable. Turns out, through the miracles of microwave, this little lab is connected via the equivalent of a T1 connection. Wherever and however all of the technical end worked and was connected, we had the luxury of the fastest connections that I have ever experienced.

So, bottom line? It doesn't matter whether you're sitting in downtown Toronto or in beautiful cottage country Ontario. The Internet and all of its educational benefits are there. While the method of getting connected may be a little different, the result is the same. With an Internet connection and a whole suite of appropriate Internet skills, this valuable educational resource can enable students wherever they may be.

(dp) 
 

Doug Peterson

Harry Groves