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Goals of the Open Gateways Program
Through its Open Gateways program, Sun has demonstrated its committment
to prepare students for the digital economy, utilizing strategies that
promote inclusion and an appreciation for diversity.
Specific goals are to:
- Assist schools, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities,
deploy network computing technologies
- Support the use of networked-based solutions to deliver effective
models of instruction and improve student outcomes
- Promote the integration of technology into curriculum through teacher
professional development
- Share best practices with others who wish to try similar approaches
Open Gateway Communities
In order to maximize the impact, and involve Sun employee volunteers,
the Open Gateways program has contributed grants of Sun products and site-based
teacher professional development in communities where there is a sizeable
employee base. These communities are:
- Bay Area, California
- Broomfield, Colorado
- Burlington and Middlesex counties, Massachusetts
- West Lothian Council, Scotland
Sun may occasionally issue grants outside of the above targeted communities.
In such instances, grants are undertaken as Strategic Initiatives or as
announced in published RFPs. Unsolicited grant requests are not reviewed.
Open Gateways Grants
Helping to create the schools of the 21st century is about more than
just money and equipment. It's about developing new models of instruction,
developing educational content and providing tools to deliver them to students.
Sun periodically establishes demonstration sites or issues Request For Proposals
(RFP) with specific grant opportunities that can include:
Product Grants
Grants are tailored to objectives outlined in each RFP and feature
Sun's latest server, Enterprise Appliance, and/or Java technologies.
System Training and Support
Grants include training to ensure that schools have the capacity to
support the systems received through Open Gateways Product Grants. A one-year
service contract may also be provided.
Teacher Professional Development
Sun sponsored educational consultants or employee volunteers trained
in the Open Gateways Curriculum for Teachers
deliver training on integrating StarOffice™ and other technologies
into the school's curricula.
Open Gateways Curriculum for Teachers
Sun believes that technology, when aligned with curricula and used
to deliver effective models of instruction, can be a powerful tool for learning
that creates richer learning experiences for students, improves student
achievement and prepares students for the world of work in the new economy.
The Open Gateways Curriculum for Teachers consists of Training
Modules and resources designed to teach persons interested in training
teachers to fully integrate the StarOffice™ suite of productivity
tools into their school curricula.
Training Modules
Modules contain step-by-step instructions designed to give learners a sense
of comfort and confidence using the Internet and StarOffice™ suite
of productivity tools. Specific pre-requisites and learning outcomes
are provided.
Facilitator Notes
The recommended delivery model is facilitator-led workshops in which the
facilitator models and an activity and allows participants to follow and
practice new concepts. Each module contains facilitator notes are offered
to help guide the instruction.
Independent Practice and Create Your Own
Each module includes either an independent practice or "Create Your
Own" activity which enables workshop participants working individually
or in teams to produce sample products to demonstrate learning outcomes.
Trainer Resources:
A variety of resources are provided to assist with logistical preparations;
including guidelines for effective workshops and templates such as sample
survey and evaluation form. Facilitators are advised to review these materials
prior to conducting workshops.
Teacher Resources
Resources include teacher-developed lesson plans and resources to assist
with curriculum integration. Additonal Sun sites are provided that connect
learns with supplemental training and support.
Sun and America's Promise
Sun is proud to have been one of the first high-tech companies to respond
to Secretary of State Colin Powell's call to action on behalf of America's
Youth. Through the Open Gateways Program, Sun pledged to bring Internet
access to K-12 schools in economically disadvantaged areas, provide training
to teachers and deliver innovative curricula based on the Internet. By
the end of 2000, Sun and its employees contributed more than 20,000 hours
of service in schools and more than five million dollars in equipment
and teacher training to help prepare youth for the world of work and lifelong
learning in the 21st century.
For More Information
For more information about Open Gateways and other Sun Foundation programs,
contact:
Sun Microsystems, Foundation Inc. and
Global Community Development Department
corpaffrs@sun.com
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