Hello Colleagues,
Consider this an invitation to empower incarcerated students with the latest tools and technology to help make them successful after release.
These challenges are being addressed head-on by the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), the state’s juvenile justice agency. With knowledge of security, policy changes, content and delivery methods, OYA staff will share with you how they are normalizing education content for youth via secure and affordable digital access.
Imagine digital content delivered to incarcerated students through a completely offline wireless network. A small computer not much larger than a box of breath mints can provide this content for one or several computers on a youth correctional facility living unit.
And best of all, there is no reason the tools OYA is using could not be adapted for adult prisons. It’s offline, secure, and easily tracked.
Known as the RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education) Server, this unique computer is based on the inexpensive Raspberry Pi with a 64GB memory card, integrated wireless router and power cord. Loaded on the memory card are Web pages from Wikipedia, Khan Academy, medical encyclopedia, K-12 textbooks, great books, music theory and typing lessons, to name just a few. There’s even room to customize content for your jurisdiction.
NORSC will host a webinar February 19 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PST to address the benefits of this new technology, including security, portability and affordability. OYA presenters Frank Martin, Tracie Hightower and Gary Westoby will illuminate new horizons on the technology front and discuss some of the challenges along the way. Jeremy Schwartz of www.worldpossible.org, which developed RACHEL, will also participate.
If you are interested in learning about this innovative addition to your education toolbox, please register using the link below. Space is limited so reserve today!