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January 1, 2003
University of Maryland Students Help Middle School Students to Cross the Digital Divide
By Shirley Morman and Denise Lewis
The University of Maryland Educational Talent Search Program is using computer hardware and a soft touch to help some Prince George's County middle school students cross the Digital Divide. ProjectLINKS has a commitment to narrow the gap between those who have access to computers and computer technology and those who do not. With this goal in mind, ProjectLINKS was created as an online tutoring program that gives academic support to middle school students, as well as teaches them how to use computers and the resources that computers can provide.
What is ProjectLINKS?
ProjectLINKS (Linking Information Networks and Knowledge to Students) partners with three middle schools from the county - Kettering, Buck Lodge and Oxon Hill. Teachers and administrators from the Prince George's County Schools have been integrally involved in the project's development since planning started in October 2000. "This is an excellent project to counsel and support deserving students to help make sure they are adequately prepared both academically and technologically to pursue their dreams of a college education," said Iris T. Metts, Chief Executive Officer, Prince George's County Schools, in a letter endorsing the project.
The Prince George's County school system plays a vital role in the success of the project. As ProjectLINKS partners, schools: determine the model for selection criteria; select students; host technical assistance visits plus orientation and training workshops; provide curriculum and text resources to ProjectLINKS tutors; and give feedback on improving services.
Last spring, eighty (80) eighth-grade students received a new desktop computer for use at home and weekly access to online tutoring and the PLATOý Web Learning System. The online tutoring program features a real person - a University of Maryland student - on the other end of the Web connection. ProjectLINKS tutors have been carefully selected and screened. They are University of Maryland students who have excellent grades, relevant experience, communicate well in writing, are technologically-savvy and can commit to the program for at least two years. Tutors have been fingerprinted, have completed background checks and must follow strict guidelines for contacting students. Online sessions are monitored, and tutors are encouraged to be friends and mentors to the students.
The students and tutors also receive PLATO access for supplemental enrichment in language arts, math and reading. "As technology becomes more complicated, it is important that everyone is involved and is allowed the opportunity to help themselves," Kettering Middle School principal Legaunt Jones told the Prince George's County Gazette during the launch ceremony held on April 5, 2002.
How did ProjectLINKS originate?
ProjectLINKS is the vision of Shirley Morman, Principal Investigator for ProjectLINKS and Director of the Educational Talent Search Program at the University of Maryland. Sixteen years ago the university opened its doors to the economically disadvantaged students of Prince George's County, those with academic potential and the desire for a college education but in need of counseling, information and guidance because they would be the first in their families to attend college. Traditionally, programs like Educational Talent Search, which fall under the TRIO umbrella of federally funded college preparatory initiatives for disadvantaged students, have not been known to focus on the Digital Divide.
More about TRIO Programs
ProjectLINKS is a TRIO Dissemination Partnership Program of the U.S. Department of Education. For over 35 years, TRIO programs (originally three programs) have implemented educational and human service programs, practices, strategies and activities that meet the unique needs of low-income and first generation college students. Talent Search, just one of many TRIO programs, addresses the needs of young people in grades six through twelve. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and various student financial aid programs. This early intervention program helps people from families with incomes under $24,000 and in which neither parent graduated from college to better understand their educational opportunities and options. Based on project outcomes and the interest of the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Robert Belle, Director of TRIO Programs, requested a presentation on ProjectLINKS, which took place on Friday, September 21, 2001 in Washington, DC.
The idea for ProjectLINKS was conceived from an interest to expand the impact of the Educational Talent Search's "Saturday Scholars Program." Since 1991, this program has attracted middle and high school students to the University of Maryland on Saturdays and integrates technology and core learning skills to reinforce the students'classroom learning. The Saturday Scholars Program has limitations because it basically accommodates students whose families could provide transportation. "With ProjectLINKS, there are no such barriers. We can reach the students who are most in need; those who have access to the fewest resources to prepare themselves for success in a competitive world," Morman says. The U.S. Department of Education agreed, accepted the proposal for the new initiative, and provided a $600,000 grant over a three year period to make it happen. University of Maryland officials are optimistic that ProjectLINKS can become a national model. "ProjectLINKS is within the framework and mission of what TRIO is all about. It's a creative use of resources", says Dr. Robert Hampton, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland.
Who Benefits from ProjectLINKS?
Unlike the Saturday Scholars Program, ProjectLINKS is exclusively for middle school students. Early intervention helps students to transition from one level to the next in the educational process, even as far as postsecondary education. ProjectLINKS seeks to make a concerted, systematic and continuous effort, through an array of programs and information sources, to explain and reinforce the postsecondary planning process and establishes these relationships as early as middle school.
ProjectLINKS targets low-income seventh- and eighth-graders that would be the first in their family to attend college, have demonstrated the need for academic support and enrichment and lack access to a computer at home. The project is based in Prince George's County schools not currently served by Talent Search Programs. "Human interaction really set this program apart from others," says Morman. "The students and mentors form a personal connection as they work on skills directly tied to the students' actual homework." Tutors provide four half-hour tutoring sessions each week, and students access the PLATO System for two hours each week.
How was ProjectLINKS developed?
ProjectLINKS is a custom-designed web software program that includes Email, listserv, white board and chat rooms for direct interaction with tutors. The technical development and planning for ProjectLINKS was initiated by a group of dedicated University of Maryland alumni and students, many who volunteered their time and talents on evenings and weekends. The team continues to rely heavily on electronic communications and maintains an archive of all correspondence. Peter Thairu, the leader of the ProjectLINKS technical team says the web software package is a combination of custom-designed programming features, as well as shareware and commercial off-the-shelf programs. "The design goal was simplicity ý we are targeting middle school kids, some of whom don't have much exposure to computers," Thairu says. The ProjectLINKS colors, logo, web site layout/design and Macromedia Flash animation result from the genius of ProjectLINKS web master, Kevin Ngugi.
