[DDN] Upcoming conference of interest

[Lenihan, Ellen]

With all the talk of the citizenship journalism I thought some of you
would be interested in the below conference. 

:: Ellen Lenihan ::
Content Producer, Educational Technologies Department
Thirteen/WNET New York (PBS)
212.560.2909 phone
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/



CALL FOR PROPOSALS!!
The Second Annual New York City Grassroots Media Conference Hosted at
the New School University April 9-10, 2005

The New York City Grassroots Media Conference is now accepting workshop 
proposals for workshops, discussions, panels, multi-media and art that 
address the focus of this year's event:

How can independent media best serve the needs of communities organizing

around issues of justice and equality?

Last year 1,000 media makers, activists, students, teachers, and youth
came 
together at the first Grassroots Media Conference for a weekend of
learning, 
discussion and networking.  This year, from media policy forums and
hands on 
DIY (Do It Yourself) workshops to art installations and a mini-video 
festival, conference attendees will participate and network with an
array of 
New York's grassroots media and creative resistance resources.

We invite you to join us for this important conference. We want a
diverse 
representation of media organizations, media makers, media activists,
youth 
and local community organizations who are interested in utilizing 
independent and grassroots media as a means for achieving social
justice.

Workshop, discussion and panel proposals deadline February 18, 2005 Art
submissions deadline March 15, 2005.

Visit http://www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org for a detailed description of
the 
criteria and guidelines for how to participate in the 2005 Conference.

Please contact the organizing collective with any questions and
concerns. Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call Paper Tiger at
212/420-9045


___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

Re: [DDN] RSS: The Next ICT Literacy Challenge?

[Tom Abeles]

We traveled in the rural US this summer and we did not take a laptop 
along. We had very little problem finding free broadband Internet access 
at most local libraries and many coffee houses that were scattered 
before us on our journey. WalMart now sells a very low cost computer and 
also sells dialup services. Community wireless is now a growing 
phenomenon, both as commercial service, like a utility, and 
commercially supported free access.

Who knows how it will all shake out. But, at least, in the US, the 
"digital divide" as far as accessibility may not be the issue, 
especially now with the number of folks who have given up their fixed 
phones for cells and the cells are now becoming the vehicle for 
accessing the internet. I know one community college that is planning a 
system that lets students register with their mobile devices.

thoughts?
tom abeles
John Hibbs wrote:
At 3:25 AM -0500 1/23/05, Stephen Snow wrote:
.
That is how this current information tool development feels to me: 
lots of
glitter and not much substance. Lots of information, but not much actual
communication.

What Stephen Snow writes about, quite eloquently, and as others have 
touched upon, is the essential problem of making those 40' foot vans 
outside of Walmart a go-er.

i.e. if the ordinary Jack and the ordinary Jill can't find a use for 
learning the skills offered by Van employees, or don't need the 
downloadable stuff -- and the only ones excited about Van machinery 
are kids interested in video games or geeks interested in novel 
gadgets, well then --- -as the WalMart guy said to me --- "...Ya, 
shurr, John, this is neat stuff (head scratching);  but, tell me 
John, --- what VALUE - either perceptive or real - will Jack or Jill 
ascribe to it?"

If the answer to that very perceptive Wallmart question can't be 
provided in a few cogent sentences backed by real life examples that 
stand up to hard examination, then maybe we should cool our own jets?

Perhaps changing the world might just have to wait one more 
generation? Or even two?
___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the 
body of the message.



___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

[DDN] AIDS ORPHANS IN UGANDA CALL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE

[Edouard Kabazimya]

Dear Colleagues,
 
Nyaka AIDS Orphans School mission is to provide
quality, free education and extracurricular
activities, both formal and informal, to children who
have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS as a means to
counteract pervasive hunger, poverty, and systemic
deprivation. It is the initiative of Jackson Kaguri, a
human rights activist, who has the vision that
education can bring hope and new alternatives to
dispair to AIDS orphans in Uganda. 

The Nyaka AIDS Orphans School has been nominated for a
$100,000 prize. There will be a period of online,
public voting on nominated projects between 21-28
January. 

Please read his email below and consider casting a
vote for the Nyaka School.

