Computer Learning Center Helps Homeless Children Keep Up

Written by Nicole Warden, Redcross.org

Homeless children keep up with a fast-paced learning environment through the Lower Bucks County Chapter's Computer Learning Center.

In the ever-changing, fast-paced world of technology it is even more essential that the youth of today be prepared to meet the challenges of a computer-saturated world.

Twenty years ago, it was safe to say that most everyone had a television in their home, now one can say that most everyone has a computer in their home. Why wouldn't they? It's almost impossible to be a student today without the convenience of a computer at your fingertips. Unfortunately, not everyone has a computer to go home to and even more alarming, is that some students don't have a home to go to at the end of the day. What can be done to help these less fortunate children? The Lower Bucks County Chapter has come up with one solution to meet the needs of their homeless children's population.

The Lower Bucks County Chapter of Levittown, Pa., operates a shelter to help combat the ever-growing problem of homelessness. Children residing at the shelter attend school, and need help with their homework, as well as their computer skills. Through two grants, one provided by an individual estate that prefers to remain unnamed, and the other provided by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22, Homeless Student Initiative, the Lower Bucks County Chapter has opened a Children's Computer Learning Center in the shelter. The center's goal is to provide homeless children with instruction and enrichment in computer technology and other academic skills that will help them stay on par with their classmates.

The Children's Computer Learning Center's curriculum is designed for two audiences: children and young adults.

The curriculum for children is geared towards pre-school and grade school students. They are introduced to the basics of a computer, the equipment and how it operates. They complete lessons to help improve their ability to use a computer. Some topics covered are:

• Identifying computer components;
• Caring for the computer;
• Use of the keyboard, mouse and appropriate software;
• Research using software and the Internet; and
• Introduction to graphics/art software.

The young adults age group consist of middle and high school students. Their lessons are formulated to provide computer resources to aid in schoolwork and the skills needed to access those resources. Some topics covered are:

• Basic computer operation, including keyboarding and word processing skills;
• Completing a 1-2 page paper using research software and the Internet; and
• Researching career opportunities along with resume development for future job seeking.

The computer learning center helps young adults develop marketable skills and complete schoolwork.

Each group completes six weeks of a hands-on 60-minute computer course. The young adults group completes three months of a hands-on 60-minute course. Over 80 percent of participants in each group successfully complete the course and can demonstrate their mastery of the skills learned in the course.

Volunteers operate the Children's Computer Learning Center. Volunteer teachers prepare for and instruct the children and young adults in their computer courses.

The Lower Bucks County Homeless Shelter provides temporary housing and life skills to 400 adults and children each year. The goal of the shelter is to keep families together while providing the support services, resources and structure for adult family members to resolve the problems that created their homelessness.

For more information about this chapter, visit their Web site.

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