In the spring of 1998, the Dalton Village and Johnson C. Smith sites opened. Beginning in October 1998, thirty personal computers will be installed in students' homes. Charlotte's Web is providing the technical assistance and organizing a virtual buddy system. The learning gains and retention rate of participating students will be compared to lab students in order to evaluate new instructional tools and methods. Inability to use computers competently is a serious obstacle to job advancement.
Instructors realize that employers want employees who are literate and also have computer skills.
By teaching with the computer and helping students learn to access information via the Internet, Ms. Burns believes that students can pick up both sets of skills. The project will serve as a national model for community networks for basic skills instruction. Central Piedmont is working with other area agencies including Charlotte's Web, the Charlotte Housing Authority, the public library, and Johnson C. Smith University to provide instruction at sites closer to the people who need the instruction. Charlotte's Web is a community network, which provides public access to computer terminals at over 75 sites. The hope is that instruction can be spread to other neighborhood centers, libraries, and public facilities.