AS OF JANUARY 31, 2008, PENN'S PROGRAM TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY CLOSED. WE'RE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE WEST PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY AGAIN SOON.
Since 2000, the
Netter Center for Community Partnerships has worked to Bridge the
Digital Divide in West Philadelphia.
Penn's Program to Bridge the Digital Divide consists of a core team of Penn undergraduate work-study students. Working together to create strong University-community partnerships,
the Digital Divide team uses technology to improve the quality of life our
immediate geographic area, the West Philadelphia community.
The program conducts
technological assessments to build computer labs for community use from donated
and discarded machines. Additionally, Penn students work in local computer
labs to support after school programs, teach youth and adult computer literacy
classes, and also train members of the community how to instruct their own
computer courses. We have also provided technical support and curriculum development
to classroom teachers, after-school coordinators, and communities of faith.
Our
four main program goals are:
1. Operate a computer refurbishment center on campus that connects older,
usable technology to the community, including schools, non-profits, and communities
of faith.
- Since April 2000, over 600 computers have been distributed to the West
Philadelphia community; over 25 computer labs have been created in non-profits,
communities of faith, and schools.
- Currently, six of the labs run after school programs where Penn students
teach children age 5-14 technology skills. Seven labs operate adult computer
literacy classes, which consist of general job training on office applications
as well as specialized training on personal and small organization financial
management. Two more labs are in local high schools, where Penn students
work with high school students to create web pages, learn office applications
and GIS, and refurbish computer hardware.
2. Maintain a computer assistance program that provides ongoing support
to the computer labs that have been established, as well as support to other
school and community computer labs.
- Based in the Computer Refurbishment Center, the Tech Team consists
of students who provide technical support on an as-needed basis. Numerous
computer labs in schools, communities of faith, and non-profits have received
various types of technical support, including installation of hardware and
software, establishment of networks and Internet connections, and general
trouble shooting.
- Our website provides troubleshooting tips and links that provide
step-by -step instruction on computer maintenance.
3. Offer software training and computer literacy classes to K-12 educators,
K-12 students, adults in job training, and other community members.
- Classes include basic computer literacy, Internet, Microsoft office
applications, GIS, Internet-based health resources, and computer-based financial
management; classes are offered for all ages, from children to senior citizens
and include specialized K-12 classroom support (e.g. GIS, desktop publishing,
etc.) and job training support.
- We provide free computer literacy curricula on our website which come
from many sources and cover basic computer skills and various computer applications.
The curricula range from K-12 lessons to adult education.
4. Create deliverers of service within the community who can also provide
technology support and training; primarily focusing on the creation of two
high school support centers.
- We assist local high schools in running computer refurbishment classes
where students learn how to address the community's technology needs.
- We offer a "Train the Trainers" class to community members
who are interested in conducting their own computer literacy and software
applications classes in local computer labs (many of which we have helped
establish).
- PHENND Tech, a Digital Divide initiative in collaboration with PHENND,
was developed to help combat the strain on resources that several technology
programs are facing by encouraging cooperation between existing groups as
well as serving as a resource for other institutes of higher education interested
in technology based community outreach.