Computer Literacy

Main purpose of the project:

Help the children at the Our Kids Center master computer literacy skills.

Goals of the project:

Teach the children how to use computer equipment.
Teach the children how to use essential computer software programs.
Teach the children to type quickly and accurately using all ten fingers.
Teach the children foreign keyboard layouts, first and foremost English language layouts.
Explain the concept of online safety.
Use a personalised approach to teaching and form classes according to age.
Teach the children creative problem-solving using computer software.
Conduct safety induction training.
Promote the information culture, abstract thinking, and ability to use computer skills forprofessional purposes in the future.

Relevance of the project

The Centre is a home to children officially deprived of parental care or facing vulnerabilities. Very often, they lag in academic performance, are underdeveloped compared to their peers,suffer from anxiety, and have problems with communication.

Sadly, the problem lies in the children’s past. They never had adequate living conditions, missed school often, and were repeatedly abused. Their parents or caregivers could not financiallysupport the children’s development

Our children have not always had access to personal computers and most certainly never learnedcomputer skills. As a matter of fact, their skills are limited to communicating with friends using social media and playing computer games. Little children do not know how to handle computer equipment or what information technology is.

The Centre’s social care teachers often have to assist the children in making calls to their relatives using Skypе or creating e-mail accounts suggesting the children’s total lack of computer skills. The children cannot type, do not know how to create an e-mail account, and do not understand how computer equipment works. The computer skills of the older children and adolescents living at the Centre are limited to communicating with friends using social mediaand playing computer games. Adolescents have little understanding of online safety and personal data privacy. Besides, they hardly realise that most jobs require computer skills.

Modern society and modern world have become inconceivable without information technology. The lack of basic computer skills reduces the chance of successful socialisation,finding a good job, and being able to find vital information.

Project pre-requisites

The aim of this project is to teach children computer literacy skills in the most convenientmanner possible. To achieve that, a state-of-the-art computer classroom will operate on the Centre’s premises fully equipped with everything needed for learning including desks, chairs, laptops, a video projector, and other equipment. Both group and individual tuition will be delivered by an IT professional based on a specifically tailored up-to-date training programme.Classes will be held at a fixed time that is convenient for both the children and caregivers.

Expected results

Children aged 3 to 12

Breaking down the children’s psychological barriers to using computer equipment.
Introducing the children to computer equipment.
Learning computer safety.
Being able to use basic / gaming computer software.
Developing typing skills.
Understanding of the internet and learning about online safety.
Using special training software for children to improve memory, concentration, math skills, foreign language skills, etc.

Adolescents aged 12 to 17

Realisation of the importance of computer literacy skills in life.
Using the internet for purposes other than entertainment.
Understanding of internet safety and privacy.
Being able to use practical and useful computer software.
Improving typing and e-mail skills.
Being able to do homework and creative assignments using computer software.
Being able to take computer-based psychological and career aptitude tests.
Being able to work with image and video files.
Learning how to use computer equipment safely and with care.

Centre alumni / residents of the assisted living facility aged 17 to 23

Learning how to use computer software for study in vocational schools.
Learning how to use the internet to find information, prepare a resume, or find a job.
Improving keyboarding skills including typing in foreign languages if possible.
Learning about online shopping, safety, and consumer rights and protection.
Using computer software for future work purposes.

Project completion time frame

November 2014 to November 2017

Partners include teachers and programmers.