Fantastic Microsoft Support for Stepping UP and the Whanganui Learning Centre

We are so grateful to Microsoft for their donation of software valued at US$40,880. This will enable our Stepping UP programme provider, the Whanganui Learning Centre to use up-to-date software for their digital learning classes this year - YAY

Microsoft’s software donation is over and above their already committed partnership support for the Stepping UP programme. In Wanganui, we have 250 places for 2010 available in our FREE 10 hour certificated course (4 digital steps/modules x 2.5 hours).

Microsoft’s generosity has enabled us to add considerable value to the outcomes we can achieve from the Wanganui Computers in Homes programme and community digital literacy in Wanganui. In particular, we would like to thank Belinda Gorman, Microsoft NZ’s Community Affairs Manager, who has made a huge effort for us to make this all possible. We have really appreciated her visits to Wanganui and look forward to continuing this relationship as we see the results of the community ICT investment ‘mature’.

I was a 2007 graduate of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Foundation’s Community ICT Facilitators programme run with the Department of Internal Affairs at Whitireia Polytechnic, Porirua. Three years down the track it is so cool to see how strongly community ICT and digital learning have become priorities. There are plenty of challenges coming up but we are well placed to meet them through Microsoft’s commitment to helping us. We will do our best to make the most of it.

Plenty happening in Wanganui for CIH

We are moving along well towards achieving our Phase 2 goal to have over 100 new Wanganui families participating in CIH by the end of 2010.

We have just completed arrangements for the Whanganui Awa School, Ranana to become a partner school and they will be starting their first class before the end of March. It is great to be able to take CIH to this small ‘isolated ‘community. Ranana is around 50KM up the Whanganui River, so having computers at home and internet connections will make a huge difference for these people.

New classes are planned to start soon at Wanganui East, Castlecliff & Tawhero Schools plus we are finalising arrangements to make two new Community Technology Centre partnerships who will run classes.

We have uploaded a video to You Tube about Wanganui Computers in Homes. Click here to view We had this made for our entry in the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce Business Awards by Graeme Tidswell, TSH Audio Video, Taranaki. We are very grateful to Graeme for making it available for us to use to publicise CIH. The video features our Tutor/Technician Ian Jamieson and the Critanovich family telling how CIH made a positive difference for them. We plan to spend a lot of time telling our families stories this year as it is so important to share these experiences and show them to families who aren’t connected digitally at home yet.

National CIH Coordinators Hui in Wairoa/ Mahia via Gisborne 4-6 March

Click here to view more photos.

Our quarterly CIH Coordinators Huis are always special; our last one in Wairoa and Mahia was ‘out of this world’. It was a huge privilege to be present for the blessing of the Wairoa Community Technology Centre, meet the learners and team, and see how they operate. They have established a fantastic resource for Wairoa’s whanau to grab their digital opportunities.

Leona and Leon, Wairoa’s CTC, Stepping UP & CIH Coordinators went out of their way to see we received amazing hospitality. Mahia was an incredible setting for our meeting. We met in the Mahia Boating Clubroom, this had a great panoramic view of the bay and we were surrounded by trophy fish and club memorabilia,. Yet even in this remote community we were able to set up a wireless network and do our business, showi each other our blogs, featured websites, plus send emails.

This was our 19^th CIH Coordinators Hui since 2006 and these have become highlights in my working life. It is so inspiring to spend time with such an incredibly motivated and talented group; we are truly the Dream Team! Here we are on the balcony of the Mahia Boat Club with lovely bouquets made for us by Meihana Baty, Wairoa kairanga (weaver) & artist.

Castlecliff School is making the most of ICT for CIH, plus Ali’s Rant

It was great to visit Mary Dean’s Castlecliff School Computers in Homes class with Ian Jamieson, our technical support provider and tutor, on Tuesday night. The class are over half way through their 20 hours training and we will be holding their graduation celebration on Tuesday, 30 March - YAY!!!.

The class has been setting up Gmail email accounts using video tutorials via YouTube. This is a double whammy for our learners. As well as getting good tips for Gmail, they can go back to these links to recap, plus they get to see how useful and engaging YouTube really can be.

Ian and I were ‘blown away' with the class and are really looking forward to their graduation on Tuesday, 30 March J

On a personal level, I am currently undergoing a self imposed performance development audit and am using the frameworks from “The Winner’s Bible” by Dr Kerry Spackman (http://www.winnersbible.com), and “Creating a professional Development Plan”, which has been developed with inspiration from NASA’s guidelines and “America’s Top Career Coach”, Robin Ryan. If it is their best shot, maybe some/a lot of it can 'rub off' on me. Click this link to download the document: http://net.educause.edu/section_params/mentoring/M06_%20PDP.pdf ;-) Hah, I hope this helps me be the best I can be to make a difference for us all!!!

I am writing this today after attending our monthly Wanganui CIH Project Steering Group Meeting. We are so lucky to have such a strong group of people to govern our project. Today was our 36^th meeting, and as usual it was an inspiring opportunity to obtain a balanced, focused and well considered perspective from which to manage and coordinate CIH and Stepping UP for Wanganui.

I am truly privileged and grateful for all our steering group members’ contributions. Often, I am way out of my comfort zone to explain what I/we am/are doing, but when I have to put my hand over my heart and do it, then it sorta flows thanks to their wisdom in fleshing out the important dialogue.