Messer firm Partners with Nims Middle School for Digital Harmony Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2007

Contact: Stefanie Long, Department of Communications, 891-8533; or Angie Whitaker, Aide to Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, 891-8181

Digital Harmony Project Hopes to Bridge Divide

City Commissioner Andrew Gillum Spearheads Student Technology Initiative

Digital Harmony, a pilot program to bring desktop computers complete with Internet access, learning software and ongoing training and support for every incoming sixth grader at R. Frank Nims Middle School, was launched today at the school.

The Digital Harmony initiative was spearheaded by Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, who has expressed concerns while in office over digital divide issues in the community and how to make technology resources and education available to our youth to help better prepare them for life in the 21st century.

The project is a collaborative partnership pilot program designed to expand Internet access to underserved parts of our community. It will provide every incoming sixth grader at Nims Middle School with a new three-year warranty desktop computer, free Internet access and online academic curriculum training on core class curriculum. The school will hold orientation and ongoing training courses for parents and students on basic computer skills and school curriculum.

“While more technology is becoming available in schools, a significant gap still exists in what is available to continue learning in the home for lower income families,” Gillum said. “This program will provide these students with the same tools and software they are using at school to help extend their learning. Even more exciting are the opportunities this program brings to the entire family.”

How the Digital Harmony Program Works

On August 27, parents of sixth-grade students at Nims Middle School will be invited to attend a meeting at the school to learn all the details of the program, how they will receive the computers and initial instructions on setting them up in their homes. Parents will sign an agreement that requires them to set up the computer and enable the student to complete assignments on it.

On September 8-9, parents will pick up the computers at Nims. Volunteer support staff from various partner organizations will be available to help parents with installation of the computers and establishing an Internet connection. A hotline is being established to provide further support during and after the installation process.

A Student Technology Club will launch on September 17 to train students on the equipment and how to use the Pearson Education software that will enable them to complete assignments at home. Teachers will be able to monitor student use of the software and completion of assignments.

Additional training sessions and programs will be introduced throughout the school year to provide the students and other family members training and support.

“We are eager to see how this project engages the family and improves student performance,” said Nims Middle School Principal Kay Collins. “We’ve worked hard to make technology available to all of our students in the classroom through laptops and media centers. We’re hoping that starting with this incoming class of sixth graders, we can chart a course for furthered success by taking the learning experience beyond the classroom.”

The core Digital Harmony project group, including members from the partner organizations, will meet with teachers, parents, students and school officials throughout the year to assess the program’s success and make any needed adjustments to the program throughout the year.

Gillum brought together a variety of partners from the Tallahassee business and technology community with partners from Leon County Schools and local colleges and universities to plan the program, gain funding for equipment and software and develop programs to ensure ongoing training and support for the students and their families. Partners Include (in alphabetical order):

  • Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend
  • City of Tallahassee
  • Comcast
  • Dell Computers
  • Florida A&M University
  • Florida Department of Revenue
  • Florida State University College of Information*
  • GO BEYOND LLC*
  • Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
  • Leon County Schools
  • Messer, Caparello & Self, P.A.*
  • PATLive*
  • Paul Consulting*
  • Signeo Creative*
  • Tallahassee Community College
  • TalTech Alliance – Program planning and support, help desk funding
  • TSG – Technology Services Group, Inc.*

For more information on the Digital Harmony project, contact the office of City Commissioner Andrew Gillum at 891-8181, gilluma@talgov.com.

###

*Also a member of the TalTech Alliance

Background

Digital Harmony is a collaborative partnership pilot program designed to expand Internet access to underserved parts of our community. It will provide every incoming sixth grader at R. Frank Nims Middle School with a new three-year warranty desktop computer, free Internet access and online academic curriculum training on core class curriculum. The school will hold orientation and ongoing training courses for parents and students on basic computer skills and school curriculum.

Nims was chosen because it was the lowest-rated middle school in Leon County during the previous school year, receiving an F grade. It has failing FCAT scores, under-enrollment and other socio-economic obstacles. Nims also has approximately 200 sixth graders, which is a manageable number for an initial project.

The main goal of the project is to assess the impact that access to technology in the home can have on the academic progress and life skills growth of a child. Intermediate goals include the seamless launch of the in-home technology, extending the learning experience beyond the classroom to the home through computer-based curriculum, decreasing the drop out rate over a three-year period and providing opportunities for workforce development and career path training.

City Commissioner Andrew Gillum initiated Digital Harmony. Numerous public and private partners have contributed to the project, including Dell Computers, which donated half of the needed computers (100 computers) and provided a discount for the remainder, which are being purchased by Florida A&M University (50 computers) and other partners in the project. Comcast is donating cable modems and Internet service to the families. Other partners, including the TalTech Alliance, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College will create and staff a help desk to provide support for students. Various training programs will be offered to students and their families. Numerous other partners have contributed to the project in additional ways.

Expected outcomes from the project include:

  • Cultivating an interest in technology in the next generation
  • Providing tools and training to benefit each student’s family
  • Enrolling subsequent incoming sixth graders into the program
  • Becoming a model for the county, state and beyond
  • Becoming a feeder program into technical academies and schools
  • Decreasing the drop-out rate over the span of the three-year pilot program
  • Providing positive alternatives to occupy a child’s free time outside of school

For more information on the Digital Harmony project, contact the office of City Commissioner Andrew Gillum at 891-8181, gilluma@talgov.com.

Partners to Date

(In Alphabetical Order)

The following organizations and businesses have partnered to help make the Digital Harmony a reality for incoming sixth graders at R. Frank Nims Middle School. In addition to the key contributions listed, many of these partners have played integral roles throughout the project. The project will provide each sixth-grade student and his/her family a Dell Vostro 200 computer with free Internet access and ongoing support and training.

Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend – Transportation for computer pick up and delivery

City of Tallahassee – Program planning, equipment procurement, software installation, distribution and installation

Comcast – Donation of cable modems, supporting software and tools and free Internet service

Dell Computers – Donation of 100 computers, discount for the additional 100 needed

Florida A&M University – Funding for 50 computers, ongoing program support

Florida Department of Revenue – Software installation, equipment preparation and distribution, training support

Florida State University College of Information* – Intern-staffed Help Desk support

GO BEYOND LLC* – Development and coordination of support, Help Desk and Technology Club, web site hosting

Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce – Outreach to businesses to garner support

Leon County Schools – Pearson Education Software, technical support for servers, communications infrastructure

Messer, Caparello & Self, P.A.* – Legal assistance, student user handbook development

PATLive* – Help Desk phone service

Paul Consulting* – Project portal and web site, support during hours not staffed by Help Desk

Signeo Creative* – Project logo and brand identity

Tallahassee Community College – Intern-staffed Help Desk support

TalTech Alliance – Program planning and support, help desk funding

TSG – Technology Services Group, Inc.* – Student user handbook development, ongoing coordination and program support