By Kori Casey, Staff Writer
The university’s Intergenerational Computer Center is doing well in the community since it started two years ago.
The ICC is a program that offers free computer classes to people around the community who do not have computers.
“Our focus is to help Oklahomans with improving their digital literacy,” said Veronica McGowan, director of the Intergenerational Computer Center.
The program was started in 2011 and is located in Kramer West.
“We are really involved with programs like the Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and the Housing Authority,” McGowan said. “It really helps OCU connect better with the community.”
Another benefit is student employment.
“I like it because I get paid to act like a kid,” said Brittany Delgado, science senior. “I mostly teach the technology classes for the Girl Scouts.”
Some of the classes Brittany teaches include Photoshop classes, an app inventor course and a Lego Robotics class.
“It’s fun because the majority of the girls in the class really want to be there,” Delgado said. “But even the few whose parents sign them up for everything really get into the class and enjoy it.”
The ICC also serves as the Positive Tomorrows’ computer lab. Positive Tomorrows is the only school in the Oklahoma City metro area that serves homeless children.
“We also serve a lot of new Americans,” McGowan said. “Being close to the Asian District, we see a lot of people from there.”
The program also has a mobile lab that they take different places around the Oklahoma City metro area.
“We go to Del City, Midwest City, the south side, and several other places,” McGowan said. “We use it for the people that can’t really come to us.”
The lab is open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Leave a Reply