Resources For Further Help
Glossary

Resources For Further Help

Below is a starter list of printed materials, organizations, and other places you can turn to for help. These are some of the resources we found most helpful, though there are many others.

Books and Manuals

America's Children & The Information Superhighway, The Children's Partnership, 1994 and 1996 Update (48 pages. $10.00. Write: 1460 4th Street, Suite 306, Santa Monica, CA 90401). An overview of how the information superhighway and related technologies affect children—in terms of job preparation as well as life at home, at school, and in the community.

Child Safety on the Information Superhighway, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1994 (10 pages. Write or call: 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550, Arlington, VA 22201-3052; (703) 235-3900). A brochure explaining the risks to children on the Internet and guidelines for avoiding them.

Everything You Need to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask Kids) About the Information Highway, Merle Marsh, Computer Learning Foundation, 1995 (102 pages. Write or fax: P.O. Box 60967, Palo Alto, CA 94306; FAX (415) 327-3349). A book describing what the information superhighway is, how it can benefit children and families, and suggested activities for children of different ages.

The Internet Kids Yellow Pages, Jean Armour Polly, Osbourne McGraw-Hill, Berkeley, CA 1996 (355 pages. $19.95. Available at bookstores). A compendium of resources for children on the Internet, selected by a librarian.

Leadership & Technology: What School Board Members Need to Know, National School Boards Association, 1995 (179 pages. $35.00. Write or call: NSBA Distribution Center, P.O. Box 161, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0161; (800) 706-6722; FAX (301) 604-0158). A book that provides answers to important questions about technology planning, designed to help school board members with the development of technology plans.

Making the Net Work for You: How to Get the Most Out of Going Online, Interactive Services Association and National Consumers League, 1996 (15 pages. Write or call: 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 865, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 495-4955). A short, practical guide about how to help ensure that online activities are inviting, rewarding, and secure places to visit.

Web of Deception, Threats to Children from Online Marketing, Center for Media Education, 1996 (33 pages plus extensive attachments. $25.00. Write, call or fax: 1511 K Street, NW, Suite #518, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 628-2620; FAX (202)-628-2554). An analysis of marketing practices now used online, including samples of those available to or directed at children.

Nonprofit Organizations

American Library Association
The association provides leadership and support for more than 100,000 school, public, academic and special libraries through a broad-based program of legislative advocacy, public awareness and professional education. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library services in order to ensure that all people have access to the information they need."Kids connect @ The Library" is the message for a campaign to inform parents of how libraries can help connect their children with ideas, learning and fun through computers, books, and other resources.
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-5044
http://www.ala.org

Benton Foundation Communications Policy Project
This project provides briefing materials designed to strengthen public interest advocacy in communications policy and serves as a clearinghouse for nonprofits working to shape the National Information Infrastructure.
1634 Eye Street, NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 638-5770
benton@benton.org
http://www.benton.org

Center for Children and Technology
The Center aims to improve education by altering the circumstances of teaching and learning through basic, applied, and formative research and technology development. Much of its work is done in collaboration with schools, universities, libraries, community programs, museums, and other institutions concerned with learning, teaching, and technology design.
96 Morton Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014
(212) 807-4200
cct@edc.org
http://www.edc.org/CCT/ccthome

The Center for Democracy and Technology
The Center's mission is to develop public policies that preserve and advance democratic values and constitutional civil liberties on the Internet and other interactive communications media. CDT relies on a combination of staff expertise in relevant law and technology, along with a unique consultation process that brings together diverse interests from across the political spectrum, the public interest community, and the communications industry to address critical public policy issues.
1634 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 637-9800
info@cdt.org
http://websites.cdt.org

Center for Media Education
The Center educates the public about critical media policy issues. CME publishes InfoActive, a telecommunications bulletin for nonprofits. 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 518
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 628-2620
cme@cme.org
http://www.cme.org/cme

Center for Media Literacy
The Center for Media Literacy is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to a media literate citizenry. The center is the largest distributor of media literacy resource materials in North America, and conducts workshops and seminars in media literacy for teachers and parents in the Los Angeles area. 4727 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 403
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 931-4177
cml@earthlink.net
http://www.earthlink.net/~cml

The Children's Partnership
The Children's Partnership educates policymakers and parents about technology issues affecting children. It also publishes briefing materials and operates a Web site for parents.
1460 4th Street, Suite 306
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-1220
kidspartner@earthlink.net

Community Technology Centers' Network
CTCN serves as a catalyst to strengthen community involvement with technology. It is creating an actual and electronic national affiliates' network of computer access and learning centers in resource-poor communities.
c/o Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02158
(617) 969-7100
ctcnet@edc.org
http://www.edc.org

The Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation seeks to find out how and to what extent new digital media fits into existing frameworks. While the free flow of information is generally a positive thing, serious problems can arise. Problems such as how to protect children and undesiring adults from exposure to sexually explicit or potentially offensive materials; how to protect intellectual property rights; how to determine which country's laws have jurisdiction over a medium that is nowhere and everywhere at the same time, and other difficult questions are the purview of this group.
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 725
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 436-9333
eff@eff.org
http://www.eff.org

KIDSNET
KIDSNET is an educational nonprofit clearinghouse of information on children's media. The group generates a monthly database of audio, video, radio, educational software, television, and related multimedia programs for children which is available in both print and electronic formats.
6856 Eastern Avenue, NW, Suite 208
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 291-1400
kidsnet@aol.com

LatinoNet
LatinoNet is a computer online system designed to meet the unique needs of Latino nonprofit agencies and individual professionals.
2601 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-2493
latinonet@aol.com
http://member.aol.com/lnet03/latinonet/ln.welcome.html

National Parent Information Network
NPIN provides an extensive library of family involvement resources available over the Internet, including PARENTS askERIC, a question-answering service that links parents with experts.
(800) 583-4135
ericeece@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/npin/npinhome.html

National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the nation's largest Hispanic constituency-based organization, is a private, nonprofit organization representing over 200 community-based groups which provide housing, education, employment, immigration, and social services to more than two million Hispanics annually. NCLR furthers its goal of improving life opportunities for Hispanic Americans through capacity-building assistance to community organizations, and through applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy.
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 785-1670
http://www.erols.com/aperilla

National PTA
The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the United States working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. For 100 years, the National PTA has promoted the education, health, and safety of children and families.
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60611-3690
info@pta.org
(312) 670-6782
http://www.pta.org

National School Boards Association
The National School Boards Association supports school boards in their work to introduce technology in schools. The association publishes guides and resource materials.
1680 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3493
(703) 838-6722
itte@nsba.org
http://www.nsba.org/itte

National Urban League
The National Urban League is the premier social service and civil rights organization in America. The League is a nonpartisan, community-based organization headquartered in New York City, with 114 affiliates around the country. The mission of the League is to assist African-Americans in the achievement of social and economic equality. The League implements its mission through advocacy, bridge building between the races, program services, and research.
500 East 62nd Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 310-9000
info@nul.org
http://www.nul.org

Project OPEN
Project OPEN is a joint effort of the National Consumers League, the Interactive Services Association, and leading online/Internet service companies. Its primary mission is to help the American public learn how to use online and Internet services in an informed and responsible way.
c/o Interactive Services Association
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 865
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 495-4955
project-open@isa.net
http://www.isa.net/project-open

Federal Government

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology
The U.S. Department of Education seeks to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence. The Office of Educa-tional Technology publishes guides and distributes information about online learning and technology.
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 401-1444
http://www.ed.gov

Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the federal body that regulates telecommunications. The FCC oversees important issues such as the pricing structure for delivering new technologies to the nation's schools, libraries and other entities. The FCC encourages parents and citizens to become involved in these important regulatory proceedings.
1919 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20054
(202) 418-0200
fccinfo@fcc.gov
http://www.fcc.gov

Glossary

BBS

"Bulletin-Board System." A central computer that you can connect to over a phone line using your own computer and modem. Most BBSs offer files, programs, and other information that you can download to your own computer, and some enable you to send e-mail and communicate with other users who are connected at the same time.

BROWSER

A software program that lets you find, see, and hear material on the World Wide Web, including text, graphics, sound, and video. Popular browsers are Netscape, Mosaic, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Most commercial services have their own browsers.

CD-ROMs

A computer disk that can store large amounts of information and is generally used on computers with CD-ROM drives. CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk Read Only Memory. That means it can only play back information, not record or save material.

CHAT GROUPS

Also called discussion groups. They allow users to communicate with each other in "real time" (or "live"), as opposed to delayed time as with e-mail. A user enters a chat room, types a message into the computer, and sends it, and it is instantly displayed to other users in the room. Chat rooms are usually defined by topic. Admission to chat rooms is generally not restricted. You never know who's going to be reading your messages or responding to them, so it is best to be cautious.

COMMERCIAL SERVICE

General term for large online services (e.g., America Online, CompuServe, Microsoft Network, Prodigy, GEnie). These services are like special clubs which require membership dues. They have lots of information attractively organized, and lots of other members that may make chat groups more interesting. Many also offer access to the Internet.

