PEC’s Digital Inclusion (DI) program has been lucky enough to bring on Dre Reed as the new Computer Instructor this fall and Nathan Kuruna as Program Coordinator. Reed is fresh from graduating from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Animation, one of the University’s most challenging majors. Kuruna has been a computer instructor at PEC and other institutions since 2011.
On contemplating why he took the job here in PEC’s DI program, Reed and Kuruna gave a little person history. “Back in 2009, I took the DI high school after school class and it made the internet accessible to me the first time. I got my first computer here too.” Not only is Reed giving back to the same program that launched him into the tech world, but Reed says “I realize the impact on each person coming into the program here- it can really help. The internet helps people find jobs, apply to them, and I show people how to do that!” 

Nathan Kuruna also recognizes the impact that the program can have on people and the community. He will be enabling Reed to have the things he needs for the classes, managing the program’s data, bringing information about the program out to the community, and putting pieces in place for the program. In past years, Kuruna has also taught the adult Computer and Internet classes here in PEC’s DI program.

The Digital Inclusion program’s goal is the make technology accessible to everyone through teaching computer and internet skills, introduce free or low-cost internet options to households, and upon graduation from the classes, each student receives a free or low-cost device. Reed emphasized the importance of keeping his students in the loop on the newest technology. The tech world moves fast and no one should be left behind if they don’t want to be. “We’re that first step that will introduce you to that big world of technology.” 

Reed will be teaching numerous classes this fall including the Tech Stars Afterschool program, Tech Stars Mini Course and Adult Computer and Internet classes levels 1, 2 and 3. In the spring, DI will also be hosting the Teen Technology Network program.  Keep up to date with PEC’s DI program by contacting Nathan Kuruna at nkuruna@pec-cares.org.

​The Center for Digital Inclusion & Technology(CDIT) is under new management. And with the enthusiasm of our new team members, we enjoyed a successful Fall semester of innovative and inspiring programming. The new program managers, Phil Waller and Jeannine Cook, have recently developed and reconfigured our youth classes into an academy model that allows youth to progress from class to class. The hope behind the new structure is that students will acquire digital and creative skills for 21st century success, adding value to their portfolios and to the economic and cultural wealth of our West Philadelphia community.
 
 One of the exciting new projects underway at CDIT is our apprenticeship program, Village Amp. The Village Amplifiers run a full service branding company contracting with businesses along the Lancaster Ave corridor. In addition to Village Amp, this term our eight year old Teen Technology Network morphed into the Digital Organizers—a name the youth chose for themselves. In partnership with the Slought Foundation, Digital Organizers produced deep and meaningful photo essays about issues in our communities including drug addiction, homophobia, and youth gun violence. Lastly our Comcast Digital Connectors began entrepreneurial digital media projects including one student developing her own self-warming tie-dye sock company, Tye Me Down.
 
The Fall term culminated in the highly digitized showcase—Art(Official) Intelligence. The event showcased all of the CDIT youth programs: Tech Stars, Digital Organizers, Village Amp and Comcast Digital Connectors exhibiting photography, videos, music, food stands, and fashion design. Over 100 came out to the showcase hosted at Indigo Bleu Design and Culture Center. We had special guest from Channel 6 Action News, Comcast, and United Healthcare Systems. The CDIT staff and students were pleased with the turnout of the event which created a greater sense of unity between the youth in all of the programs. Art(Official) Intelligence was another way that CDIT is equipping and inspiring young people to succeed in a digital world.

Last week for the first time PEC’s Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology distributed brand new tablets at a program graduation. The recipients were the latest group of fifth and sixth graders who graduated from the Tech St@rs: Digital Design program, which teaches introductory concepts in graphic design and computer programming.

CDIT has been committed to distributing technology resources since its founding in 2003. One of the early teen programs taught students how to build their own computer, and at the end, they got to keep it. That model reflects CDIT’s mission to build twenty-first century skills and provide access to technology in the home.

Usually CDIT distributes refurbished desktop computers to its graduates, but to be eligible to participate in Tech St@rs: Digital Design students had to have completed CDIT’s compute basics program. That means they already received desktops when they graduated the first time, so CDIT devised a new way to reward these students’ continuing excellence: tablets.

Although the tablets built up the excitement at the graduation party, the students were the real stars of the night. Their parents came together to share a meal and see samples of their children’s work. Each student shared simple video games and animations they created and showed the code behind their games. Mrs. Claudia, the instructor, also passed around flyers the students designed in Photoshop. Many of the flyers, which advertised Tech St@rs, featured the students’ photography.

At the end of the night, the students took home their new tablets while parents beamed with pride as they celebrated their students’ accomplishments.

To learn more about Tech St@rs: Digital Design and other free computer programs, call 267-777-5860 or email di@pec-cares.org. 

In a classroom at Martha Washington Elementary School in West Philadelphia, fourth- and fifth-grade students sat at desks around the room hunched over tablets, swiping and tapping the devices while watching interactive videos. One might assume that they were playing Temple Run or Subway Surfer, but these students were learning about such topics as internet safety and how to build a slideshow presentation.

Normally, the group of nine students meets at the Families First KEYSPOT computer lab, outfitted with desktop computers, each with an external mouse and keyboard. In the Tech St@rs after school program, they watch engaging video lessons and learn how to type, use email, browse the web, and use basic Microsoft Office applications, all in an effort to better prepare them to thrive in a society that takes those skills for granted.  To the students, using tablets was a treat.

