THE OASIS INSTITUTE

Education - the network centers design and implement local educational programs in the areas of the arts, humanities and a broad range of other interest areas. Topics range from creative writing and poetry, art history, performing and visual arts, international studies, american and world history and current events. The institute supports the network in developing educational programs that address technology literacy through the oasis connections technology training program and include topics on how to use ipads, iphones, internet, email, facebook, accessibility for handheld devices and fraud and scam protection. The institute works with the supporting organizations and other program locations throughout the country to implement these programs. Participation in oasis programs has grown by double digit percents each year since the pandemic began. Gross revenue grew by 50% between 2022 and 2023 and an additional 40% between 2023 and 2024. Oasis still offers most programs in a hybrid format and around 50% of particiapnts are still logging on, even if they live in the same city in which the program is hosted. Oasiseverywhere, the virtual education center that sources content from oasis network centers across the country and provides an additional revenue stream and growing audience for locally developed and delivered lifelong learning, health/exercise, and social connection programs, is still operating and a critical component of oasis operations. Oasis everywhere, the solely virtual 'center' grew by about 17% between 2022 and 2023, with revenue totaling $103,000 in 2022 and $121,000 in 2023. Oasis also started offering content in 2023 from partners outside of the oasis national network, as well as expanding our participant base through partnership with other non-profits, market rate and subsidized senior living communities, and public and private corporate partners.

Technology literacy - the institute has developed a broad library of technology literacy curricula that is offered under the oasis connections program category. These courses teach adults how to use technology in order to stay connected with friends and family to decrease social isolation, add digital tools to their lives, provide them with confidence to learn new technology skills on their own, and navigate the internet safely. Participants also gain or improve skills to engage in online activities such as managing benefits and healthcare/health monitoring. The curriculum is composed of more than 30 courses that are relevant to people in the oasis demographic. These include introduction to the computer, introduction to email, google photos, introduction to the internet, ipad, iphone, mobile accessibility, safety and privacy online, windows 10, windows 11, mac os and android devices. All courses are translated into spanish. The supporting organizations and other local program sites offer a wide range of technology courses to participants using the oasis technology curriculum. Enrollment in connections classes has exceeded 155,000 since the program began in 2001. Oasis connections youtube instructional videos have received more than 213,000 views.