Computer Literacy for Everyone and Development of Computer Centers
ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS
ART promotes sustainable development among vulnerable groups in Armenia by teaching them important skill sets needed for employment in the modern world. One of our programmes, Computer Literacy for Everyone, aims to teach basic computer skills to the poorly served rural society of the country. ART has established about 40 computer centers (CC) in remote rural areas of Armenia, 28 of which are currently operating. With our support the CCs were furnished with equipment and furniture. Along with the establishment of the centers, ART has also worked to improve the quality of computer classes by developing an Armenian language software manual for them.
It is very valuable that during the economic difficulties in the country ART focuses on vulnerable groups, such as the youth, women, unemployed, socially marginalized population, and teaching them computer basic skills that gives its positive and tangible results in the immediate future.
The CCs work on long-term improvements in the following strategic directions: a) education - non-formal skill coaching in basics of computer operations; b) socio-economic betterment - through improved employment opportunities; c) sustaining civil society groups - through better communication, information dissemination, exchanges by the internet and computer use.
The following accomplishments have been implemented in the framework of the programme:
• Project presentation and orientation meeting with CC trainers and executives (December, 2007)
• “Teaching methods of Computer Basic Course and Community Mobilization” – a 5 - day advanced training. Thirty two (32) site staff participated in ToT and were certified (February, 2008)
• Development of actual work plans and reporting (on quarterly basis)
• Monitoring and evaluation of CCs functioning (on quarterly basis)
• Provided an Armenian language manual “Handbook of Computer Literacy” (December, 2007)
• Provided package of documents including papers for daily registration - class and community services registration, application of curriculum and graduation examination tests; CDs on different subjects (in cooperation with National Center for Educational Technologies and Open Society Institute) (December, 2007)
• Competition among CCs “My Native Land” in cooperation with Microsoft, Armenia (March, 2009)
• “Web Design” and “Sustainability Toolkit” - two six-day trainings for trainers in cooperation with CAPS/USAID (March, 2010)
• Armenian language handbook “Sustainability Toolkit” (March, 2010)
Despite of having the hard range of technical problems, it’s worth to mention the successful performance of activities in all aspects in CCs at present:
1) Knowledge improvement - developed and enhanced the quality and number of trainings in the centers, and improve operational, communicational, organizational, and other skills of trainees, mostly vulnerable community based groups;
2) Socio-economic improvement - raised computer literacy level of the learners as an important tool for their future career and education opportunities (based on the results of evaluation in December, 2009);
3) Sustain Computer Centers - Improve administrative, programme work, self-sustainability in the centers, enlarge scope of work with communities (such as organizing educational /promotional /community based events, etc) and development of civil society.
In most CCs the number of trainees is twice to five times more that it was projected.
With the financial support of “Bread for the World” through May-December 2009 four CCs were involved in the programme work. Through May – December 2009, 349 students and the youth, community members and teachers from different layers of the society attended 53 computer basic course trainings and certificated when it was planned to accomplish 12 training courses for 72 trainees. For 50% of the trainees the trainings were delivered for free.
All the activities implemented in CCs lead to the realization of the second and third objectives of the project, i.e. integration of the Information Technology into society and development of Civil society.
It’s of a vital importance to address the most important issue in CCs - the renewal of technology, which will give opportunities in establishing Internet connection in all centers; and the application of hardware and software problems. Stabile provision of Internet connection in the CCs will enable people to participate in decision-making processes, research and education, exchanges and cross-cultural forums, make them informed and involved in different projects that lead to the development of civil society. The youth and community members will enhance professional skills by working independently, that in turn improve analytical and creative thinking; stimulate the practice of self-education and self-development, time management and conflict resolution. CCs turn into community educational centers providing distance learning, exchanges, training and cross-cultural understanding opportunities.
Target group
Programme target groups are trainers/site staff of computer centers - about 15 (one or two trainer operate in each center), and community members – the youth, students, educators, and various social groups (refugees, parentless children, children and adults with special needs, unemployed, even the old, etc).
Project purpose
Launched in December, 2007 the project named “Computer Literacy for Everyone and Development of CCs” in the frames of Integrated Community Development Programme aims to eliminate computer illiteracy in Armenia and to achieve sustainable development of CCs established by ART working in three main directions: a) Education, b) Technologies, c) Communities.
Project Timeline
Project is funded by:
GALLERY
