Project Components
Train the Trainer Workshops
Teachers attended a two-day training in January 2008 to learn the skills necessary to teach students to refurbish computers and distribute them. Teachers learned about computer hardware, software and operating system installation, troubleshooting, and more. There are two more trainings scheduled for early fall 2008. The first training is scheduled for September and will train new club leaders for this year’s project and the second training will be held at the Puget Sound Center on October 13th as a follow up training for all club leaders. The follow up training will focus on standardizing certain aspects of the clubs and improving on last year’s success.
After School Clubs
Certified teachers from the middle schools and high schools lead TAP after- school clubs in which students refurbish the computers for distribution into the community.
Distribution of Refurbished Internet-Ready Computers
Low-income students and families who do not have an Internet-ready computer at home will receive a refurbished computer. Families must be low-income or receiving temporary assistance (TANF) through Washington State’s WorkFirst initiative. Seven of the nine TAP clubs (the other two clubs plan on holding distributions this fall) successfully distributed fifty-six refurbished computers to low-income students and families who did not have an Internet-ready computer at home. In the next school year we hope to distribute one-hundred computers, almost doubling our distribution efforts last year.
Technology Trainings
All recipients will be encouraged to attend five Technology Trainings within the first 12 months of receiving a refurbished computer. Workshops will increase participants technology literacy skills and provide resources that support self-sufficiency. Workshops will include:
- Computer set-up and basic computer skills
- Software applications such as Microsoft Office, keyboarding, and other content areas to aid recipients in their academic pursuits
- Online Casey Life Skills assessments where entire families can use technology and acquired computer skills through project participation in such topics as financial literacy and family budgeting, health and nutrition, family communication and social behavior skills, vocational and career exploration/advancement, and other family oriented topics (http://www.caseylifeskills.org/).
- Community resources for support such as other state and community-based service providers
Culminating Celebration
The final step in the project will be a Culminating Celebration held at local schools within each school district at the end of the 12-month period. The Culminating Celebration will show the community and project participants the impact of the project on families and students.
Evaluation
This evaluation examines the first year of the TAP program:
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