VocServe is an electronic bulletin board system designed to provide all
members of the vocational education community with a central source of
online information and a forum for communication among all stakeholders
in the vocational education enterprise. As a special introductory
offer, access to the system will be free of user fees through 30 June
1994; access thereafter will require payment of a modest annual fee to
cover maintenance costs. (The details of the fee structure will be
determined partly by the responses of users during the trial period.)
VocServe may be accessed using virtually any computer with
telecommunications software. A special enhanced communications program
for accessing VocServe is available for Macintosh users (it may be
downloaded from VocServe or be obtained by sending a 3.5-inch disk to
NCRVE). A similar program for DOS and Windows users is planned, but is
not yet available. The special communications programs make the system
easier to use, but they are not required; a built-in, menu-driven
interface is available to users of all types of computers.
VocServe features include private e-mail, public discussion groups,
online versions of selected NCRVE publications and newsletters, and
facilities for chatting with other users in real time. The structure of
VocServe will change in response to the needs of its users; planned
expansions and improvements include a searchable library of NCRVE
publications, selected materials from other organizations (such as
ERIC/ACVE), and gateways to other systems of interest to the vocational
education community.
HOW TO CONNECT
VocServe may be accessed via modem or Internet. The phone number for
modem access is 510-643-6793; settings should be 8 data bits, no
parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1), and speed can be up to 14,400 bps. For
Internet access, users can connect via telnet to vocserve.berkeley.edu.
Once connected, first-time users may type GUEST to have a look around,
or type NEW to enter the online registration procedure. Each user is
assigned a unique user number and an online ID and password of the
user's chosing; either the number or ID can be used to log on during
subsequent sessions. A list of all registered users is available online.
NAVIGATING VOCSERVE
Users navigate the system by selecting items from menus, most of which
include online help, and users may request an online chat with the
system operator if they need additional assistance.
For further information, contact David Carlson
National Center for Research in Vocational Education
2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 1250, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 800-762-4093 or 510-642-3798
Electronic mail: dcarlson@uclink.berkeley.edu