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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES
June 4, 2019 - 8:20am -- ferencak.2@osu.edu

Wayne County (Ohio) 4-H Tech Changemakers are getting organized, trained, and prepared to start their work on helping bridge the digital divide in our community.  Later this summer the 4-H Tech Changemakers will launch a series of workshops and activities to help adults in our community and 4-H volunteers and families across Wayne County to improve their digital literacy skills.

The 4-H TechChangemakers are a group of teen digital ambassadors that are part of an initiative supported by Microsoft and National 4-H Council that is currently getting underway in 80 communities across 13 states in the U.S.

In April, 4-H Educator Doug Foxx appointed the following teens to serve as Wayne County 4-H Tech Changemakers:

  • Charlie Bickett
  • Bridget Kitchen
  • Kelton Bair
  • Edward Bohner
  • Halle Miller
  • Sam Carroll
  • Briar Lehman

Foxx along with 4-H volunteer Scott Musser serve as advisors to the Wayne County 4-H Tech Changemakers.

Recently, the Wayne County 4-H Tech Changemakers watched a web cast of Microsoft CEO Brad Smith describing two Americas – the America with access to broadband and the America without access. The teens also brainstormed activities they are interested in doing to both learn more about technology themselves as well as topics and activities that they can teach others.  Some workshop topics that are being considered include Netiquette, how to avoid scams and stay safe on the internet, tips and tricks for using your smartphone effectively, photo and video editing, how to fly a drone, and many others. 

The 4-H Tech Changemakers are also in the process of reaching out to establish partnerships with other organizations and businesses in our community.  One possible partnership being discussed is our local Best Buy store and an opportunity for the 4-H Tech Changemakers to participate in a behind the scenes store tour and possibly a visit to the Best Buy Teen Center in Cleveland.

The 4-H Tech Changemakers also took time to preview our new Wayne County 4-H mobile app that a group of web developers from Grandstand Apps has been working on.  The developers are almost finished creating the app and we believe it is important that our 4-H Tech Changemakers are engaged in giving feedback on the content and functions of the app before it is published.  We will also rely on our 4-H Tech Chagemakers to continue monitoring usage of the app and to help us further develop it over time.

 

Doug Foxx is an OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.

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