Workshop: W-B

The Physics Portal: Building a Self-Sustaining Internet-based Education Network

Organizers:
        David Hestenes (hestenes@asu.edu), Arizona State University
        Bernard Haisch, ManyOne Network
        Joakim Lindblom, ManyOne Network

Where: Auburn Room
When: 8:15 – 9:45 & 1:45 – 3:15, Thursday, August 5

Goal: This workshop will introduce the PER community to a terrific new opportunity for web based physics education on the forthcoming “ManyOne Browser” (check it out at http://www.manyone.net) We propose that the PER community represent the AAPT as stewards of a Physics Portal on the new “ManyOne Network." This would put PER in charge of world-wide internet access to the best physics and physics education web sites.

Theme: ManyOne Network, which will be wholly owned by a non-profit foundation, is building a global alliance of institutions, organizations, educators and other experts whose goals are: (1) to make available a new web browser that uses rich media, 3-D navigation to interactively convey information and education-oriented content, usable even with a dial-up Internet connection, and which is open-source based to foster unlimited development; and (2) to catalyze a worldwide effort in which stewards (experts, organizations, universities) organize the best information on the Internet into a Digital Universe that will be free to all and will create a public-service oriented, advertising-free subset of the Web (a PBS of the Web) that will over time become the "Encyclopedia Galactica" envisioned by Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. The browser and access to all educational material will be free to the public in perpetuity. Operating revenues are generated not from advertising, but by offering Internet access and other services to paid subscribers. We propose an educational partnership in which, representing the AAPT, the PER community takes stewardship of the Physics Portal, providing original content and editorially selected links to the best physics websites. The AAPT may also at its discretion choose to offer ManyOne paid services to its members in return for a share in the monthly revenues.