Alamo PC will gain a number of new members this spring courtesy of the Alamo Area Community Information System (AACIS). AACIS offers one year Alamo PC memberships to its students who take three AAICS computer literacy classes and make 90% or higher in each. This arrangement provides an educational path to highly motivated students who may have few personal resources to attend private-pay computer classes.

AACIS does this because of its commitment to building a shared, community-wide technology and information network. This vision requires that a broad segment of the population be able to successfully navigate computers.

To this end, AACIS created four Community Technology Centers (CTCs) in City of San Antonio adult education facilities. Located in low-income neighborhoods, these facilities are neighborhood hubs for learning, where AACIS computer literacy classes complement GED, English as Second language classes, literacy and citizenship classes.

• Margarita Huantes Family Learning Center (located near the intersection of Brazos and Guadalupe)
• Fr. Albert Benavides Learning Center (located near the intersection of Cupples and Castroville Rd.)
• Willie Velasquez Learning Center (located near Zarzamora and Poplar) and Columbia Heights Learning Center (located near Zarzamora and Fitch)

Classes are in upgraded computer labs throughout the week to accommodate the maximum number of students, Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6:00pm until 8:30pm. Two class sessions are held on Saturdays, one from 8:30am-- noon and another from 1:30pm --until 5:00pm. Currently, weekday, Friday and Sunday classes are being explored.

Classes provide hands-on opportunities to hear/see and try. Each 20-21 hour class topic has two basic goals 1) build computer literacy; 2) promote life-long learning and positive thinking. A collaborative/non-competitive “no student left behind” approach builds confidence. Students who may have left school 20-40 years previously complete classes successfully and are motivated to consider training beyond AACIS for recreation, work or educational goals.

Curriculum currently covers four topics (with more under development): Introduction to PC, Introduction to Keyboarding, Introduction to MS Word and Introduction to MS Excel. Classes are taught in either English or Spanish. Students are encouraged to repeat classes as needed. There is no charge to the student for any class.

Most students begin by taking the Introduction to PC class. Here they become familiar with basic computer terminology and operation. The first thing students are shown is how to launch a game. This puts students at ease and builds mouse and keyboard skills. They learn to log on to a network and launch a program. After students gain some confidence they are introduced to three other basic applications: Paint, WordPad and Windows Explorer.

Next, students are encouraged to take the Introduction to Keyboarding class, which was offered for the first time in late 2003, based on student request. This class concentrates on key functions, adds more vocabulary, teaches home keys, ergonomics and offers typing drills. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is used, and includes a voice personality, which guides students through self-paced exercises and makes the experience more user friendly.

Microsoft Word follows, where students learn the basics of word processing. Students format text, create tab stops, use tables, insert clipart and use the draw toolbar. Several projects are created to illustrate these processes, to include things like a restaurant menu, business card and business letter. Students are amazed when they see they can actually edit clipart and create customized documents.

The final class in the series is Introduction to Microsoft Excel. Here students learn the basics of manipulating a worksheet, functions, create formulas and input data. Other topics include formatting data, grouping worksheets, freezing and splitting panes, sorting data and creating named ranges. This is the most technical class offered by AACIS.

One of the most important components of the AACIS program is data collection, since this is how funding is procured. Students are encouraged (but not required) to fill out a Student Data Form, a class evaluation and an end of class survey. Students are also asked to take a pre-assessment before any instruction is given-- to measure what students know about the topic. This initial score is compared to the exit exam to determine what the students have learned in class. If a student scores 90% or better on each of three class exit exams, they are rewarded with a one-year membership to Alamo PC.

The AACIS web site can be found at the AACIS Website . Information currently found here includes a list of NEIGHBORHOOD PCS (computers for public access use in and around Bexar county, with towns as far away as Pearsall and Karnes City), statistical information called Community Indicators (a variety of research and planning services to community groups, public agencies and funders), and COMMUNITY SERVICES (a clearing house of community links). One of the most useful sections in the COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTION is the IRIS database, which allows users to find services throughout the community, with a highly searchable database by keyword, zip code, agency and other categories.

There are currently six instructors in the AACIS program, with more being provided by the Alamo Community College District. There is a growing demand for classes, with some Community Technology Centers reporting as many as 60 individuals on the waiting list for a single class! To meet this demand, AACIS is looking for more instructors and is planning to expand the program to additional CTCs. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please contact Holly Harrison.

I first became involved with AACIS late in 2002 after I responded to an ad that appeared in the PC Alamode calling for computer instructors. I quickly became familiar with the AACIS curriculum as I shadowed an existing trainer. By March of 2003 I was immersed in the world of computer literacy.

In many ways, it is much easier to teach complex programs like Adobe After Effects or Macromedia Flash than it is to teach basic computer literacy. Those of you who know me will remember that I have been teaching Continuing Education classes at San Antonio College (SAC) since 2001. The topics I teach normally revolve around graphics and web design and students normally have a good background in computer literacy. Teaching students who know nothin