Dear Fred, et al,
First off, hi Fred, how's it going? ;-)
One approach to consider, that we implemented under our RTEC, is
Learn-and-Earn programs, where parents earn a computer, by learning to
use it. That way the distribution of computers could potentially be
tied to other parent and family involvement goals, objectives and
activities of a school or district.
The challenge, of course, is to support a during or
after-school/out-of-school adult ed computer training program. The
LINCT Coalition's approach to Learn and Earn is to develop an exchange
of time dollars, where people volunteer to do useful things for each
other and the community and earn time dollars for that work, that can
be exchanged for some help or service that they may need themselves. So
folks could volunteer to teach classes, participants could earn time
dollars by participating in classes, etc. This can necessitate finding
a wider range of potential volunteer activities beyond computer training
and computer use, to create a local, community time dollar economy.
However, Learn and Earn programs have been established without
attempting to implement a full time dollars approach as well.
It is definitely more work than either just distributing computers, or
working through a nonprofit for distribution (though the nonprofit
could, of course, run a Learn and Earn program itself).
Some advantages of Learn and Earn, imho, are: (1) opportunities to
engage with parents/families over time during the training phase (the
Learn part of Learn and Earn); (2) opportunity to make sure that
parents and other adults feel capable and cmopetent in using a computer
that they Earn through training; (3) opportunity over the course of
the training to ensure that the computer is in good working condition
before it goes home with the parent, adult or youth; and (4) fostering a
positive sense of accomplishment in earning a computer by learning to
use it.
Just a thought.
In Peace,
Kevin Rocap
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fred Mindlin wrote:
This discussion is near the heart of this list's concerns, I believe.
It's about a concrete program to distribute surplus equipment to those
who need it which is being hampered rather than helped.
We are working now to develop a program for distributing computer
equipment from the school district's surplus to parents in our local
community who would not otherwise be able to afford a computer. The
biggest obstacle is the fear that a direct donation from school to
home would incur support responsibilities for the school district,
already straining to meet its internal support needs.
We are hoping to triangulate the relationship with a non-profit as
the direct recipient of the donation, and to help that organization
find a way to develop the support program.
Anyone dealing with anything similar who might have suggestions or
insights?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Regards, Fred
--
Fred Mindlin, Project Manager
PVUSD Technology Curriculum Integration
email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
web:http://www.pvusd.net/tcip/
(831)761-6075 [office] (831)750-5311 [cell] (831)728-6947 [fax]
Intelligence is knowing what to do when you don't know what to do.
--John Holt
On Oct 14, 2004, at 7:46 AM, Thomas A Webb wrote:
The presidential order was the enabling event that established the
SEEDS program,
This may seem off-topic for this list, but I see this sort of thing
as bearing on the reasons for the divide, and the mechanics
(sometimes flawed) of improving the situation.
Thomas A Webb
http://www.ospueblo.com - Open Source and Educational Resources
http://wordwonder.com - For Readers and Thinkers
...
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