[DDN] Regarding Literacy - Reading, Writing and Computers
I am still troubled by some of the comments about the relationship between the decades of digital initiatives and some disappointing data about literacy. The digital initiatives have encouraged a great number of people to use computers in ways they did not previously contemplate, some to advance employment, others to advance their education or health, interact with government at all levels, others to advance their social needs and interact with friends, family in distant places. However, this computer literacy may be absolutely unrelated to traditional literacy concepts, still measured by reading and writing and capacity to use those tools to navigate the modern world. It's possible that great gains in computer or technical literacy, were caught up in a larger decline in traditional literacy, driven by factors like declining work opportunities for lower-income families and frustration with modern education systems, whether in big urban school districts or otherwise. For decades, America has valued literacy as a valuable end in itself. While literacy certainly enhances the quality of life and provides literate America with a tool to succeed, universal literacy is viewed as a goal in itself - everyone ought to be able to read and write. By contrast, computer literacy is generally linked to employment opportunities and economic success. Are people using these tools to help themselves get ahead? Digital initiatives don't succeed in the competitive funding world with the argument that people simply ought to be literate in the use of computers, like reading and writing. Can computer literacy be advancing? Yes, data says more people are using computers and going on line every year, even though I think progress can be faster. Is traditional literacy falling? Can both be true? Yes. Should government be doing more to address literacy in all its forms? Absolutely, but here's to be a better new year for us all. Kevin Cronin Cleveland, Ohio c: 216.374.7578 ___ 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] RE: Seeking Re-Building Help for Katrina Casuality
List: Libraries, nonprofits and schools in the gulf states disaster region should check with computer refurbishers in their area. I know about 600 Pentium IIIs are heading from Cleveland to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Mississippi next week, processed by Ken Kovatch and the staff of RET3 (a Cleveland refurbisher), to be distributed by local refurbishers. Microsoft agreed to waive any license costs for their approved refurbishers, shipping computers to the affected region. Other areas may be offering assistance as well, but I don't have firm numbers. Kevin Cronin Cleveland, Ohio c: 216.374.7578 Original Message Follows From: "Yvonne Marie Andres" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Digitaldivide" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [DDN] ::> Seeking Re-Building Help for Katrina Casuality - HolyCross School, New Orleans Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:14:06 -0800 I am sharing the following request from Mark Lasserre, a teacher in New Orleans whose school was destroyed by hurricane Katrina. He is seeking contributions to help rebuild. Read below Seeking Re-Building Help for Katrina Casuality Dear Colleagues, I was able to return to our school campus for the first time last week. My computer lab and robotics lab were both under several feet of water. They are a complete loss. Our school is sharing a campus with another school in New Orleans. But, the word is that we may return in the spring or next fall. About half of our students are back with us. Rebuilding is the focus now. However, little is being said about rebuilding my labs. The robotics lab destruction is particularly painful since my students made it to the regionals at Auburn University last week. All of our tools, equipment and winning designs were destroyed. It is clear we will need 50-60K to rebuild both labs. I truly believe New Orleans will be a better community in the coming years. We will be smaller, but more productive. The French Quarter and downtown are intact. The Convention Center and Superdome are being restored. Life is slowly returning. But, it is not the same place you visited years ago. Whole neighborhoods and sections of the city will be bulldozed. Thank you very much for anything your network of schools can share in helping us rebuild our school. If you could send out an all call, we would really appreciate it! Mark Lasserre Teacher, Holy Cross School New Orleans, LA [EMAIL PROTECTED] MAKE A DONATION http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/membership/donate.html Dr. Yvonne Marie Andrés Director & Co-Founder, Global SchoolNet Foundation 132 N. El Camino Real, #395, Encinitas, California, 92024 Phone: (760) 635-0001 www.globalschoolnet.org Collaborate, communicate & celebrate learning! ___ 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] Computer Functional and Needs of Kids
