Completed Items:

1.) Investigated the INTERACTIVE DIGITAL LEARNING initiative to offer FREE or low cost digital learning (focusing primarily on Math and Sciences) to K-12 (or beyond) to the 16 counties we serve – see this video below for more information. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqOxNp0RUpo  The EODA Ed &Tech committee launched an initiative in September 2011  to engage every member of EODA by inviting them to personally sign up and experience Khan Academy. A challenge was issued and we set a goal for 50% participation to start. Ultimately, we believe that when the leaders of EODA try this digital learning, they will talk to many other people of influence to create a groundswell of support.

2.) Continue to communicate membership training/support. KEY FOCUS of our committee to gather, sort and provide ongoing lists of free resources to our members through the web site and other relevant communication medium.

·         Populated the Education and Technology Committee web page with training opportunities.

·         Established a new email address for all members of the EODA to send pertinent information to be posted to the website. The new address is edtech@eoda.org

3.) Co-chairs of this committee, have learned how to update the EODA website

4.) Ensure that this committee is formally representing EODA on the broadband initiative. Ed Tester will represent this committee when he is available to attend.

5.) Identified and welcomed Greg Adams, the CEO or TDPI Ventures and the Mayor of New Concord to co-chair to our committee

Additional Goad to be addressed:

6.) Ensure members are educated and can communicate with clarity the strengths of our region.

·Mary shared that the MCBI incubator had recently taken time (Led by Larry Triplett) to identify the strengths of the counties we serve.  

·Our committee agreed it would be a good idea to research this to help our members speak with confidence and prepare to market ourselves to potential companies who may want to locate in our region.

·Mary read a report from the governor’s office several months ago and if we can find that report – there were some terrific categories and attributes about Appalachia to feature (Mary will continue to investigate).

7.) Establish an IT contact within each member business

8.) Develop and implement a needs assessment survey for technical knowledge of the membership

• Furnished resource attachments to the EODA membership

• Corresponded with Congressman Space in support of the regional broadband project

• Obtained 90% of e-mail addresses for EODA members (goal was 60%)

• Populated the Education and Technology Committee web page with training opportunities

o   Supported the launch of the B2B network in the EODA region (www.seob2b.org) housed under the OhioB2B flagship (http://www.ohiob2b.org/b2b) directed by Marty Hanlin at Hocking College

o   Supported the EODA linked-in group

o   Offered Education and Technology Training opportunities

o   Offered awareness of the Etech Ohio Conference (February 1-3 in Columbus)

o   Offered awareness of a series of seminars through Congressman Charlie Wilson’s office. One on reinventing small businesses in Steubenville and Marietta. One on growing and connecting with energy programs working with CE3 group, Hocking College, and Voinovich Center. These were offered in St. Clairsville and Marietta.

• Developed the process of a needs assessment survey for technical knowledge of the membership

• Gained the support of a graduate intern in the MISST (MBA/MIS) program at Muskingum University for the 2011 calendar year.