TOP-CAT Yesterday, Today and Beyond! An Overview!
The Digital Divide The gap between the rich and the poor related to: access to digital technology access to digital technology and and the skills to fully explore the the skills to fully explore the capacity of technology! capacity of technology!
TOP-CAT THE VISION TOP-CAT helping to close the digital divide in Durham! The TOP-CAT model in churches, community centers, and other organizations!.
TOP-CAT MISSION Provide access to and promote the effective use of digital Provide access to and promote the effective use of digital technology so that under served neighborhoods in Durham, NC may work to resolve the many challenges that adversely affect their quality of life. technology so that under served neighborhoods in Durham, NC may work to resolve the many challenges that adversely affect their quality of life. Provide a technology gateway for the community serve Provide a technology gateway for the community serve by NCCU. by NCCU. Empower children academically. To empower adults to Empower children academically. To empower adults to acquire more knowledge and thereby the power to acquire more knowledge and thereby the power to improve their lives. improve their lives.
The Program’s Goals: Provide technology that helps individuals resolve quality of life challenges. Provide technology that helps individuals resolve quality of life challenges. Provide a technology gateway for people in the Greater Durham Community. Provide a technology gateway for people in the Greater Durham Community.
NCCU has challenged the digital divide for ten years! 1995Tutoring-at-a-Distance! (TAD) 1995Tutoring-at-a-Distance! (TAD) 1999Campus Of Learners! (COL) 1999Campus Of Learners! (COL) 2000Power UP! 2000Power UP! 2001TOP-CAT! 2001TOP-CAT! 2006TOP-CAT - Leadership 2006TOP-CAT - Leadership 2006TOP-CAT - Entrepreneurs 2006TOP-CAT - Entrepreneurs 2006TOP-CAT - Mentoring 2006TOP-CAT - Mentoring
TOP-CAT PROGRAM Community Computer Labs! Community Computer Labs! Technology Education Technology Education Educational Tutoring Educational Tutoring Creative Partnerships Creative Partnerships Project Sustainability! Project Sustainability!
Services Provided by TOP-CAT Community Computer Laboratories—From five planned to 18 completed by October 2006! Community Computer Laboratories—From five planned to 18 completed by October 2006! 206 networked computers on WWW, available six to 18 hours weekly! 1,800 hours computer access on average! 206 networked computers on WWW, available six to 18 hours weekly! 1,800 hours computer access on average! Potential to provide maximum hours of access with creative scheduling and partnerships with other community partners. Potential to provide maximum hours of access with creative scheduling and partnerships with other community partners. The Tutoring At a Distance (TAD) model could lead to countywide homework centers! The Tutoring At a Distance (TAD) model could lead to countywide homework centers!
PARTICIPANT ACTIVITIES Participants learn how to use software, internet browsing Participants learn how to use software, internet browsing and . and . Students are tutored in reading, writing, mathematics and Students are tutored in reading, writing, mathematics and test-taking test-taking Students gain reading writing, mathematics and test Students gain reading writing, mathematics and test taking skills. taking skills. Parents become better tutors for their children. Parents become better tutors for their children. Parents and others learn to use technology to improve Parents and others learn to use technology to improve their lives. their lives.
Participant Support To improve educational performance! To increase high school graduation rates! To help high school graduates become better prepared for college! To position young adults for access to rewarding careers!
We target... School-aged youth School-aged youth Their parents and... Their parents and... Grandparents Grandparents Senior citizens Senior citizens Others who need to Others who need to learn this technology learn this technology
Why this target audience? Senior citizens can use computers to learn more about: Senior citizens can use computers to learn more about: –Health and nutrition issues –Career opportunities –Much, much more... Parents can use computers to improve the lives of their families Parents can use computers to improve the lives of their families
TOP-CAT PROGRAM Some Partners
REFINER’S FIRE
WEST DURHAM WEST DURHAM
SOME CLIENTS
MENTORING OPPORTUNITY
Community Technology - NCCU