OPEN Clearinghouse

There are several new faces at the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD. Housed within the Instructional Services Department, at ESD headquarters in Albany, is the OPEN Clearinghouse (OPEN). Three gentlemen are hard at work on a number of different projects that may well impact the use of instructional technology throughout the state.

Dennis Schultz, until recently an elementary school teacher from Newberg, Gus Frederick, former District Technology Specialist from Silverton, and long-time LBLESD Instructional Technology Coordinator, Dave Moore are the core team of this newly formed clearinghouse funded by the Oregon Department of Education.

The OPEN has been assigned to assist in the development of a support system for staff development and instructional technology in Oregon. The role of the clearinghouse is to house and catalog resources that support effective uses of technology in the classroom. Various projects within the OPEN will provide resources for teacher training, innovative uses of technology in learning by students and teachers, CAM resources for the Natural Resources strand, and support for key regional initiatives around the state.

With more and more emphasis being placed on new information technology tools for use by Oregon's educators, it has become apparent that there is a real need for training in the use of these tools.

"Sure, it's nice to have the latest-greatest computer web browser and a direct connection to the Internet, but how will I learn to use it to impact learning?" This and similar concerns are what the OPEN hopes to address. As a program funded under the Oregon Public Education Network (OPEN), the design and implementation strategy of the OPEN is to coordinate these programs with all of Oregon's ESDs.

Proposed products of the OPEN include staff development materials, World Wide Web-based resource sites, and the promotion and marketing of these new products. All products will be designed for eventual statewide use, and will be available and useful to the many classrooms and districts throughout Oregon.

If you have any questions, or are curious, please contact Dennis, Gus, or Dave at 541-967-8822, extensions 129 or 29.