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Archive for the ‘Net Literacy’ Category
Net Literacy student volunteers, with the support of ten Orr Fellows – plan to collect computers throughout Hamilton County to increase digital inclusion to over 1,000 Hoosiers!
The five largest municipal governments in Hamilton County are partnering together with Net Literacy, a youth-managed Hamilton County nonprofit, to hold the county’s largest computer drive. The Mayors and Town Manager of Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and Noblesville together with the County Commissioners are encouraging businesses, individuals, and other organizations to donate “gently used” and working computers that are Pentium IIIs, Pentium IV, or have Windows 2000 or Windows XP as operating system to donate their computers. The computers will be cleaned, data wiped, new software installed, and they will be donated to nonprofits to build or expand computer labs in Hamilton County and throughout the State. Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all contributors will receive a receipt for their donation.
“Net Literacy’s student volunteers have taught senior citizens and provided computers to independent living facilities in Carmel. Carmel has spotlighted Net Literacy’s programs on our Carmel CAN Community Volunteer Initiative on Cable Channel 16, and we support the students that volunteer during their weekends and after school time to help increase digital inclusion throughout Indiana. I encourage Carmel residents to support students and Net Literacy by participating in this computer drive on May 6th and 7th at City Hall (9:00am to 4:00pm). Also, residents can drop off their gently used computers at the Carmel Clay Schools Educational Center on Friday, April 30th (3:00pm-7:00pm) and Saturday, May 1st (10:00am to 2:00pm). The City of Carmel is pleased to continue to support Net Literacy, its students, and its mission for a ninth year.”
- Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard
• Since 2003, Net Literacy has provided or expanded computer facilities serving over 150,000 Hoosiers and its student volunteers have provided almost 200,000 hours of service to Indiana! In 2009, Net Literacy was awarded “The Above and Beyond Award” by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for the State of Indiana. Learn more by visiting www.netliteracy.org.
“In today’s world, it’s extremely important for people of all ages to be computer literate. Not only does it allow people to easily access a wealth of information, but it’s also a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. I applaud Net Literacy and encourage all residents of Noblesville to participate in the computer drive on May 6th and May 7th. The City has issued a Proclamation entitled ‘Net Literacy Computer Drive to Give “Gently Used” Computers a Second Life, to Increase Broadband Adoption, and Reduce the Amount of Computers Discarded in Landfills’ to encourage Noblesville residents to participate in this computer drive. The City of Noblesville has participated in every one of Net Literacy’s computer drives, and is proud to support these student volunteers again in 2010. Please bring your ‘gently used’ computers to our City Hall on May 6th and May 7th.”
– Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear
• Net Literacy is teaching students and parents about how to remain safe on the Internet – learn more by visiting www.safeconnects.org. Over 100,000 Indiana residents have watched Net Literacy’s “The Ten Most Important Things To Know About the Internet” PSA campaign. All Safe Connects content has been reviewed by the IDOE, and is available to schools and nonprofits at no cost.
“The Town of Fishers is proud to support Net Literacy’s computer drive and its mission to increase computer access. We have issued Proclamations in the past supporting Net Literacy and their Senior Connects’ program, and the Town has a long history of directly supporting Net Literacy program of increasing computer access. We encourage all residents to support the computer drive by dropping off computers at the Train Station by Town Hall on May 6th and May 7th between 8:00am and 5:00pm. We also encourage youths, adults, and senior residents of Fishers to be both computer and Internet literate to improve their quality-of-life, and empowering citizens through technology to be better connected with friends and family.”
- Fishers Town Manager Gary Huff
• US Senators Lugar and Bayh have served as Net Literacy’s Honorary Co-Chairs since 2005 and Lt. Governor Skillman joined Net Literacy’s Honorary Board in 2009. In 2009, Net Literacy won the
Governor’s Award and was awarded the Jefferson Award for Public Service in a Washington DC ceremony by US Senators Lugar and Bayh.
“Westfield is proud to be a part of and support Net Literacy’s computer drive, and the City has issued a proclamation declaring May 6th and May 7th to be “Net Literacy Computer Drive Day to Increase Digital Inclusion and Promote a Green Environment.” Net Literacy has taught senior citizens and repurposed over 1000 computers while working at Sanders Glen. The City encourages all citizens to bring their gently used computers and monitors to the Westfield City Hall on May 6th and 7th between 8:00am and 4:00pm.”
