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Digital Divide. Brian Bell Parkland College DCEO Digital Divide Grant Coordinator. “Bridging the Digital Divide” {one person at a time!!!}. Maria Mobasseri Parkland College CSIT Department Chair DCEO, NSF, WIA Grant Writer & PI. Types of Digital Divides.
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Digital Divide Brian Bell Parkland College DCEO Digital Divide Grant Coordinator “Bridging the Digital Divide” {one person at a time!!!} Maria Mobasseri Parkland College CSIT Department Chair DCEO, NSF, WIA Grant Writer & PI
Types of Digital Divides • Access to Education and training • Access to physical equipment • Access to the global network (internet) • Access to broadband network speeds (UC2B HELP!) • Sub categories • Race • Region • Income • Level of Education “The digital divide is what happened to you while you were at work”
Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
My class participants Illustration demonstrating some local areas are competing with the developing word.
Illinois not even close! Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Because of U of I Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
My office at Parkland Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
NSF GRANT Mission: Building Communities Six central Illinois colleges have joined forces to address a common problem: the small number of women and minority students completing college programs in Computer Science and Information Technology. Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
2008 Statistics for Women • 56% of Advance Placement (AP) test-takers were female • 51% of AP Calculus test-takers were female • 17% of AP Computer Science test-takers were female • 65% of Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) finalists in Biochemistry were female • 35% of ISEF finalists in Mathematics were female • 19% of ISEF finalists in Computer Science were female (source: National Center for Women & Information Technology, www.ncwit.org) Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
2008 Statistics for Women • 27% of Computer Scientists were female. • 3% of Computer Scientists were female and African-American. • 3% of Computer Scientists were female and Asian. • 1% of Computer Scientists were female and Hispanic. • 57% of professional occupations in the US workforce were held by women. • 24% of professional IT-related occupations in the US workforce were held by women. • 16% of corporate office positions at Fortune 500 technology companies were held by women. (source: National Center for Women & Information Technology, www.ncwit.org) Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Challenges • Lack of numbers • Lack of student interest about computers • Lack of student knowledge about computers • Minority and female students must be recruited in different ways • Lack of female and minority role models Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Systemic Issues • K–12 • Little Exposure • Curriculum is weak • Recruitment issues (female students must be recruited differently) • Higher Education • Curriculum needs revision; application areas • Lack of “confidence”— different definitions of failure • Law of low numbers — lack of role models • Careers • Advancement on the technical ladder • Work / Home balance — job re-entry • Lack of women technical luminaries • Few IT start up business success stories Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
What have we done? Recruiting • Contests • Open House • College Class Visits • Informational Kickoffs • Women in Computer Science Clubs • Workshops (Middle School, High School) Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
What have we done? Retention • Mentoring • Study Groups • Industry Tours • Educational Trips • Celebration and Retreat • Fundraising for Scholarship Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Retention Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Minimizing the Digital Divide Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Internships(Summer 2005 to Summer 2009) Total of 130internships in the following fields: • Networking Administration • Microcomputer Support Specialist • Digital Media/Web Average of 33 graduates per year! Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Industry Employers(Where CSIT Grads Work) Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
DCEO / Digital Divide Grant Mission: (Parkland College) is to target 300 individuals from the lowest income neighborhoods within Champaign-Urbana area. Each participant will receive at least 28 hours of project based, hands-on and practical technology training. Participants will basic computer skills, typing instructions, internet connectivity and access to certification training. Following our current format for Computer Literacy at Parkland College's Mattis facility, participants will have access to GED training, job placement information and printing services. Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Who are our clients • Currently at 1307 N Mattis Illinois Worknet Center • Class dynamics, basic overview • Over 40 • Unemployed • 50/50 Male – Female • 50/50 Minority – Non Minority (white non-hispanic) • 70% + no computer or internet access at home • Some areas have no access at all (Comcast ,etc.) dial up only! Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Our Partners: They help with donations, resources and funds!! Baltimore Air Coil Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Our Class Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
What we give Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
Who we help Donated Computer Recipients Ester and Charles (volunteer) Raulene and Richard Raulene Maria Judy Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872
How we help • Classroom style and one on one instruction. • Move clients into the future with knowledge of hardware, operating systems and applications. • From the last computer they may have used to the computer that’s coming out next month! • Teach valuable skills to assist current needs.(JOBS) • Bridge the gap, by bringing them up to speed, and give the tools to keep that speed.
Curriculum : What they learn • Hardware: • The 2 Types of computers: • PC or MAC • Operating systems: • XP, VISTA, SEVENLINUX • Applications: • Types • Embedded, Portable, Online, Virtual, Thinned • And the NEW Cloud!!
Hardware evolution!! Net-top PC’s arrived 10/20/09 4 pounds! 10,000 pounds
Human evolution: Success Kimberly & Flora Applications Certifications of Completion. Microsofts Elevate America Brian D. Bell Parkland College Outreach Coordinator bbell@parkland.edu 217-373-3872