TOP-CATTOP-CAT

Yesterday, Today and Yesterday, Today and Beyond!Beyond!

An Overview!An Overview!

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

The gap between the rich and the poor The gap between the rich and the poor related to:related to:

access to digital technologyaccess to digital technology andand

the skills to fully explore the the skills to fully explore the capacity of technology!capacity of technology!

TOP-CAT TOP-CAT THE VISIONTHE VISION

TOP-CAT helping TOP-CAT helping to close the to close the digital divide indigital divide inDurham!Durham!

The TOP-CAT The TOP-CAT model in churches, model in churches, community centers, community centers, and other organizations!and other organizations!

..

TOP-CAT MISSIONTOP-CAT MISSION

Provide access to and promote the effective use of digitalProvide access to and promote the effective use of digital

technology so that under served neighborhoods in technology so that under served neighborhoods in Durham, NC may work to resolve the many challenges Durham, NC may work to resolve the many challenges that adversely affect their quality of life.that adversely affect their quality of life.

Provide a technology gateway for the community serveProvide a technology gateway for the community serve by NCCU.by NCCU.

Empower children academically. To empower adults toEmpower children academically. To empower adults to acquire more knowledge and thereby the power to acquire more knowledge and thereby the power to improve their lives.improve their lives.

The Program’s Goals:The Program’s Goals:

Provide technology that helps individuals Provide technology that helps individuals resolve quality of life challenges.resolve quality of life challenges.

Provide a technology gateway for people Provide a technology gateway for people in the Greater Durham Community.in the Greater Durham Community.

NCCU has challenged the digital divide NCCU has challenged the digital divide for ten years!for ten years!

19951995Tutoring-at-a-Distance! (TAD)Tutoring-at-a-Distance! (TAD)

19991999Campus Of Learners! (COL)Campus Of Learners! (COL)

20002000Power UP!Power UP!

20012001TOP-CAT!TOP-CAT!

20062006TOP-CAT - LeadershipTOP-CAT - Leadership

20062006TOP-CAT - EntrepreneursTOP-CAT - Entrepreneurs

20062006TOP-CAT - MentoringTOP-CAT - Mentoring

TOP-CAT PROGRAMTOP-CAT PROGRAM

Community Computer Labs!Community Computer Labs!

Technology EducationTechnology Education

Educational Tutoring Educational Tutoring

Creative PartnershipsCreative Partnerships

Project Sustainability!Project Sustainability!

Services Provided by Services Provided by TOP-CATTOP-CAT

Community Computer Laboratories—From five planned Community Computer Laboratories—From five planned to 18 completed by October 2006!to 18 completed by October 2006!

206 networked computers on WWW, available six to 18 206 networked computers on WWW, available six to 18 hours weekly! 1,800 hours computer access on average!hours weekly! 1,800 hours computer access on average!

Potential to provide maximum hours of access with Potential to provide maximum hours of access with creative scheduling and partnerships with other creative scheduling and partnerships with other community partners.community partners.

The Tutoring At a Distance (TAD) model could lead to The Tutoring At a Distance (TAD) model could lead to countywide homework centers!countywide homework centers!

PARTICIPANT ACTIVITIESPARTICIPANT ACTIVITIES

Participants learn how to use software, internet browsingParticipants learn how to use software, internet browsing and e-mail.and e-mail.

Students are tutored in reading, writing, mathematics andStudents are tutored in reading, writing, mathematics and test-takingtest-taking

Students gain reading writing, mathematics and testStudents gain reading writing, mathematics and test taking skills.taking skills.

Parents become better tutors for their children.Parents become better tutors for their children.

Parents and others learn to use technology to improveParents and others learn to use technology to improve

their lives.their lives.

Participant SupportParticipant Support

To improve educational performance!To improve educational performance!

To increase high school graduation rates!To increase high school graduation rates!

To help high school graduates become To help high school graduates become better prepared for college!better prepared for college!

To position young adults for access to To position young adults for access to rewarding careers!rewarding careers!

We target . . .We target . . .

School-aged youthSchool-aged youth

Their parents and . . .Their parents and . . .

GrandparentsGrandparents

Senior citizensSenior citizens

Others who need to Others who need to

learn this technologylearn this technology

Why this target audience?Why this target audience?

Senior citizens can use computers to learn more about:Senior citizens can use computers to learn more about:– Health and nutrition issuesHealth and nutrition issues– Career opportunitiesCareer opportunities– Much, much more . . .Much, much more . . .

Parents can use computers to improve the lives of their Parents can use computers to improve the lives of their familiesfamilies

TOP-CAT PROGRAMTOP-CAT PROGRAM

Some Partners

REFINER’S FIRE

REFINER’S FIRE

WEST DURHAMWEST DURHAM

SOME CLIENTSSOME CLIENTS

MENTORING OPPORTUNITYMENTORING OPPORTUNITY

Community Technology - NCCUCommunity Technology - NCCU