– Andy Cook, Mayor of Westfield
• Hundreds of Hamilton County students have volunteered to teach senior citizens computer and Internet skills and have repurposed thousands of computers since Net Literacy was founded by middle school students in 2003. In the Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Plan presented to Congress on March 15, 2010, cited three of Net Literacy’s programs as best practice models.
“Hamilton County appreciates Net Literacy’s efforts to increase computer access and its support of Prime Life Enrichment during the last many years. In 2010, all Hamilton County students and adults should be Internet literate to be able to access the ever increasing amount of government resources, news, and information that is available online. The County has issued a Proclamation in support of Net Literacy’s computer drive, and the emphasis it places on recycling and keeping Hamilton County green. The County supports an organization that engages student volunteers and works to support nonprofits build and expand computer labs.”
- Mr. Dan Stevens, Hamilton County
• Net Literacy has recently launched a new program to increase financial literacy among high school and college students. More information is available at www.financialconnects.org. Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett said “I am proud that Net Literacy, an organization made of Indiana Students, successfully competed for State Farm’s ($98,000) financial literacy grant. This is the type of service learning project that encourages student success, and I congratulate them on this endeavor.”
“Net Literacy is grateful for the strong support and leadership of Hamilton County, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, and Carmel by promoting broadband adoption, encouraging us to have a green environment, and strongly supporting a student run nonprofit where students comprise 50% of the board of directors. We also appreciate that the Orr Fellows that have adopted our ‘gently used computer drive’ as their community service project and will be helping us high school students by working to collect the computers. We want to thank the Carmel Clay School District for holding a separate computer drive for us at the Carmel Clay Schools Educational Center on Friday, April 30th (3:00pm-7:00pm) and Saturday, May 1st (10:00am to 2:00pm), and we appreciate that other school districts will be conducting computer drives for us in September. Finally, thank you, residents of Hamilton County, for helping us to help others. Learn more about Net Literacy by visiting us on the web at www.NetLiteracy.org.”
– Levi Kiser, Net Literacy Student Board Member and high school junior
Net Literacy thanks the Orr Fellows for partnering with us and helping make this computer drive a success!
Orr Fellowship
Digital Literacy Corps Website Commemorates Student Volunteers Across America
The “Digital Literacy Corps” is an informal national movement of student volunteers in hundreds of schools that work after school and during weekends to help increase digital inclusion and broadband adoption. Virtually all of these students are unsung heroes – they are members of hundreds of service clubs and nonprofits that help increase digital literacy and enable others to live richer and more successful lives through the use of broadband. The content on this website is representative of many organizations – but focuses on the Net Literacy programs.
From left to right, a special thanks goes to 2010 Student Chair David Johnson (left side of picture), Student Chief Technology Officer (and 2008 Student Chair) Brian Kelley, Student President Daniel Kent (and 2003-2007 Student Chair), 2005-2007 Student Vice Chair Morgan Starks (right side of picture), and Student Vice President (and 2009 Student Chair) Will Petrovic.
The IDOE Helps Announce the State Farm YAB’s $98,000 Grant to Net Literacy
IDOE Helps Announce State Farm YAB's $98,000 Grant to Net Literacy
Click on the image above (or click here) to watch the video of State Farm Insurance’s check presentation ceremony at the Indiana Department of Education. On February 22, 2010, Dr. Schauna Findlay, the IDOE’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction, helped by serving as MC at the presentation and explained the importance that the Indiana Department of Education places on financial literacy.
Student Vice President Will Petrovic said, “We sincerely appreciate the support of Dr. Findlay, and especially the support of Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett. We couldn’t be doing this without the members of the IDOE team that champion youths and financial literacy, including John Keller, Director of Learning Technologies, and Melissa Abriani, Division of College & Career Preparation.”
The video was taped by Net Literacy student volunteers from Thomas Carr Howe Community High School and edited by Will Petrovic. Phase I of the Financial Connects website, including the production of 20 videos with a financial literacy theme, were scripted and produced by 18 students representing six Indianapolis Public School high schools. Student Chief Technology Officer Brian Kelley and Student President Daniel Kent designed the functionality of and constructed the website. Lilly Endowment and Old National Bank funded Phase I of the Financial Connects program. Net Literacy plans to create a 30 minute video entitled “Financial Connects – the making of a youth empowered program” as this program is developed. Learn more about the IDOE’s Financial Literacy Standards by clicking here.
