Computer Literacy

​Loaves, Fishes & Computers hosts three and a half-hour bilingual workshops, on-site, that provide an engaging “taste” of technology to both computer illiterate parents and their computer literate children, concurrently, in order to “demystify” the concept of computers by introducing digital literacy to the parents with the help of their children, internet safety and a computer hardware/tear-down/refurbishing experience to both parents and children together. The family will bring home a Chromebook they refurbish that day, for free. The adults and children engage in a digital literacy team-building “scavenger-hunt” activity.

• 2 Steps to Eradicate Computer Illiteracy in Monterey County
• In-Depth Computer Classes
• Family Workshops

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​​In an effort to provide a more digitally literate, thus healthier & happier Monterey County,  Loaves, Fishes & Computers has designed a series of sequential programming around computer and internet literacy on the Chromebook Platform, offered at your school, business or nonprofit, for children and parents.

Step 1

Step one ​is to attract, engage and put computer illiterate parents/guardians at ease around a computer for the first time via our innovative 3.5-hour parent and child workshop titled, "Computers for Families: Together & Connected."

"We heard it over and over and found it hard to believe, but it's still so true today as it was in 2009 when LFC started: so many Monterey County residents are afraid to touch a computer in fear of breaking it. We thought, if so many people are afraid to touch a computer, then so many people are not going to sign up for an in-depth computer literacy class. So we set out to design a fun, engaging, family-bonding event that will ease families into computers in a way not yet seen by us. After getting participating parents/guardians comfortable around a computer, simultaneously describing and exemplifying the incredible benefits having a computer in a home brings to the whole family, we attempt to lead participating people into step two..." - Christian Mendelsohn, LFC's Executive Director

Step 2

Step two is to get adults enrolled in an in-depth digital literacy class on the Chromebook platform, in close proximity to where they work or live. This can be either at a local library, adult schools, or classes taught offsite by Loaves, Fishes & Computers which are mentioned in the next tab. 

"In 2016, Loaves, Fishes & Computers recognized the incredible benefits the Chromebook platform has and decided to create the first in-depth Chromebook class curriculum in the area. Since 2016, LFC has been teaching parents at local schools, from Salinas to Gonzales, how to use a Chromebook computer in 18.5 hours of intense, condensed and effective learning over the course of 9 classes." - Linda Segovia, LFC's Program and Operations Director

Computer Literacy Classes

Loaves, Fishes & Computer (LFC) has identified the need to foster a solid digital literacy foundation among more Monterey County households by hosting on-site, in-depth, bi-lingual digital literacy classes to local residents & parents on the Chromebook platform (as most children are using Chromebooks in their schools, and can be the in-home tutor). Digital literacy skills training will increase student and family success by giving them the ability to understand the layout of a Chromebook laptop computer, use a computer to email, understand how to surf the web safely, learn about word-processing and document sharing, and practicing of keyboard typing. 18.5-hours worth of digital literacy curriculum are covered in 9 classes at ~ 2 hours/class. ​

Details:

1. Loaves, Fishes & Computers (LFC) can offer Spanish or English computer classes at your business, nonprofit or school.
2. Digital Literacy Skills Training classes usually offered in the evening time from ~ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, 2 days/week.
3. Digital Literacy Skills Training classes consist of 9 classes per cohort, at ~ 2 hours per class (2.5 hours the first class).
4. A target of ~23 participants will be enrolled in each cohort/class.
5. LFC will provide Chromebooks for each participant to use for the class, snacks for each class, certificates to graduating participants, the curriculum, teacher, teaching assistant, projector and presenter’s laptop computer, and follow up reporting of survey data of participants.
6. Participants, who complete 7 or more classes (graduate) keep Chromebooks forever at no cost.
7. Each class will be lead by one bilingual instructor and one bilingual instructor’s assistant.

LFC makes it easy to gauge interest, market to, recruit, sign-up, and confirm workshop                        participants: We have designed and customized all the fliers, banners, online signup forms, lawn
signs, attendance reporting, pre & post surveying, and logistics in place to make the process as                simple as we can.

If LFC is not teaching a class near you, Salinas Public Library hosts ongoing basic (for first time                computer users) computer classes at all their libraries. Also, Salinas Adult School, Gonzales Adult              School and Soledad Adult School teaches classes for ~$15.

​Loaves, Fishes & Computers hosts three and a half-hour bilingual workshops, on-site, that provide an engaging “taste” of technology to both computer illiterate parents and their computer literate children, concurrently, in order to “demystify” the concept of computers by introducing digital literacy to the parents with the help of their children, internet safety and a computer hardware/tear-down/refurbishing experience to both parents and children together. The family will bring home a Chromebook they refurbish that day, for free. The adults and children engage in a digital literacy team-building “scavenger-hunt” activity. By promoting free, local and in-depth digital literacy classes, parents are encouraged to continue their education further. ​

Goals

• Goal 1: To help overcome the digital divide by providing Chromebooks and digital literacy opportunities to low-income families.
• Goal 2: To strengthen the bond between parent and child by offering these workshops in a supportive, collaborative learning environment, in Spanish and/or English.
• Goal 3: To encourage the child to become a mentor to his or her parent: in these workshops, and in their home.
• Goal 4: To support their community by preparing Chromebooks for other low-income families to receive.
• Goal 5: To inform adults of internet safety precautions they should be aware of, now that they will have a device that can now get online in their home, accessible by their children.

Details:

1. Loaves, Fishes & Computers (LFC) can offer Spanish or English workshops at your business, nonprofit or school.
2. Workshops are offered at a time parents and children are available.
3. Workshops consist of (1) workshop at 3.5 hours in length
4. A target of ~24 participants (12 Families = 1 parent + 1 child) will be enroll in each workshop
5. LFC will provide Chromebooks for each participant to use for the class, snacks for each class, handouts, teacher, teaching assistants, projector and presenter’s laptop computer, and follow up reporting of data of participant's satisfaction.
6. Each family that completes the workshop keeps (1) Chromebook forever at no cost.
7. Each class will be lead by one bilingual instructor and two bilingual instructor's assistants.

LFC makes it easy to gauge interest, market to, recruit, sign-up, and confirm workshop participants: We have designed and customize all the fliers, online signup forms, end-of-class satisfaction surveys, and logistics in place to make the process as simple as we can.