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THE TCI EDUCATION PROJECT
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The TCI Education Project provides high-quality
educational programming and data services through cable
television lines to public and private schools in TCI
service areas throughout the country. Schools are not
charged for the cost of the programming or cable
installation to one central location. Over 500 hours of
educational programming is produced each month for
schools. This 500-hour block is produced without
advertising and with lenient copyright restrictions,
meaning programming can be taped and used at the
discretion of educators.
The programs offered cover a breadth of topics and have
been selected based on their academic merit. Also,
appropriate programming is available for a variety of age
levels and abilities ranging from preschool to post-
secondary. Many programs have teacher support materials
available that provide useful lesson plans and
activities related to the topics covered. These
materials are designed to facilitate critical thinking,
class discussion and suggest a variety of designed
activities to actively involve students in their
learning. Many teacher support materials are available
via the cable-delivered data service, X*PRESS X*Change.
As part of the TCI Education Project, schools are
provided the necessary equipment and software to connect
their PC's to the X*PRESS service free of charge.
Global Data for the Classroom
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Besides delivering support materials, X*PRESS X*Change
delivers the latest national and international news,
as well as weather data, stock reports, and a variety of
other information pertaining to education and
business.
X*PRESS is a 21st century learning tool that literally
brings the world to the classroom. In addition to
providing information that can connect curriculum and
instruction to the real world, X*PRESS also helps
students acquire important skills necessary to succeed in
the information age, such as effectively gathering,
processing and communicating information.
Daily programming highlights with information concerning
program air dates and times, copyright restrictions,
program duration and an overview of program content are
also available through X*PRESS.
X*PRESS Media Centre
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Beginning in the fall of 1993, TCI will also provide the
X*PRESS Media Centre to schools as part of the TCI
Education Project. This exciting new tool delivers
program listings and interactive multi-media software to
the school's Macintosh computer in much the same way that
data is delivered via X*PRESS X*Change.
The X*PRESS Media Centre works in a manner similar to an
automated teller machine at the bank. Teachers and
students can access program information and HyperCard
stacks on a variety of curricular areas and topics
quickly and efficiently. For the media specialist, the
X*PRESS Media Centre keeps track of requests made by
teachers and students for up-coming programs. Reports
can be generated listing the person requesting the
program, the date and time the program airs and all other
appropriate information media specialists may want
concerning the specifics of each request.
TCI will pay all annual licensing fees related to the
X*PRESS Media Centre, a $500 value. The X*PRESS
Infocipher, also furnished by TCI, receives the
information and delivers it to the school's Macintosh
computer. The school must purchase a decryption device
and software for $110 to access the X*PRESS Media Centre.
The module can be obtained by the school directly from X
-PRESS Information Services by dialing 1-800-7PC-NEWS.
Sponsor
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The TCI Education Project is sponsored by
TeleCommunications, Inc., the nation's largest cable
operator, and its affiliate companies.
The TCI Investment
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Although education primarily involves teachers, books and
classroom work, there is a supplementary role television
can play in many instances. Accordingly, TCI has made a
firm commitment to education. To demonstrate this, the
company has already spent several million dollars to wire
more than 90% of the schools within TCI service areas.
Each school located within a TCI service area is eligible
to receive cable wiring to a central location for access
to programming and data services, all free of charge.
TCI will also provide X -PRESS X -Change kits which
include all appropriate electronic hardware and software,
to connect the school's PC to this exciting data service.
Schools will receive Cable in the Classroom, a monthly
programming guide published 11 times a year. This guide
covers program offerings and also provides interesting
case studies and overviews of teachers who are making
effective use of cable programming and data services in a
variety of curricular areas and grade levels.
Cable Programming Participants
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The TCI Education Project brings some of the most
respected cable television networks and data providers to
the classroom. The involvement of these networks creates
a choice of educational programs unmatched by any other
medium.
y Arts & Entertainment
y Black Entertainment Television
y BRAVO
y C-SPAN
y CNBC
y CNN
y The Courtroom Television Network
y The Discovery Channel
. ESPN
y The Family Channel
y The Learning Channel
y Lifetime Television
y MTV
y Mind Extension University
y Nickelodeon
y Public Broadcasting Service
y Regional Sports Network
y The Sci-Fi Channel
y Showtime
y The Travel Channel
y VISN/ACTS
. WGN/IUVI
y The Weather Channel
y X*PRESS Information Services
Availability of specific programming services may vary by
location.
Teacher Benefits
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The TCI Education Project has been designed for maximum
flexibility. Teachers can videotape programs and
preview them before use in individual classrooms or
programs can be viewed at their scheduled times.
Furthermore, cable programmers offer a variety of support
materials to accompany many programs, making it
easier for educators to plan for the integration of cable
resources into scheduled curricular activities.
Cable in the Classroom
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TCI is proud to have been a founding member of Cable in
the Classroom, a consortium of cable programmers and
operators dedicated to the creative and innovative use of
quality cable programming in the classroom.
As members of Cable in the Classroom, TCI and the many
programmers believe cable resources can have a
substantial and valuable impact on education by
encouraging the development and delivery of programs,
data, and software that inform, educate, and inspire.
An On-Going Commitment
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TCI has committed to developing Showcase/ Laboratory
schools that win represent a true crosssection of
America, including rural, small-town, suburban, urban and
inner-city communities at the elementary, middle or
junior high, and secondary level. TCI will work with
educators at sites to find the most effective and
creative use of the resources offered through the TCI
Education Project. These schools will serve as national
research and development centers in which teachers will
decide the most effective applications of cable resources
in the various curricular areas.
For more information concerning a Showcase/ Laboratory
school in your area, contact your local TCI cable system
manager.
-- -Brian Smithson brian@eit.com Enterprise Integration Technologies +1 415 617 8009 459 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 USA FAX +1 415 617 8019