Partnering to Bridge Clevelands Digital Divide

1
Partnering to Bridge Clevelands Digital Divide

• Earnestine Adeyemon
• Electronic Resources Librarian
• University Library
• Case Western Reserve University
• exa2_at_cwru.edu

2
Program Overview

• Description
• The Bridging the Digital Divide Program is a
  collaborative effort
• between CWRU's University Library (UL) and the
  Cleveland
• School of the Arts (CSA).
• UL sponsors a bi-monthly after-school program for
  middle
• schools students and their teachers.

3
Program Overview

• Goal
• The goal of the program is to help promote
  digital inclusion throughout
• the Cleveland Municipal School District.

4
What is the Digital Divide?

• Digital divide" refers to the gap between those
  who can effectively use new information and
  communication tools, such as the Internet, and
  those who cannot.
• Digital Divide Network http//www.digitaldividen
  etwork.org/

5
Where is the divide?

• Rural populations
• Low-income central city populations
• Falling Through the Net A Survey of the "Have
  Nots in Rural
• and Urban America http//www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiaho
  me/fallingthru.html

6
ULs Assumptions for a Program

• CSA desired a partnership with UL
• CSA teachers saw the potential benefits of a
  literacy program
• Students would voluntarily elect to take on extra
  academic work after school
• Students would see themselves as stakeholders in
  the endeavor
• Students would become advocates for digital
  inclusion on the local and global levels
• Students would develop and/or enhance their
  Internet and information literacy skills

7
Procedural Guide

• CSA Participants
• 15 seventh grade students
• The CSA seventh grade teaching team

8
Procedural Guide

• Library team
• Program coordinator and primary instructor
• CSA liaison
• Publications coordinator
• Mentors/lab assistants
• Hospitality coordinator

9
Program Spaces and Metaphors

• According to a recent Pew study, internet savvy
  students employ five metaphors
• to explain their Internet use
• The Internet as a virtual textbook or library
• The Internet as a tutor and study aid
• The Internet as a guidance counselor
• The Internet as a virtual locker, backpack, and
  notebook
• The Internet as a study group
• The Digital Disconnect The widening gap between
  Internet-savvy students
• and their schools
• http//www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report
  67

10
Spaces and Metaphors

• I. Physical Space for the Program
• Dedicated Conference/Meeting Room
• Introduces students to a 21st century work-team
• environment

11
Spaces and Metaphors

• Virtual Space
• A dedicated virtual space is essential for
  participants
• to cultivate 21st century literacy skills (please
  see next slide)

12
Virtual Space
13
Curriculum planning

• Our challenge was to develop a curriculum that
  would both
• Engage middle school students
• Meet objectives of the program

14
Classes for Students

• Instruction includes
• Introduction to the World Wide Web and Its
  Language
• Evaluating Information on the WWW
• Using Information Responsibly
• Web Page Design
• Media Creativity Animation
• PowerPoint for the Classroom
• Finding Useful Web Sites and Tools
• (homework help, dictionaries, encyclopedias,
  online books, study guides, etc.)

15
Classes for Teachers

• The Digital Divide and Urban School Populations
• Internet Content for Students
• Fair Use Issues
• Web Sites for Middle School Teachers
• Incorporating Standards into the Web
• PowerPoint for the Classroom

16
Timeline

• How we would like to scale the program

17
Program Summary Lessons Learned

• Involve school librarian/media specialist
  whenever possible
• Have realistic expectations for parental
  involvement
• Plan for technical problems with School agency

18
Program Summary Successes

• Assumptions confirmed
• Students developed skills and increased awareness
• Students and teachers became advocates for
  digital inclusion
• Program received enthusiastic support
• from all participants and partners