Technology Skills Classes

According to the 2017 Internet Crime Report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kentucky is reported as being 29^th (out of the 50 United States and U.S. Territories) in the number of reported cybercrime victims. This resulted in an estimated loss of $7,220,342 for Kentucky residence. 

This information, along with the frequency of request by local community members to host a class that explained technology applications in day- to-day life began the collaboration for a Technology Skills Class. 

The Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education collaborated with the Lawrence County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in order to develop a program to address the growing issue of progressing technology and being safe while using technology. Other collaborations included the Family and Consumer Sciences extension council as well as, the Lawrence County 4-H Teen Club. 

The first series of classes were held in November at the Lawrence County Extension Office; a morning and a night session were offered in order to accommodate the busy schedules of community members. Both the morning and afternoon sessions reviewed safety when shopping online as well as using technology in everyday life. The class focused on each piece of hardware that was brought to the sessions by participants (such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) along with the software that participants requested to have explained (such as applications and social media). Over the course of both sessions there were ten participants. 

The class was taught with a mix of instructional strategies including lecture, discussion, and one- on- one instruction. Discussion and the lecture style instruction over safety online was done with the class group as a whole. After the large group discussion each participant was given one-on-one attention with an instructor. Instructors included Lawrence County Agents as well as volunteers form the Lawrence County 4-H Teen Club. This individualized instruction insure that each participant was able to received individualized instruction that was applicable to their lives. Through the series in November ten individuals were reached and one even left saying they, “feel better about my abilities on my phone.” 

After hosting the first Technology Skills class in November it was found by surveying the participants from the November session (one even stating, “I really hope you have this class again, I need help with my laptop.”) that the program was in demand and was addressing an important need, therefore a second part to the series was planned and held in May.

The series in May was the same format as the previous one in November in both the times it was held as well as the lesson format. The May session lecture and discussion went into staying secure online, planning digital estate, and protecting personal information over the phone and online. 5 participants attended the May series, two of which had attended the previous session in November. 

By the end of the classes the participants were able to demonstrate the skills they learned through the classes. This consisted of a participant sending her first text ever. One was able to turn her phone volume up and down and add a new contact to her phone. Another participant was able to block individuals on Facebook that she did not know (something she had never been able to do before). Another participant was noted as saying, “My daughter is going to be so thrilled! I actually sent her a text, I can’t believe it.”