digital literacy
Digital Media Curriculum Development
Organization:
Bruce Wall Ministries/Prep Community Computer Center VISTA Name:
Michael Allwood
Program Start:
11/2001
Program End:
11/2002
Project Description:
Michale’s responsibilities include creating technology curricula for our after school program and computer club.
In addition, Michael has spent much of the summer working with our teen summer job placement program New Horizons.
Project Outcome:
Most of Michael’s focus has been on developing curricula for media classes for youth.
He has done extensive work on curriculum for youth using digital music mixing programs like Hip Hop eJay and Acid Music. He is also working on curricula for youth for Web design and graphics design. He is in the process of finalizing his curriculum materials and training a replacement staff person.
Michael is also developing a curriculum for the computer club up and helping to teach classes.
Michael has developed training materials for youth in New Horizons and is also teaching classes. Michael has also been assisting with technical support and is still in the process of further developing our documentation around this. Because we cancelled our summer camp this year, Michael was not able to develop any curriculum for the camp.
Computer and Digital Literacy Program Building
Organization:
Black Child & Family Institute VISTA Name:
Victoria Jackson
Program Start:
6/2001
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
Closing the Digital Gap Program
Objective 1: The Program Director, BCFI staff and volunteers will provide orientation and introduction to the project and the Lansing community
Objective 2: New Horizon Computer Learning Center staff will provide four days of training in Beginning, Intermediate and Advance Windows and Beginning Internet.
Objective 3: Provide training and support in helping members of the target population increase their computer knowledge and skills.
Objective 4: : VISTA workers will assist in the implementation of the Port of Entry/Closing the Gap program
Objective 5: Public and private sector resources will enable the project to continue after the Members leave.
Project Outcome:
Objective 1: Objective completed at the beginning of the program-February 2001.
Objective 2: All Vistas Have had over 10 days of training.
Objective 3: Victoria has provided support services to all 516 graduates
Objective 4: Victoria has scheduled Workshops for 414 graduates since she started. She has assisted in the recruitment of 24 volunteers. Victoria is part of the new and old equipment teams. These teams are responsible for the dispensing and acquiring of all computers and component parts.Victoria has assisted in the scheduling of 24 volunteers,
Objective 5: We have received funding from foundations for over $90,000. We fell short of our objective to raise $8,000 from faith based organizations and $14,000 in individual donations. We received $7,100 from faith based organizations and $10,000 from individuals. We have received a continuation from the City of Lansing Economic Development Initiative and increased the funding to $40,000.
One of the major problems our program has encountered in the past is the overwhelming popularity our program; we have reduced our waiting list to the point that that a new applicant is able to attend class in 6-8 months. We have a new internet service provider ACD.NET who has generously agreed to provide all of the Closing the Digital Gap’s graduates with free 1 year internet service. We have come along way in a short period of time, but we still have a long way to go.
Program and Curriculum Development
Organization:
Kids Computer Workshop VISTA Name:
Benedict Tisa
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Objective 1: Develop a series of activities cards for computer learning
a. Identify 15 topics and start to develop content, along with instructional materials.
b. Develop 40 individual cards or lessons
c. Pilot test material on program that will train 20 tutors.
d. Modify based on experience during implementation.
Objective 2: Develop resources section for the KCW (Kids’ Computer Workshop) website
a. Develop resources that can be used by students, tutors and parents.
b. Maintain and update resource section.
c. Identify person to maintain and update the resource section of the web site as needed.
Objective 3: Develop and implement classes for seniors
a. Develop and implement course materials based on feedback from two focus groups.
b. Develop a series of five short courses geared to the needs of 20 seniors’ from the Shaw/Columbia Heights community.
c. Identify two volunteers to continue working with senior outreach.
Objective 4: Develop and implement community outreach activities in the Columbia Height-Shaw area of the District of Columbia
a. Identify at lease two potential partners to strengthen and increase programs’ capacity.
b. Working with other CTC in the Columbia Height/Shaw area, develop outreach programs in the community.