List: Like others, I really grew weary of the $100 laptop debate, but the latest turn that asked what are the needs of kids sparked my interest. Activities for kids are, to my mind, overwhelmingly internet based, as it opens the door for so much distance learning. These activities are not exclusively traditional education subjects, but also enriching afterschool activities. In a relatively short period of time, very rewarding, creative, mind stretching activities are available. I had a group of 2-4th graders who loved seeing the shark, penguin and other live video at the Monterrey Bay (CA) Seaquarium, when they tired of math and reading homework. It opens up a lot of discussion on the widest array of subjects. The kids took lots of these sorts of virtual visits to zoos and museums, downloading images and writing summaries to make their own private museums or zoos with their favorite animals or painting, explaining why they liked them (a group of the older kids turned them into coloring books for the younger kids). It wasn't just a visual activity. But after an afterschool program ends, needs shift home and most of the kids in an urban afterschool program do not have a computer when they leave. In the evening, these machines would be family machines, with wider needs, but, again, I would focus on the information sharing activities (email, distance learning), but acknowledge that other general activities would also be raised. This sounds like a fast processor/big memory machine (which I worry becomes a games machine, not the best use of scarce dollars for kids and schools), but is it possible that these activities could be met by a less robust/functional (and more widely deployable) machine, drawing down capability as needed through some sort of "thin client" arrangement? I suppose, but while I haven't heard it yet, I'd welcome it. Kevin Cronin Formerly with University Settlement, Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center Cleveland, Ohio [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] the refurbished computers timeline
Phil: I think you may be a bit behind schedule on the recycling stream for used computers. Pentium 3s are routine donation from businesses now and Pentium 4s, given the flow of recycling, may be as soon as two years away, depending upon the economy, which impacts business decisions to replace computers. The flow of computers from businesses is large (and therefore more predictable), compared to that for schools and nonprofits and also leads, in that they replace existing computer systems faster. Some sound advice for nonprofits looking for recycled computers to give to their constituencies or training program graduates would be to partner with nonprofit recyclers or commercial recyclers you know and trust (there are a lots of room for cheating and manipulation). A nonprofit or school may even be able to partner to get some training to guide people in installations. Good, low-cost computers are available. God luck. Kevin Cronin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cleveland, Ohio Original Message Follows From: "Phil Shapiro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] the refurbished computers timeline Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:26:47 -0400 (EDT) hi everyone - in my previous email today i shared info about the dell optiplex pentium 3 computer (600 MHz) that is selling for $99 from pcretro.com some of you will recognize this computer when it was used as a public access web surfing station in schools, colleges and libraries in the 2000 to 2001 time frame. as i see it, the public access computers currently being used in schools, colleges and libraries will be entering the refurbished computer stream in 4 or 5 years. so in the 2009 and 2010 time frame, we could be seeing pentium 4, 3 gigahertz, computers being sold for $99 from pcretro.com and similar outfits. i'm a believer in supporting this refurbished computer market channel. along with the donated, free computers also being redistributed in our communities, these computers bring hope to many who have insufficient access to technology. the stronger this market channel develops, the lower the price for each individual computer becomes. - phil -- Phil Shapiro [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.his.com/pshapiro/ (personal) http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/pshapiro (blog) http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/pshapiro (technology access work) http://mytvstation.blogspot.com/ (video and rich media) "Free software -- it's about freedom. How much do you value freedom?" http://www.openoffice.org http://www.firefox.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.
RE: [DDN] Bridging the Digital Divide in the US
List: I have given out hundreds of refurbished computers to low-income families. I certainly wish they were in the hundreds of thousands. But giving out computers, particularly to kids, creates new challenges that would need to be addressed: 1) Without computer instruction, more likely to occur in a lab, I don't see how you get adults to learn and use them to participate in the current, let alone, future economy. Certainly the plan cannot be, by giving computers to kids, to wait for 12 years to let a generation with habits of use grow into the economy. 2) Without computer skills, parents will not be able to participate fully in their children's education, a missing, critical element in schools. One key to success in big city schools (or any school for that matter) is to have the schools, after school programs (preferably available for everyone) and parents at home ALL working off the same page, reinforcing each other. Gifts to kids could cause parental involvement to decline even further. Kids with more gaming and music/video download skills is not the goal. I have given out refurbished computers in nonprofit labs, in schools, in probation deals, in rec centers and as back to school fair prizes. But to succeed, a project needs to embrace the whole family, with a lab being the best option I've seen. This is a very difficult problem. If it were easy, it would have been addressed a long time ago -- government and businesses love easy problems. This is a complex problem of traditional literacy, job skills, weakening US role in an internationalized economy, racial, economic and geographic isolation, bigotry, lack of imagination, lack of money and a myriad of other reasons. So far, I have been unable to figure it all out. Back to work. Kevin Cronin former Director, Cleveland Digital Vision and University Settlement Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center Cleveland, Ohio [EMAIL PROTECTED] Original Message Follows From: "Ronda Evans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] Bridging