"The city's larger strategy to increase the businesses and job opportunities as recently outlined in the Go Cincinnati strategy has to include opportunities for workforce development," said City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. "The IT Village program is a small way we can use our resources to help young people be ready for those jobs."
As a partner in the program, Dell has donated a computer, a one-year Internet subscription to America Online (AOL), and other technology accessories to every student who completes the entire six-week program.
One of the goals of the program is to provide young people access to information technology so they can learn marketable skills, find required information, and participate in the global online community safely. The course, which will be taught by staff volunteering their time from the city/county Regional Computer Center, will include:
- Using geographical information systems to find required information;
- Virtual environments and the safe uses of online worlds to support learning and collaboration;
- Learning financial management through interactive games;
- Building and repairing a computer; and
- The software programs to manage and share data like Excel and Word.
