MAFEI's Oakland Technology Exchange-West (OTX-West) Project reuses and places quality computer systems in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) schools and student homes. OTX-West solicits companies for equipment donations and puts to use thousands of unused computers that are considered obsolete by corporate standards. Equipment is diverted from landfill and refurbished to provide valuable tools that support educational instruction and student achievement.

With the assistance of more than 200 volunteers, OTX-West performs a triage process that includes testing the computer, loading legal and appropriate software, and cleaning each system. Based on school site needs, some computers go to schools, while others are provided to students with the support of OUSD's Urban Dreams Project.

MAFEI's OTX-W Project offers students a tool that enables them to produce professional work, practice math and language skills, and acquire basic computer skills. To receive a home computer, each student and one parent attend a three-hour training session at school. Training has been provided in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Since the 2000-2001 school year, OTX-West has delivered more than 2,000 home computers to Oakland students.

Working closely with the OUSD technical staff and directly with schools, OTX-West also provides computers to OUSD labs and classrooms and for OUSD projects as needed. Since the 2000-2001 school year, OTX-West has delivered more than 2,000 computers to Oakland schools.

This program year, 2002-2003, it is anticipated that some 2,000 computers will be distributed.

The Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute is a member of CTCNet, a national non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 community techology centers. MAFEI has developed an introductory training manual on creating a sucessful reuse program based upon its model, OTX-West. MAFEI has also developed a video guide that will be available in a CD-ROM format. Simply contact us for more information.
Building Connections: Creating a Successful Computer Reuse Program