May 31, 2007

Old Computers are tools of learning

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Time Staff Writer

Frankford resident Kia Bingham knew right away that she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get a free home learning center for her son Shahn, a seventh-grader at the Henry Edmunds Elementary School.

“He was very excited, as well as I,” Bingham said.

After a final distribution at the school on June 2, Computers for Youth, an educational non-profit organization that relies on the help of businesses, will have provided the Binghams and more than 200 low-income Edmunds students and their families with computer learning centers, a year of free Internet access and a half-day training session on using the computers to create a better learning environment at home.

The computer helps Shahn, 12, with tutorials on everything from reading to math, according to his mom.

“Especially with math, as far as little math quizzes on there. It really helps a great deal,” the Frankford resident said of the computer system.

The used computers, which are donated to Computers for Youth by Fortune 500 companies, are rehabbed and readied for distribution through the organization. The businesses buy high-quality computers, use them for two or three years and usually throw them out, said Keisha Jordan, executive director of Computers for Youth.

Now those donations help her organization. Computers for Youth equips the computers with software that includes word processing and spreadsheet programs that are compatible with the school district's curriculum, explained Jordan.

"Most importantly, we provide top-of-the-line educational software. It would be a travesty if the computers were only used to surf the Internet," Jordan added.

Leroy Baker, principal of the Edmunds Elementary School, is pleased that his students can participate in the program. Originally slated for sixth-grade students, the program was expanded to include seventh-graders. Now, come fall, every seventh- and eighth-grader will have a computer at home. "I’m extremely happy for the kids . . . anything that can help us make them lifelong learners," Baker said.

The computers also are a boost to parental involvement.

"The parents are able to communicate with us by going on the Internet and coming to the school's Web page to see what homework has been given," the principal said. "It's opening communication with parents."

The goal of Computers for Youth, said Jordan, is to enhance home learning environments for low-income students.

"Having computers in their homes, the impact findings have shown that students felt more confident in school and show gains in academic achievement," Jordan said.

Based in New York City since 1999, Computers for Youth came to Philadelphia in January. Since then, more than 400 Philadelphia students and their families have been assisted. Other schools include the George W. Pepper School in Southwest Philadelphia and the Universal Institute Charter School in South Philadelphia.

Another benefit of the training program for the computer learning center is that families spend time together.

"The most important thing is that the student and parent are spending three or four hours together. Kids aren't just watching TV, or at an activity where they are not relating together," Jordan said. "They sign a contract promising family activity time, projects they can do together with software that they can do on the computer at home. It’s a great opportunity for the parent and the student."

Computers for Youth encourages Philadelphia businesses to donate computers no longer in use to the program. The organization, Jordan said, will rid the drives of all prior information, including any indication of the business that owned the computer.

Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com.