Oakland Computer Reuse Center

6/2000

Background

The Oakland Technology Exchange (OTX) provides Internet ready refurbished computers to classrooms in the Oakland Public Schools.  OTX has successfully installed of over 3000 computers in OUSD schools and homes of students in the past five years.  The Oakland Computer Reuse Center (OCRC) will extend access to technology for Oakland youth by providing computers for student use at home.  Due to a onetime software grant and onetime access to a warehouse, OCRC will focus this year on providing home computers to Oakland youth.

Mission

The mission of the Oakland Computer Reuse Center is to provide all Oakland youth and others, who don’t have access to home computers, an opportunity to earn a fully functional computer.

Strategy and Eligible Recipients

All computers will be ‘earned’ by the recipient through completion of a combination of community service and computer training

·         The first priority will be to distribute computers to students in the Oakland Public Schools beginning with high school, then middle school and finally elementary school students.  All Oakland Public Schools will be eligible to participate in the program, including regular schools, alternative schools and charter schools.

·         The second priority will be other Oakland youth not enrolled in the Oakland Public Schools. 

·         The third priority will be seniors who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a computer.

The Product

The computer will be a fully functional computer with CPU, monitor, keyboard and mouse.  It will be equipped with NewDeal Office or NewDeal Schoolsuite, a suite of programs that look and feel like Windows ’95 and Microsoft Office.  Applications include wordprocessor, spreadsheet, database, math programs, Internet browser, electronic mail, shareware games and other educational software.

OCRC will not provide printers and modems.  Students can export their files to a diskette for printing at school or add a printer.  Almost all older dot matrix printers are supported as are Canon 1000/2000 (about $50) color inkjet printers.  Modems are available for about $45, which will enable access to the Internet and email.   The system is configured to access freewwweb.com, a free Internet Service Provider.

Requirements of the participating schools and other distribution organizations

Schools and other organizations participating in the program will be responsible for

·         Identifying the recipients

·         Verifying their community service

·         Provide or arrange for basic training.  Teacher training and training materials will be provided.

·         Storing the computers prior to distribution

·         Distributing the computers to the recipients

·         Providing or arranging for a first level of support for recipients if they have problems

·         Providing a list of recipients to OCRC

·         Returning any unused or excess equipment

The OCRC will be responsible for

·         Delivering complete systems in groups of 25-50 computers.

·         On a best effort basis, providing replacement exchanges to the school or distributor.

·         Accepting returns of malfunctioning equipment for further refurbishing.

Our goal for 2000 is to provide at least 5000 computers to Oakland youth.