To read more about the Nyaka School:

 
With best wishes,
 
Edouard Kabazimya
 

>  Original Message 
> Subject:can you help post this to other
> advocates
Date:   Wed, 19 Jan 2005 11:06:23 -0500
From:   tjk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
 
 
 
Global Giving (http://www.globalgiving.com), an
organizations supporting global philanthropy, asked
for nominations for social entrepreneurs and Nyaka
School and 149 other organizations were nominated for
a prize of $100,000 that will be given to 3
organizations. The nomination will go through a
process of public online voting begining Jan 21st
ending on the Jan 28th, 2005. That is seven days to
get in as many votes as we can.

For information of voting go to either
http://www.globalgiving.com/gpf.html
for more details.  You may also vote at
http://skoll.socialedge.org where
you will be asked to register as a member. That is,
user name, password, e
mail and zipcode. Then you can cast your vote for
Nyaka AIDS Orphans School.
 
This is another way for our many supporters to
participate in helping Nyaka. Please tell everyone you
know to help us and donate few minutes to vote online.

Thanks in advance and happy new year.
Twesigye Jackson Kaguri
 







__ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

[DDN] Reminder: Global Dialogue on Single Window Government: Does it Improve Delivery of Public Services and Investment Climate? - January 26, 2005 (9:30am-12:00pm EST) - Tomorrow!

[opetrov]

WORLD BANK'S E-DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THEMATIC GROUP

  invites you to a video-seminar/live webcast

 Single Window Government:
  Does it Improve Delivery of Public Services and Investment Climate?



   As part of e-Development Dialogues Seminar Series


 Wednesday, January 26, 2005, 9:30 am ? 12:00 pm (EST)
  I Building, Room I1-200, 1850 I Street NW Washington DC USA

 Live Webcast will start at 9.30 am EST on Jan. 26 at:
  http://webcast-ext.worldbank.org/streaming/live.ram
(Real Player required to watch the clip)

  PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Many World Bank client countries are in the process of designing and
implementing single window delivery mechanisms for various public services.
There is a growing demand to learn about best practices and lessons learned from
early implementers in order to avoid common pitfalls and maximize returns on
investment. Single window applications have often provided politically
attractive and practical entry points for more complex public sector reform and
private sector development agenda.

New Brunswick, one of the least wealthy provinces in Canada, has implemented
single window, multi-channel government, starting in the early 1990's.  The
motivation for this initiative in New Brunswick was to increase convenience for
the citizen and business in conducting their dealings with government. In
addition to achieving this goal there have been other benefits such as ability
to reduce the number of government offices, ability to optimize staff,
development of a local private sector industry with expertise in consulting and
application development for e-government and creation of marketable software for
launching e-government initiatives quickly and easily. The single window concept
has been already adopted by the province of Northern Cape in South Africa as
that country re-invented government in the post-apartheid era.  Staff from
Service New Brunswick (SNB) receives visitors from many countries anxious to
emulate the success in this province.

According to the SNB?s team, ?our single-window,  multi-channel,
citizen-centered approach is one that is being adopted and embraced by many
jurisdictions now and we are often kept quite busy showcasing  our services to
states, municipalities and countries throughout the world.  Further, our
partnering approach provides economic development to our private  industries
while also generating revenue for the province and providing an  invaluable
service for our citizens. It truly is a win-win-win  scenario!?

The World Bank's Doing Business in 2005 report is unequivocal in recommending
the use of ICT to improve business environment, stressing that G2B applications
like ?electronic one-stop shops for new businesses,? especially when accompanied
by the regulatory reform and business process reengineering, can be a powerful
tool to ?help create job opportunities for women and young people, encourage
businesses to move into the formal economy, and promote economic growth.?

This  video-seminar  will  explore  the  single  window  concept  and  tools for
reinventing  government  and  examine some best practices from Canada, Chile and
other  countries.  Can  the  single  window approach improve delivery  of public
services and investment climate?

