June 24, 2010--The AmeriCorps program and supporter of TLC has received $1 million to continue and expand their computer literacy program. St. Paul based Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) AmeriCorps places 30 members in computer technology centers throughout the Twin Cities to provide computer training to low-income residents, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants. With the news of the $1M award, the CTEP program will be extended for another three-year-cycle.
Digital Inclusion News
Library CTCs "Key" to Unemployment Turnaround
July 1, 2010--A study conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Center for Library and Information Innovation at the University of
Maryland found that the technology access in public libraries, especially in urban locations, is critical to unemployment turnaround due to the high volume of users spending their time on job searching and job applications. That fact, along with state and local budget cuts means many libraries are reducing operating hours to compensate; essentially the increase in closed hours at libraries cuts people off from pursuing job opportunities.
"Some statistical highlights from the report include:
CTEP funded for another 3 years
Read the full article from MPR: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/06/21/computer-literacy-program/
-Posted by Alison Collins
City to announce Wireless Minneapolis hotspots
June 23, 2010--Mayor R.T. Rybak, Council Member Elizabeth Glidden and Council Member Schiff will announce the start of free wireless Internet access at more than 100 locations throughout Minneapolis. Folks will also be on hand to demonstrate how to access the Internet from one of these hotspots.
News conference: 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 25 @ Powderhorn Park – E. 35th St. and 15th Ave. S
Topics to be covered:
Digital Literacy Corps Update
March 22, 2010--The FCC's National Broadband Plan was released on March 16th. The plan includes the creation of a national Digital Literacy Corps similar to the AmeriCorps Community Technology Empowerment Project which has been active in the Twin Cities since 2004 (read more about CTEP here). The new plan issued by the FCC proposes to do the following:
FCC to Propose National Digital Literacy Corps
March 20, 2010--"The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will propose a National Digital Literacy Corps to help U.S. residents get online as part of a national broadband plan due out next week.
The National Digital Literacy Corps, modeled after other volunteer programs like AmeriCorps, will target communities with low numbers of broadband subscribers, including low-income housing developments, rural areas and tribal lands, said Mignon Clyburn, a member of the FCC, speaking Tuesday during a conference on the digital divide in Washington, D.C."
The FCC will:
CTEP member Alex Kurt speaks at the Digital Inclusion Summit in Washington DC
March 18, 2010--CTEP
member Alex Kurt providing testimony before various members of Congress and the
Cabinet at the Digital Inclusion Summit in Washington DC on Mar 9, 2010.
Jointly held by the Federal Communications Commission and the John S. Knight
Foundation, the three and a half hour Summit in the Capitol's Newseum was
emceed by FCC Chair Julius Genachowski.
In this segment, Mr. Kurt shares about his experience teaching basic technology
skill classes at the Rondo Community Outreach Branch of the Saint Paul Public
Library: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDFYZhDgY8
The rise of networked individuals: A talk by Lee Rainie
April 10, 2010--Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, will discuss the latest research findings of his project on people’s use of social media (social networking sites, blogs, Twitter, YouTube, and, yes, even email) and how technology has affected some of the ways people learn, make decisions, and seek and offer social support to others. He and sociologist Barry Wellman describe this as a “new social operating system” and Lee will highlight the ways in which those who use participatory media are changing how communities of all kinds form and perform.
Date: 04/22/2010
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: 100 Rapson Hall University of Minnesota Campus, Minneapolis
Study uncovers how the public benefits from library internet access
March 25, 2010--A groundbreaking study on library use was released today. A first-ever national study finds that millions of people rely on library computers for employment, health, and education. The number of library computer users totalled 77 million in the past year.
The study was conducted by the University of Washington Information Schoola nd funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The resulting report named Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries details:
Computer literacy: See if you know basics
December 1, 2009--After a surprising run-in with an acquaintance that should have been computer literate but was unable to copy a simple file, blogger Dwight Silverman for the Houston Chronicle "asked the folks who read and participate in [his] TechBlog to offer their thoughts on the basic skills needed to be computer literate. That request generated more than 70 responses." Check here to see if you know the basics too!
According to Silverman, basics include:
Watch the UK National Digital Inclusion Conference Online
March 10, 2010--Over the next two days, key influencers from around Britain and around the world are at the National Digital Inclusion Conference organizing and planing for digital inclusion in the UK. You can take part by watching the live video stream and sharing your opinions on Twitter.
Watch the conference online:http://netsquared.org/blog/clairesale/watch-uk-national-digital-inclusion-conference-online-today-and-tomorrow
-posted by Alison Collins