 But not all of them loved the experience. When asked, “How many of you had fun using the tablets today instead of a desktop?” there were mixed responses. Some loved the new, fun technology but others were frustrated, especially when they had to type answers to questions.

Indeed, part of the lesson was in understanding the limitations of tablets. “My goal is to teach students how the computer works and what kind of computers we know, but most important how it can be adapted to their education needs,” says instructor Claudia Trani Melgar. “Some devices can be better than others.” Tablets, Claudia commented, “are easy to use and offer a variety of applications that can be engaging, fun, and educational at the same time.”

But tablets have limitations, too. For example, the students were excited to use a touchscreen keyboard at first, but after a few minutes they asked to switch to an external keyboard, which can be much more efficient. That’s why students in Tech St@rs learn typing skills. “[T]hese new skills on a keyboard can show students how to type faster and create documents,” which is harder on a tablet.

But in many other cases, the simplified format of a tablet makes it easier to use, and, as Claudia notes, “Most importantly kids love them!”

Seven students in CDIT's Intermediate Computer and Internet Class (CIC) for adults delivered PowerPoint presentations Monday night. The students have met for two and a half hours on Monday evenings for twelve weeks, learning the Microsoft Office applications Excel, Word, Publisher, and Powerpoint. The presentation was designed to be a culminating final project incorporating all the skills they had learned.

Student picked the topics of their presentations, and they varied greatly. Some students used the opportunity to promote their business, others to pitch their business proposals, complete with SWOT analyses. Some used the presentation to share about their interests and hobbies, for instance the pets of the White House over history or Pennsylvania deer hunting.

Students utilized animations, music clips, and exciting fonts to create engaging presentations. To meet the requirements of incorporating Excel and Publisher material, they imported charts, graphs, and shapes to augment their text slides. The instructor of the class, Kwaku Boateng, remarked that the presentations were inspiring and informational. He predicted that student Belinda Patrick's presentation on her music business would propel her to fame. Even if that comes true, Patrick says "I'll never forget these computer classes." 

The students will graduate on Tuesday, August 19 along with over twenty other students completing the Intro and Beginner CIC classes. To learn more about the free classes, call 267-777-5860 or email di@pec-cares.org. 

Summer is usually considered a time to take a break from learning, but for the adults in CDIT's Community Computer Class (CCC), summer is a time to keep learning new skills. The introductory computer classes are offered at three levels--basic, beginner, and intermediate--and meet on weekday afternoons and evenings at the Families First KEYSPOT in West Philadelphia. 

Almost half of this summer's students don't own a computer at home, and most of them had used a computer fewer than 10 times before they applied, some fewer than five times. Now they use a computer one or two times a week during the two-hour classes. They learn topics such as the parts of a computer, typing skills, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), browsing the Internet, social media, and email. 

The classes are in high demand. "We usually don't have to advertise very much. People learn about our classes by word of mouth," explains CDIT manager Nasha Taylor. Students love the instructor, Kwaku Boateng, who enjoys seeing his students gain new job opportunities through their computer skills. Howard Arnold, a student in the beginner class, recently received a new home computer where he puts his new skills to use. "When you start seeing things you can do for yourself, the world busts wide open for you," he says in reference to what he learned in the class.

Howard and other students also take advantage of the Open Access Hours at the Families First KEYSPOT to practice their new skills. The lab is open to the community four days a week. In addition to job seekers, students come in to do homework and explore the new applications they learn in class. CDIT's lab assistant, Shirley Brendlinger, helps the students complete their homework. "He moves very fast," she says of Boateng, "but he teaches them how to take great notes so they can continue to practice."

CDIT keeps a running list of people interested in CCC. If you want to join the fall cohort or want to use the Families First KEYSPOT, email di@pec-cares.org or call 267-777-5860 for more information.

A graduate of CDIT's Comcast Digital Connectors program stopped by recently to share what he's up to now. Carlos Delgado entered the summer 2010 Digital Connectors cohort as the youngest in his class but finished the program with the highest Tech Support assessment score. After completing the program, Carlos interned at CDIT helping out with office administration, tech support, and computer refurbishment. 

A freshman when he first got involved at PEC, Carlos will soon graduate from George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science. Before heading off to college, we asked him to come share about his future plans and how his time at CDIT impacted them. 

He reflected on the importance of having a computer at home and gaining access to the Internet, which was essential for him to develop many of his interests. "The Internet is important for everything we do," he said. Carlos used the Internet to learn about things as diverse as dieting and healthy eating to how to play guitar. He used Youtube videos and a website called Ultimate-Guitar.com to learn how to play his favorite songs. Now he plays and is the lead singer in a rock band, writing some songs of his own. Carlos is also a hardcore gamer, usually on his Playstation but occasionally on the computer he received for completing the Comcast Digital Connectors program.

In the fall Carlos will attend West Chester University, studying music education and earning a teaching certification. To continue to explore his tech interests, he is considering a minor in computer science as well. CDIT is excited to send another alum to college with computer literacy that enhances and deepens students' passions!

Carlos (second from left) poses with CDIT staff Nasha (left), Nathan (second from right), and Tan (right).