|
|  |
|
Post:
|
08
|
|
Date:
|
Feb 4, 2001
|
|
From:
|
Bob Templin
|
Moving Beyond IT Training:
Within the Digital Divide discussion of applying technology to enhance
economic opportunity, skills training for a widening spectrum of
Information Technology (IT) jobs should be viewed as a primary starting
point. This dialogue should expand to also include other applications of
technology. In particular, there is a need to apply technology to create
efficient and effective training and education opportunities in low-income
communities. In this effort, applying technology can:
- Create access to training and education opportunities to deliver
occupational training on demand to community technology centers, CBOs,
businesses, and homes. Such training can and should incorporated into
a broad spectrum of jobs, most of which are probably not high tech,
but are significantly in demand throughout the economy, starting with
jobs such as, receptionists, cashiers, and food service workers, and
progressing through higher skilled occupations and supervisory
positions.
- Integrate technology skill training into educational programs for
non-technical occupations being affected by technology such as bank
tellers, home health aides, childcare workers, nursing assistants, and
security personnel.
- Deliver basic education and information reasoning skill development
through existing Adult Basic Education and GED programs.
- Connect with mainstream educational institutions such as community
colleges and universities where training curricula, career counseling
and job placement services can be invisibly integrated across
organizational boundaries and lead to progressively advanced
educational opportunities.
- Create, coordinate, & integrate work/learning experiences such
as internships, cooperative education and apprenticeships to provide
workers not only classroom learning but also workplace training,
employment experience and possible income opportunities.
- Provide continuing education opportunities following initial
employment placement.
Questions: Do any of you know of specific examples where technology has
been used successfully to bring effective job training or education into
low income communities? Any ideas about how successful programs can link
up with established providers like school-based adult education programs
or with community colleges or universities?
Coming next: Using technology to assist business development and invert
the resource and support infrastructure
<<To previous post
| To next post>>
Back to summary
| |
|
