Plugged In
E-Learning for all
Article Copyright 2001 Online
Learning Magazine. Original article in April 2001 edition,
pg. 14. Excerpts below involves Virtual Learn.
By Kim Kiser
Efforts to span the digital divide have gone, well, digital
at Eastmont Computing Center in Oakland, Calif.
Since 1998, Eastmont has been providing free computer training
to cast Oakland residents who otherwise couldn't afford it.
The company began moving its teaching efforts from the classroom
to the Web in January.
"There's no way a community tech center can begin to tackle
the immensity of the digital divide without having a solution
to solve the quantity problem," says Tony Fleming, executive
director of the center. "If you try to train individual or
one class at a time, resource problems will creep in and take
over your efforts."
Fleming says the center, which provides computer access and
training to more than 300 people a week, has been at a capacity
since it opened.
Software and online courses donated by Virtual Learn,
Infosential, Real Skills and SmartForce will make it possible
for the center to train more people on everything from computer
basics to business fundamentals to A+ certification.
The in-kind to Eastmont is an example of the way the SmartForce
E-learning Foundation is providing high-tech skills training
to the underserved. Since it was created last year, the foundation
has awarded more than 170,000 "scholarships" (access for individual
learners) to more than a dozen organizations, including Operation
Hope in Los Angeles; Technology for All, a Houston organization
that serves computer learning centers around the country;
the Harlem Renaissance Project 2001 in New York City; and
the City of Oakland, which works with Eastmont. ...
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