Foreword and Acknowledgements
By William Greenwood


The JEdI Project is a bridge for teachers and students to explore 
and gain confidence in using the massive volumes of earth science 
data now being published by the U.S.  Government on CD-ROM.  This 
bridge has been built through the cooperation and mutual planning 
of teachers, Federal scientists and agencies, and industry.  Each 
gave  its  expertise  and resources in a group effort that  is  a 
model  to enhance science education in the  United  States.   The 
project  has been at times  thrilling,  risky,  frustrating,  yet 
finally fulfilling.   For me it has been a great pleasure to work 
with such a committed team.

Now that these discs and the Teacher Activities Book is available 
and teachers are using CD-ROM systems in their classrooms,  it is 
easy  to  forget how it all came together.   Project JEdI is  the 
product of imagination, determination, and what I would call "raw 
nerve."   Without  people -- individuals  from  Federal  bureaus, 
companies,  and  school faculties -- the JEdI project would never 
have been.

The  JEdI  workshop  participants  deserve  special  recognition.  
Forsaking  summer  vacation,  these teachers joined  the  project 
without  any  funding  for  travel  or  expenses.    Their  role, 
providing  the link between science and technology in  one  world 
and students in another, is the key to the success of JEdI.  They 
were  willing to risk upsetting their curriculum and professional 
lives with something unproven, untried, and demanding.

I wish to thank all of the companies taking part in this project.  
Without the donation of CD-ROM computers, CD-ROM readers, and CD-
ROM discs,  the workshop and this collection of activities  would 
not have been possible.   The technical support provided by these 
companies is greatly appreciation;  it is something that is never 
figured into a project but is essential to its success.

The  key people of JEdI need special mention.   On the JEdI  team 
are:   Jerry  McFaul  who  arranged  for an  enormous  amount  of 
industry and government support; Dave Traudt who put together the 
discs - many different programs,  many different formats - and it 
all  works;  Mary Orzech who performed a most difficult  task  of 
taking all the pieces and fitting them together at the right time 
to  make everything look easy and professional;  and Jim  Sproull 
who  enlisted  teacher  support,  the  critical  element  in  any 
educational project.

Outside of the JEdI team, other individuals have been an enormous 
help in every stage.  Jane Timmins, Susan Socks, and Greg Gunnels 
in the Automation Center of the Office of Scientific Publications 
have been excellent technical advisors.  Jane especially has been 
the major force in organizing and preparing the activity book for 
publication.  Without her guidance, assistance, and instantaneous 
adjustments and repairs to the publication and computer,  a major 
portion of this project would not have occurred.

Finally  the actual credit for getting this publication out  goes 
to Jane Timmins and Mary Orzech.  Mary learned desktop publishing 
by  following  Jane's  instructions.   And Jane's  standards  for 
publications are high.

To all the scientists,  administrators,  technicans, and teachers 
who helped with the JEdI project: well done.