CURRENT_MEETING_REPORT_ Reported by April Marine/NASA NAIC Minutes of the Internet School Networking Working Group (ISN) The ISN Working Group met on Monday, July 17, at the 33rd IETF. The session began with introductions. It was very interesting to find that there were many first time attendees. Status of Document Repository This task is to create a repository of information about how schools can get on-line and write an FYI letting people know the scope of the repository, its location, and how to add information to it. This task was recapped and discussed and volunteers to write a draft were elicited. The following points came up: o The repository should strive to be international in scope, so therefore needs experienced people from outside the US to contribute; Jill Foster volunteered to put someone from the European Schools Project in touch with the group. o Were applications appropriate to schools covered in the repository? Points such as the restrictions on exporting Netscape. Basically, the scope of the repository was more or less up to us and if we wanted that covered, it could be. Ted Hardie volunteered to write a little blurb on the Netscape point for inclusion. o The date for the paper describing the repository was set to November 1995. o A volunteer is needed to write the paper. The URL for the document repository is: http://spider.lloyd.com/isn/ Status of Directory of Projects This task is to establish a directory of educational projects so teachers can easily find collaborative opportunities. The date to get a pilot repository going was changed from July to November 1995, and November 1995 is also the date to write a draft describing it. However, no one volunteered to work on the draft. [Jennifer later forwarded a message to the list of another group that looks like it is doing the same thing.] Status of K-12 Directory This task is to define the information needed for an on-line database of ``white pages'' information about teachers and work with a provider to get one on-line. The DS InterNIC has already said they would assist. We need to write up the requirements, get one started, and see if people contribute. April agreed to follow up as she sort of had volunteered before and not done anything! The requirements will be circulated to the list for comments. Status of FAQ Update This task is to update the Frequently Asked Questions RFC. An outline had already been circulated to the list by Jennifer and Julie and that outline was discussed. The following points were discussed: o The FAQ should list the questions a school should ask a provider, such as ``How much will the service cost?'' but not necessarily attempt to answer each question as the answers may vary widely, especially in an international scope. On the other hand, some people felt that including some examples, such as cost figures, might be useful if they were meaningful. One idea was to give pointers to service providers without attempting to include cost information. This was basically seen as a whole different document by some people. o Another idea was to leave sections that would vary a great deal blank and let representatives from different countries or regions supply information. o Add the question ``What is an Internet Service Provider and how do I find one?'' o Perhaps add some information about copyright to the ethics section, although this gets tricky again in an international environment. o There was some discussion of why the World Wide Web is emphasized in its own question/section. One suggestion was to generalize the section to ``what are some common network applications?'' and give brief blurbs on the Web, gopher, e-mail, etc. o Also add ``How can I use network applications in my school?'' and discuss mailing lists and Web servers and such. o Add ``Can I restrict access to some of the information on my computer so that only teachers can read it?'' This as distinct from the Internet, of course, but the point was to add some mechanism for discussing the ability to perform access restrictions and security of e-mail and such. o Perhaps discuss somewhere that networking in schools can radically change the learning/teaching paradigms we are used to. Or at least mention that now kids can have access to raw source material, rather than getting all their information via textbooks that have been vetted through zillions of committees, and that this access brings with it the challenges of evaluating such material for quality and accuracy. Charter/Milestone Changes To summarize the changes made to the Milestones: ``Define the information to be included in an on-line database of educational people...'' Moved from ``DONE'' to November 1995. ``...establish a repository of documents to help schools get on-line...'' The document describing the repository was moved from July to November 1995. ``...establish a directory of educational projects.'' Initial directory was moved from July 1995 to November 1995. ``...issue an update to RFC 1578.'' First draft was moved from July 1995 to November 1995. New Business Jodi talked about some of the ISOC (Internet Society) activities, especially the educational colloquium. There has also been a K12 committee within ISOC for something like three years, accessible from k12@isoc.org. The mailing list for the educational consortium, which is a new group, will be isoc-learn@hawaii.edu. You can join by sending to listproc@hawaii.edu with ``subscribe isoc-learn Firstname Lastname'' in the message. The basic point was made that ISN is part of a community and is generally perceived as a technical group rather than a teacher group, so bridges between the communities are important. Everyone agreed, although not everyone agreed that ISN should be the central liaison organization as we do get few teachers who attend.