Computers in Homes is still pumping in Whanganui

Computers in Homes is still pumping in Whanganui.  Since our last blog post, we have been busy on many fronts delivering our CIH and Stepping UP programmes.  As term 3 ends, we have 5 CIH classes in progress at Kura o Kokohuia, Tawhero School, Churton School, the Born and Raised Pasifika Centre, and the Whanganui Learning Centre.  There are 45 families, whanau and fanau participating.

Our Okoia School CIH class at their graduation celebration at the Whanganui Learning Centre in August 2011 

When these families, whanau and fanau graduate, our total for 2011 will be 179, making 481 since we began in 2006.  It is exiting to be nudging 500, and we should exceed this by the end of 2011 with our classes in term 4.

Our Stepping UP programme is exceeding it goals too.   So far this year over 150 learners have completed Stepping UP. Our delivery partner, the Whanganui Learning Centre is doing an outstanding job.  They have recently been awarded an excellence rating in an NZQA self-evaluation and review process in August. The NZQA report ranked WLCT as highly confident in educational performance and highly confident in self-assessment and evaluation. In all six areas of review the WLCT gained the top rating of Excellence, WOW!

Our Governance is morphing into a new Wanganui District Council digital super-family called Digital Communities (Digicom).  This is a fantastic new collaboration with the Awa City Computer Clubhouse, the District Library’s Aotearoa Peoples Network, Computers in Homes, plus other WDC/NZ Government funded digital interests.

Digicom will enable us to make the most of the new UFB network being rolled out here.  It is exciting to see this starting, although it will take several of years to be fully deployed.   It is important to prepare well for this, so we have also formed the Wanganui Digital Leaders Forum.  This is a big group, with over 20 people and 10 focus groups representing our district’s communities and interests.  Yesterday, our Mayor, Annette Main agreed to be the Chair!!  It sure is fantastic that she is leading us, and rates it as a key priority.

We are in countdown mode, preparing for the National Launch of Adult Learners' Week/He Tangata Mātauranga on Tuesday, 1 November 2011.  This will be a held at Putiki Mare.  We are expecting many VIP visitors from around NZ, including politicians, senior government department managers, plus ACE movers and shakers.  Also, there will be strong support from local ACE provider’s network and the Wanganui District Council.  This will be a huge opportunity to showcase our CIH and Stepping UP programmes.  Having the launch at Putiki Mare means they can show off the Cyberwhare operated by Judd Bailey there.
http://aceaotearoa.org.nz/events/adult-learners-week

Great to see ACE Aotearoa featuring a Computers in Homes participant from the Wairarapa.  Neat to see Digital Literacy is now an essential tool for successful living.
http://aceaotearoa.org.nz/celebrations