University of Houston – Downtown

This project will improve the use of broadband services by expanding UHD's bilingual e-library to support digital skills, digital inclusion, literacy training, and technology services to assist the Hispanic community within the UHD anchor community. UHD bilingual students will work with Hispanic families at elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) during the two years of the project. They will write culturally meaningful stories with the families. These stories will be part of the UHD upgraded bilingual e-library. Because of this interaction with UHD students, Hispanic families will learn to use the e-library for self-teaching and help their children at home. Regardless of what level their reading skills may be, the e-library design will allow the users to practice the reading act and learning to read with the support of the computer. The e-library supports practicing reading in English and Spanish.

In addition, parents will learn comprehension and writing skills along with their children or by themselves, as they play with the games and interactive videos made for the e-stories of their choice. The expectation is that these adults will raise their literacy skills in both languages as they mediate their learning with the e-library. As a result of using the e-library for instruction, the users will also develop/increase their proficiency with technology, allowing them to further their education and increase their preparation for the job market. 

Teachers in the UHD anchor community also play an important role in the preparation of Hispanics for the job market in Houston. Pre-service teachers (UHD students) and in-service bilingual/ESL teachers at selected elementary schools will have the opportunity to participate in the training of reading comprehension strategies using the e-library. The expectation is that they will enhance their technology skills, as they become proficient users of the e-library.