Net Literacy's End of Year Report to the Board for 2014

Dear Net Literacy Board of Directors,

2014 was a terrific and record breaking year for serving our community! Hundreds of youths were engaged on projects that ranged from repurposing computers to producing safety videos and from building computer labs to serving as youth role models being interviewed about Internet safety on television. Here are the top ten things that the Net Literacy team worked together to make happen in 2014:

1. Since we began in 2003, Net Literacy’s teams of student volunteers have now donated 31,817 computers impacting approximately 250,000 Hoosiers!

2. In 2014, we donated 4058 computers to dozens of afterschool programs, dozens of public libraries, and the families of K-12 students without a computer at home at dozens of elementary, middle, and high schools.

3. In addition, the college chapter of Net Literacy built a record 12 computer labs using 147 computers inside churches so that they could support programs that ranged from students remediation to providing resources to help victims of domestic violence become more self-sufficient (University United Methodist Church, Temple of Praise, Indiana Missionary Baptist Church, Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church, Fervent Prayer Church, New Liberty Baptist Church, Promise Land Church, Olivet Baptist Church, Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, Anglican Cathedral Church of Resurrection, St. Paul’s Temple AME, and Metropolitan Baptist Church).

4. During the summer, Net Literacy engaged a record 64 students and created 50 great videos over the course of a six week internship program that was conducted at Ivy Tech. Each month, almost 15,000 teachers, youth workers, and parents visit the Net Literacy and Safe Connects websites to show videos that facilitate a discussion about Internet safety with teens. First the video is played and then, the discussion begins! Some of my favorite videos from last summer’s program are:
• A chilling video that used a trailer concept to begin a discussion about bullying – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VexYl3gHo
• Great special effects – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6YCpr0S3jc
• A very creative video about copyright theft – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd4JaB0QDW8
• A anti-bullying video with a 1980’s theme for youths that are targeted – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syky8CfMMHg
• A privacy and safeguarding personal information – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjXMEaUEVwM
• Viruses turn students into zombies – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttrwPFCw2Yo
• Excellent use of animation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csiLUuS6iU
• A video that does a great job discussing posting your words wisely – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O8AaS_VgsA

5. The IPS and Decatur MSD school districts used 46 of our Internet safety training videos produced during the summer as a tool for teachers to help teach students about online safety.

6. IPS showcased Net Literacy and Bright House Network’s safety partnership via a magazine show telecasted to students and parents throughout the district – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSmWcaoqJ_A

7. Student Vice Chair Antonio Baltzell and Board Member Mattea Johnson were interviewed by Cathy Holloway’s Living By Design television show to teach parents and teens about bullying and Internet safety (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pQRSvZcRY).

8. We blogged in support of Representative Susan Brook’s Computer Science Education Act on the Huffington Post and were thanked by the Congresswoman for supporting a bill that she sponsored (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-kent/the-computer-science-education-act_b_5953312.html).

9. We also blogged on iKeepSafe.org promoting internet safety concepts for safety experts to incorporate in their training programs – here’s one about online reputation – http://www.ikeepsafe.org/online-reputation-2/twelve-ways-students-can-enhance-their-online-reputations/

10. Students from Carmel Clay Schools, Zionsville Community Schools Herron High School, and Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) were recently honored for their winning ideas in Bright House Networks and Net Literacy’s Students Against Bullying and For Internet Safety Contest. The campaign is part of Bright House Networks and Net Literacy’s push to promote young people as active allies and advocates in bullying prevention. In 2014, more than a dozen Net Literacy students stared in a total of 17 public service announcements engaging Indianapolis Public Schools, Carmel Clay Schools, Zionsville Community Schools, and center township Herron Charter School. Six of the PSAs were shown throughout central Indiana in 2014 and the remaining eleven began showing this week and will be carried by Bright House Networks throughout 2015.