OREGON PUBLIC EDUCATION NETWORK PARTNERS WITH OREGON SYMPHONY
TO DELIVER TEACHER TRAINING VIA INTERACTIVE TELECONFERENCING SYSTEM
____________________________________________________________________________________

Portland, Ore. … Using a high-speed Internet connection to the Qwest network and Oregon Public Education Network's (OPEN) two-way interactive teleconferencing system Oregon Access Network, the Oregon Symphony's Education and Community Programs will present a teacher workshop Tuesday, March 19, for elementary and secondary teachers in Hermiston.

The workshop will focus on a Symphony Youth Concert, "The Music Team," to be presented in Hermiston, Ore., during the Symphony's Meyer Memorial Trust/NEA Regional Tour on April 12. Led by Oregon Symphony Director of Education and Community Programs Michael Kosmala, the workshop will originate from the Oregon Department of Education VTEL studio in Salem from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on March 19.

"Attending" teachers from the Hermiston School District will be led through a series of listening lessons that support the Symphony's Youth Concert. Teachers will also be introduced to the lesson plans that make cross-curricular connections with English, Social Sciences, Career-Related Learning, Technology, Visual Arts and Music.

"We are very grateful to Camille Cole, OPENAccess21 Project Manager and to Jerry Wilson, Superintendent of the Hermiston Schools, for helping to make this a reality," said Kosmala.

Since 1962, the Symphony has continued to enhance the quality, expand the scope and extend the reach of its education and community programs. Last year the Symphony served more than 300,000 children and adults throughout the state.

As part of 1999's Senate Bill 622 in Oregon, Qwest provided $50 million for installation of high speed Internet connections to Oregon K-8 schools and two-way video connections to every Oregon high school, both inside and outside of Qwest territory. School districts are utilizing the connections and video technology to provide additional instruction and resources to students and advanced curriculum and professional development opportunities to instructors. OPEN, a Web-based resource for teaching & learning, provides a host of cross-curricular and standards-based educational resources designed by and for Oregon's public school teachers.