Free Basic Computer Classes Being Offered to Senior Citizens at the Putnam County Educational Service Center

Senior citizens have flocked to the local Educational Service Center (ESC) in Putnam County to drink coffee, socialize, and learn basic computer skills in the last month.

The Connecting Seniors with Coffee and Computers program is a new class that is being offered at the Putnam County ESC to help senior citizens become more comfortable with computers and other technology items as well as giving them an atmosphere to socialize with other older residents of the community over coffee.

The first training session that took place on October 25 gathered together sixty-three eager-to-learn senior citizens to become more educated on the uses of computers. The first session focused predominately on the very basic uses of computers and next month’s session will go into further detail on how to use e-mail and upload digital photos.

“We only expected eight to ten students at our first session, but to our surprise, sixty-three people showed up and we had to double up the students on the computers since the capacity of the training facility is thirty,” said Putnam County Educational Service Center Curriculum Coordinator Beth Hench.

The classes being offered this month will cover how to use an e-mail account and how to download photos from digital cameras. Classes are being offered on November 20, 23, 29, and 30 from 10 am to 12 pm. The November 29 training session is already booked and the remaining session dates are filling up quickly.

Classes are FREE! Please register by contacting Beth Hench or Gary Herman at the Putnam County ESC at 419-523-5951.

Ohio keeps pace with national broadband adoption increases - sees a significant jump in targeted groups

Home broadband adoption in Ohio is continuing to increase right alongside the national average.

According to Connect Ohio’s 2010 Residential Technology Research, 66 percent of Ohioans currently subscribe to some type of broadband service at their home, an increase from last year’s rate of 62 percent.

Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project national broadband survey results show that 66 percent of national residents have high-speed Internet in their homes, compared to 63 percent last year. The study was conducted among a sample of over 2,000 adults by Princeton Survey Research Associates and also shows the trends in broadband adoption, as well as the attitudes toward broadband and broadband
investment.

Pew is a nonpartisan, nonprofit “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping America and the world. The Project produces reports exploring the impact of the Internet on families, communities, work
and home, daily life, education, healthcare, and civic and political life.
Both the Ohio and national broadband adoption rates rose from 55 percent in 2008.

With an overall increase of 10 percent since 2008, the data show that U.S. citizens and Ohio residents are becoming more connected to high-speed Internet service in their homes. Ohio residents are demonstrating the increasing value of broadband service as a resource for communication, healthcare, government, e-commerce, and a wealth of knowledge.

While broadband adoption statistics and the reasons for nontechnology use between
residents of Ohio and the United States are similar, the state is seeing more individuals using the Internet. Connect Ohio research shows that families with children are traditionally more likely to adopt. Groups that are slower to adopt technology include: under-educated individuals, senior citizens, and low income households, according to Connect Ohio’s 2010 technology research.

The national and state averages for minorities who have recently subscribed to high-speed Internet service have increased at a rapid rate this year. Among African-Americans in the state of Ohio, broadband adoption increased to 52 percent in 2010
from 46 percent in 2009. Across the country, 56 percent of African-Americans now subscribe to broadband, compared to46 percent in 2009.

The increase of broadband adoption across the state, as well as throughout the country, relates the increasing value of broadband subscribership and shows a steady decrease in the digital divide. For detailed survey results and analysis, visit http://connectohio.org/_documents/Binder1.pdf for the results of Connect Ohio’s survey, and http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Home-Broadband-2010/Summary-of-Findings.aspx for the complete results from Pew Research.

Broadband Heroes Receive Recognition for Their Work in Southwest Region

Two individuals who have contributed to the success of the Adams County Every Citizen Online (ECO) pilot program were awarded for their hard work and dedication at the beginning of the month.

The ECO pilot program would not have been possible without the help of Jay Barkey and Ron Vanover. These men donated their time and energy into this program and Connect Ohio is grateful for their ongoing interest and dedication.

Connect Ohio is currently implementing a statewide broadband training program in order to increase sustainable broadband adoption in Ohio.

The ECO program is designed to encourage broadband adoption in Ohio by conducting training sessions at libraries, community colleges, and other anchor institutions throughout the state.

A successful pilot program has taken place at the Adams County Public Library helping to identify best practices for the program prior to its official launch in December.

Ron Vanover has graciously volunteered the time and the resources of his business, New Life PCs, to support the ECO program in Adams County. Ron has provided all of the participants who have graduated from the program with the opportunity to purchase a refurbished computer at a low cost. He started his Microsoft-registered computer refurbishing business in 2007. Ron has combined his passion for computing and experience as a trainer to help individuals and organizations improve their understanding and use of technology.

Jay Barkey has dedicated 30 years to teaching in secondary and higher education and has been the assistant director of Adams County Public Library in West Union since 2000.

Upon learning of our need for a location and instructor to launch the ECO pilot, Jay immediately volunteered his time and expertise to teach residents of Adams County the basic computing skills and insight into the value of the Internet in everyday life.

For their selfless contribution to increasing broadband adoption in the state, Connect Ohio has presented Jay and Ron with a Broadband Hero Award and extends its gratitude for their hard work.

Additional Broadband Hero Awards will be distributed quarterly to deserving individuals who assist in Connect Ohio’s efforts to close the digital divide.