Featuring:

Mohamed Muhsin, Vice-President and CIO, World Bank
Sudhakar Kaveeshwar, Program Manager, ISGIF, World Bank (Chair)
Mary Ogilvie, former Vice President, Service New Brunswick, Canada
Jackie Coolidge, Lead Investment Policy Officer, FIAS, IFC
Jaime Gré, Executive Secretary, Chile Digital Strategy
Valery Tsepkalo, Advisor to the President of Belarus
Barbara Nunberg, Sector Manager, EASPR, World Bank
Hamid Alavi, Regional Coordinator for Trade Facilitation, MNSIF, World Bank


For   more   information   please  email  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  or  visit:
http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment
Feel free to forward this invitation to others who may be interested. For
further information on the seminar or to join our mailing list, please write to
[EMAIL PROTECTED], or contact Sally Song at 202-473-9078.



___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

RE: [DDN] Free Online Computer Training - feedback please

[Kevin Cronin]

List: We use GCF Learn Free quite a bit here and I encourage users to get 
there own account so they can use it wherever they have access to a 
computer.  The classes cover a range of areas, MS Windows and Office 
applications, as well as non-computer subjects, like financial 
literacy/savings and resume writing that many have found helpful.  As the 
material is self-paced, clicking through the pages, it helps for a new user 
to already have some experience with a computer.  New users are more likely 
to get overwhelmed with the detail of information and need some guidance, as 
well as get frustrated with the mouse.  All in all, it's a very helpful 
tool.  I don’t think it replaces having someone in the room to teach, but it 
helps users who need to refresh their skills and experienced users who can 
keep themselves going forward on new activities.   I understand it was 
developed by Goodwill Industries of North Carolina.

Kevin Cronin
Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center
4800 Broadway Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44127
www.universitysettlement.net
216.641.8948
Each year, 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.  If detected 
early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 
years of age or older have never had a mammogram.  To help fund free 
mammograms, please click, www.thebreastcancersite.com.



Original Message Follows
From: "Champ-Blackwell, Siobhan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion 
group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "DIGITALDIVIDE (Digital Divide)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [DDN] Free Online Computer Training - feedback please
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 10:30:51 -0600

The following item was posted on the Washington DC Mayor's Office
Funding Alert
http://opgd.dc.gov/opgd/lib/opgd/services/grant/funding_alerts/currentne
wsletter.pdf Has anyone on the list ever used the resources described
here? If so, can you tell me your experiences? Thanks ~ siobhan
GCF Global Learning offers online computer classes and tutorials in
English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on their new and
improved Web site. It provides material on Computer Basics, Email
Basics, Internet Basics, Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel,
Access, OpenOffice.org Writer and much more. New features include: free
tutorials to learn at your own pace; tutorial search tool to find the
material you want to learn; free online classes to learn with the help
of an online instructor; My GCF -your own personal start-page - to find
all class-related material and records; article search tool;
Organizational Member Program (OM); and Media Center. For further
information, contact Courtney Hodgson, Marketing Specialist for GCF
Global Learning, at (919) 281-9195; or go to:
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/
Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, MSLIS
Community Outreach Liaison
National Network of Libraries of Medicine - MidContinental Region
Creighton University Health Sciences Library
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
402-280-4156/800-338-7657
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://nnlm.gov/mcr/ (NN/LM MCR Web Site)
http://medstat.med.utah.edu/blogs/BHIC/ (Web Log)
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/siobhanchamp-blackwell (Digital
Divide Network Profile)
___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with 
the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.

___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

RE: [DDN] Municipal broadband efforts in the US

[BJT]

Jim Baller in Washington DC with the law firm of Baller Herbst keeps an
excellent record of municipally-owned systems, regulations and issues about
municipal ownership, and is involved in advising many of them.  He has an
abundance of information on the history from public power to public network
operations.  For more info see
www.baller.com.

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me directly and I can
put you in touch with Jim.

Stay tuned,
Brenda

Brenda J. Trainor
Frontier Trail, Inc.
Box 935
Monrovia, CA  91017
323.229.2397
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Pioneering guidance for
 communications, technologies, and communities."