the Digital Divide in the US Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 10:56:00 -0400 (EDT) The concept of computer labs as the answer for bridging the digital divide is obsolete disadvantaged kids, starting at a the preschool level, need a computer in their home in order to have a chance at parity with their more affluent counterparts.Want to Improve High Schools? Put Computers in the Homes. is now published on the Digital Divide Network website. It can be found at the following URL: http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=469 This article was written before Katrina and is even worse then before. If we truly want to Bridge the Divide we must start taking the computers that are being trashed, refurbish them and put them in the homes of children that don't have computers. Please make sure in your area that all refugees have immediate access to computers and the Internet in their homes. Ronda EvansRECA Foundation President4People Vice Chairwww.tcfn.org - Connecting people to technology4People.tcfn.org - Connecting people to resourcesCalendars.tcfn.org - Connecting people to activities ___ 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] Inquiry About GED Software
List: We are evaluating types of GED software to supplement education activities here at our 25-terminal public computer center. If you have some insight to share about some of the commercial products or have some insight to share based on use in your computer center, please contact me off-list. Thanks. Kevin Cronin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center University Settlement 4800 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 ___ 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] Typing software for Windows
For free typing, we use senselang.com, but I'm afraid I haven't gotten enough feedback to give very constructive comments on it to this list. My limited experience is it's a bit confusing, but useful and, of course, free. Kevin Cronin Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center University Settlement 4800 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 216.641.8948 www.universitysettlement.net Original Message Follows From: Fred Mindlin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [DDN] Typing software for Windows Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 02:43:25 -0800 Is there internet access in the classroom? Does he have internet at home? There are many free online typing tutors, for example http://www.mrkent.com/typingtutor/index.asp Cheers, Fred On Mar 10, 2005, at 7:26 AM, Brian Russell wrote: Hi all, I'm looking for some *free* WINDOWS software to help teach BASIC typing skills on a laptop. This is for a adult student learning to read who is an absolute beginner with computers. His job requires him to use a computer occasionally. Any suggestions? Thank you! -Brian ___ 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. ___ 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
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 dont 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] ICT intiatives in Education
I'd like to see the forum page you mentioned to view and better understand the project. We recently hosted an international exchange with volunteers from Russia working in our computer center. The children in our programs enjoyed the experience very much and I want to develop an international exchange/communication/exploration opportunities like you seem to describe. Thanks. Kevin Cronin University Settlement Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center 4800 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 ph: 216.641.8948 c: 216.374.7578 http://kevin_cronin_assoc.tripod.com Bodwin Theatre Company http://bodwin_theatre.tripod.com 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: "Ken Callaghan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [DDN] ICT intiatives in Education Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 12:42:58 - Dear Geeta Maybe I can help a little by introducing you to a new initiative now being trialled in Northern Ireland Chalkbytes is an interactive learning facility being developed in Northern Ireland, designed to provide educational opportunities through our interactive website. We have received £100 000 funding to develop the website and trial the project. On this website schools who register can allow their pupils to explore various interactive learning zones. At the minute one zone has been developed and two more are now being constructed by our web design company in New Zealand. Ten schools have now been identified to trial the website. Three are in Northern Ireland, three in the Republic of Ireland, three in South Africa and one in India. However the aim of Chalkbytes is not to give children new lesson plans or curriculum content, although that is part of what will be going on. The aim is to introduce children in one part of the world to their counterparts in other countries. Children will be able to share cultural and personal experiences, and exchange visits will be organized. We are already planning such an exchange in September when children from South Africa will be coming to Northern Ireland. The website is not open to the public as yet, and as I am not on my own computer I can't remember the URL. However, if you are interested in viewing the trial page I will be happy to send this to you later. Please feel free to contact me if you require more information. Sincerely Ken Callaghan Digital Communities Project Manager c/o Belfast Education & Library Board 40 Academy Street Belfast BT1 2 Tel 028 9056 4263 (Direct line) Mobile 078 66 55 77 83 ### This message has been scanned by F-Secure Anti-Virus for Microsoft Exchange. For more information, connect to http://www.F-Secure.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.
