TI-IN Network founded, first satellite broadcast to 51 schools in Texas
1997
K-III announces plans to discontinue network. USDLC Incorporated; StarNet is trademarked. Elsie Brumback, NCDPI, is elected Chair. Founding USDLC members: North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Western Illinois University are joined by Florida and New Mexico departments of education. Third Star Schools grant is awarded: Engaged Learning Project.
1999
StarNet selected by DirecTV to receive Education Access Channel 378.
2001
Infrastructure adjustments are made to move toward web-based curriculum, web streaming, and online services. StarNet selected by DISH to receive Education Access Channel. STAR-Online receives top ratings in eSchool News’ Online Readers' Choice Awards for best training solution.
2005
United Star's professional development is featured on Apple Learning Interchange. United Star creates its professional development portal as one convenient location for over 750 hours of video on demand and 1000 hours in online modules. Best Practices in School Library Media Programs is launched nationwide exclusively through United Star. AMDG,OSU's K-12 Distance Learning Academy, and blendedschools.net are added to instructional partners.
2007
Connected Learning Project with Dr. Crissman received an ISTE 2007 SIGtel Online Learning Award. EstuaryLIVE is part of this project. Podcasts became an established feature for marketing and instruction. A video conferencing professional development model was developed to provide small learning group experiences and collaboration. A United Star YouTube channel was established: http://www.youtube.com/usdlc All professional development programs were updated to require a locally assigned evaluator to increase accountability; a built-in evaluation rubric providing convenience to local evaluators; and online eCertificates to increase efficiency and documentation support.
2008 United Star's beautiful Star Island in Second Life created by Bill Lovin is launched at NECC. You Only Live Thrice - Book Clubs in Second Life is presented at NECC 2008 by Dr. Crissman. Relationship established with New Dimension Media in promoting professional development. 2009
Lincoln Interactive is added as instructional partner.Monthly professional development events held on United Star's beautiful Star Island. Purple Cow Purposeful Podcasting course in creativity is a new professional development course for K-12 educators. 2010
Book Clubs and Professional Development are regular events on Star Island. In partnership with ISTE United Star's online professional development is offered in Canada and throughout the United States.
2011
The Teaching with Technology professional development series continues to support teachers across the nation in K-12 classrooms. Applied Engineering is added to the high school course offerings from Lincoln Interactive.
United Star is a nonprofit, multi-state educational consortium committed to excellence in teaching and learning through blended technologies. United Star is committed to ensuring that all students and educators, regardless of circumstance or geographic location have equitable access to high quality education opportunities.
History
