Texts:

• Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, http://www.wikipedia.org.
• Lecture Notes, K. Vander Linden.

The Program:  Project Connect provides basic computers and information literacy to people in the Grand Rapids area by providing low-cost technology training classes and computers for all participants. The training classes cover the basic administration and use of personal computers. The computers are used but good machines with basic hardware and software.

Registration:  Students will officially register in the spring for the fall semester session of CS 324, but the actual seminars will begin already in May in preparation for the summer Project Connect classes. CCE credit will be awarded upon completion of the fall semester.

Schedule:   Students must actively participate in the following activities:

• Orientation sessions at the beginning of the summer - These sessions are designed to orient the Calvin students to the nature of the digital divide and to the Project Connect program in particular. They are usually held in the evening sometime after spring graduation.
• Project Connect classes - These classes vary in nature from year to year depending upon logistical arrangement with our community partners. Student will be involved in support or, potentially, teaching responsibilities.
• Follow-up sessions - These sessions are designed to help the Calvin students support the Connect students as they use the technology and to help them reflect on this experience.

The specific dates for these sessions will be specified in late Spring. The times will be in the late afternoon or evening so you can take this course and have a full-time job during the day. However, you must be staying in the Grand Rapids area for the majority of the summer and fall semesters.

Grading:  We will determine who passes and who fails this one-hour course as follows:

• You must attend the events discussed above:
  • Orientation sessions
  • Connect classes
  • Follow-up sessions
• You must turn in acceptable versions of the following deliverables:
  • journal entries - Turn in one as you complete each interaction session with Connect students, including both Connect classes and home visits.
  • reflective paper - This is due by finals exam week in the fall semester.

Please speak with us if you must miss one of these events or have trouble with one of the deliverables.

Disabilities:   Calvin will make reasonable accommodations for you if you have documented disabilities. Notify the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities located in the Student Academic Services, HH-455, and also notify me within the first two weeks of class.

Incompletes:  We will give an incomplete grade (I) only in unusual circumstances, and only if those circumstances have been confirmed by the Student Life office.

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