Welcome to Shadow netWorkspace™ Support Center!

The Shadow netWorkspace™ (SNS) is a web-based work environment designed and developed specifically for use in K-12 schools to support schools and learning by the Center for Technology Innovations in Education (CTIE) at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The goal of SNS is to improve education by opening classroom and school house doors to advanced information and communication services of the Internet.

It is called Shadow because it follows you wherever you go; your networkspace is accessible at any computer anywhere that has a connection to the Internet. The SNS provides much of the functionality of a personal PC with the added benefit of being accessible from any computer anywhere via the world wide web.

The ShadowPD project, also at CTIE, is developing Web-based applications that will operate within SNS to support preservice teacher education. Teacher educators can use these applications to support a community of learners that extends across semesters and physical boundaries, with access to electronic portfolios, personal and public artifact archives (i.e. lesson plans, action research reports, and video cases), and communication tools.

The SNS environment is designed to be installed at individual school locations, is being provided for free, has an Application Programming Interface (API) so others can develop applications for it, and is open source (GNU Public License) so that everyone can participate in enhancing and supporting it. It operates on a Linux-based server and utilizes the Apache web server, MySQL, and Sendmail. The server-side API and applications are written in Perl.

Key Attributes of Shadow netWorkspace™
( Click on the image icon to view an example )

	Online file system Users can create new folders to organize and store their files on the Internet, move and delete folders and files, and search for files within their private, hierarchical file system. Also, files can be uploaded or downloaded from a local hard drive.
	Groups It enables distribution, sharing and collaboration of file objects by members of learning communities. The SNS offers three group types - Class, Workgroups and Review Panel. Users can create as many groups as they like, and communicate and share message boards, files, calendars (and more) to work with class groups on school assignments or other activities.
	Administration Users can change their information, password, school information or news, and more.
	Software The SNS integrates Internet-based applications, such as Shadowdoc Editor, calculator, Task Manager and Telnet within the system. Additional open source applications can be added or customized to the Software collection of the SNS.
	Homework notifier Teachers can post their new homework or modify existing homework so that students and parents are notified of homework assignments.
	Calendar Users can manage time and tasks by keeping, accessing, and maintaining appointments or events. Also, group members can share a calendar to schedule a meeting or chatting time.
	Communication tools The SNS offers Chat rooms and Discussion forums (for members only).

For more information, please feel free to contact:

Dr. Dale Musser, Shadow netWorkspace Project Director University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Technology Innovations in Education 111 London Hall Columbia, Missouri 65211 Voice: (573) 884-7678> Fax: (573) 884-5158 Email: MusserDa@missouri.edu

Dr. Jim Laffey, Center Director University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Technology Innovations in Education 111 London Hall Columbia, Missouri 65211 Voice: (573) 882-5399 Fax: (573) 884-5158 Email: LaffeyJ@missouri.edu

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