2006 Tech Savvy West/Northwest Regional Winner

DISKovery Angelina
Los Angeles, California

A program in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, is bringing information communications technology (ICT) training to a community where the population consists mostly of first generation immigrants; the median family income hovers around $15,000; the heads of over half the families are single females; and 80% of the families primarily speak a language other than English at home.

DISKovery Angelina, a component of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) Community Development Corporation, offers critical educational programming to a community where 47% of the adults have not graduated from high school.

The successful efforts of the program have led to DISKovery Angelina being named the West/Northwest Regional Winner of the Verizon Tech Savvy Award.

The program encourages parents to use technology as a learning tool and provides them with skills to enhance their educational goals outside the classroom. Using wireless laptops, adults learn basic and intermediate information technology. They learn to access community resources, such as bus schedules, county and city housing and resident information, bilingual clinics for legal services, and child care programs. Access to the Internet enables participants to visit resources concerning naturalization and citizenship.

DISKovery Angelina helps limited English language learners (ELLs) develop their English skills through an interactive, multimedia program that builds vocabulary, verbal communication, and visual associations. Adult learners also have access to a learning library with software they can borrow and use at home.

 "We have witnessed our parents/caregivers [go from a] struggle with their first word in English to developing the confidence and ability to give full speeches in their new language," said Monica Peralta, DISKovery Angelina program coordinator.

Another important benefit to families participating in DISKovery is the parent-child bonds and learning relationships created through ICT activities. The use of technology is a fully integrated part of the LTSC Community Development Corporation's family literacy program. As parents become more proficient, they are better equipped to help their children through Internet searches and online resources. As their English language skills improve, parents are better able to support their children's school work.

"Many parents demonstrate a greater understanding of the English language as their children's homework and assignments need to be completed in English. They have learned to use community resources such as libraries and after-school programs to further help their children with schoolwork," said Peralta.

DISKovery Angelina's "Mommy and Me" and "Papi and Me" classes also facilitate interaction between parents and their two- to five-year-old children by using computers to teach age-appropriate games. Parents learn how to install the software, use the program, and gain an overall sense of what to expect before introducing the computer programs to their children. These activities provide opportunities for families to share knowledge and experiences and are the building blocks for lasting interactions between parents and children.

"The program enables participating parents to use technology as a family bonding activity, which is important in increasing confidence levels and eliminating their fears of technology," said Peralta.

Every month, DISKovery Angelina program adult participants are given CASAS tests to track their progress in civic education and literacy skills. In-class computer quizzes and assignments are used to demonstrate understanding of computer topics and programs. In some classes, there are end-of-class projects like a community presentation, where students put together information on certain topics and then present them to other classmates or community members during parent meetings.

For example, technology played a big part in parents' promotion and organization of a Health and Parenting Information Fair. Parents used what they had learned in their technology classes to advertise the event on free community websites, create flyers and assemble a Power Point presentation. Parents now are creating a website to share the information and stories generated by the Fair.

Soon, DISKovery will be offering a computer-based financial literacy training. Workshop topics will include "Money Smart Kids," "Finance for Families," and "Filing your Taxes Online." The financial literacy program also will feature a community forum where parents will have the opportunity to learn about savings and investment programs and voice their particular concerns with representatives of local banking and financial institutions.

Curriculum and administrative documents are available to other community technology centers and ICT programs throughout the country. DISKovery’s outreach activities target local schools, libraries, affordable housing projects, and other community centers. Parent participants of the program have provided the main driving force in recruitment and program enrollment.

DISKovery Angelina's project-based approach currently provides more than 100 individuals with meaningful technology learning experiences.