Project Outcome:
Objective 1
This has been accomplished and has developed into a Resource for Educators section of the KCW web page. Educational topics were identified and the materials developed in both digital and print form when appropriate.
Objective 2
Resources have been developed for the following topics: Resources for Educators that covers KCW specific materials as well as a resource to other information and organization useful to teachers and students in the KCW program as well as resources for adult class that offered at the YMCA by KCW.
Objective 3
These classes have been held each Thursday; the enrolment had to be limited to 15 participants due to space requirements. Courses and class materials were developed that not only impart computer skills but also are focused on activities and resources that empower seniors to take part in community, governmental, social and health activities.
Objective 4
Two additional partners have been identified and are in the process of implementing or developing activities with KCW.
Kids Computer Workshop
Website:
http://www.kcw.org/ Location:
Washington, DC
Teaching inner-city kids computer skills in DC is the goal of the Kids Computer Workshop. The program is designed to build computer literacy while developing basic reading, writing and math skills.
Youth Digital Literacy Training Development
Organization:
RTPNet VISTA Name:
Douglas Dumont
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Douglas worked with Duke University faculty and students to develop CLICK (Creating Literacy in Computer Knowledge), a computer literacy training program for 6th graders. CLICK develops computer skills for at-risk middle school students, engaging them in an after-school setting that is interactive and fun. CLICK lessons include Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and multimedia presentations. The website (http://www.duke.edu/web/isis/click/about.html) contains downloadable lesson plans and teaching modules, as well as tips and hints for starting up a technology training class.
Project Outcome:
Douglas worked very well with Duke’s faculty and students. He recruited and trained students to teach CLICK, and he worked with the faculty and staff of the ISIS (Information Science and Information Studies) certificate program, primarily Edward A. Shanken, Executive Director, and Katie Watchman, Program Coordinator.
Douglas is now a graduate student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke.
Impact Quote:
I am especially pleased with Douglas’ work. He completed all his tasks exceptionally well.
CTC assistance
Organization:
RTPNet VISTA Name:
Martha Moore
Program Start:
2/2001
Program End:
6/2004
Project Description:
The scope and activities of Martha’s job have been changing. Our original plan was for her to work with adults to develop job skills. However, the Learning Center is now leased to the John Avery Boys and Girls Club. They are liable for activities in the Center, and they only want activities in the Center when there is a John Avery Boys and Girls Club person there. So Martha’s worked has changed scope.
Project Outcome:
Martha acquired a new Internet linux server (donated from Teaming for Technology) She also has gotten new network wiring and hubs. New software was acquired from fees from computer classes and donations. She has forged a partnership with Goodwill Training for free online classes.
Working with GCF online training, she has renewed her partnership with them and now facilitates classes of Adult students online.
She is upgrading the computer lab. She has gotten more furniture for the lab. She will be acquiring from Teaming for Technology 20 upgraded units (17 for the lab and 3 to go to students in the community). The Lab will also be re networked.
She is also a Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) Pride Ambassador. She assists the bus drivers with issues that she can handle to help the bus driver do his job more effectively. She goes to monthly meetings to help in transportation decisions for her community. The perk that comes with this is that she gets to ride the bus free for a year.
Impact Quote:
“I’m proud of the work Martha has done and have enjoyed working with her.”
- Supervisor
Heads On Fire
Website:
http://www.headsonfire.org/ Location:
San Diego, CA
Heads on Fire partners with social change agencies and community technology companies to provide technology access and education, primarily for youth, in underserved areas. Most of the work takes place after school and in the summer, at sites around the city.
Activities are divided into three areas:
The [i]-Team provides digital literacy instruction.
ECHOES magazine helps youth use digital technology to document stories of community interest.
This nationally distributed CD-ROM magazine contains multimedia journalism pieces as well as entertainment sections such as music and game reviews.
