It's About Education

I believe the American public and many of our own in the Community Technology Center (CTC) ranks have been bamboozled, hoodwinked, and run amuck by the prevalent discourse on the “digital divide.” As Josh Senyak & Albert Fong (authors of the TechSoup article Bridging the Digital Divide: Thinking about community technology) pointed out, “Technology, by itself, will never erase gaps in wealth or opportunity.”

If technology per se isn’t the silver bullet, then what is the role of Community Technology Centers? What are CTCs to do to bring about real change in the lives of those they serve?

I have an answer. CTCs must be institutions of education, first and foremost. Why? Because the acquisition of skills to meet everyday needs and the love of learning are the keys to overcoming the long standing divides that have existed for years such as illiteracy, poverty, and discrimination. But as CTCs educate, we must recognize the changing landscape in which we live.

We are in a digital age and the opportunities of the future are in technology. The Internet, wireless devices, ATM machines, and cellular phones play an increasingly important role in the way United States citizens live every day. As our country moves toward becoming a digital society, people of color need to have technology-aided problem solving capabilities to compete.

In particular, the Internet has changed the way we communicate, conduct business, socialize and organize. It is a medium that can connect millions of people within seconds in a cost-effective way. The Internet has changed the way people earn money, get information and spread their views. Grassroots movements can have a home on the Internet in a way that would not be possible on traditional forms of media such as radio, television and print. Small or under represented communities can have a large presence on the Internet. Unfortunately, many people of color and our nations poor aren't utilizing this technology. CTCs need to fill this gap.

How can CTCs be a force for positive change in the communities they serve? By focusing on high quality teaching and constructing meaningful educational activities for their members. CTCs have to make sure that the classes they offer are relevant to the people they intend to serve as they continue their pledge to provide technological education to their members.

This isn't an easy task. Making classes relevant requires a lot of work and a skill that is rare for us know-it-all, save the world types: an ability to listen. The people we serve need the opportunity to have a sense of ownership in the learning process. Using project-based teaching techniques is an important part of giving students control in their learning and is one of the keys to making a successful CTC.

What is project-based learning? It is learning that is facilitated by participation in a hands-on learning environment. Students get to create projects that they direct using with guidance from instructors who help them hone relevant skills. The resulting projects are demonstrations of what students have learned during the course. Being in a project-based, learning environment gives students the chance to control their learning experience. The meaning of subject matter is ultimately shown through the final products students create. It is amazing to see the new perspectives you get in a class once it is opened up to the energy and creativity of its participants.

Project-based learning allows for a different student-teacher dynamic. Students take a more active roll in the class and have a voice. In this “student-centered teaching” environment, classroom instruction is driven by the interests and knowledge of the students. Teachers in these settings act as “facilitators” or guides instead of “lords of knowledge.” It is no longer acceptable for a teacher to get up in front of the class and give an hour-long soliloquy.

Once students have a say in a class, they can comment on what matters most to them. This is valuable feedback for instructors because they can begin to understand what is on the students’ minds and what their needs and dreams might be.

Technology becomes an enabler when students feel invested in the learning process and that what they learn is relevant to their everyday lives. Find the issues community members you serve see as important. Integrate technology to improve or add value to the situation. Then let the members add their knowledge base to create something special that is all their own.

The digital divide is not just about access to computers. It is about being able to use computers to unleash the potential of people to help catalyze progress. It is about being able to use the computer to connect with other people. It is about being able to find information to improve the way people are maintaining their health. It is about being able to have access to the things you need or want. It is about being able to get your message out even if you are a “small guy” or have a different point of view.

Community Technology Centers understand that we play an important role in helping the disenfranchised learn how technology can inspire positive change, if it is set in the context of community. We can't do that if we solely focus on those little boxes filled with chips and motherboards known as computers. Our charge is to focus on people. Using project-based learning and giving our students a say in the learning process are the keys to their self-empowerment. Once these community members are empowered, they can make an impact on the places in which they live. CTCs need to invest in community in this way. That is what solving the digital divide is about. It's about delivering people to opportunities to realize their own possibilities.