RISON - Woodlawn High School hosted the county's first "digital skills" training class last week in what will eventually become a way to help anyone in Cleveland County who wants to learn more about how to use technology and the internet.
Danielle Watson, the family and consumer science agent for the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Office, held her first "digital skills" training pro-gram using high school students to teach people how to use computers, tablets, smart phones and other technology to access and use the internet.
Watson said the program will use EAST students from both Woodlawn and Rison High School to serve as one-on-one instructors with people learning how to use technology and the internet. She said the students at Woodlawn have already taken the four training sessions needed to become an instructor while Rison students are currently in the process of getting their training.
The first class was held last Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Woodlawn High School in conjunction with the Senior Appreciation Luncheon. Watson said she hopes to begin offering training sessions in the Rison and Kingsland area beginning in January.
Watson, who is also a member of the Cleveland County Broadband Committee, said she used curriculum from the 4-H Tech Changemaker program to develop the program. The 4-H Tech Changemaker program is a national effort sponsored by Microsoft, Verizon, Land O'Lakes and Tractor Supply Co. to train young people with technology skills about how to teach adults how to use technology and the internet. The 4-H program is administered through the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
Watson said the Community, Workforce and Economic Development Department at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service is also developing a program called Digital Skills Ambassadors that will probably be launched next year.
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