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Marnie Webb
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 4:58 PM
To: 'The Digital Divide Network discussion group'
Subject: RE: [DDN] Municipal broadband efforts in the US


> Is anyone out there tracking the various state-level initiatives to either
> block or encourage the deployment of broadband networks by local
> governments?  I know there are a handful of actions underway in Illinois,
> Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota.  Is there anyone
> monitoring these developments in a central location?
>
[Marnie Webb] There's also an Omidyar Network group that covers this topic:
http://www.omidyar.net/group/state-by-state/

One of the threads collects various resources:
http://www.omidyar.net/group/state-by-state/news/2/

:mw

Marnie Webb
CompuMentor, www.compumentor.org
TechSoup, www.techsoup.org
Extension 337, ext337.blogspot.com



___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.


___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

[DDN] International Children's Digital Library

[BBracey]

 Now two years old, the International Childrenâs Digital Library (
www.icdlbooks.org) houses books in 27 languages. Through stories, it introduces 
kids to 
their counterparts in other countries and to universal ideas, in the hope of 
promoting open-mindedness. Children use the library for recreation, but also 
for 
homework. Adults use it to teach English as a second language, supplement 
school libraries, and preview books for purchase.

Allison Druin also works with the worldâs largest free online library for 
kids. With more than 500 books, the International Childrenâs Digital Library 
has 
been visited by nearly one million children and adults in more than 200 
countries. In addition, Druin serves as a White Houseâappointed commissioner 
with 
the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, an agency 
that advises the president and Congress on policy matters relating to libraries 
and information science.

forwarded   by Bonnie Bracey
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

RE: [DDN] RSS: The Next ICT Literacy Challenge?

[Lenihan, Ellen]

Thanks for sharing this and there is much I agree with... 

I've also been thinking about how I was when I was younger and as I was reading 
about the students who aren't involved - I was thinking about myself at that 
age and I too was pretty much occupied with my immediate world. I read my daily 
college paper for news and that was pretty much it. Maybe I was a late bloomer, 
as were most people I knew, but we didn't really start becoming truly engaged 
and active until our world had opened up beyond our campus and surrounding 
community. It wasn't until I started working after college that I started 
listening to the radio regularly (NPR and Pacifica primarily) and reading news 
(like the NY Times, Alternet, Wiretap, and international news organizations) 
via online and the paper. So...it also just may be how things go. If you think 
back to yourself in high school and college - how engaged were you? Where did 
you get your information? Would you have sought it out like you do now? 

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Oliver Moran
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 7:44 PM
To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group
Subject: Re: [DDN] RSS: The Next ICT Literacy Challenge?


I agree.  Although aren't the cable sports and news channels, the 
"touch-down by touch-down" mobile updates and knowing where tonights party 
is just another kind of feed?  Just as RSS (and blogs and the internet 
generally) specialises people's consumption of information, vegging them out 
á la 'Bowling Alone', then maybe aren't we vegging out on this feed also - 
the DDN list?

What does this mean for the "digitally disenfranchised" - well isn't it 
their right to veg out too?  Should they not have *their* mind-numbing 
nonsense?  Should *they* be able not participate in the numbing of culture 
also?

Oli

-
Oliver Moran,
Digital Media Centre,
Dublin Institute of Technology,
Ireland

- Original Message - 
From: "Tom Abeles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 6:02 PM
Subject: Re: [DDN] RSS: The Next ICT Literacy Challenge?


> This thread puzzles me from a number of perspectives. First, RSS while 
> a
> powerful aggregating search tool is still mapping brick space into click 
> space, the same as what we are currently doing with e-learning using the 
> standard Learning Management Systems and their variances. It has, as has 
> been carefully and repeatedly noted, the propensity for overwhelming the 
> individual and, as some have mentioned regarding the developing world, 
> chewing up costly bandwidth. What this list, in its pragmatic, 
> tip-of-the-iceberg, manner shows is that self-organizing networks of human 
> biocomputers probably is a more effective learning/sorting and aggregating 
> vehicle. The corporate world, as Knowledge Management clearly shows, has 
> embraced these self-organizing communities and have developed a variety of 
> web deliverable vehicles for enhancing these. Wiki's offer a peek at the 
> possibilities as do blogs.
>
> Second there has been a side thread about the indifference of "youth" 
> to
> using these knowledge systems and becoming committed to more than vegging 
> out in front of the telly after classes. Let us dismiss the idea that this 
> is the older generation just upset with the profligate ways of today's 
> young folk. Perhaps one needs to look at the "gaming" community" to see 
> that there is life and hope, particularly if one follows the MMRPG world 
> (Massive Multiplayer Role Playing Games) where networks of participants 
> engage each other at levels far expanded from the action on the screen. 
> And one can not overlook the efforts now with the domain of "serious" 
> games which are a much wider genre than just those used by the military or 
> tech folk to check out systems.
>
> What one might just be seeing is a "bifurcation" impacted by the 
> arrival
> of the web and big pipes. What this means for the digitally 
> disenfranchised may not imply just wiring the world and putting a computer 
> in the hands of all. That would be falling into the same trap that 
> concerns me (see above).
>
> thoughts?
>
> tom abeles
>
>
>
> ___
> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
> DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org 
> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
> To unsubscribe, send a message to 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.2 - Release Date: 21/01/2005
> 



