My topic for my paper

For my paper I want to focus on Digital Communities that offer computer services to people. Digital Communities help to bridge the gap in the Digital Divide. The following is a very rough draft of my outline. I must admit I haven’t started to actually write my paper as of yet. I am hoping to get to it this week when my daughter goes to visit her father. I need to give it my undivided attention real soon. 

However, I hope that this is enough for the exercise we will be doing in class on Wednesday. I do have a sources that I will be using, but I don’t have an actual bib., because I haven’t written out. 

Outline

I.                    Introduction

II.                 Digital communities

1.      Senior Net

2.      What they are

3.      What they do

4.      How they serve people

5.      Mission

III.               Digital Divide

IV.              Ways to bridge the gap

V.                 My personal experience with service learning

VI.              Conclusion

   

Working with others that aren’t considered part of the Digital Divide

Last night I had the opportunity to help my brother look up magazines he found on the job to see if they were worth anything. I thought it was interesting having my brother say he knows how to use the computer and internet, but when I observed him it seemed otherwise. He kept telling me he knows how. My brother works for the Public Works Department. In his job he is not required to use the computer. It made me wonder about people who do not use the computer on their jobs; how do they keep up with technology? In some way my brother and people like him can too be considered a part of the Digital Divide. I have to say my brother was the first person I knew who had pager when they first came out, and a cell phone when they first came out so he knows about technology he just doesn’t use it that often. He doesn’t own a computer, and he keeps saying he is going to get one. He also has some college credits. How do we serve people like this? He is not a senior or under the age of 18. He is just to busy to sit down and work on the computer especially if he doesn’t have to.

Happy Turkey Week

          

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This week I hope to start my paper. I feel so behind.  I am having a hard time thinking of what to say.  However, I do have an outline so I will go from there. 

Sense it is a holiday weekend, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

Carla 

P.S. Click on the bald headed turkey.

Picture my first class at Lutheran Services Society

Picture of me at Lutheran Services Society.

Day three was interesting.  Jack, the instructor, emailed me a copy the picture that was taken on the first day of class.  I decided to post it to my blog.  This was full class today.  This day the students worked on more practice with the mouse, opening, and closing documents.  They also worked on cut and paste.  Software that was used was Paint.  Last week we used paint it was kind of easy. This week we used paint to do things that might not ordinarily do in Paint such as cut and paste letters.  Today the students seemed to have a hard time doing this.  It took us quite awhile to get through the exercises.  I am not sure why I think it is, because they may not have practiced what they have learned so far.  Some students have home computers, but not many.  However, most were getting it, but it will take more practice.  Mostly they need to feel comfortable using the mouse.  I will miss the last class due to personal reasons.  I was told that once the last class is over students can sign up for the next round of classes which will be on how to use the Internet.

Day 2 – Lutheran Service Society

This week I spent another two hours at Lutheran Services Society.  It was much better this time around.  The students were still focusing on basic computer skills such as how to operate the mouse and open/close applications.  The instructor had them work on exercises that focused on mouse skills.  The instructor makes it very relaxed to work and learn.  There was one student who was a little frustrated about learning, and felt stupid.  I can relate to her.  I hope she comes back next week and continue.  I think she will feel better about learning basic computer skills if she keeps it up. 

I will need to go to another place to get more hours.  I am still trying to figure out what to focus on for my paper. I am leaning towards digital communities. How many digital communities there are in Pittsburgh, what they offer, and most importantly what they are.  I feel that digital communities provide a needed resource.  Some of the seniors in the class feel that the class is very helpful to them, and as I observe I think that it is needed.  How else will they learn how to use computer technology. We people who know how to use computer technology take it for granted.  However, I felt proud to be there, and to be able to help with whatever skills I may have.  I do however need to boost my self-confidence which has been a problem of mine for quite sometime.  Not sure how to do this, but hopefully it will come.

One more thing: Shulman asked what will we do with information from Lessig. I think that we will be more aware of the issues of code, regulations, and architecture.  We may not have thought about it much, at least I haven’t.  I will be more aware of what’s going on in the development of computer technology, and how it relates to the user.