“The State Farm Youth Advisory Board brings youth empowerment around full circle,” said Student Chair David Johnson, a sophomore at Northwest High School. “Net Literacy was founded by middle school students and our board of directors is 50% comprised of high school and college student volunteers. State Farm has empowered a national Youth Advisory Board that is able to award $5,000,000 in grants to the over 1,000 nonprofits that apply for funding. While we received our grant only one month ago, this is a story about a student empowered State Farm Youth Advisory Board supporting a student empowered Net Literacy program. We’re grateful to State Farm and its Youth Advisory Board.”
The Clowes Fund Supports Net Literacy for a Third and Fourth Year
Clowes Fund
The Clowes Fund awarded Net Literacy $17,500 for 2010 and 2011 to enable Net Literacy’s students volunteers to provide computers that will impact thousands of youths. The Clowes Fund’s support has provided thousands of computers for dozens of nonprofits, classrooms, and computer labs. The Clowes Fund’s focus has been on Net Literacy’s Computer Connects program – a program that has efficiently repurposed more than 10,000 computers during the last few years. More about how the Clowes Fund is making a difference can be learned by clicking here.
Net Literacy’s more than 2,000 student volunteers are very grateful for the Clowes Fund’s continuing support, now totaling almost $50,000.
For more information, please contact danielkent@netliteracy.org
Updated Senior Connects Website Launched Today!
Thanks to the technical expertise of Net Literacy’s Chief Technology Officer Brian Kelley, an updated and refreshed Senior Connects website was launched today!
While the new website contains a nostalgic look to the past and includes the 2005 American and Canadian Senior Connects Board of Advisors, it also has added the following:
• Streaming videos of a Net Literacy “student” who in her early 80’s, learned how to use a computer and broadband through the Senior Connects’ program in 2003, through a series of videos, she explains how this experience has changed and empowered her life.
• Updated computer, Internet, and Email training lesson plans – including some training programs that have been translated into Spanish and Russian.
• FAQ that answer the question – how do I start a Senior Connects program in my own community?
Learn more by visiting the Senior Connects website!
Net Literacy’s Senior Connects program was referenced in the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan submitted to Congress last week. Learn more about Net Literacy and how the Digital Literacy Corps can make a difference by clicking on the links.
Please contact danielkent@netliteracy.org if you have questions.
One Story About How One Computer Made A Difference In The Life Of One Child
Net Literacy’s digital literacy corps has repurposed 10,000 computers during the last couple of years. We receive many notes of thanks from the organizations that receive the computers, and occasionally, it puts everything into perspective to understand how a computer can impact the life and success of a youth.
This email was sent by an elementary guidance counselor to a group of students that serve as Net Literacy volunteers and are working on a special initiative that obtains used computers from businesses, repurposes them, installs new software, and donates computers to schools.
Recently you worked on a computer that was to be given to a family in need.
Recently I was contacted by a mother who was in need.
She shared her story, and meanwhile, you worked away at a computer’s part, pieces, programs.
Her son, a fifth grader is teased a lot. He is a lot taller than the other boys and weighs a lot more. He has wildly curly hair, and even though he is really smart, when he says things out loud sometimes his voice sounds kinda gurgled, maybe it’s his nerves. His parents are divorced and it is not a pretty one. They fight-a lot! Not very civil, so sharing something is out of the question (like a computer). He also receives free or reduced lunch, which means money is extremely limited for his family. If he receives a simple assignment like, “tonight, go on the class website and get on spelling city. Print off at least one of the word scrabbles to share with your group tomorrow,” his mind has to go in over drive. Whose house am I at? If I am at Mom’s, there’s no computer, let alone internet, so we will have to go the library. Depending on what time Mom gets home from work and they have dinner and clean up, he then has to get the family to drive him to library and pay to have a page printed off. (that’s if there is even time left in the night to get there after the evening stuff required!) His mom called me to see if I knew of any way I could help. How many people need help like that?! Well, through the school district, I found Net Literacy, and learned that our high school had a Net Literacy chapter, and that’s how I found all of you!! And then, the 2 stories became one! and the people making this computer were able to create a huuuuuge relief for one kid who just wants to be as regular as possible. On his behalf, THANK YOU for taking your time to lovingly put this thing together. His eyes were like saucers!!
