Lake County Educational Services Center Distance Learning Program Grant offered by the National Park Service

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN: Create programming that will be accessible from any classroom around the country, provided they have the appropriate equipment. Strengthen an existing partnership with our local educational services center and by extension, the educational community.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT: LCESC will recruit and assist JAGA in selecting candidates to become TRTs, and assist in the evaluation process. LCESC will provide technical assistance in setting up and executing programing using distance learning equipment. LCESC will train JAGA staff and TRTs on equipment usage, as well as the national common core curriculum which are the new education standards being used in schools across the country. LCESC will purchase, on behalf of JAGA, necessary peripheral equipment needed for successful operation of distance learning equipment.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT: JAGA staff will directly supervise TRTs and staff being trained to develop programs and use distance learning equipment. JAGA has created position descriptions and performance plans for TRTs. JAGA staff will train TRTs on site-specific content, and allow TRTs the opportunity to provide interpretive programs and gain experience working in the Visitor Center.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: In addition to the ability of LCESC to provide the specific technical and program support this project requires, partnering with this local organization has several other benefits: NPS would be keeping our money within our local community; LCESC has the ability to recruit local teachers for the TRT position which allows the NPS to support local teachers/community, LCESC has a relationship with area schools and can identify teachers and classrooms with whom the Park can test its programs; staff members at LCESC are local – many have been to the site before as former teachers, therefore having a personal connection to the site and Garfield story; the NPS would be offering an opportunity for local teachers to engage in a different type of teaching experience; LCESC is within close proximity to JAGA, so it is readily available for a site visit to help with technical/equipment issues. The Park would like to develop the partnership with its local educational services center and by extension, its area schools. LCESC provides similar technical and support services to other ESC/ESU’s, but its proximity to the site, familiarity with the Garfield site in particular, and its ability to continue the Park’s relationships with the local schools is an important aspect of one of the Park’s goals as a national park site.