FAQs
FAQs about Learning Approach
What is OC’s learning approach?
Visit "What Are We Striving For?" and "Turning Our Values to Action" to get a full sense of our approach.
All FAQs
Who are the people guiding the OC learning approach?
The Founders
Susan Shilcock and Peter Bergson founded Open Connections (OC) in 1975 to preserve the natural, innovative thinking of young children, and to underscore the value of family, Real Work and collaboration in education. Our History
Notable Reformers
Since then, OC has synthesized 30 years of experience with groundbreaking ideas of renowned educational reformers such as John Holt, Ivan Illich, Jean Piaget, Howard Gardner, Alfie Kohn, Peter Senge and Barry Kaufman to create a new paradigm in education and family life. Our History
The core staff
The staff is chosen to complement and expand upon the OC learning approach. They bring a diverse range of expertise in areas such as education; children and family development and counseling; collaborative problem-solving; team and organizational development; literature and language arts; visual, ceramic, performing and commercial arts; woodworking; environmental sciences; athletics and coaching expertise; foreign language, culture and cuisine; non-profit business management and development; philanthropic involvement; and OC community membership. Staff
Parents and Volunteers
Parent-Resourcers, visiting mentors and ongoing volunteers bring unique expertise and passions to their work with OC youth in a wide array of subjects. Past visitors have included an aerospace engineer, architects, commercial artists, professional singer-songwriters and other performing artists/musicians, craft and fine artists such as stained glass, watercolor, batiking, rubber stamping/paper arts and book making, metalworking/farrier, videographers, photographer, animators, orchestra double bass player, sports journalist, wood worker, bird specialist, medical professionals, etc., etc. (Visit "a community of families" to learn more about our families.)
