Laptop Literacy for New Americans
Location
The Laptop Literacy Program provides opportunities for the New American community to obtain basic computer skills in their native language. Students learn necessary skills to be able to successfully use a computer and access the online community. Instructors are hired directly from the community and provide encouragement and support to new learners.
About You
Section 1: You
First Name
Karin
Last Name
Johnson
Website URL
Organization
Fletcher Free Library
Country
United States, VT
Section 2: Your Organization
Organization Name
Fletcher Free Library
Organization Website
Organization Phone
(802) 865-7211
Organization Address
235 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, VT
Your idea
Name Your Project
Laptop Literacy for New Americans
Country and state your work focuses on
United States, VT
Describe Your Idea
The Laptop Literacy Program provides opportunities for the New American community to obtain basic computer skills in their native language. Students learn necessary skills to be able to successfully use a computer and access the online community. Instructors are hired directly from the community and provide encouragement and support to new learners.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
The Laptop Literacy for New Americans program allows students to learn the complex nature of a computer comfortably in their native language. We employ talented New Americans to teach computer courses to their communities, empowering rising leaders in the community while providing needed skills training.
Due to the increase in linguistic diversity in Burlington over the years, there is a need for computer classes for new communities who lack basic computer skills. With the growing increase in use of technology for everyday needs such as finding jobs, food stamps applications, and accessing general information, computer skills are crucial for full access to the community’s resources. Currently we are the only service provider offering computer classes in a language other than English.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
We are currently offering basic computer skills courses in 6 different languages: Arabic, Burmese, French, Nepali, Somali and Vietnamese. Students are learning use of the mouse, keyboard, Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer. The program will continue to offer courses to New Americans who lack basic computer skills.
Problem
Today computer skills are necessary for a variety of crucial tasks. Community members who are not able to access information about needed services, news, Burlington neighborhood forums, etc. are left out of the digital world in which their community also lives. There is a digital divide in those who have the knowledge to utilize computers and those who do not, many New Americans with limited English proficiency are seeking this knowledge. We are offering courses in the languages of community members who have requested computer classes yet cannot attain these skills in a class instructed in English.
Actions
In years past the idea was to use an instructor and an interpreter in the class. Realizing that interpretation takes a great amount of time from instruction and that many interpreters have computer skills themselves, we decided to hire directly from the linguistic community starting in 2010. We have many talented instructors who taught computer classes in their home country of Somalia, directed a computer center in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, and managed an internet café in Syria helping customers connect with family members around the world. These instructors have proven to be community leaders who are invested in the success of their students.
Without effective instructors the program would not be strong, however this does not seem to be an issue since we had many qualified applicants.
Results
The classes will teach community members basic computer skills including using the mouse and keyboard, Microsoft Word processing and Internet Explorer. Students will be able to use a computer to craft a letter in Microsoft Word, conduct a basic internet search, and connect with their communities in Vermont and around the world.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
The project’s success will be determined by the continued support and need from the community. Since the New American community will continue to grow, the program will continue to evolve based on the needs of the community.
In the first year we will continue to offer basic computer classes in the primary languages of the community. Outreach and community discussion will determine the range of languages we will provide based on community need and interest.
In the second year the program will continue to offer basic classes and seek to offer advanced classes which will allow communities to obtain skills that will allow for higher job placement or higher education. For example, this could include an advanced course on Microsoft Excel or Powerpoint and other programs. More funding sources will be researched.
In the third year the program will continue to offer classes. If there are new refugee populations being resettled to Burlington the program will seek to offer a course to this population. Community feedback will continue to be sought in how to strengthen the program.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
The project would not be successful if we do not have an opportunity to support our instructors from the New American community through stipends from grants. Since all library programs are free and open to the public we cannot charge a fee.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
In what country?
United States, VT
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Fletcher Free Library
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
wThe support of the Burlington area community has been substantial by its expression of interest in the program. Other service providers to the New American community are referring students to our program including the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, Burlington Housing Authority, Association of Africans Living in Vermont and Mercy Connections. In addition, without the contribution of the laptops from IBM a few years ago we would not be able to offer the classes.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. Support community learning through effective outreach to people who are not connected to the library or service providers. This will be accomplished through the work of the AmeriCorps member in the outreach department.
2. Provide courses in more languages to adapt to the changing demographics and needs of the Burlington community.
3. Provide opportunities for continued computer learning through advanced classes. Students can build on their computer skills and become better competitors in an increasingly competitive job market.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
The Fletcher Free Library offers computer classes to the community on a variety of software programs in English. From instructor feedback and from the community, we concluded that computer instruction was highly valued and classes offered in the native languages of the community would be beneficial. Students who were not proficient in English were not successful in the classes provided through the library’s established programs. Laptop Literacy for New Americans was then formed.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
The two innovators behind this idea are Barbara Shatara and many AmeriCorps volunteers, currently Karin Johnson. Barbara has been at the library as the Outreach Librarian for twelve years and developed the idea with staff and AmeriCorps volunteers. She works on outreach initiatives for the community and continually works to provide opportunities for the community to engage in learning and utilize the library's resources. Since the demographics of the Burlington community have continued to change, she worked with AmeriCorps members to create a computer class for New Americans.
Karin Johnson came to the Fletcher Free Library in the fall of 2009 as an AmeriCorps volunteer. There were several classes held since the beginning in 2007 and in 2010 it was time for a new approach. Instructors and interpreters needed to be hired to teach the classes, but with Karin's previous experience working at a refugee service provider and knowing the difficulty involved in translation, thought to hire instructors that could teach in the desired language. Many individuals who may have interpreted for the class are now teaching the class. Karin is excited to provide employment opportunities to many New Americans to teach their communities.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
Common Good Vermont
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