I would suggest that this is answering the wrong question.  It's not an 
issue of owning computers, but of having access to a computer, and the 
ability to use it.

Since virtually every public library has computers available to the 
public, computer literacy becomes an issue even for those who don't own one.

Denis Anson, MS, OTR
Director of Research and Development
Assistive Technology Research Institute
College Misericordia
301 Lake St.
Dallas, PA 18612
Phone: 570-674-6413
Fax: 570-674-8054 



Burkett, Barry wrote:

> David et al,

>

> Getting computers to the students is a feat in and of itself, here are

> two things that are happening in Frankfort. First we have a program

> called Salvation PC, it is a donated computer/rehab program that allows

> one to get a computer for a very reduced price... It is done in

> conjunction with the United way.  The second project, which I really

> dig, is an Eagle Scout did his project rehabbing computers and then

> giving them to our Learning Center to distribute to students who wanted

> them.  And one last tidbit, Walmart gave us two or three e-machines,

> new, to distribute.

>

> So it is possible to get them.  I wonder how many other Eagle Scout

> candidates in other people's neck of the woods is doing something

> similar? How many of them need the idea?

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]

> On Behalf Of David Rosen

> Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:37 AM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 657] Re: Computer literacy as a requirement

>

> Hello Millie,

>

> You raise a good point. Not everyone yet has access to a computer at

> home or work. But I would like to challenge the analogy with a car.  

> Yes, if students don't have access to a computer and the Internet at

> home, work, or someplace where they can easily and regularly use it,

> computer literacy may not be very useful, just as driving lessons for

> someone who has no access to a car may not be useful.  There are good

> reasons for not having a car, however, for example when good public

> transportation is available.  Now I'll go further out on a limb.  I see

> no good reason why everyone shouldn't be able to have a computer at home

> or work.

>

> "What?" some would say. "Our students are poor and cannot afford one!"

> Then I say it's our job to find or create programs which rehab donated

> computers and make them available for under $200.  In many  

> parts of the country these computer rehab programs already exist.   

> Check out http://ctcnet.org/who/member_directory/index.htm .  There are

> also lease/purchase arrangements where someone can have a new computer

> at under $20/month, maybe less.  And in some cases, programs will have

> to (some already do) lend students computers to use at home.  Out on my

> limb, I am proclaiming that it is now our job -- the job of adult

> literacy education programs -- to see that students have every

> opportunity to have and use computers.  That's a programmatic leap, I

> know.  But it's a leap I think we must take.  We now live in a society

> that requires computer literacy, as much as it requires reading, writing

> and other basic skills.

>

> Some will point out that, even so, not every student wants to be

> computer literate. That may be true for a small number, and we should

> respect that.  We should require computer literacy only for students who

> want it. But the number of students who do not want to be computer

> literate, in most programs, is now very small.  The bigger obstacles, I

> am afraid, are that some teachers are not comfortable in using

> computers, and not comfortable in integrating technology in classroom

> learning, and, of course, there are programs where computers are still

> not accessible to students, and in some cases teachers.

>

> When I visited Hamilton City ABLE in 1996, as part of a National

> Institute for Literacy  Literacy Leader fellowship study, I talked with

> students in your program who did not have access to a computer  

> at home but who were accessing the World Wide Web at your program.   

> Most said that they had never left Ohio, except maybe to go to Kentucky,

> and that one of the most important things the World Wide Web did was

> give them a chance to virtually travel the world.  That has stuck with

> me, Millie.  I thank them for that insight; it was the insight that led

> to my work with virtual field trips, virtual visits, and the

> International Community Virtual Visit project. [ http://

> alri.org/pubs/learnerfocusgroups.html  and http://alri.org/litlist/

> webfieldtrips.html ]

>

> Now, a decade later, the digital divide has significantly narrowed,  

> but not for everyone.  Not for all students.   I think it's our job  

> to help close that gap. We need to own the goal of computer literacy

> -- and access to computers at home or work -- for all our students, and

> not rest until we have the community commitment and resources to make

> that goal a reality.  I see it as a justice and equity issue, like

> reading, writing and numeracy.

>

> David J. Rosen

> djrosen at comcast.net

>

>

>

>

>

> On Oct 18, 2006, at 9:59 PM, KUTHFAM at aol.com wrote:

>

>   

>> In a message dated 10/18/2006 9:51:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 

>> djrosen at comcast.net writes:

>> Let me step out on a limb here.  I propose that every publicly-funded 

>> adult literacy education program be required to teach computer 

>> literacy to those who are not already comfortable and competent in 

>> using a computer for basic applications like word processing, e-mail, 

>> and information searching using a search engine.  That includes basic 

>> literacy and basic ESL/ESOL students. (I would not insist that 

>> computer literacy be exclusively in English.)

>>

>> That is, for most adult learners, computer literacy should be a 

>> requirement.  Reactions?

>>

>> Teaching and/or requiring computer literacy is one thing. Having a 

>> computer, using it and being comfortable with the technology is 

>> another. Computer literacy only matters if the student has the 

>> resources (i.e. computer, preferably at home) to use the skills.

>> Computers at school and libraries for all practical purposes 

>> (children, jobs home/work obligations) aren't available for our 

>> students.

>>

>> What good is it to learn to drive if you don't have a car?

>>

>> Millie Kuth

>> Hamilton City ABLE

>> Hamilton OH 45011

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

>> Technology and Literacy mailing list

>> Technology at nifl.gov

>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology

>>     

>

>

>

>

>

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