Gov. Ridge Announces Agreement With Oracle Corp. To Roll Out Advanced Educational Technology Initiative In PA Schools.

Gov. Tom Ridge today announced that Pennsylvania will become the first state in the nation to roll out an advanced educational technology initiative developed by Oracle Corp. -- the world's leading supplier of software for information management -- to benefit Pennsylvania's K-12 schools. Gov. Ridge first discussed possible use of Oracle's "Beehive" technology in Pennsylvania schools when he met with Oracle Chairman and CEO Larry Ellison during the Governor's West Coast Technology Mission in October. "This first-ever rollout of 'Beehive' technology in the United States will allow Pennsylvania's schools to better communicate globally, locally and across the state -- bringing ideas and innovations from around the world into Pennsylvania's classrooms," said Gov. Ridge. "I am proud to announce that Pennsylvania and Oracle will join forces to put Pennsylvania's students on the cutting edge of education technology."

Beginning this month, Pennsylvania schools will be invited to attend an information session discussing the benefits that Oracle's Beehive technology can provide their students. Pilot schools then will be selected from those attending this session and will begin using this innovative web-based technology by this spring. Oracle estimates its investment may total as much as $49 million to bring Beehive technology to fourth- through eighth-grade students across the Commonwealth.

"Oracle's technology draws on the strengths of the Internet to provide a powerful tool for classroom learning," Gov. Ridge said. "We are extremely pleased with this partnership with Oracle, and we will continue to work with them to establish a timeline to make this technology broadly available to teachers and children across the Commonwealth." Last October, Gov. Ridge and Ellison discussed the benefits of Oracle's pioneering Internet software that supports an online-learning environment for children, teachers and entire communities. The software promotes collaboration and idea sharing while permitting teachers to monitor online communications, creating a safe environment for children. Schools in the United Kingdom already are using the technology.

Beehive brings the power of Oracle 8i, the world's leading Internet platform, to Pennsylvania's classrooms. One of its greatest benefits is the integration and centralization of information. The Beehive unites messaging, discussion and webpage creation into one coherent whole. Because the application is centrally managed by Oracle and accessible via a standard web browser, educators need not be bothered with the complexity of managing an information system. The Beehive can recognize text, images, video and audio, allowing contributions in formats other than text that provide children with greater flexibility and the ability to create a space that is unique.

"Beehive joins Link-to-Learn as yet another technology vehicle for providing a wealth of educational opportunities for our students," Gov. Ridge said. "With Link-to-Learn, we brought the information superhighway into our classrooms. Today -- with Beehive -- our students will be better able to travel that highway as far as their minds will take them."

Link-to-Learn is Gov. Ridge's multi-year, $166 million initiative aimed at expanding the use of technology in the classroom, including new and upgraded computers for schools and technology training for teachers. Link-to-Learn also is developing a system of community-based networks called the Pennsylvania Education Network (PEN). In 1998, Link-to-Learn was named one of the nation's premiere K-12 education-technology programs by the Washington, D.C.-based Progress and Freedom Foundation.

Oracle Corporation is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second- largest independent software company. With annual revenues of more than $9.1 billion, the company offers its database, tools and application products, along with related consulting, education and support services, in more than 145 countries around the world.

For more information on the Beehive Project or other technology initiatives, visit the Pennsylvania homepage at www.state.pa.us.