Working in close partnership with Christina Glavas, of Minds Wide Open, ECHOES provides training in journalism, digital photography, video editing, audio production, and interactive game design.
Participants work on Saturdays to develop their design skills and take part in a global education curriculum project. Themes such as imagery, oral histories, languages, community orientation, cultural heritage, and other international issues are used as a context for the work.
The work includes traveling to different sites to conduct interviews, as well as production and design time spent in the lab.
The ECHOES training is free and open to youth in San Diego between the ages of 14–18. There is an application process, and participants must be willing to make a ten-month commitment.
The Sunscreens series features the digital work of youth in a two-month gallery exhibit, based on an annual theme.
Each show includes a display of pieces on gallery walls, programs of audio-visual recordings, and interactive kiosks display works created for the computer and the web.
The theme for 2004 was artistic statements made either by or about young Californians who are a part of communities in distress. These included communities affected by crime, poverty, gangs, racism, health crises, refugee status, or social injustice.
Durham Literacy Center Inc.
Location:
Durham, NC
The Durham Literacy Center (DLC) works to assist Durham County teenagers and adults achieve personal goals and experience positive life change through increased literacy. We help teenagers and adults gain the reading and writing skills, English language skills, and educational credentials (GED) needed to earn a living wage. In addition, we are increasingly seeking ways to integrate technology and computer literacy into our instructional programs to enhance our students’ capacity to achieve their goals.
The mission of the Durham Literacy Center is to empower Durham County residents who want to enrich their lives by improving their literacy skills.
The vision of the Durham Literacy Center is to increase the number of literate adults in Durham by delivering the best possible literacy services to Durham’s English and non-English speaking adults and teens who want to empower their lives through literacy. In achieving this vision we will also have accomplished:
Broader and enriched partnerships
Sustainable funding
Comfortable, safe and secure facilities for all programs
Literacy as a means for life-long learning and leadership development
Inclusion and accessibility to learning for all individuals
Strengthening communications and bonds among cultures and ethnic groups through respect and learning
Partnerships and collaborations that promote literacy
Integration of technology, best practices and innovative learning systems
The judicious and prudent use of human and fiscal resources to achieve agency mission
Our Programs:
Adult Literacy
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Teen Career Academy (TCA)
Escuela de la Familia (bilingual family literacy program)
Adult GED Class
Center for Employment Training GED program
Threshold literacy classes
Real World/Mundo Real Workshops (bilingual life skills workshops)
Computer Literacy (CLIC) classes
Community Technology Network of the Bay Area & Citizens Housing Corporation
Website:
http://www.ctnbayarea.org/ Location:
San francisco, CA
Community Technology Network creates opportunities for people to learn 21st-century skills.
Despite an overall increase in Internet and computer access in 2009, only about 62% of those with incomes of under $25,000 have a computer at home, and disproportionate numbers of these individuals without access are elderly or Latino. This digital divide impacts a person’s ability to apply for jobs, access valuable community information, network with others and have the skills needed to maintain a job in today’s work places.
Community Technology Network (CTN) works to bridge the digital divide through programs that support and enhance digital literacy in the Bay Area’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
CTN initiates and manages partnerships with organizations that have computer centers to equip low-income San Francisco Bay Area residents with the technological tools and resources they need to explore educational, professional and social opportunities in and beyond their communities.
CTN facilitates interaction and support between community technology leaders and practitioners to leverage, develop, and improve upon curricula and services. In this communal work flow, practitioners develop innovative resources, explore ideas, and disseminate information directly to colleagues. CTN collects this valuable information and shares it with community technology practitioners throughout the world.
Community Computer Access Network (C-CAN)
Website:
http://www.c-can.org/ Location:
St Paul, MN
While C-CAN,The Community Computer Access Network is no longer active, the Technology Literacy Collaborative has taken up the work of this important initiative.
Please visit the TLC website to find out about programs and projects in the Twin Cities (MN) that address Digital Inclusion. http://tlc-mn.org/