University of Houston – Downtown

This project will improve the use of broadband services by expanding UHD's bilingual e-library to support digital skills, digital inclusion, literacy training, and technology services to assist the Hispanic community within the UHD anchor community. UHD bilingual students will work with Hispanic families at elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) during the two years of the project. They will write culturally meaningful stories with the families. These stories will be part of the UHD upgraded bilingual e-library. Because of this interaction with UHD students, Hispanic families will learn to use the e-library for self-teaching and help their children at home. Regardless of what level their reading skills may be, the e-library design will allow the users to practice the reading act and learning to read with the support of the computer. The e-library supports practicing reading in English and Spanish.

In addition, parents will learn comprehension and writing skills along with their children or by themselves, as they play with the games and interactive videos made for the e-stories of their choice. The expectation is that these adults will raise their literacy skills in both languages as they mediate their learning with the e-library. As a result of using the e-library for instruction, the users will also develop/increase their proficiency with technology, allowing them to further their education and increase their preparation for the job market. 

Teachers in the UHD anchor community also play an important role in the preparation of Hispanics for the job market in Houston. Pre-service teachers (UHD students) and in-service bilingual/ESL teachers at selected elementary schools will have the opportunity to participate in the training of reading comprehension strategies using the e-library. The expectation is that they will enhance their technology skills, as they become proficient users of the e-library.

This project will make it possible for UHD to create a community of learners, as it will link Hispanic families, pre-service, and in-service teachers to the e-library and to each other. The expectation is that as the Hispanic families use the e-library and increase their literacy skills levels and their ability to self-teach using technology, the number of Hispanics entering the labor market in Houston will increase.

The UHD anchor community in Houston, Texas will benefit from this project, UHD will work with Hispanic families at elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to contribute to the e-library and build their reading and writing skills. Additionally, HISD teachers will benefit from the ability to participate in this project and enhance their technology skills.

The Houston Independent School District (HISD), specifically Looscan Elementary and Crockett Elementary, will work in partnership with UHD students to write stories with the assigned school families. The HISD will also pilot an E-Center to assist teachers, children, and families with digital literacy development.