The school counselor
Department of Education Encourages Schools to Participate in Financial Connects Programs
IDOE Supports Financial Connects and Financial Literacy
TO: School Principals & Superintendents
FROM: Melissa Abriani, Division of College & Career Preparation
DATE: February 24, 2010
SUBJECT: Financial Connects Contest
Opportunity for classes to use project based learning to study financial literacy and compete for over 100 awards ranging from $250 to $1,000.
Net Literacy, an Indiana-based organization, has received a $98,000 grant from State Farm Insurance to provide a project based learning component for schools teaching financial literacy.
Using the Indiana Department of Education’s Financial Literacy Standards (http://www.doe.in.gov/octe/facs/IndianaFinLitEd-HighSchStandards.html), students and classes are encouraged to create videos and interactive games that correspond to the state’s 61 financial literacy high school indicators. The winning content will be posted on a national financial literacy website and prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000 will be awarded.
“I am proud that Net Literacy, an organization made up of Indiana students, successfully competed for
State Farm’s financial literacy grant. This is the type of service learning project that encourages
student success, and I congratulate them on this endeavor,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Tony Bennett.
Indiana Department of Education’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Schauna Findlay welcomed Net Literacy and State Farm on February 22 at a press conference conducted at the Department.
More information about the contest will be posted in the next two weeks at www.netliteracyalliance.org under the “Financial Connects Contest” tab.
Schools and educators interested in receiving updated information can register to receive emails on the Net Literacy website at www.netliteracy.org. Questions may be directed to donkent@netliteracy.org.
Bright House Networks Recognized by Hendricks County Commissioners for Increasing Computer Access
Published: February 26, 2010 03:00 pm
Duo teams up to make donation to shelter
By Ryan Palencer
DANVILLE — While Sheltering Wings is bursting at the seams with residents, Bright House Networks and Net Literacy of Indiana teamed up to offer the shelter a donation of computers.
“With the increase of our women, we need more computers,” said Maria Larrison, CEO of Sheltering Wings. “With the increase in numbers of our children, we only have one computer back there (for the teens). This will help us put one or two more back there so they can do homework, research, or whatever they need to do. We feel very blessed.”
Larrison learned about the opportunity when she was contacted by Don Kent, president of Net Literacy.
“Many years ago, there was a group of middle school students who decided they wanted to increase computer access and digital inclusion,” Kent said. “The first organization they approached was Bright House Networks. Bright House took a chance on kids, eighth-graders, who had passion. Ever since then, Bright House has supported us.”
Net Literacy is a student-run, all-volunteer, non-profit organization. In addition, students make up half of the board of directors. Bright House also has a manager on the board of directors to offer vision and guidance.
“Over the years, Bright House has provided enough funding that we’ve been able to create hundreds of computer labs and thousands and thousands of computers in Central Indiana,” Kent said.
One thing that Net Literacy and Bright House are known for is creating Internet safety videos and public service announcements.
Brooke Krodel, marketing communications supervisor for Bright House, said, “Being an Internet provider, one of our big pillars are the children. With net predators and all of that, it’s more important to educate them at a very early age on how to be safe on the Internet.”
Krodel said Bright House is pleased to assist local non-profit organizations.
“We look for worthwhile organizations in our service area who specifically are in need of computers to get net literacy,” he said.
Friday’s donation was part of a 45-computer donation to non-profit organizations in Hendricks County in the days and weeks to come. Due to that effort, the Hendricks County Commissioners at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday are scheduled to issue a proclamation naming Tuesday as “Bright House Networks Day” in Hendricks County. Representatives of each of the groups receiving donations are scheduled to be in attendance.
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
Net Literacy Launches Financial Connects Program
In 2007, Net Literacy’s student board decided that “Net” financial literacy was becoming increasingly important with the proliferation of online banking and financial resources – and the increasing danger of identity theft. Also, the student board believed that students’ general lack of financial literacy caused them to be ill prepared for life. A series of informal focus groups comprised of high school students found most financial literacy websites to be “a yawn” and “boring.” Since increasing students’ life skills is one of Net Literacy’s core mission component; grants were proposed and a summer program was funded thanks to Lilly Endowment, the Old National Bank Foundation, and Bright House Networks. Net Literacy student volunteers reviewed more than 5,000 financial literacy websites and identified the 200 “best of class” videos, interactive games, and other content that made financial literacy relevant and interesting to post on the website.
