Every Saturday of December and January, students from Turner Middle School in Philadelphia braved the cold to come to school and meet their dedicated teachers—PSLA staff member, Jon Zemanek, and Turner teacher, Wanda Williams.  These fourteen students participating in the Dell TechKnow program were excited and motivated to come to school on Saturdays, to meet new friends and learn about computers.  Noted one participant, “I really like the computer class because I'm learning and having fun.”
 
Through Dell TechKnow, students receive 40 hours of in-depth classroom training on how to take apart and reassemble computers, load software, install hardware, diagnose and correct basic hardware problems and use Microsoft Office and the Internet.  Upon completion of the program, students earn the right to keep the computer they built, as long as they stay in school and maintain good grades.  The students are very proud to be earning a computer for their homes.  Explains one student, "This computer will help me now with my projects and class work. I can use the Internet on it, and I do not have to go and wait at the library to use a computer because I will have my own."
 
At Turner, the program is a joint venture between the school’s Youth-Driven Service-Learning Center and the Science and Technology Small Learning Community.  By participating in Dell TechKnow, students commit to using the knowledge they have gained to provide service to their school and community.  As part of the session at Turner, students will explore the technology needs in their school and community, and will reflect on how they might use their experience to help bridge this digital divide.  Students will also help to deliver computer trainings to their families.  Many are eager to assist the next cohort of students as they learn through the Dell TechKnow program. 
 
TechKnow students have already had a few opportunities to apply what they are learning to help solve community needs.  The students have done some work upgrading the computer lab at the Turner YDSLC, one of the few places in the school where students can access computers to do research and develop projects and presentations.  TechKnow participants also helped to lead workshop sessions at the Turner Technology Expo in January, teaching other students about computer hardware and repair.  After the workshop, many new students signed up for the next session of TechKnow at Turner! 
 
Dell TechKnow instructor, Jon Zemanek, is amazed at the motivation and dedication of the students involved with the program.  “Students always come to class excited and ready to learn.  They are thrilled to work inside the computer, be it installing modems or connecting data cables.  Through this hands-on approach, they realize how important they each are to the functioning of their rebuilt computer.  Once they’ve learned, they’re even more excited to pass on their knowledge to others.”
 
In addition to another session at Turner, the PSLA is planning a session in March at Grover Washington Middle School.