Gong for computer junk, e-literacy pioneer

Laurence Zwimpfer

Digital literacy and e-waste campaigner Laurence Zwimpfer has been made a member of the NZ Order of Merit Wellington for services to information technology.

The Queen's Birthday honour went to the Wellingtonian for services to information techology.

His 45-year career in the IT industry includes 15 years as chairman of the Computer Access NZ, a trust that reconditions computers no longer needed by business for a new life in schools or underpriviliged homes. And since 2000 he has been the driving force behind the Computers in Homes digital literacy programme.

Mr Zwimpfer's is also responsible for establishing eDay, an annual collection of (often toxic) electronic equipment waste, which has been running since 2006.

As well as running his own consultancy, Zwimpfer Communications, he is a fellow of the Institute of Professional Engineers, a fellow of InternetNZ and a fellow of the New Zealand Computer Society.

He is a past trustee of the National Library, and a former information and communications commissioner for Unesco.

Last week the government re-committed to Computers in Homes, which helps 1000 families through three-year funding granted in the 2010 budget.

“Principals keep telling us about how the programme breaks down a barrier between many parents and their schools. Parents are often uncomfortable coming into schools, but after 10 weeks of regular visits for Computers in Homes training, they are willing to engage much more closely with their children’s learning and even more importantly start to model learning for their children,” Mr Zwimpfer said.

from http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/gong-computer-junk-e-literacy-pioneer-ck-94784

map

This is a map Karen created as part of her slideshow for the Primary School talk. It shows where the Taranaki ELearning Trust provide Computer In Homes and Stepping UP

The latest news May 2010

Computers In Homes

CPF3 We have classes running (or starting shortly) in Opunake High School, Patea Area School and at the Hawera CTC

and with the DLC CIH Project at Raetihi Primary School, Raetihi, and Centennial Park School, Te Kuiti.

Another school recently pulled out and Christina has been looking for replacement numbers

Christina travelled to Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and Raetihi recently to visit the staff and families who will be involved in Computers in Homes. She also visited Taumarunui High School, TKKM Taumarunui and Taumarunui Primary School, with good results from all of them.

Stepping UP in Hawera is now open four days a week.  Graham Nairn from Hawera has joined us as tutor on Thursday afternoons and Friday Morning. 

Lisa Tangaroa will be taking some hours teaching Stepping UP once the current CIH classes finish there.

The Computer Basics Course continues to be the most popular.

Eltham Stepping UP  is fairly slow to get going but Jane Gilbert has a steady number of students for her Stepping UP classes. With a bit of advertising we hope to get numbers up.

Karen has been asked to speak at Eltham Primary School to a class of children doing a project called Future Communities. They want to know how she helps in the community related to her work within Computers In Homes  and Stepping UP.

the Cordinators and hosts at Te Rewarewa Marae

We Recycle!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it a door stop?? Is it a computer??

 Well, needing a sign to say We Are Here!! and having a few old hard drives around the place... I decided to use one of the old computers for a sign. Now I'm on the look out for a larger one as I need one for the footpath. (I've seen one in the techs room, but I think I better ask him first)

Are these old muesli bar boxes?? Are they the boxes that hold our modules??

These boxes are just the right size to fit our Stepping Up modules in!!!

lets Step it Up ;)

The Hawera CTC is open for Stepping UP!

Christina is running Stepping Up on Tuesdays and Wednesday and is so busy that she rarely manages a lunch break.

Christina said "I had a 86 yr old lady come in that had never touched a computer. She did  mouse exercises for which I gave  her a certificate. She was so pleased (with receiving a certificate) that she was going to frame it".

Having the CTC in a main shopping area is proving to be a bonus as people can see we are open whilst they are in town, and if they have time they can drop in to complete a module,  or otherwise set up a time with Christina when it is more convenient to them.

Eltham will be opening shortly with Karen on Fridays and  new tutor Jane on Tuesdays.

In the news, South Taranaki Star Feb 24 2011

This may be a little hard to read but the story from the newspaper cutting below is about how Eltham acknowledge triple success with presentations for the town and its people who have made their mark on the national stage. 

1. Kaponga's Shirley Hazlewood who was named a semi-finalist in the Kiwibanks New Zealander of the Year Awards.
2. The Eltham Community Development group received the runner up plaque for the Best Professional Mural 2010 at the Resene Mural Masterpieces 2010 Competition.
3. Eltham had its own plaque for being semi-finalist for Community of the year Awards. Significant  events that went towards Eltham being a semi-finalist were 125th Jubilee, filming of Predicament, the downhill cheese race, and the world record breaking cheese scone, walkway improvements, and the $300,000 grant for Computers In Homes.