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news
BLAST
program lets technology take off
By Joe Licavoli
On-line Forty-Niner
Middle students
at Washington Intensive Learning Center experience new technology
such as creating their own Web pages as a part of the BLAST
program with Cal State Long Beach students as mentors.
Better Learning After School Today's main goal is to provide
students with new technology skills, to promote literacy through
technology and to interest youth of diverse backgrounds to
pursue a future college education, said Anna Totta, Executive
Director of the BLAST program.
"The goal is to enhance the experience of children in
the after school programs, and open their eyes to new opportunities,"
said Lee Alperm, adult program coordinator. "It's a way
for students to make goals and see possibilities."
While the children are gaining exposure to technology and
gaining knowledge through the program, the students from an
information systems course at CSULB are also gaining experience
as mentors.
"It's a great way to improve literacy for the children
and gives the college students an opportunity to be role models,"
said Alperm.
The program's goal of exposing the students to pursue higher
education will be enhanced with a visit to the CSULB campus
on May 13.
"The students will visit the technology [information
systems] department because this is all about technology,"
Alperm said.
BLAST is funded through a larger network called UC Links.
"We have $37,000 a year coming from UC Links and we have
had the program for three years," said Totta.
The main goal is to promote a more diverse student population
at California universities through technology programs that
promote literacy, said Totta.
Thirty six CSULB students work with 36 local middle school
children on new computers at the Washington Learning Center,
helping the children develop their own Web pages and learn
about new computer technology, said Totta.
Children chose web page themes ranging from cleaning up the
earth to how to make friends, said Totta.
BLAST also gives the veteran children to the program a chance
to familiarize themselves with a software program called iMovie,
which allows the children to edit and make their own movies,
said Totta,
The program is developing at a rapid pace and is working on
continuing the program and its goal of helping children gain
exposure to higher education, said Alperm.
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