Barbara Craig, Information Technology, School of Education, Victoria University of Wellington & Paul Froggatt, Victoria Link Ltd, Wellington Aotearoa, New Zealand
A project using computer technology to build connections between families and school in impoverished communities demonstrates that families will seize new technologies that bridge geographic, social and language isolation.
We put computers and Internet access into homes of children attending two target schools and established a cyber-homework centre with activities to involve parents with their children's learning.
We documented Internet usage: as a superhighway to information; as entertainment; as communication (email and Internet instant messaging). Children communicated for the first time with extended family in the Pacific and created school Web pages with local content, finding new purpose for using their home language. Children's TV time gave way to the Internet. Parents, isolated by lack of phone or transport, now used chatrooms to create virtual community with school parents, with church members.
Success stories include: IT jobs for parents, newly literate parents, new global connections and sense of belonging nationally and globally.