CYBERSPACE

General term used to refer to the electronic "areas" and communities existing on the Internet and other computer networks, as well as to the culture that is developing around them.

E-MAIL

"Electronic Mail." A way of sending messages electronically from one computer to another. Users can send memos, letters, and other word-based messages, as well as multimedia documents. This requires having a modem and telephone line connected to your computer.

FAQ

"Frequently Asked Questions." A file of questions and answers compiled for Web sites, mailing lists, and games to reduce repeated posts about commonplace subjects.

FREENET

A community network that provides free online access, usually to local residents, and often includes its own forums and news

HARDWARE

The nuts, bolts, and wires. The actual computer and related machines.

HOME PAGE

The site that is the starting point on the World Wide Web for a particular group or organization.

HTML

(Hypertext Markup Language): A document format used on the World Wide Web. Text documents must be converted to HTML in order to be readable on the Web.

HYPERLINK (like HYPERTEXT)

An easy method of retrieving information by choosing highlighted words in text on the screen. The words link to documents with related subject matter.

INFORMATION LITERACY

The ability to find, process, and evaluate the information individuals need to be lifelong learners equipped for the workplace in the Information Age. As information increasingly is stored and transmitted electronically, information technology skills are becoming more important.

INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY (ISH)

A term popularized by Vice President Al Gore. The information superhighway is envisioned as a global high-speed network of computers that will serve thousands of users simultaneously, transmitting e-mail, multimedia files, voice, and video. This system is expected to link homes, offices, schools, libraries, and medical centers, so that textual and audiovisual information can be instantly accessed and transmitted from one computer screen to another. (See NII.)

INTERNET

The largest network of computer networks in the world, easily recognizable by the format of Internet e-mail addresses such as parent@earthlink.com.

ISP

Internet Service Provider. A generic term for any company that can connect you directly to the Internet, usually for a modest fee (under $20 per month). Distinguished from the commercial providers which link to the Internet, but also offer additional services such as travel and ticketing services, reference materials, etc.

MODEM

Short for "modulate-demodulate," a device which allows computers to communicate with each other over telephone lines or other delivery systems. Modems change digital signals to telephone signals for transmission and then back to digital signals. Modems come in different speeds: the higher the speed, the faster the data is transmitted. The fastest commercially available modems are 28.8 baud.

MOUSE

A small device attached to your computer by a cord, which lets you give commands to the computer.

MULTIMEDIA

A combination of two or more types of information such as text, audio, video, graphics, and images.

NET, THE

A colloquial term that is often used to refer to the entirety of cyberspace, the Internet, commercial services, BBSs, etc.

NETIQUETTE

The rules of cyberspace civility. Usually applied to the Internet, where manners are enforced exclusively by fellow users.

NII

"National Information Infrastructure." The U.S. Government's official term for the "information superhighway." In some ways, "infrastructure" is a more accurate description of a wired, interconnected world than the more linear "superhighway."

ONLINE COMMUNICATION

Communicating over the Internet or through a commercial network, usually via a telephone line.

POSTING

The sending of a message to a newsgroup, BBS, or other public message area. The message itself is called a post.

SEARCH ENGINE

A program that performs keyword searches for information on the Internet.

SERVER

A host computer that stores information and/or software programs and makes them available to users of other computers.

SOFTWARE

A computer program; loosely defined, a set of instructions to be used on your hardware. There is "system software" that operates the machine itself, which is invisible to the user, and there is "application software" for specific uses—e.g., word processing, games, spreadsheets.

TECHNOLOGY PLAN

A blueprint that guides the building of a technology program in a school or district.

URL

"Uniform Resource Locator." The World Wide Web address of a site on the Internet. For example, the URL for the White House is http://www.whitehouse.gov.

USERID (or User ID)

The unique name given to a user on a system for his or her account. The complete address can be used for e-mail (e.g., Bill Clinton's address is president@whitehouse.gov).

WEB SITES

A location on the World Wide Web that incorporates graphics, sounds, and links to other sites. Web sites are identified by an online address.

WORLD WIDE WEB

A hypertext-based navigation system on the Internet that lets you browse through a variety of linked resources, using typing commands. Also known as WWW and the Web.

Sources: Bailey, Gerald D., Dan Lumley, and Deborah Dunbar, Leadership & Technology: What School Board Members Need to Know, National School Boards Association, 1995; Lazarus, Wendy, and Laurie Lipper, America's Children and The Information Superhighway: A Briefing Book and National Action Agenda, The Children's Partnership, September 1994; and Maloni, Kelly, et al., NetGuide: Your Complete Guide to the Internet and Online Services, A Michael Wolff Book, New York, 1995; and online computer dictionaries.