3Com Tackles Critical K-12 Educational Issues and Provides Innovative Solutions At Technology + Learning '98.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1998--

Education's Number One Networking Hardware Supplier Addresses

Pertinent Topics of the Future -- Network Convergence, Workforce

Development and Teacher Training

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS), a global leader in providing data, voice and video networking solutions to educational institutions, today announced it will showcase models for integrating networks into schools during the National School Boards Association Technology + Learning conference in Nashville, Tenn., October 29-31.

At the conference, 3Com will demonstrate programs addressing workforce development, teacher training, and unique client access product technologies that allow educators and students to use emerging applications and enhance the academic experience.

Ranked the number one supplier of networking hardware to the educational market in a recent survey by School Technology Market Report(1), 3Com is supplying the educational community with cutting-edge applications and resources that will benefit the future of the academia.

"Network connectivity transforms schools, the educational process, and thus the end result, student success," said David Katz, 3Com director of global education markets. "As we build our national education infrastructure, we need to turn our attention to the key issues involved in making technology transformational -- building relevant curricular content, training teachers and managing complex networks."

NetPrep Program Opens Doors to Networking Careers

3Com will showcase the NetPrep program, a comprehensive, platform-neutral computer networking curriculum. Developed in partnership with WestNet Learning Technologies and Digital Education Systems (DES), NetPrep is designed to address the escalating need for computer specialists in the U.S. economy, an industry occupation projected to grow by 1.3 million new jobs by 2006.

The NetPrep program, which begins in high school and extends into community college and professional network management, requires high school students to complete four semesters of coursework in networking fundamentals, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and network architectures.

The two-year college curriculum is comprised of eight specific courses, leading to an associate's degree and industry certification by the National Association of Communication Systems Engineers (NACSE).

Recently launched, the NetPrep networking career educational program is reaching an anticipated 1500 students throughout the United States and Canada this fall.

"The NetPrep program is offering high school students an excellent opportunity to prepare for careers and the information technology challenges of the 21st century," says Mary Benson, technology support specialist for Boston Public Schools, a NetPrep pilot school district.

3Com will also host two NetPrep seminars during the conference, detailing how schools and districts can participate in the program, as well as demonstrations from current high school students and teachers using the online curriculum.

TeacherPrep Brings Valuable Knowledge to Instructors

In conjunction with the Santa Clara County (Calif.) Office of Education, 3Com will showcase TeacherPrep, an online teacher training program. Developed to educate teachers on ways network computers can change they way they instruct students, TeacherPrep also focuses on using the World Wide Web in the classroom and designing distance learning classes.

"Because technology is an essential part of education, it is important that teachers and instructors be trained to use various applications and the Internet," said Judy Powers, manager of curriculum and technology for Santa Clara County Office of Education's Educational Development Center. "3Com understands the end-to-end solution for providing networks to schools, not only is the equipment a valuable tool, but also having knowledgeable teachers who can use technology applications in the classroom."

Palm Computing(R) Platform Eliminating the Need for Attendance

and Grade Books

Teaming with SchoolSoft(R), a Westlake Village, Calif.-based corporation that develops enterprise solutions for education, 3Com will demonstrate the popular, handheld PalmPilot(tm) connected organizer.

The Palm Computing(R) platform is an open software architecture for handheld computing that provides an ideal basis for third-party developers to create innovative mobile computing solutions.

Exhibiting in the booth, SchoolSoft will present PilotSoft(tm), a state-of-the-art, teacher-specific device which helps school administrators manage the extensive business of staying in touch with teachers, classroom activity, as well as parents.

PilotSoft enables teachers to store and manage student information, track grades, attendance and homework assignments, and keep and update progress reports on a daily basis onto a PalmPilot connected organizer.

Designed to synchronize with RecordSoft, the accompanying administrative software, teachers can then deliver classroom data, as well as selected information, memos and comments about students to the front office, without using a single piece of paper. Parents can access information about their children's attendance, progress and assignments via the telephone and Internet on a 24-hour, daily basis.

PilotSoft also stores and displays personal information about students and families, health records and emergency contact information.

"PilotSoft has successfully proven to be the most inexpensive and smartest way to get information from the classroom to the front office and then eventually to the home," said John Weldon, SchoolSoft co-founder and president. "By allowing teachers an easy to use system to compute and distribute information to the administration, it creates additional classroom learning time, and better educational experiences for students."

A long-standing networking partner to educational institutions worldwide, 3Com is committed to bringing the most advanced networking technology to schools in practical, affordable solutions.

3Com combines unparalleled price and performance with industry-leading experience to enable thousands of K-12 schools, colleges and universities to confidently deploy new multimedia applications that enhance communication, learning, and research.

3Com's scalable solutions provide the means for students, teachers, researchers and administrators to discover new worlds of information, adopt interactive models of teaching and learning, and reduce operational costs. Additional information on 3Com's education programs is available at www.3Com.com/edu.

About SchoolSoft

SchoolSoft allows parents, teachers and students access to information critical to their academic success 24-hours a day, seven days a week. As a leader in education specific enterprise solutions, SchoolSoft has developed the first teacher gradebook package for handheld devices.

This pioneering application allows teachers and administrators the freedom and flexibility to input data whenever and wherever they want. The data is then available to parents instantaneously over the telephone or Internet, giving parents "real time" access to their child's academic progress.

SchoolSoft services both public and private schools across the country with innovative, education specific technology that helps reduce the demands placed on teachers, while increasing access to information for parents.

SchoolSoft is truly the fastest, easiest, most affordable way to move data from America's classrooms to their living rooms. For more information on SchoolSoft call 800/680-2225 or visit www.schoolsoftweb.com.

About 3Com

3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 200 million customers worldwide.

The company provides large enterprises, small and medium enterprises, carriers and network service providers, and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks.

For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or the press site at http//www.3Com.com/pressbox.

Note to Editors: 3Com and Palm Computing are registered trademarks and PalmPilot is a trademark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. SchoolSoft is a registered trademark and PilotSoft is a trademark of the Educational Advancement Corporation.

All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

(1) School Technology Market Report, a newsletter published by Stamford, CT-based Simba Information, for the purposes of ranking included revenues generated from sales of computers - including PCs, laptops, servers and workstations - and networking equipment - including routers, switches and hubs - to U.S. schools and colleges.