Internet Access and Training Program.
Asya Silaeva
E-mail: asya@projectharmony.ru
http://iatp.projectharmony.ru
The United States Department of State's
Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) seeks to build stronger relationships between
Americans and Russian through the development of free and open communication. Begun in
1996, IATP was administered throughout the NIS by the International Research and Exchange
Board (IREX http://www.irex.ru),
an American non-profit organisation, through spring 1999. During these three years over 30
public access Internet centres were opened in the Russian Federation and more than 100,000
users received free e-mail addresses and access to information resources.
In March 1999, the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
selected the American non-profit organisation Project Harmony to administer the second stage of IATP in the Russian
Federation through October 2001, while IREX continues to oversee the IATP programs in the
other countries of the CIS.
In its work in the IATP program, Project Harmony emphasises developing Russian-language
Internet resources and training educators and alumni of US government programs. Since
beginning its work on the IATP, Project Harmony has:
- Conducted a needs assessment and technical survey of IATP sites in the RF.
- Maintained a network of IATP sites and specialists in 24 Russian cities and provided
over 20,000 hours of free Internet access every month.
- Held a conference entitled "Internet for All" in Moscow for IATP site
co-ordinators to build a cohesive sense of community and foster a commitment ot a common
goal among public access sites.
- Created a network of educational co-ordinators in 15 Russian cities to promote the use
of the Internet as an educational tool.
- Conducted a train-the-trainers series for over 300 educators.
- Published the weekly electronic journal "Wednesday Teacher Councils" for
educators, focusing on Internet usage in the classroom. There are currently 600
subscribers.
- Published the bi-weekly electronic journal "Internet for All," with
information on Internet seminars, conferences, projects and grant competitions. There are
currently 500 subscribers.
- Conducted a $200,000 mini-grants competition supporting the creation of Russian-language
Internet resources. Project Harmony received over 1,400 applications and awarded 50
grants.
- Held over 490 training sessions, thematic seminars and other events at IATP sites.
- Conducted trainings for over 400 alumni of US government programs.
- Created an on-line database of over 10,000 alumni of US government programs and central
website housing all program information (http://iatp.projectharmony.ru).
During the second half of the second phase of IATP, Project Harmony
will:
- Host four regional educational conferences to bring together members of regional
administrations and local educators for training and to promote the use of the Internet in
the classroom.
- Hold a two-week summer training on web design for 30 young alumni of US government
programs.
- Administer a $25,000 prize competition for Russian-language Internet resources.
- Continue to conduct trainings, seminars and on-line events for educators, alumni of US
government programs and IATP site users.
- Host a national competition to promote the development of Russian-language on-line
resources by school children. The competition will emphasise team work among individuals
from different cities working together via the Internet. This competition will be
conducted in conjunction with ThinkQuest Inc., a US non-profit organisation that promotes
the use of technology in education.
- Host a final IATP conference with IATP site co-ordinators and plan strategies for the
future of the network.