During his visit, Secretary Daley heard children at the Ralph Bunche school explain how they are using computers and the Internet to conduct research and write student papers. PowerUP and America Online have also announced the establishment of a new community technology center in a nearby Boys and Girls Club. The Community NETworker project is driven by the needs of disadvantaged communities rather than the capabilities of technology. In addition, it also promotes collaborations with local institutions such as schools and libraries. Community leaders in Greensboro, Rocky Mount, Swain County and Bertie, Beaufort, Martin, Tyrell and Washington Counties, where the project takes place, are developing strategies and tools to more effectively build their knowledge base, organizational capacity, and access to resources.
Technology is still tough to master.
Despite technological advances in recent years, electronic networking remains a real challenge for many organizations who wish to actively use information technology. Technology can still be daunting, and customized, hands-on training and ongoing technical support are rarely available. Busy practitioners face a steep learning curve. Getting connected is only the first step in enabling groups to make effective use of telecommunications opportunities. Most groups need extensive consultation, handholding, cheerleading, and troubleshooting before they learn how to truly integrate electronic networking into their operations.