Information Technology Club
Technology will be an important part of all our club members’ future lives no matter what vocation they choose. Comfort and skills with PCs and the Internet will be a basic tool in most jobs and very useful and often fun at home.
For some of our members an interest and understanding of technology may be the foundation on which a very rewarding career is built. The information technology business and other technology-based businesses (including biological related industries) will continue to create large numbers of interesting and rewarding local careers. Yet our members rarely have a role model to encourage them to pursue technology careers. Furthermore, many parents may be unaware that the road to many technology careers branches from other ways to make a living as early as 6th or 7th grade, when students develop a like for or fear of math.
The first purpose of the Technology program is to allow our club members to become familiar and comfortable with PC technology and the Internet. The second is to develop an early interest in science that stimulates pursuit of math, physics, chemistry, and biology electives in high school. The third purpose is to encourage and support early competence in math, a foundation for most technical careers.
Access to PCs and the Internet
We provide to our members access to 20- 30 PCs in both of our main clubhouses. All are networked together and connected to the Internet via a high-speed connection. In addition to the Internet these PCs have access to the Microsoft Office suite of tools, an encyclopedia, a talking dictionary, and educational games. They are professionally maintained by a full time network maintenance professional. Virtually all of our staff are PC literate and use a PC on their desk every day for Email communication, presentations, etc
Computer Clubhouses (Martin V. Smith and Port Hueneme)
The purpose of the Computer Clubhouse is to create in our members: a comfort with and interest in information technology, a proficiency in industry standard applications, an awareness of the Internet as source of information, and an awareness of career opportunities in technology. Just as important we seek to create through use of PC technology as a medium of self-expression: a sense of belonging and responsibility in this small technology community, a sense of trust and empowerment, self-confidence, and a chance to lead.
Technology Program Description
Club Tech combines technology into our everyday life at our Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The program helps teach children- ages 6 through 12 - how to use Microsoft programs such as Word, Publisher, PowerPoint and Excel successfully.
Core Tech prepares our members for high school and future jobs, which will require knowledge of Microsoft Office programs. Children at our Club use the internet everyday; we have a rigorous internet safety program (NetSmartz), where we teach our children everything they need to know for a safe-responsible internet use.
Core Tech also focuses on research, we conduct activities on the National Geographic website, and play games on websites such as Cartoon Network. responsibly.
Every year we hold a Digital Arts Festival in which children ages 10 through 12 enter a national festival along with Boys and Girls Clubs across the nation. Digital Arts Festivals are made up of 5 different festivals Photo Tech, Music Tech, Movie Tech, Web Tech, and Graphic Tech. Each festival craves individuality and imagination. Children like Michael Mercado, age 10, winner of our 2006 music tech, overcame conflicts at home and produced a musical masterpiece. Darlene Morris, age 11, Youth of the ear 2006 at our club, worked very hard at directing her wining movie “When Nerds Attack.” This spring we will create a Junior Digital Arts Festival to inspire younger kids ages 7-9 to illustrate individuality which is most important. |
