Congratulations Sharon Griebling of Bucyrus, Laptop Computer Winner

Pictured left to right: Bob Hartwell, Pioneer CTC Director, Jeff Beebe, Connect Ohio state operations manager, Sharon Griebling, computer winner, and Kathy Eaken, training instructor. Photo by Laurie Kirk, Pioneer CTC

On Tuesday, July 19, Connect Ohio presented Sharon Griebling of Bucyrus with a new laptop computer during at Pioneer Career and Technology Center’s Bucyrus location. Griebling was selected as a winner in a random drawing following her participation in the Every Citizen Online program, a free statewide basic computer and Internet training program, and is the eighth of twelve winners to receive a new computer.

“I really enjoyed the training,” said Griebling. “The Internet was totally Greek to me. Kathy, the instructor, explained things on a level that was easy to understand. I didn’t know how to e-mail before (the training) and have been practicing. I have the Internet at home and an old computer. I’m excited to have a brand new one.”

Sharon Griebling with new computer. Photo by Laurie Kirk, Pioneer CTC

“Pioneer has been offering career training to our community for the past 43 years,” said Bob Hartwell, Pioneer CTC technology coordinator. “Our cooperation with Connect Ohio to offer these classes fits into what we do every day for our students – at our main campus in Shelby, as well as branches like the Crawford County Job and Family Services Center in Bucyrus. Pioneer congratulates Sharon as one of the citizens who took advantage of these free classes, as well as being the lucky winner of a new computer.“

Congratulations Sharon Griebling!

Every Citizen Online Program Sees Early Success

The Every Citizen Online (ECO) program providing free basic computer and Internet training to Ohio adults launched in late December 2010, with many sub-recipients’ classes beginning in January 2011. The instructor-led and self-paced training is being offered in more than 180 locations throughout the state with the help of libraries, community colleges, and education centers.

The initial response to the ECO program has been quite positive. Many classes are full or near-full for each training session.

“We have 8 to 10 participants per class and can hold 11,” said Blythe Schubert, director of the Kate Love Simpson Morgan County Library in southeastern Ohio.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library received more than 600 phone calls inquiring about the ECO program within the first few weeks of starting classes.

“That huge number tells us in a quantitative way that there is a great need for basic computer training in our community,” said Steve Hipes, ECO project manager for the library.

Through the end of February, nearly 1,000 Ohio adults have completed the ECO training and gained the skills to communicate with friends and family members through e-mail, apply for jobs online, gain knowledge of favorite topics and hobbies, and more.

“Online bill pay would be very convenient for me,” shared Barb Queen, ECO participant at the Pioneer Career and Technical Center in northern Ohio. “I wouldn’t have to drive 15 minutes to pay my bills like I do now.”

Connect Ohio and the ECO training partners continue promoting the free program through local and state media outlets, word-of-mouth, promotional fliers and bookmarks, as well as the ECO public service announcements airing on television and radio stations and printed in 95 newspapers throughout Ohio.

To view photos from the ECO program, visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

Why Every Citizen Online Training is Important to Many Ohioans

A recent visit to an Every Citizen Online (ECO) training class at Pioneer Career and Technical Center in Shelby revealed various reasons some Ohioans haven’t adopted Internet usage into their daily lives and why many are doing so now.

“I don’t have a computer. Well, I have an old one from 1987,” said Dean Morse. “I thought the training might help me if I want to go to the library and use their computers to look up something.”

Morse shared that he would like to learn to use eBay. He has an old train set and other antique items he would like to sell.

Jerry Grove is currently unemployed and knows he needs computer and Internet skills to apply for jobs online.

“I raised children and I worked,” said Grove. “I bought computers for my 5 kids and my grandchildren, but I never bought one for myself.”

Barb Queen shared a similar story.

“My employer went out of business in December,” Queen said. “My family bought me a laptop for my birthday and I thought it’d be a good time to learn. I look forward to the things Internet makes available.”

The course instructor, Donnie Perry, began the 6-hour training by asking what each of the 11 class participants wanted to be able to do by using the Internet that they currently could not. Perry wants to ensure each participant graduates the program with the tools and knowledge that will help them meet those expectations.

“Our nieces and nephews told us what (computer equipment) to go buy,” shared Anita Hollinger. “We have the equipment, but we don’t know how to use the stuff.”

Hollinger wants to Web chat with her cousin overseas. Her husband, John, would like to look at woodworking websites for tips and ideas to fuel his hobby.

Some are just looking for the simplicity that can come from Internet use.

“Online bill pay would be very convenient for me,” Queen said. “I wouldn’t have to drive 15 minutes to pay my bills like I do now.”

To view more photos from this class, click here.