The TechREACH Alliance Project (TAP) was a partnership between the EdLab Group, Wilderness Technology Alliance and the TEConnections program to increase technology access and literacy in underserved communities located in Eastern Washington and Western Washington. The TechREACH Alliance provided technology literacy training and a refurbished computer with Internet access to people from low-income households via established partnerships with schools, DSHS, community colleges, and/or community centers.

The goals of this project were to:

1. Improve access to technology and information services for low-income families with special emphasis on rural communities, ethnic minorities, and middle and high school students;
2. Increase low-income families’ and students’ technology literacy levels with special emphasis on rural communities, ethnic minorities, and middle and high school students.

Project Web Site
http://archive.edlabgroup.org/tap/

Project Status
Completed

Partners
Wilderness Technology Alliance
TEConnections

This project was funded by the Greater Everett Community Foundation through funding from the Verizon/MCI Merger Public Purpose Fund.

Project Components

Train the Trainer Workshops
Teachers attended trainings to learn the skills necessary to teach students to refurbish computers and distribute them. Teachers learned about computer hardware, software and operating system installation, troubleshooting, and more.

After School Clubs
Certified teachers from the middle schools and high schools led TAP after- school clubs in which students refurbished the computers for distribution into the community.

Distribution of Refurbished Internet-Ready Computers
Low-income students and families who did not have an Internet-ready computer at home received a refurbished computer. Families had to be low-income or receiving temporary assistance (TANF) through Washington State’s WorkFirst initiative. The TAP clubs  successfully distributed 196 refurbished computers to low-income students and families who did not have an Internet-ready computer at home.

Technology Trainings
Recipients were encouraged to attend five Technology Trainings within the first 12 months of receiving a refurbished computer to increase participants’ technology literacy skills and provide resources that support self-sufficiency. Workshops included:

• Computer set-up and basic computer skills
• Software applications such as Microsoft Office, keyboarding, and other content areas to aid recipients in their academic pursuits
• Online Casey Life Skills assessments where entire families can use technology and acquired computer skills through project participation in such topics as financial literacy and family budgeting, health and nutrition, family communication and social behavior skills, vocational and career exploration/advancement, and other family oriented topics.
• Community resources for support such as other state and community-based service providers
  

Culminating Celebration
The final step in the project was a Culminating Celebration held at local schools within each school district at the end of the 12-month period. The Culminating Celebration showed the community and project participants the impact of the project on families and students.

Evaluation
The executive summaries of yearly project evaluations are available below:

• Executive Summary of Year 1 Evaluation Report.PDF
• Executive Summary of Year 2 Evaluation Report.PDF