-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.2 - Release Date: 21/01/2005



___
$0 Web Hosting with up to 120MB web space, 1000 MB Transfer
10 Persona

[DDN] Free Online Computer Training - feedback please

[Champ-Blackwell, Siobhan]

The following item was posted on the Washington DC Mayor's Office
Funding Alert
http://opgd.dc.gov/opgd/lib/opgd/services/grant/funding_alerts/currentne
wsletter.pdf Has anyone on the list ever used the resources described
here? If so, can you tell me your experiences? Thanks ~ siobhan

GCF Global Learning offers online computer classes and tutorials in
English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on their new and
improved Web site. It provides material on Computer Basics, Email
Basics, Internet Basics, Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel,
Access, OpenOffice.org Writer and much more. New features include: free
tutorials to learn at your own pace; tutorial search tool to find the
material you want to learn; free online classes to learn with the help
of an online instructor; My GCF -your own personal start-page - to find
all class-related material and records; article search tool;
Organizational Member Program (OM); and Media Center. For further
information, contact Courtney Hodgson, Marketing Specialist for GCF
Global Learning, at (919) 281-9195; or go to:
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/ 

Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, MSLIS
Community Outreach Liaison
National Network of Libraries of Medicine - MidContinental Region
Creighton University Health Sciences Library
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
402-280-4156/800-338-7657
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://nnlm.gov/mcr/ (NN/LM MCR Web Site)
http://medstat.med.utah.edu/blogs/BHIC/ (Web Log)
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/siobhanchamp-blackwell (Digital
Divide Network Profile)


___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

[DDN] Virtual Libraries and Print Libraries and Access and Learning Styles

[David P. Dillard]

This post highlights an article about the relationship of virtual
libraries to user needs in contrast with print resources and collections
and this article is juxtaposed with content sources regarding the
diminuation and elimination of libraries and library services.

From:  "David P. Dillard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Tue Jan 25, 2005  2:38 am
Subject:  BOOKS: ISSUES : EDUCATION: READING: RESOURCES : ARTICLE: Touched
by the Turn of a Page; Virtual Libraries Are Cool, But Where's the Soul,
the Serendipity?


In contrast to the funding for public physical libraries in Philadelphia
we have two contrasting posts about electronic access to the internet and
to electronic archives in recent Net-Gold posts from Terri Willingham and
from Jill E. Vaile.  The ability to find funding for free city wide access
to broadband internet for the entire city of Philadelphia highlighted in
Terri Willingham's post is interesting in contrast to the cut in funding
in the public library system that leaves some public branch libraries
without the services of a librarian as noted in the post about "Where's
the Soul, the Serendipity?".


From:  "uuterri" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Mon Jan 24, 2005  3:49 pm
Subject:  Internet use: Full Speed Ahead for Philly's Wi-Fi Plan



From:  "Jill E. Vaile" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Tue Jan 25, 2005  12:37 am
Subject:  National Archives



This article about the internet as a research tool cited in the most
recent issue of LLRX is also pertinent in this contrast of the print
collection with the online tool in terms of the growing wealth of learning
and research resources on the internet.  This article was written by
Marcus P. Zillman.


From:  "David P. Dillard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Mon Jan 24, 2005  4:10 pm
Subject:  INTERNET: RESOURCES : RESEARCH: TECHNIQUES : ARTICLE: Deep Web
Research 2005



But on the other hand, the lack of guidance in the use of online tools and
their availability without without consultation and training can lead to
even a problem as basic as this in terms of resource evaluation.


