Program & Services
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The Computer Exchange Project |
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- The Computer Exchange (CompEx) Program distributes computers to families through a Computer Take Home Workshop. DDI relies on partner agencies to identify clients. Donated computers are refurbished by DDI and loaded with productivity and educational software such as Open Office, KidSmart Early Learning and many others
- DDI also provides computers to partner agencies and other nonprofits to support their work by increasing their technological capacity
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- The use of computer technology to insure a firm foundation for learning is essential in today’s world.
- Implementing the KidSmart Early Learning Program will allow us to reach two very important demographics:
- Daycare center staff that serve predominantly urban children. Many daycare staff members have limited exposure to computers as a teaching tool.
- Low-income parents.
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TryScience Educational Workshops
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- There are fewer and fewer urban youth entering the sciences. The interest to do so must be developed at the early ages.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fewer than three in five students take high school chemistry, only one in four (24 percent) takes physics, and fewer than five in 100 take Advanced Placement Biology. These statistics are worst for urban youth.
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DDI has a long-standing relationship with IBM and receives technical support, equipment and grants to promote technology. DDI promotes these IBM tools and programs: |
- World Community Grid allows volunteers to donate unused computing power to researchers around the world using grid computing technology. World Community Grid is installed on all DDI computers.
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- Web Adaptation makes the web easier to use by enhancing readability, reducing visual clutter of some pages, making the mouse and keyboard easier to use, and reading text aloud.
 Click to watch video
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- ¡TradúceloAhora! (Translate Now) is a web-based grant program enabling users to automatic bidirectional translation of website content and e-mail messages in English and Spanish.
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- KidSmart integrates interactive teaching and learning activities to encourage learning for pre-kindergarten and school-age kids.
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- Reading Companion is a web-based literacy grant program that enables young and adult readers to select e-books on a variety of topics from a library and read them to the computer using a headset microphone. Reading Companion provides feedback and data on the skills of the reader.
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- SME Toolkit is a free program that enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn how to implement business practices needed for growth in areas such as finance, accounting, international business, marketing, human resources or legal
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- TryScience is an interactive, online science resource that brings the science center experience to the web
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Get Involved |
To become a participant in a Computer Take Home Workshop, you must be referred by a nonprofit agency.
For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, contact us at 612-624-8783 or via e-mail at: nels6781@umn.edu |