As for hardware, the goal was clear: provide an uncomplicated, reliable and inexpensive way for students to dial-up access to the Internet to access online tutoring services. The proposal specified the purchase of netpliance devices, but these were eventually rejected. A netpliance looks very much like a desktop computer with a monitor, keyboard, speakers and a mouse. But it does not have a hard drive and is limited to Internet access only. You cannot install software or download files on a netpliance. Despite some obvious benefits (cheaper than a computer with total cost of ownership about 10% that of a standard PC, freedom from viruses and no software issues), the netpliances had substantial limitations. These included unfavorable market trends, slow processing speed, the need to purchase a printer, and the inability to download required plug-ins for the PLATO Web Learning System. This issue became one of the major challenges for the development team, which eventually by unanimous decision elected to not purchase the netpliance.
ProjectLINKS seeks sponsorship of corporations and local business as it seeks to narrow the Digital Divide. Thus it was fortunate to partner with NCS Technologies, who custom-built the project's computers. NCS Technologies is a premiere PC manufacturer and supplier of PC products, located in Sterling, VA. Specializing in home, school and office environments, NCS brought rock-solid quality to ProjectLINKS students at a fair price.
The PLATO Connection
Both students and tutors utilize the PLATO Web Learning System for supplemental enrichment in language arts, math and reading. Students complete FASTRACK assessments that are aligned with both national and Maryland State Department of Education content standards in a supervised lab at the University of Maryland. Once the assessments are completed, the PLATO system generates an individual, customized learning path that targets each student's skill gaps in each subject area. The student launches PLATO from home, and works at his/her own pace for an average of two hours per week in completing courses in the learning path. Courses may consist of a tutorial, drill and mastery test. Students can either complete the tutorial, or if they think they know the concept, they can go directly to the mastery test. It's a very dignified way to learn and fills in gaps in learning. PLATO provides a cost-effective solution for delivering quality instruction online, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. "The audio and graphics in PLATO are engaging to students; they love to see the success banner appear on the screen!" comments Denise Lewis, ProjectLINKS Management Consultant.
Tutors may use PLATO to review in preparation for tutoring sessions and monitor academic performance of students using progress reports. Tutors can also assign courses or individualize a student's learning path if needed based on homework and class work assignments. Sonya Coleman, Account Manager, PLATO Learning, Inc. comments, "ProjectLINKS represents one the most unique applications of PLATO Learning resources that I've come across. It's heartwarming to know that our software is being used to help low-income students bridge technology barriers and prepare for college".
Launching ProjectLINKS
On April 5, 2002, Morman's vision became reality as the ProjectLINKS team, University of Maryland administrators, tutors, TRIO program colleagues and guests in higher education and the greater community welcomed the Prince George's County students and their families, teachers and administrators to the campus to officially launch the program and showcase ProjectLINKS features. "I think it's going to be fun, from the demonstrations we saw on Friday morning I think I'm going to like it," eighth-grade student Trevon Jenifer told the Gazette during the demonstration ceremony. "The best part about this is that it really helps me when I have a problem," eighth-grade Le'andra Herring told the Gazette.
This summer, students were invited to participate in an enrichment program and will continue to receive online tutoring this year. Special attention has been paid to making the program easy to replicate in other Talent Search school-university partnerships across the country. Morman comments, "This is a very ambitious program that seeks to help solve a global problem using focused community efforts. This is just the beginning. We hope to see the growth of grassroots support to help expand it to more schools."
ProjectLINKS continues to receive institutional support from the University of Maryland and its vast community resources. The College Park Scholars (CPS) is a community of twelve special living-learning programs for academically talented first- and second-year students. Each program focuses on a specific theme and offers specially designed courses and experiences that relate to its theme. Students in CPS take classes together and live together in selected residence halls. CPS is not a typical college experience. Students, faculty and staff work together to create an environment dedicated to learning and community. CPS members are willing to spend extra time, energy and effort to enrich the college experience for themselves and for others around them. CPS students strive for academic excellence; serve the community and work together to create a positive learning environment for all. Sounds like a perfect match for ProjectLINKS!
CPS requires that sophomore students engage in a practicum experience of their choice. The three options for students are typically an internship, a research project, or a service-learning project. In the service-learning practicum, equal emphasis is placed on the service being performed and on the learning, reflection, and critical analysis the students do as a result of engaging in a service project. Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Evaluation (P.A.R.E.) are the key elements of a service-learning experience in CPS. ProjectLINKS will be a way for students in CPS, particularly students in the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program, to meet their service-learning practicum requirement. Lacretia Johnson, Coordinator of Service-Learning for CPS expressed "We are very excited about this collaboration." ProjectLINKS is excited, too!
As ProjectLINKS begins its second year, it faces additional challenges: funding issues, staff changes, providing technical support, troubleshooting Internet problems over the phone in households with only one telephone, finding reliable and inexpensive Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and building a model for sustaining the project without grant funding. While ProjectLINKS is technology-based, the success of the project continues to focus on the needs and development of the students, rather than on the technology itself.
If you are interested in learning how you can implement an online tutoring program like ProjectLINKS, plans are underway to host a conference at the University of Maryland in the summer 2003. Visit the ProjectLINKS website for additional information. ProjectLINKS also welcomes donations towards the purchase of computers for economically disadvantaged students; all contributions are tax-deductible.
Denise Lewis
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