CI Students Participate in Digital Harmony Rollout/Training

Posted by Alex Lehner on

College of Information students spent Saturday (10/11) working with the 2nd annual “Digital Harmony” Project Rollout at R. Frank Nims Middle School. Students (Mike Falcon, Heather Franklin, Twanisha Gordon, Yaniv Levy, Emily Rosenthal, and Kirk Yoder) and Faculty (Ebe Randeree) assisted the school with processing and delivering computers to families. The CI Students also worked with parents to teach them basic computing skills and assisted a TCC instructor.

Digital Harmony is a three-year pilot program designed to bring desktop computers complete with Internet access, learning software and ongoing training and support for every incoming sixth grader and, this year, new seventh graders at R. Frank Nims Middle School. The City of Tallahassee’s Digital Harmony Project won the award for Excellence in Bridging the Digital Divide at last week’s ITFlorida 2008 Awards Gala held in Orlando. More than 90 households in underserved areas in the southside of Tallahassee received access to technology through the Digital Harmony program during its first year. Having the computers in the home enabled family members to tap into community-wide resources. Additionally, equipment was provided to the school’s computer labs. This increase in students’ access to computer technology helped the overall population to realize scholastic gains and benchmark mastery in both reading and mathematics. It also helped raise the school’s grade from an “F” to a “C.”

“This award is recognition that Tallahassee is a community that cares about all of its citizens,” said City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, who spearheaded the initiative. “We believe that all children should have access to the tools they need to become high achieving, successful young people by supporting children and families with technology.”

Gillum brought together a variety of partners from the Tallahassee business and technology community including the City of Tallahassee, Leon County School System, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College, Mainline Information Systems, Comcast Cable, Dell Computers (first year), Hewlett Packard (second year), TalTech Alliance, Go Beyond Foundation and other community parties. This collaborative group of partners helped to implement the project, gain funding for equipment and software and develop programs to ensure ongoing training and support for the students and their families.

City officials coordinated with a wide range of local donors, as well as corporate sponsors, Dell and HP, to provide students with the technology they need to learn, both in, and out of the classroom.

“Total, we’ve probably had over $ 100,000 worth of commitments, which is what it costs to run this program from year to year, and it costs the parents absolutely nothing,” said Tallahassee City Commissioner, Andrew Gillum.

All 6th grade students, and their parents, came prepared to take home more than 130 free, brand new personal computers. “They’re just brand new computers, they’re giving away,” said Parent, Kisha Lewis.

Comcast Cable is also sponsoring the project, providing free Internet access in the households of all the 6th grade students. “I feel so proud to type on my own computer, just to have one, and not go other places,” said Nims Middle School Student, Andrew Butler. Nims middle school went from an “F” school to a “C”school last year. Digital Harmony organizers say they hope to raise students’ FCAT scores, and earn the school an “A” grade this time around. Organizers say it takes a community coming together to make a difference, as they break down technology barriers, to enable students to grow in their education, and in their future.

Florida State University’s, Star Alliance group, helped parents load up, as kids watched in excitement. College of Information students, Cherie Sanders, Denis Burns, David Paul Lyons and April Johnson were instrumental in supporting the help desk services and were cited as being one of the reasons that the project has able to succeed. April Johnson is also part of the Stars Alliance Group at FSU The College of Information, which runs the HELP DESK for the Digital Harmony project. The HELP DESK runs from 4-8pm Mon-Thu, 3-5pm on Fridays. For more information on participation through with the HELP DESK, see Denis Burns.

Dr. Christie Koontz will present a workshop describing the College’s masters programs on Thursday, September 11 and again on Monday, September 29 from 1 to 3 pm (both days). For exact locations and more information, please contact Dr. Christie Koontz.