The 2008 BDPA National Technology Conference

If you’re interested in connecting with a community of African Americans who are involved in technology read on.

The Black Data Processing Associates holds its annual technology conference this year in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is held August 6th through August 9th. Last year the conference was held in DC.

I attended the conference as a presenter last year and I can’t wait to attend this year. The conference is an opportunity to meet brothers and sisters from all over the country who are engaged in every area of technology from project management to game development.

There are also opportunities for those who are already engaged in technology to help our youth to become involved in the field of information technology. There are also plenty of social events so we are not stuck in work mode the entire time. It is a party with a purpose. We learn during the day and the evenings we relax and nurture our relationships.

If you live in Atlanta or are willing to travel to Atlanta and are interested in learning about the hottest technologies and perhaps connecting with someone who can mentor you in your career the BDPA National Technology Conference is a great place to start.

For more information on the 2008 conference visit the conference site.

See you there!

The National Alliance of Black School Educators Stand

From the Winter/Spring 2007 National Alliance of Black School Educators News Briefs:

Among the most significant trends that will increase the academic achievement levels of students is the use of technology. Technology makes learning opportunities more accessible to students at any time/any place. In particular, minority students will begin to realize their interests and learning patterns can be fulfilled with this new technology. Technology will enhance the classroom teacher, so that skill levels, learning styles, language barriers, and the place of learning will not be deterrents. For example, the AdvancePath Academies provide Individual Learning Paths (ILPs) for each student through the extensive use of technology, combined with other recognized best practices, such as small group instruction, Lexile reading levels, continuous assessment, and a focus on accelerated, not remedial, learning.

The National Alliance of Black School Educators is an organization devoted to furthering the academic success of the nation’s children – particularly children of African descent. This is an organization devoted to education and they agree that for Black people to move forward (i.e., become better educated) we must embrace technology.

I agree with their premise obviously. Let’s go one step beyond. Why not take this approach with our children in our home life? Must we wait for the school system to embrace using technology with our children? My daughter is two years old. Since she enjoys watching daddy work on the computer she is already aware of the keyboard, mouse and monitor. She actually has a toy computer which she uses to practice the motor skills needed in order to use it.

Also let us keep in mind that when I write about technology that does not necessarily mean the use of a computer. A cell phone or mobile device such as an iPhone can be a great introduction into mobile computing/learning and used as a scaffolding platform to help your students stretch to that next level of understanding and using technology.

We know that learning technology is important. We have studies that illustrate that academic achievement levels increase in most cases where technology is integrated into learning. But still we are not doing this. Why are we still not doing this. We can no longer claim we don't know. The information is there. Some school leaders are handcuffed by their districts and restricted from introducing technology on their campus. Why is that? Look into these matters. Some leaders still do not feel that technology is important to learning or that it does not improve learning. That is simply false.

Please take it upon yourself to either introduce technology use into your home in order to familiarize your young ones with how they can use it to learn or talk to the instructional leaders at your schools to find out what its stance is on the use of technology in the classroom.

This is no longer a luxury it is a requirement if we wish our children to grow up and lead strong successful lives.

You need to know

Last Friday the family headed to Houston for a weekend of house hunting. We are planning to relocate to get help with the children. On our way out of town we decided to grab a quick bite to eat. After dismissing a few choices we settled on a local sandwich shop. The shop will remain nameless.

After placing our order and taking a seat, I noticed that the establishment provided free Wi-Fi. I decided to use my trusty iPhone to check a few things on the net. However, I was unable to determine which network was the one I needed to connect. I asked the young man who brought the food to our table. Excuse me sir, Can you please tell me the name of your network so I can use the Wi-Fi?

His reply was “I don’t know. Let me ask the manager.” I remember remarking to my wife? He doesn’t know. You see my friends this is what I am talking about. He said he was going to ask the manager and he never returned with the manager.

I believe that he does not know because he does not deem the answer to that question to be important. Does this young man know where the restrooms are in the establishment? Does he know the operating hours of the establishment? The Wi Fi question is just as important. That is the reason why the manager knows.

The gentleman that helped was of African descent. I came very close to politely asking him why he did not bother to know the name of the Wi Fi network. Wi Fi has become one of the big reasons people frequent spaces. Take a look at a local Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. It is becoming very popular to provide a free Wi Fi hotspot as a strategy to drive people to your establishment and keep them there once they arrive.

If I can get my sandwich and surf the web in one place and in a competitors space I can only get my sandwich where am I likely to go to get my sandwich? For most people who frequent these places (business types, students) the answer is obvious. This young brother is another example of what I am trying to get at on this blog. Why? Why does he not know the answer and more importantly why does he consider the fact that he does not know not a problem.

If I go back there this week and ask him again do you think he would be able to tell me? Maybe I will do just that. And if he cannot answer the question, maybe I will ask him why.

This research has to start somewhere.

Become A Life-long Learner

Last week I was reading this month’s edition of my Toastmaster’s magazine. A journal I love by the way and there was a splendid article entitled Be A Non-Stop Learning Machine. The article discussed why it is important to continue to learn as well as providing the reader with a wealth of resources for learning in a busy global world.

I could not agree more with the premise as I consider myself a life long learner. As I read the article I wondered what were the implications as it relates to technology. Perhaps getting the message of being a NSLM (Non Stop Learning Machine) out to black folks could be part of a strategy that would make technology part of the area that matters in their lives.

The world continues to change. It will pass those by who are not ready to adapt and deal with that change. Not being proficient in the emerging technologies of the 21st century could be the first step in completely removing ourselves from participating in this brave new world.

Learning means learning how to navigate the world around you. It is sensemaking of your environment. If technology is part of the environment, part of your making sense of your world then is must be included in your learning. I do not see this occurring in the black community and it must be corrected before we are rendered as a group technologically illiterate.