DECLA is a 13-week curriculum for adults with no computer skills. Classes are offered in the evenings and taught in both English and Spanish with childcare offered for evening classes (pending funding and a minimum of three requests per class ). Students who wish to take Spanish language computer classes are strongly encouraged to co-enroll in ESL classes as a way to enhancing the overall learning experience.
TSCC offers two levels, Level I and Level II. Courses are offered in the fall and spring and are taught by dedicated and caring volunteers. Upon successful completion of DECLA, students are rewarded with a free computer. Our computers are donated by corporate sponsors, refurbished by teams of volunteers, and are the only chance for many of our working families to own a computer. This allows TSCC graduates to continue their education via hands-on use and practice at home. In addition, since most DECLA participants have children enrolled in ASAP, continued learning is shared throughout the family and skills gained are put to immediate use.
TSCC has a high retention rate with the majority of students completing the entire Level I course, often returning for Level II sessions and to seek assistance in enrolling in local community colleges to continue their learning.
DECLA serves primarily low-income and immigrant adults as well as young adults for whom opportunities to gain vital computer skills are scarce. For many of our students, computer skills provide an opportunity to pursue better paying jobs, learn to access community resources, and even develop or maintain connections with their friends and families in other cities, states or countries. For the children of our DECLA students, the computers become a crucial tool for homework completion and an opportunity to learn to love technology’s many uses.
Level I Course – Introduces students to basic computer usage including how to turn on the computer, use of a mouse & keypad, how to access & navigate the internet, and names of common computer programs and hardware.
Level II Course – Introduces students to use MS Word including use of icons, formatting, use of templates and how to save and retrieve files.