From:  George Lessard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Tue Jan 25, 2005  12:16 am
Subject:  Savvy searchers fail to spot ads



But at the same time, the tremendous and growing wealth of resources
online free through the internet is undeniable as highlighted in just one
field, the field of economics, by this post.


From:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date:  Mon Jan 24, 2005  7:31 am
Subject:  ECONOMICS: ONLINE BOOKS: Ludwig von Mises Institute & Austrian
Economics



Nevertheless, the decline in some quarters of the availability of public
libraries or public library services or public librarians becomes more of
a problem when viewed in terms of the digital divide and the many in low
income neighborhoods who lack access to computers and the guidance in the
use of intellectual resources in a close at hand public institution like
the local library due to service, staffing or branch cuts.


From:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date:  Sun Jan 23, 2005  12:18 pm
Subject:  Are L.A's Children Ready For School?



The importance of having a variety of ways of learning in both online and
physical hands on settings is highlighted by research on brain based
learning and the application of brain based learning to information
literacy.


EDUCATION: LEARNING STRATEGIES METHODS AND TECHNIQUES: How to Search the
Literature Tools and the Internet for Brain Based Learning



From:  "David P. Dillard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:  Sun Jan 23, 2005  7:10 pm
Subject:  INFORMATION LITERACY : EDUCATION: LEARNING STYLES : EDUCATION:
LEARNING STRATEGIES METHODS AND TECHNIQUES: Information Literacy and Brain
Based Learning



The role of print libraries, given a wide variety of learning styles
coupled with the fact that many lack access to electronic learning
resources and in particular to the internet in their homes underscores the
need for public access to print library collections and the need to
prevent and correct the budget cutting that takes away access to public
library staff, services and facilities.  Indeed the public library is the
only place for many to have access to electronic resources.

To learn a tremendous amount more about the digital divide one source that
is excellent among many other quality resoruces about this vital issue is
the Digital Divide Network.

Digital Divide Network


Featured Communities

Access
Community Technology
Content
Cool Tools
Disaster Relief and Emergency Preparedness
E-Government for All
Economic Development
Literacy

RE: [DDN] ICT for Development research from Berkeley

[Raffaele Moles]

The problem can be shortly stated.

There is plenty of literature on the economical aspects of Digital Divide,
covering both international and domestic aspects, with a very large
documentation of statistics, measurements, recommendations and case studies.
What I'm looking for is something about the impact of ICT on local,
especially rural, cultures. How a "calm" day by day life in rural area can
interact with the "speed" of communcation through the ICT?
I think this is one of the main issues people (not only from the "developed
world") involved in on the ground projects have to deal with. Yes, the
question comes form my, and others, personal experience, therefore it's very
limited to a single place, but any policy, and any projects, ends to people,
i.e. local people who most likely have never seen a computer before.
The main point is people, not technology.

So usual "practical" questions arise:

- how can we use the pc in the day by day life? 
- ok, the culture is important for the future but what can we do now to get
some money, a job, now
- such a speed on communication is not our first priority, the usual
channels are quite enough, why should we spend so much in order to be
connected with the entire world?
- ok, I want to learn something about computers but just to have some more
chances to find a job
- how the computer knowledge can help the local economy to grow?
- what do you mean with a "better level of life", how could I use a computer
for something I don't know yet?
- etc.

To trivial? Maybe, for us chatting here! But surely not for my parents too
(Italy, even if deep south).

Waiting for the next project somewhere, I'd like to know some more from
somebody else about ICT and people running at a different speed.
I strongly believe in the (final) people directly involved, each of them is
different so that different issues would arise, but trying to capture the
basic local attitude is the first priority for any on the ground project.

Thanks
Raffaele Moles

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Hibbs
Sent: Mon 24 Jan 2005 10:19 PM
To: The Digital Divide Network discussiongroup
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [DDN] ICT for Development research from Berkeley


At 12:41 PM +0100 1/24/05, Raffaele Moles wrote:


>If you are interested in such a topic I will try to send you more 
>details about whatever you'll ask.



