Tanner Tech Media Lab

We are continuing to serve the community with computer access during afternoon and evening hours Monday thru Saturday under the direction of our VISTA worker. We have joined CTC Net and are exploring ways to utilize their resources. We have developed a timeline for fulfillment of our goal of offering specific programs in the lab. We have established a partnership with Goodwill Industries, which contracts with the State of Tennessee to provide computer skills and other training for TANF recipients and vocational rehabilitation clients who are residents of Cocke County. Previously, local folks could only avail themselves of these services by driving 45 minutes to another county. Goodwill provides textbooks, software, referrals, and a part-time instructor (20 hours/week) for our lab in order to serve Cocke County folks here. Since July, they have offered self-paced courses for various levels of competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.: both beginner and advanced training and certification.

Lab attendance figures follow. People, especially kids, don't always sign in. They play a lot of games and do a lot of chatting and instant messaging with friends and internet acquaintances. There are definite periods of flurry of course papers and homework assignments at the end of grading sessions. Adults are researching employment and hobby topics and emailing.

Goodwill provides their own referrals but works some with our walk-ins too. The instructors are very patient and respectful and give the impression of wanting people to learn rather than just going through the program.

We are also providing space and wireless internet connectivity for a financial aid counselor (paid through US Department of Education) who has been assisting local college applicants.

TANNER COMPUTER LAB
2003 MONTHLY ATTENDANCE

June 2002 - 89
July 2002 - 225
August 2002 - 170
September 2002 - 168
October 2002 - 285
November 2002 - 135
December 2002 - 184
January 2003 - 253
February 2003 - 315
March 2003 - 325
April 2003 - 286
May 2003 - 381
June 2003 - 244
July 2003 - 317
August 2003 - 244
September 2003 - 325
October 2003- 264
November 2003 - 254

FIGURES REPRESENT NUMBER OF WALK-IN USERS WHO SIGNED IN DURING REGULAR HOURS.

TANF PROGRAM TRAINEE FIGURES : Goodwill's Self-Paced Applications for the Computer Environment Program began at the Tanner Technology Center on July 2, 2003. At that time, nine students were enrolled. Eight were referrals from DHS Families First (TANF) Division and one was referred by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. As of year-end, a total of seventeen students had been enrolled. Three have completed the entire course successfully. Seven have closed without completing the course and six are currently enrolled and attending as agreed.