OWL Institute Implementation Plan

Posted February 17th, 2010 by Inside OWL

The Open World Learning Institute seeks to provide anytime, anywhere access to high quality learning opportunities. To accomplish this goal, OWL is creating a working model of a financially sustainable Open Education Center (analog) and Portal (digital) that can be reproduced or franchised to different communities. The key to success is twofold: (1) determine what works in meeting clients' needs for both Center and Portal operations, and (2) determine a successful strategy for generating operational revenue. The aim is to create vibrant places of learning capable of generating high-quality, local content without the need for charitable funding to sustain operations; nevertheless, to sustain startup operations, charitable funding is required.

Here, we have identified what we believe are valuable community and market services and products that can serve as the core package to be offered by each center; only the “OWLab” is specific to the parent center:

1. Overview

Social Capital

(free)

Market Capital

(fee)

Projects

Programs

Professional
Development for Educators

Open
Ed Portal

Digital
Literacy

Home
Education Consulting

Open
Ed Center (model)

Internet
Safety

Teaching
Services

OWLab

Tutor
Connection

 

 

COER

 

Most of these products and services are generic and may be implemented in diverse communities; however, to accomplish global outreach, non-English content and appropriate market strategies will need to be developed.

The Program Theory and Implementation Plan included here encompasses only the social capital elements—plans encompassing market capital programming will be presented separately; however, both types of capital will be pursued simultaneously.

In addition to the overall theory and plan of the Institute, OWL volunteers and staff receive Program Theories and Implementation Plans specific to their programs of service. All theories and plans are evolving documents and updates are or will be available through the
OWL Institute website.

2. Implementation Plan

RESOURCES

ACTIVITIES

OUTPUTS

SHORT- AND
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES

IMPACT

 

In order to
accomplish our set of activities we will need the following:

 

In order to
address our problem or asset we will accomplish the following activities:

 

We expect
that once accomplished these activities will produce the following evidence
or service delivery:

 

We expect
that if accomplished these activities will lead to the following changes in
1-3 then 4-6 years:

 

We expect
that if accomplished these activities will lead to the following changes in
7-10 years:

 

• diverse & dedicated board of directors representing
potential partners

• facility and furnishings

• job descriptions for board & staff

• computer software & hardware

• budget

• board & staff orientation process

 

 

• design and implementation of funding strategy

• design and implementation of volunteer recruitment and
training

• secure facility for center

• create an evaluation plan

• design & implementation of  PR campaign

 

 • “Internet Safety” programming

• “Digital
Literacy” programming

• “Tutor
Connection” programming

• Memorandum of
agreement for free center space

•OWLab created

 

• 500+
“Internet Safety” certifications

• 500+ “Digital
Literacy certifications

• 200+ center
members

•20+ volunteer
tutors

•25+ COER
created and maintained

• 5+ center
staff members

• 3+ lab staff
members

 

• Greater
community understanding and use of ICT for education and employment

• Greater community
of innovation and experimentation in use of ICT for education, employment and
cultural production

3. Project Theory

Comments