Please do. In fact the work Raffaele talks about is so salutary, I 
thought it worthy of a re-read.

>Raffaele Moles wrote:
>
>I'm working on Digital Divide related topics.
>
>I have spent one year (Oct 2003-Oct 2004) in Sri Lanka, as volunteer 
>coordinator in the startup of an IT Training Center (ITTC). The ITTC is 
>managed by a local ngo and we started it from scratch, involving more 
>than 500 students. We built the ITTC starting with 8 desktops and after 
>seven months we had 50 laptops (Pentium 1), a Local Area Network (LAN) 
>with one server (Pentium 2), an Internet connection shared on the LAN, 
>a Database and an internal web site with administration, teaching and 
>learning tools (such as online resources, online tests, etc.).
>One of the main goals was the training of local people as future teachers,
>also able to run the school after the volunteers. I was the only foreigner
>until May and after new volunteers came from Japan, in May 2005, and from
>Spain, in August 2005, and again from Japain in Oct 2005.
>So far, the ITTC has had a very strong impact on the local community,
>allowing many students (almost none of them had touched a computer before)
>to have both basic literacy and a deeper touch in IT.
>Of course we also had to face some questions on the relationships with
local
>attitude, surely not so "frenetic" as in western countries (or "developed"
>world); the real impact was on people, not about physical resources
>availability.
>
>To be short, the question is how to deal with "fast" technology and 
>"slow" attitude. If you are interested in such a topic I will try to 
>send you more details about whatever you'll ask.
>
>Thanks
>Raffaele Moles

___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.



___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

RE: [DDN] narrated flash web tour of various DDN members' pro bono work

[Jayne Cravens]

> i'll be focusing on the pro bono work people are
> involved with -- whether it be web design, teaching, 
> computer refurbishing, video production, or anything 
> of that sort.

Those of you who are engaged in pro bono activities to support initiatives to 
help bridge the digital divide are VOLUNTEERS, and there is a community that is 
set up specifically for such volunteers: the UNITeSCommunity, an interactive 
online discussion group, part of the United Nations Information Technology 
Service (www.unites.org) and the UN Volunteers programme (www.unvolunteers.org)

This group has an international focus, and most of the members are volunteers 
are working onsite in developing countries. However, volunteers working to help 
bridge the digital divide in any country is welcomed to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unitescommunity/

We have very few women on the group -- would really like to see more women 
volunteers engaged in ICT4D on the list, as well as those who are engaged in 
activities to encourage more women to learn about and use ICTs. But, ofcourse, 
anyone engaged in ICT4D as a volunteer is welcomed to join. Hope to see you 
there. 

 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jayne Cravens ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Online Volunteering Specialist
United Nations Volunteers
www.unvolunteers.org
Bonn, Germany

Online Volunteering: www.onlinevolunteering.org
UNITeS: www.unites.org
Global volunteerism portal: www.worldvolunteerweb.org
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.

[DDN] Blogs Moving into Academia

[BBracey]

BLOGS MOVING INTO ACADEMIA
On a number of campuses in the United Kingdom, blogs have begun to
migrate from the technology fringes to the mainstream of educational
tools. At the University of Warwick, more than 2,500 students and staff
have signed up for the university's blog service, making it one of the
largest academic blogging operations. John Dale, head of IT services at
Warwick, said, "We believe that blogging may open new opportunities for
students and staff." Robert O'Toole, a Ph.D. student at Warwick, said
his blog has allowed him "to speak to academic communities across the
U.K. and [to gain] knowledge from strangers. Blog[ging] has allowed me
to write in a single place almost daily and develop things in fairly
cohesive fashion." Esther Maccallum-Stewart, a history researcher at
Sussex University, uses a blog in her research and her teaching. She
said her blog has become an invaluable part of her work and argued that
academic institutions need to avoid becoming "too insular, constructing
their own language and cliques which do nothing to promote the getting
of knowledge." On the other hand, David Supple, Web strategy manager at
Birmingham University, cautions universities not to rush into new
technologies. He advises considering how best to implement tools such
as blogs "without creating legal and reputational issues for the
institution."
BBC, 23 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4194669.stm

Bonnie Bracey
bbracey @ aol com
___
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE 
in the body of the message.