Math. Algebra. Chemistry.  Every year millions of students struggle academically because of the lack of high-quality learning resources in their schools and at home.  Due to budget cuts, many schools no longer offer tutoring and private tutoring services can be extremely expensive and inconvenient to a family's busy schedules.

The Internet offers a variety of high-quality open educational resources including websites such as Khan Academy, CK12 Flexbooks, studyHELP, FlexMath and TeacherTube.  These self-pace learning tools are free, convenient, available 24/7 and accessible on demand.  All the resources a struggling student needs to catch-up and excel in school.

The problem, most parents know nothing about these freely available learning resources and continue to spend time and money on other traditional and costly educational services and tutoring.

The Open Education Institute was created to help parents save time and money on academic assistance for their children by introducing them to freely available educational resources on the Internet.  We aim to "Bring the Digital Classroom into the Home" by providing parents with the knowledge, skill and access to successfully use digital learning tools to help their children succeed in school and in 21st century life.

My partner and I have spent over 20 + years in the education industry.  We've learned over the years, that people outside the education community are unaware of new teaching and learning innovations.  Many of our family and friends have asked for advice on ideas to help their academically struggling children.  So we simply thought we should provide the same digital learning training we do for schools to help a broader population of parents by conducting seminars (with seasoned teachers) to give parents alternative ways to help their struggling children at home.  

Our "hands-on" seminars, with a expert team of experienced teachers will introduce and guide parents on how to use digital learning tools as well as a digital library of Open Educational Resource websites using OEI's Learning Resource LrPortal.  The 3-hour seminars will be held on Saturdays and Sundays (9am- noon and 1pm - 4Pm) at community-based venues such as hotel and community college large-group meeting rooms.

The OEI Learning Resource LrPortal will provide seminar attendees easy and direct access to a digital library of over  10,000 Open Educational Resources via any computer device with a modern web browser.

We plan to launch 10 pilot seminars in Seattle/Tacoma area in fall 2012 to test, refine, and tweak our innovative education program.  Then we will expand to other communities globally.

Our goal is the impact 100,000 + families annually by 2016.

In order to launch and conduct the pilot seminars, we need start-up funds. If you believe in our mission, please make a donation of support.  Thank you!

We will use donated funds for start-up activties to promote and conduct 10 "pilot" awareness seminars.  This includes meeting room rental for up to 120 attendess, seminar leader and student helpers labor, local event marketing / promotion and seminar supplies.

If we reach our tipping point of $5,000 we can promote and conduct our first two pilot seminars on a Saturday impacting a potential of 200 families. (At 100 attendees per session.)

If we reach our total funding goal of $20,000 we can promote and conduct 10 seminars over multiple weekends impacting a potential of up to 1,000 families. (At 100 attendees per session.)

If we exceed our funding goal and reach $30,000, we can promote and conduct 20 seminars over multiple weekends in two venues impacting a potential of up to 4,000 families before Christmas.