4-H T4

Goals of the WA 4-H T4 Project

  1. Increase 4-H Computer Literacy
  2. Increase workforce preparation skills
  3. Increase community access and use of digital technologies in underserved rural communities and low-income urban neighborhoods

4-H Technology kids meeting after a virtual reality project

See a video of the 4-H Mobile Technology Van

Learn more about the National 4-H program

In early spring of 2002, six 4-H community programs were selected through a competitive RFP grant process to receive a computer lab. Upon reviewing the accepted RFP's, the project advisory committee decided that to truly build capacity in the program, youth would need to be able to maintain and problem solve computer malfunctions in their local labs, due to the limited resources available in these isolated communities. In order to build the skills necessary, youth would need to learn how to build the computers. Secondly, teen leaders teaching other teens, in a train the trainer model is the format we wanted to implement to achieve our outcome of “creating youth-led efforts.”

At the end of June, a four-day Computer Build Summit was held in Everett, Washington. Each of the six sites selected teams of youth and adults. Two additional counties, who were not selected to receive computers but had the desire to learn, also attended the Summit. More than 15 teens and adults from two Snohomish 4-H clubs prepared for months, writing lesson plans and working through the schedule they would use when instructing 32 youth and adults on the build process.

The teams each built at least two completely functional computers to take home, with the remaining components to complete the additional computers for their lab.

During the following months, various build workshops were scheduled in the local communities. Each local 4-H youth and adult team utilized the "how to build"manual they received and successfully completed the build process. As of mid-September 2002, each lab was physically in place.

Locations of 4-H Computer Labs

Clarkston – Asotin County 4-H Lab
Lincoln Middle School
1945 4th Avenue
Clarkston, WA 99403

Davenport – Lincoln County 4-H Lab
WSU Cooperative Extension
303 6th Street
Davenport, WA 99122

Georgeville Community Computer Lab – Klickitat County 4-H
50 Georgeville Dr.
Goldendale, WA 98620

Lacey – Thurston County 4-H Teen Works Lab
WSU Thurston County Extension
720 Sleater-Kinnery Rd. SE
Lacey, WA 98503

Nooksack Valley 4-H Computer Wizards – Whatcom County 4-H
Nooksack Valley School District
3326 E. Badger Road
Nooksack, WA 98247

Salishan Learning Center – Pierce County 4-H
WSU Cooperative Extension
1728 East 44th St.
Tacoma, WA 98404

Through computer donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and county program resourcefulness, additional 4-H computer sites are open across the state.

Vision for the 4-H Mobile Technology Van Project

The WSU 4-H Mobile Technology Van demonstration project brings diverse educational opportunities to limited access areas, engaging 4-H youth and their community partners.

Goals

  1. Adequately resourced: staffing, pre-packaged curriculum, money for gas & supplies
  2. Models Youth/Adult partnerships
  3. Provides hands-on experiences with new technology applications
  4. Supports Extension strategic plan and WSU mission