Ocotillo:
A Brief History

Ocotillo takes its name from a plant which is indigenous to the natural Arizona landscape. Like the plant's branches which reach up and out in many directions, Ocotillo's ideas reach out, grow, and flourish in the nurturing environment of the Maricopa Community College District. As a result of its innovative outlook, Ocotillo is becoming an intrinsic part of Arizona's educational landscape.

Ocotillo took the form of a "grass roots" faculty-driven "think tank" envisioning the future of instruction using, but not becoming limited or driven by, technology. Each year, the Ocotillo membership identified issues to be addressed in order to effectively serve the District community. Groups based on these issues worked cooperatively to help students, faculty, and staff harness technology in order to enhance the learning process within the District.

Over the years, Ocotillo has changed as people began to "paint outside the lines" of the Ocotillo picture. Although technology has remained an integral element, it no longer is the key component. Committees have begun to shift their focus and dialogues to the larger and broader agenda which drives the entire Maricopa District-- learning.

Ocotillo has been and continues to be the mechanism by which faculty and staff with a common interest can come together to explore issues of teaching and learning. It provides faculty with a forum for voicing their reflections and insights regarding the quality of learning and instruction across the District.