Computers Awarded to Two Morgan County ECO Participants

Two of the 12 Every Citizen Online computer giveaway winners received their new laptop computers yesterday during a short media event at Kate Love Simpson Morgan County Library in McConnelsville. Doris Buchanan of McConnelsville and Becky Obrien of Stockport were selected as winners of the computers in a random drawing following their participation in the Every Citizen Online free statewide basic computer and Internet training program. 

As often heard from many new Internet adopters, Obrien wanted to learn to work a computer and navigate the web in order to communicate with loved ones.

"The training was very helpful," said Obrien. "My husband and I are trying to keep up with our grandkids."


According to Buchanan, she already has a computer and Internet service at home, but took the Every Citizen Online training to learn the different things the computer and Internet can offer.


"The training definitely helped and I want to take more training," said Buchanan. "I want to learn to type letters and documents. I like to e-mail and Facebook."

Pictured left to right: Doris Buchanan, winner, Blythe Schubert, library director, Becky Obrien, winner, Heather Delany, Connect Ohio state operations manager

Congratulations Doris and Becky!

Every Citizen Online participants who completed an online survey at the end of training between April 5 and June 20, 2011 were registered for the computer giveaway. Details about the computer giveaway can be found at http://connectohio.org/consumer_training/computer_giveaway.php.

For more information on the Every Citizen Online free basic computer and Internet training, visit http://connectohio.org/consumer_training or call 1-855-NOW-I-CAN (669-42260).

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.

Quite an Annual Savings with Broadband

Not only is high-speed Internet access about knowledge and convenience, but a recent study shows it’s also about saving money. Ohioans could save more than $7,200 per year by having broadband access in their home, according to the study “Real Cost of the Digital Divide” by Nicholas J. Delgado. What? $7,200?!

Take a look at this annual breakdown:

	Avg Spent	Avg Saved	% Saved
Entertainment	$5,312	$2,747	51.70%
Travel	$7,658	$1,532	20%
Housing	$12,697	$974	7.70%
Food	$3,753	$965	25.70%
Apparel	$1,725	$640	37.10%
Automotive	$29,217	$438	1.50%
Newspapers	$193	$193	100%
Gasoline	$1,986	$95	4.70%
Non-prescription Drugs	$312	$76	24.20%
Bill Pay	$47	$47	100%

(data from Internet Innovation Alliance)

Of course, most of us are not buying a home or a car on an annual basis, so the annual statistics are a bit skewed. However, nearly one-third of Ohioans do not have broadband access in their homes. Of those without broadband service, the top reasons given are because they do not need it or just don’t know why they don’t subscribe. Saving money makes a pretty strong case for broadband adoption.

For more information on the study and savings breakdown, visit Internet Innovation Alliance.

Connect Ohio Distributes 8 New Computers to Putnam County District Public Library

Connect Ohio distributed 8 new HP Omni desktop computers to Putnam County District Library Director Kelly Ward Tuesday, January 18, 2011, as part of the Every Citizen Online program.

“These computers will be replacing old public computers throughout the county,” said Kelly Ward, library director. “This otherwise wouldn’t have been possible after budget cuts and a levy failure.”

Free computer training sessions will be provided at public libraries and community colleges throughout Ohio to introduce new users to a wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online. Interested adults throughout Ohio are eligible to participate in the program, which is geared toward first-time computer and broadband users. The program is titled Every Citizen Online and will run for 2-years.

Putnam County District Public Libraries are providing the self-paced training online at their multiple branch locations.

The coursework includes three sessions covering computer basics, an introduction to the Internet, and discussions about how broadband can be helpful in daily life.

For more information, call 1-855-NOW-I-CAN (669-4226) or visit http://connectohio.org/consumer_training/.

Pictured above: Connect Ohio's Heather Delany (left) with Putnam Co. District Library director Kelly Ward (right)