Urban Tech bridging divide

obmar · Urban Tech bridging divide

JS ONLINE: TECHNOLOGY: E-MAIL | PRINT
THIS STORY

Urban Tech bridging divide
Posted: Aug. 28, 2006

Stanley Miller II
E-MAIL

Youth centers and other non-profit groups around Milwaukee are working to close the "digital divide" - the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don't.

Stanley E. Cole, Midwest director for The National Urban Technology Center Inc. (Urban Tech), a national non-profit based in New York, says he has some high-tech tools that will help those youth centers make a difference.

Urban Tech's system is called the Youth Leadership Academy, a curriculum that includes software and staff training to teach young people life skills and computer literacy.

"We strongly feel there is no one looking to bring technology to the urban community," Cole said in an interview at his office in downtown Milwaukee. "My guiding goal is to get technology into the hands of as many kids as possible."

Urban Tech designs software for youth groups, schools and churches to help educate young people 10 to 18 on issues such as team building, conflict resolution, problem solving, setting goals, healthy habits and community involvement.

The Urban Tech's Youth Leadership Academy software includes a bright, colorful animated series starring teenage characters designed to be similar to the students using the software.

In addition to representing various minority groups, the characters in these story-driven education modules are "virtual peer-to-peer mentors," Cole said.

"When I go into schools to present the program, the kids love it," Cole said. "There isn't a lot of competition in getting technology into the urban community."

The software is used via a Web browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and it can be accessed online or on CD-ROM.

New content is created every three months, Cole said.

The Youth Leadership Academy system is combined with a system called APOLLO, which tracks and analyzes each student's progress, including attendance.

Some of the activities include a task in which students are asked to analyze popular songs by first listening to them and then answering some questions.

In addition to trying to identify the artist and song, students are asked what message the song gives about conflict resolution and what kind of influence the music has on teenagers.

Students are presented with multiple choices with varying outcomes and they can narrow the selection to improve their odds on getting the question correct.

Some of the newest modules include lessons in personal finance and getting ready for college.

"This is a program for children living in 2006," Cole said. "I think it is very necessary. It's culturally sensitive and you need some culture to teach it effectively."

Urban Tech charges for its Youth Leadership Academy system, ranging from $995 for one life skills module, to $1,500 for five. Each module covers six to eight topics.

Cole said non-profit groups usually pay those already subsidized prices by applying for grants.

Several local non-profit groups use the software.

Cole said the Boys & Girls Club has used the program for its life skills content for more than a year.

The Latino Community Center, Urban Underground and the Milwaukee Christian Center also use the Leadership Academy software, Cole said.

"We typically use it in classes of anywhere from eight to 12 kids at any one time because we have a limited number of computers," said Emilio Lopez, associate director of the Milwaukee Christian Center.

"The modules are very engaging."

Lopez, whose group has been using the program for about two years, said one of the software's strengths is that it "relates to minority and poor communities. It isn't set out in suburbia."

"They provide enough variety that the kids don't lose interest," Lopez said. "Anytime you include music . . . that piques the kids' interests. It's not just watching. There is actual dialogue and scenes."