3 slots open for Jan 17-19 COV Workshop in Altus

Welcome to COV in 2009! It's going to be an exciting year, and we have approximately 20 workshops lined up so far. We are "branching out" to offer workshops with two different funding models this year, which is a good thing but requires a bit of explaining. I've made extensive updates to our project wiki, now located at wiki.celebrateoklahoma.us, where you can get more details. COV workshops are now offered with two funding models:

1- Individual Application, Grant Supplemented Workshops: These are supplemented by our grant from AT&T, and individual cost is $150 to participate. Currently we have 1 of these workshops scheduled for 2009, for 29-13 July. That sign-up form is NOT available online yet. We do hope to offer more workshops under this funding model, but that availability will be dependent on securing new grant funds this year.

2- Organizational Workshops: These are funded according to the formula explained on our project wiki: Currently a $3000 base cost and $400 per participant, with workshops having a minimum of 10 participants and a maximum of 25. If "slots" are available for an organizational workshop that are NOT taken by the hosting organization, ANYONE can apply to attend. The cost for individual attendance in an "open slot" is $520. (This insures equity, since $520 x 25 = $13,000, and that is the total cost for an organization hosting a COV workshop with 25 participants.)

These costs have been calculated to cover our facilitator and minimal administrative costs for conducting these workshops.

My main announcement today is that we have THREE (3) "open slots" available for the COV workshop in Altus this weekend, Jan 17-19, 2009. I apologize this is short notice, in the future we will try and provide a two-week notice for "open slots" prior to a COV workshop. Again the cost to attend this workshop is $520 for an "open slot." If you or educators at your school are interested in attending this weekend, please contact me as soon as possible by phone at 405.562.6175.

I will be posting an online application for past COV workshop participants to apply to become co-facilitators soon. The complete schedule (still subject to change) for 2009 COV workshops is available on http://covproject.pbwiki.com/workshops2009.

If you have questions, please post them as comments here so others can see the Q&A. If you want to reserve a slot for Altus, please call me ASAP!

The lead facilitator for our COV workshop this weekend in Altus is Scott Charlson. Scott will be assisted by co-facilitators Kamala Jolly-Stewart and Kent Brooks. The training will take place at Western Oklahoma State College. Since the schedule is different (at the request of Mangum Schools, who is funding this workshop) and taking place all day Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and all day Monday, a modified COV workshop agenda (PDF) is being used.

Check back on the COV learning community (this website) Monday afternoon and next week to see all the great videos the Mangum teachers are going to create and publish this weekend! Be sure to leave some thoughtful comments and feedback for them too when you watch their videos! :-)