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Background The Organization for Educational Technology & Curriculum (OETC) is an incorporated not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to maximizing the value of educational technology to its members by working with software and hardware vendors to procure the most effective and appropriate technological resources at the lowest possible price. Schools rely on us for quality assurance and low-cost certainty for technology purchasing. OETC membership is comprised of more than 800 educational institutions, school districts, colleges, and other non-profit educational organizations throughout the U.S. OETC Goals
Eligibility for Membership All accredited educational entities are entitled to membership in OETC. This includes, but is not limited to, public K-12 school districts, private K-12 schools, community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, education service districts, professional educational organizations, and state agencies responsible for the administration of public education. If you would like to join OETC a membership application is available, as well as the membership agreement. Benefits of being a Member for Schools/Districts OETC offers significant savings to members on software and hardware purchases for educational use. We are able to offer the best possible price through the unique pricing and distribution agreements OETC has entered on behalf of its members. By aggregating to represent the largest segment of the market, OETC can negotiate for better pricing and distribution arrangements that meet the needs of both large and small member organizations. For instance, members in OETC can buy licenses separate from media or documentation. To get an idea of your potential savings, check out our price list. New Century Schoolhouse and IT Newsletters OETC membership includes a free subscription to the New Century Schoolhouse and the Ed:IT newsletters, quarterly newsletters dedicated to bringing educational technology information, curriculum ideas, how to articles and more to teachers, technology staff, and administrators. We also accept paid advertisements from our vendors for print in our newsletter to help promote software and hardware products available through OETC. To download and read some of the recent editions of The New Century Schoolhouse or Ed:IT, go to www.oetc.org/newsletters.html. ITSC The Instructional Technology Strategies Conference (ITSC) is an opportunity for educators to think, explore, and develop strategies to enhance student achievement through the effective use of technology. ITSC provides dedicated, quality time to identify challenges, review effective models and develop strategies. Recognizing that a single person cannot effectively integrate technology into the curriculum, OETC encourages educators to attend the conference together in teams from schools or districts. ITSC is a model of effective staff development that integrates technology while provided substantive material. For more information about ITSC, please visit itsc.oetc.org. The History of the OETC OETC began 25 years ago in 1983 as the Oregon Video Consortium. We quickly evolved into the Oregon Educational Computer Consortium in 1986 and then became the Oregon Educational Technology Consortium in 1995. In 2004 we changed our name to reflect our expanding services. We are now the Organization for Educational Technology & Curriculum. Beginning in 1990, we expanded our interests from software and hardware purchases to offering training and professional development to teachers and school administrators. The level of annual purchasing has grown from $100,000 per year to more than $10 million dollars per year. OETC's history includes establishment of formal relationships with manufacturers and vendors for a wide variety of technology products that are used in schools to enhance the delivery of services to students. We now list products and information on our web site and produce a quarterly newsletter that reaches all teachers and administrators in member districts and organizations. OETC sponsors training events, conferences and symposiums for further exposure of product lines, using vendor representatives and evaluation center staff for presentations. This year we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary of providing customer service, lowest-cost technology, and professional development. |