Founders
From the earliest days of the Internet, Al Rogers and Yvonne Andres
have been passionately committed to discovering, demonstrating and
documenting the incredible power of Internet-based learning
In recognition of their pioneering work in telecommunications,
The December 2001 issue of the District Administration Magazine cited
the team of Al Rogers and Yvonne Andres as one of the all-time Top 25
Educational Technology Advocates.
Al is one of the earliest pioneers in the use of
computers in teaching. When he got started... in the days of the
IMSAI
and Altair
(1975-1976)... the only way to obtain a computer was to assemble one
from scratch... including soldering IC sockets, capacitors, resistors,
and I/O plugs to a blank S-100 mother board. His first classroom
computer video monitor was a bare CRT housed in a cardboard box with a
window cut in one side.
His "mass storage" unit was a portable cassette tape
recorder. He and his 6th grade students used this
state-of-the-art machine to explore programming NIM, Hangman and other
logic games in MITS
8K BASIC (produced by a tiny company named Microsoft). Other microcomputer hobbyists (there were no professionals
then) envied his old
Model 33 Teletype printer (10 CPS/noisy/upper case only).
By 1978, after acquiring five of the earliest Commodore
PET's Al and a colleague were teaching 4th, 5th and 6th grade students
within a school-based computer "mini-magnet." By 1981 he had
established a district-wide computer magnet program in a lab of 21
networked Apple IIe's (with a 10MB hard disk!).
Early on, Al discovered the importance of the computer
as a learning tool. Al believes that what you do with technology is far
more important than what technology you have. "A good teacher does not
need the latest and greatest tools. But good technology can also be a
catalyst to develop good teaching, especially when you use them as
tools. Implementing word processing, spread sheets, databases, and
Internet communications in your coursework makes you focus on
good-quality teaching."
This has been reflected in Al's work in the years since. Al achieved a
degree of recognition in the early days of educational computing as the
author of FrEdWriter, a free teacher- and student-friendly word
processor.
In 1985 he also wrote and launched the FrEdMailNetwork, a popular Apple IIe-based pre-internet telecommunications
network to exchange student writing. In 2005, in the 25th Anniversary
issue of Teaching and Learning Magazine, the FrEdMail Network was recognized as one of the top fifteen "Breakthrough
Products" of the previous 25 years (item #12)." Al developed these two tools to support the
well-researched principle that "Students will write when they have a
sympathetic, interested audience and something to say." This is also a
major foundational principle of the Global SchoolNet Foundation which
he and Yvonne founded in 1990, along with the participation of over 300
FrEdMail sysops.
Al and Yvonne made an early contribution to the
literature and practice of the use of telecommunications in the
classroom. Many of their
early articles are classics in the literature. These articles
remain current and are mainstays in many graduate and undergraduate
Internet programs.
Al's work was also influential among educators
beginning to use the Internet in its early days. His "Harnessing the
Power of the Web" CD-ROM was distributed as part of the
Thinkquest Competition to over 500,000 teachers around the world.
He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Technology in Education (http://www.iste.org/).
Al is currently in retirement enjoying his eight grandchildren
& country lifestyle in Ramona, CA. However, he continues to
volunteer his time as webmaster for Global SchoolNet and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Ramona.
Achievements, Honors and Awards
Al has received many awards over the years.
- 1999: At NECC '99, the International Society for Technology in Education recognized Al as a NECC
Pioneer... one of 20 distinguished educational leaders from
all levels who have been pioneers and leaders in bringing educational
technology to schools around the country.
- 2001: Technology &
Learning Magazine's November article on the "Top 10 Technology
Breakthroughs for Schools" cited Global SchoolNet as a leader in their
breakthrough category #3: Collaboration
Tools.
- 2001: District Administrator
Magazine's November article cited Al and Yvonne among their list of
"Top 25 Technology Advocates".
- 1994: ISTE Distinguished Service
Award for Contributions to Telecommunications in Education
- 1991: Named one of ten "Educators
of the Decade" by Electronic Learning magazine
- 1991: CUE (California Computer-Using Educators) Platinum Disk Award
- 1988 and 1986: Two CUE Gold Disk awards
- 1987: Cover of Electronic
Learning magazine in recognition of his free program FrEdWriter,
once the most widely used word processor in the United States
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