[seul-edu] ANN: Shadow netWorkspace(TM) preview release

[Herbert Remidez <hremidez@yahoo.com>]

Hi all:
	The Shadow netWorkspace™ (SNS) team has recently
posted the first preview release of SNS. SNS is a
Web-based work environment designed and developed
specifically for use in K-12 schools to support
schools and learning by the Center for Technology
Innovations in Education (CTIE) at the University of
Missouri-Columbia. The goal of SNS is to improve
education by opening classroom and schoolhouse doors
to advanced information and communication services of
the Internet. We also have a separate project that is
working to implement the system in a teacher education
program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. 

It is called Shadow because it follows you wherever
you go; your networkspace is accessible at any
computer anywhere that has a connection to the
Internet. SNS provides much of the functionality of a
personal PC with the added benefit of being accessible
from any computer anywhere via the World Wide Web. In
some ways it is like Learnloop, K-12 admin, and AUC
but it does have quite a few unique features.

The SNS environment is designed to be installed at
individual school locations, is being provided for
free, has an Application Programming Interface (API)
so others can develop applications for it, and is open
source so that everyone can participate in enhancing
and supporting it. It operates on a Linux-based server
and utilizes the Apache web server, MySQL, and
Sendmail. The server-side API and applications are
written in Perl. 

Key Attributes of SNS:

Online file system
Users can create new folders to organize and store
their files on the Internet, move and delete folders
and files, and search for files within their private,
hierarchical file system. Also, files can be uploaded
or downloaded from a local hard drive.  

Groups
It enables collaboration and sharing of file objects
between members of learning communities. SNS offers
three group types - Class, Workgroups and Review
Panel. Users can create as many groups as they like,
and communicate and share message boards, files,
calendars (and more) to work with class groups on
school assignments or other activities.  

Administration
Users can change their information, password, school
information or news, and more. A user's access level
determines which administrative applications they have
access to. 

Software
SNS integrates Internet-based applications, such as
Shadowdoc Editor, calculator, Task Manager and Telnet
within the system. Additional applications can be
added or customized to the Software collection of the
SNS.

Homework
Teachers can post their new homework or modify
existing homework so that students and parents are
notified of homework assignments. 

Calendar
Users can manage time and tasks by keeping, accessing,
and maintaining appointments or events. Also, group
members can share a calendar to schedule a meeting or
chatting time. 

Communication tools
The SNS offers Chat rooms and Discussion forums (for
members only). Discussion forums are not in this
release.

You can learn more about the system, and acquire a
username and password for the demo server, or download
the latest version of the system by going to
http://sns.internetschools.org. The demo server is
running an older version of the system that does not
have all of the features listed here. However, the
version available for download has more features. We
look forward to any comments or questions you might
have. We also welcome the opportunity to work with
other projects.

Herbert Remidez
http://sns.internetschools.org
herbert@coe.missouri.edu

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