About a week ago I attended a showcase of digital inclusion programs developed and deployed by AmeriCorps members. It was so much fun to learn about the various programs. I wanted to share them in case communities were looking for inspiration or programs to replicate. You can learn more on the SPNN (St Paul Neighborhood Network) blog – they have been kind enough to share the videos (created by AmeriCorps members) and I suspect they would be happy to have folks contact them for more info.

Below is a list of the projects and what they accomplished. They are all great – but I am hoping to get involved with the teen technology scavenger hunt next year (Quest for College) and I think the video from the Ronald McDonald House is my favorite YouTube video of the year and really makes the case that we need to do more to prepare good teachers to use the technology – if only to see those teachers smile!

After School Code Club
Partnered with Code Savvy to teach 5th through 8th graders at Lucy Laney Community School in North Minneapolis about computer science concepts by making games, animations, and controlling robots.

• Partnered with Code Savvy
• Used Scratch to teach kids how to code
• Kids create a wizard game
• The created curriculum, sparked an interest in coding in the school and created a new coding construction model
• 49 kids participated, 9 regularly, 4 got very interested

Digital Storytelling Initiative
Engaged youth in East St. Paul to develop digital storytelling skills through a summer camp.

Develop dignity through storytelling. Get teens to tell stories. Participants got laptops to increase sustainability. Build workshops based on tools that participants would be able to continue to use. (Free.) A lot of youth leading youth. They focused on “What’s your story?” Themes emerged

The use a “Where are they now?” model to continue contact and continue the effort.

Computer Distribution and Electronics Recycling Drive
Organized two electronic recycling drives and worked with PCs for People to provide low-cost, refurbished computers to families in need.

Based on Hubbs Center

• Based out of Hubbs Center
• Worked with PCs for People
• Focused on responsible recycling

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Public Opinion Documentary on iPad School Rollout
Created a short documentary about the impact of the iPad rollout in St. Paul Public Schools.

• People don’t learn cursive
• Some fears are rational; some aren’t
• Video shows the good, bad and the ugly of the rollout

Quest for College
Connected local youth with downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul non-profit organizations through two digital scavenger hunt events. The events showcased and refined digital literacy skills applicable to students’ college aspirations, and rewarded every participant with technology.

• Kids understood the technology but not the nuance – like how to write a formal email
• Used Indigogo to raise funds.
• Held workshops to build skills to improve scavenger hunt results
• Kids earned their own technology
• Connected high schoolers with technology and nonprofits in the area. Kids won laptops, tablets

Technology for Transition
Taught asylum seekers who have survived trauma how to use technology to access educational and wellness resources.

• Did one-on-one training.
• The pace of learning for folks on far end of the digital divide is slower than you could imagine – partially because of previous knowledge, comfort with English and they have bigger issues in their lives.

Girls as Techies
Mentored young girls to create technology-inspired art at Maplewood Library and Emma’s Place. 

• Mentorship, technology in many forms.
• Hoping to overcome barriers – started by focusing marketing on art, not technology
• Started with a 5-month program; might go shorter next time

iPads in the Ronald McDonald House School
Supported teachers’ use of technology in the classroom by creating a technology guide; and engaged students through an iPad exploration day.

• Created a “teacher binder” and resource guide
• They had problems with iPads that had been “played with”
• The students fluctuates greatly – based on health of siblings and age
• The Sphere App was a big seller on the big petting zoo day (It works better than Google Earth)