The Arabic language program offers two years of Modern Standard Arabic to students at member universities of the U.S. Arabic Distance Learning Network. The BTC provides the instructional technology--videoconferencing connections and WebCT online course tools services--that connect the professor of Arabic at his/her home institution to students across the nation during their first year of study. The second year of instruction is offered through an articulated study abroad option at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco.. .

Base Camp Earth

Base Camp Earth launches virtual explorations of emerging science, to build a unique online resource to interest students in science.Teams of inquisitive students explore a topical science issue using an open-ended inquiry-based research model. The BTC records their thoughts and findings as they go, and posts a documentary account of their journey of exploration on the Web. Funding for the development of Base Camp Earth was provided by the National Science Foundation.. .

"Preparing for and Responding to Bioterrorism: Information for Primary Care Physicians" is a collection of online materials that primary care physicians and other health professionals can use for independent study. The course delivery is a collaboration between the Burns Technology Center and the Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at MSU-Bozeman.. .

Center for Educational Resources (CERES)Partner: NASA

CERES is an extensive online library of materials for teaching astronomy to K-12 students. Closely aligned with the NRC National Science Education Standards, these interactive classroom-ready materials use contemporary teaching strategies and NASA resources, data, and images. The BTC provides technical support for the class materials delivery.. .

Using the nationally recognized JASON Project as the technological vehicle, CIM connects K-8 Native Americans to their communities. Tribal College students learn service skills as they support teachers and students using the JASON curriculum. The BTC maintains the CIM technology and web presence.. .

Fully or partially employed students can pursue an online degree in Family Financial Planning or to become a Certified Financial Planner. The program is offered through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA), a consortium of human science colleges from ten universities. The BTC played an instrumental role in the development of this program and continues to provide technical and administrative support.. .

In 2000, the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) and the BTC intensively studied how federal funding implemented telecommunication technology in six randomly selected school districts in the United States. The nine-month study of "electronic connectivity to people and resources in support of the learning-teaching process" was funded by the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement.. .

Landscapes of the Mind are one- to three-day summer workshops providing Montana State University, the Bozeman community, and out-of-town visitors with unique weekend getaways, opportunities to earn college credit, and possibilities for expanding one's learning landscape. World-class researchers and teachers from Montana State University facilitate the workshops. . .

The MSSE degree is an intercollege, interdisciplinary program, designed by experienced science, science education and mathematics faculty with the collaboration of classroom teachers. The BTC played an instrumental role in the development of this program and continues to provide technical, logistical and pedagogical support for the distance learning courses.. .

Through the Technology and Cultural Heritage (TeCH) project, the BTC helps reservation tribal residents capture and preserve their history, stories and other cultural resources. Four reservations are currently involved in TeCH: Northern Cheyenne, Crow, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy. Community members of all ages participate; sacred songs, oral histories, and Indian languages are just a few of the resources that they capture and display in kiosks in tribal centers. This program is funded by a Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grant from the US Department of Commerce.

Montana JASONPartner: JASON Foundation for Education

The JASON Foundation for Education inspires students to pursue learning in science, math and technology through voyages of exploration and discovery. The BTC has developed a remote delivery method that allows Montana schoolchildren to journey with JASON from their own classrooms, and is working with other state JASONs to adapt the delivery method for their schools.. .

This exciting aerospace program engages 8th and 9th grade students interested in space science. Students willing to challenge themselves academically, apply (or are recommended) for this all-expense-paid two-week camp at MSU-Bozeman. The University and the Montana Space Grant Consortium make a special effort to identify students who have not had opportunities to participate in academically challenging programs.. .

Montana 5-9th grade teachers apply for an all-expense-paid multimedia technology seminar hosted by the BTC. The Center helps educators develop lessons or projects that can be integrated into individual curriculum objectives and state standards. Novices to multimedia are encouraged to apply. . .

National Teachers Enhancement Network

NTEN (www.scienceteacher.org) delivers quality teaching resources and professional development opportunities through the Internet directly to K-12 science teachers nationwide. Educators access electronic teacher resources, discuss issues with other educators online, and participate in high-quality graduate telecomputing courses, all from convenient home or work locations via the Internet. University scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and science educators teach NTEN's graduate courses. NTEN also enhances professional networking among science teachers and active research scientists. Funding to develop NTEN was provided by the National Science Foundation.. .

NTEN Elementary

The BTC and MSU-Bozeman develop and electronically deliver graduate professional development courses to elementary teachers via the Internet. These courses focus on integrating content with commercially available science kits used in a growing number of K-6 classrooms around the country. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with the disciplinary background, instructional methods and confidence they need to introduce or enhance kit-based science into their classrooms. Teachers can take the courses from their homes or at school, and the courses are asynchronous (participants do not need to be online at the same time). Funding to develop NTEN-Elementary was provided by the National Science Foundation.. .

TIIAPPartners: Montana Tribal Colleges

The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) improves access and application of information technology to Montana's tribal colleges and their respective communities. The goal is to develop the community-based expertise needed for local economic development groups to plan, develop, implement, and maintain their own information technology systems. The project demonstrates an innovative, culturally relevant, and multigenerational education, outreach, and "in-reach" program to develop tribal human resource infrastructure and self-sufficiency skills.. .

WebCT Course Tools TrainingPartner: MSU-Bozeman

WebCT is a course management system that enables instructors to prepare and deliver high quality online education. The BTC trains instructors of all experience levels to use the WebCT e-learning tools efficiently and effectively.. .

Wonderlust

Gallatin Valley citizens develop and promote lifelong learning experiences in these Lifelong Learning classes. Wonderlust structures learning on a wide variety of topics, and encourage participants to engage in active discussion and sharing of their knowledge and experience. Students typically prepare the discussion classes, and knowledgeable experts facilitate them.. .