Twenty student volunteers spent 40 hours during the summer at IUPUI working very quickly to learn how to storyboard, script, produce, and edit videos. Indianapolis Public Schools believed that this website would be an important resource and the district nominated students from Northwest High School, Arlington High School, Arsenal Tech High School, Broad Ripple High School, George Washington Community School, Howe Community High School, and John Marshall High School to learn about financial literacy and produce 20 videos that mixed fact and fun together.
Net Literacy Chief Technology Officer Brian Kelley (Purdue University) and Student President Daniel Kent (Haverford College) built the website and used php to create the dynamic interface to showcase the 200 “Best of Web” financial literacy videos, interactive games, and content. Phase I of the website is at www.financialconnects.org.
Chairman of the House Education Committee Greg Porter visited the students as they were taping the videos during the summer program, and explains why the Indiana General Assembly passed financial literacy legislation in 2009.
A press conference was held at the Indiana Department of Education’s offices, and also, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett praised Net Literacy for this service learning project.
While this was a step in the right direction, Net Literacy’s student board believed that students could learn about financial literacy and in a compelling manner, create their own videos and interactive web based games to both engage and teach students about financial literacy. Net Literacy applied for and was successful in obtaining a $98,000 grant from State Farm. Read more by clicking on the tab “Financial Connects Contest” on this website.
“State Farm supports service-learning because it combines service to the community with classroom curriculum in a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility,” said State Farm Community Specialist Ed Perez. “The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a prime example of State Farm’s commitment to education, our community and our youth.”
Visit www.statefarmyab.com for more information about the different projects being funded and about the Youth Advisory Board.
Net Literacy’s student volunteers and student board of directors thanks State Farm Youth Advisory Board and State Farm for their trust, support, and advocacy. Learn more about Net Literacy by visiting www.netliteracy.org.
The Indiana Department of Education is providing support to Net Literacy during Phase II of this project – but Net Literacy is solely responsible for the content and site. Additional information about the Indiana Department of Education’s Financial Literacy Standards is at http://www.doe.in.gov/octe/facs/IndianaFinLitEd-FrontPage.html
Net Literacy challenges students to create financial literacy videos and games
Net Literacy, a digital literacy nonprofit comprised of local Indiana students, along with State Farm Insurance, announced a national competition allowing students will compete for more than one hundred monetary awards for creating videos and interactive games demonstrating the importance of financial literacy. The two organizations came together after Net Literacy received a digital learning grant of $100,000 from State Farm. Net Literacy plans to align the contest with the Indiana Department of Education’s recently established financial literacy standards, which are taught to all 6th through 12th grade students.
David Johnson, Net Literacy’s Student Chairperson and a sophomore at Northwest High School remarked, “We hope that many schools will use this contest as both a class project and an opportunity to engage students to learn about financial literacy.”
Net Literacy’s student board aggregated 200 “best of the web” financial literacy videos and interactive games after a review of more than 5,000 websites. The organization then constructed a website to serve as a resource to students, parents, and educators. The website will launch in April. Following the website project, Net Literacy proposed a grant to encourage students to learn more about financial literacy and use their knowledge to create videos and Interactive games that help their classmates have fun while learning about financial literacy. “Thanks to State Farm and State Farm’s Youth Advisory Board, Net Literacy will be launching a national competition where students can compete for more than 100 awards that will range from $250 to $1,000 for creating videos and interactive games that relate to financial literacy, said Johnson. “We hope that many schools will use this contest as both a class project and an opportunity to engage students to learn about financial literacy. Afterwards, the videos and interactive games will be consolidated on a website where they will be used as a financial literacy resource for students, educators, and parents. The creators of this content will win both a bit of fame and fortune, while helping increase financial literacy among across the country.”
State Farm’s generous grant gives Net Literacy the resources to implement the contest. The student-produced videos and interactive games will be consolidated on a national website where they will be used as a financial literacy resource for students, educators, and parents.
“I am proud that Net Literacy, an organization made of Indiana students, successfully competed for State Farm’s financial literacy grant. This is the type of service learning project that encourages student success, and I congratulate them on this endeavor,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett.
“State Farm supports service-learning because it combines service to the community with classroom curriculum in a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility,” said State Farm Community Specialist Ed Perez. “The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a prime example of State Farm’s commitment to education, our community and our youth.”
Visit www.statefarmyab.com for more information about the different projects being funded and about the Youth Advisory Board.
State Farm will present the check to Net Literacy at a press conference in Indianapolis on February 22, 2010.
More information is available by clicking on the Financial Literacy Contest tab and registering to receive email newsletter updates from this website.
