Ito is a co-author of the Project, Hawaii Education and Research Network (HERN), and was so at a time when it was "the natural thing to do.&qout; She provided technical support for previous Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) pilots, Kalama (also the name of the DOE Server currently used by the HERN Project) and the National and International Network Services for Distance Education (NINSDE).

Kalama was added to an already established UH system via a Memorandum of Agreement in which UH (ITO) and DOE continued on with a strong partnership. It was a natural fit to partner: DOE brought to the table curriculum and curriculum support while UH the technical support. The National Infrastructure for Education (NIE) which stems from the National Science Foundation at that time made available a new grant opportunity in which HERN was selected to be a national Demonstration Project-- a model for other states. Key components became issues right from the start:

• Management of a statewide rollout
• Curriculum and technical training
• Support for a distributed environment
• Access & authentification of access types
• Sheer size and dealing with a multiple island state

Fortunately, Hawaii is a state that has a single department and board for K-12 Education and the UH system extending throughout the islands. Focus is on the big picture and how it benefits the children of Hawaii. The Internet is a dynamic learning tool and a time and space &qout;minimalizer.&qout; My concern is what happens when these Internet technology savvy students come to the UH.

Currently at the University, students are driving the faculty. It used to be that the students of the hard sciences got accounts to work for specific classwork. Since 1994, accounts were opened to all students. And it was the students who used it for communication, found it easy to use, and were willing to learn it -- easily and quickly without hesitation. ITS took training into the classroom and began taking advantage of the technology to provide the users with the tools to support themselves.

I know what a valuable resource the technology is. I want to help them take advantage of the technology to better do what they do - change the whole way of thinking. I have seen an increase in awareness in the community; schools have connection and are using it.

HERN is a catalyst for empowering teachers. Teachers push administrators. Administrators push schools. Early adopting will enable students to be prepared for the future. The whole thing about HERN is impressive. How do we get out of the model of lecturing? How do we become more engaged in the process? How do we change the way we learn where somebody must teach me? I go to/pay for classes and expect somebody to teach me. How and when will this change? HERN -- Revolution -- facilitators learning with &qout;students&qout;, all asking the right questions, and each becoming cheerleaders as opposed to being the &qout;expert.&qout;

Part of user support at UH and with HERN is to build the environment that is easiest for them to work with, prepare them for new services, and come up with answers ahead of time. Technical questions are easier to solve; philosophies and best practices are not, but by building the toolset, people can help themselves: website/virtual help desk, preconfigured diskettes, and a physical help desk.

What have I learned from the HERN Project? Got more questions. Now that we have the technology, will it happen? Will there be enough changes in society? Why students go to school? Learn stuff, meet friends, a place parents can take their kids to when they go to work, will this change? Grades, job performance, standardized tests, will these change? Critical thinking skills and the definition of a successful life, will everything change how we look at the big picture and how we judge all that.

Society will see changes; technology needs to be leveraged not as the cause of change, but as a tool for change. The most profound impact HERN has had on me is a look at the bigger picture. Be better at what you do and naturally strive for the better. HERN is such an opportunity to change society and provide more opportunities.